“And…?” Violet pressed.
I put one hand on my hip. “You’re saying I didn’t get her enough? I don’t want to completely spoil her! Between Kade, Annette, Shelley, and Kian … well, she does not lack for attention or presents.” The entire family had embraced us as their own, and it was the most wonderful thing I had ever known.
Violet leaned in closely. “You got her a baby sibling to play with too…” Her gaze dropped to my belly, and on cue the nausea hit me again. I let out a little shocked gasp, my hands falling to press against my flat stomach. “Are you serio—how do you know?” It wasn’t like Kade and I had been trying. I mean, we weren’t actively not trying, but…
Violet reached out and poked my left boob hard.
“OW!” I smacked her hand, shouting, “Take this one to the torture chamber!”
A few guards waved from their position across the yard. I glared at each of them, turning my annoyance on Violet. “I don’t understand why no one will lock you up.”
Violet grinned. “They know better than to mess with me. And, p.s. … you’re totally prego.”
Excitement bubbled up inside of me. “Seriously?”
Violet gave me that look that said she knew everything and not to question her.
“Okay, take the cake to the party, I’ll be right out.” I turned tail and raced up the stairs.
Kade and I had just talked last week about wanting to try to have a baby. Calista had been the one to bring it up with her not-too-subtle way of giving me a basketful of ovulation predictor kits and pregnancy tests. She was always trying to continue to secure my position as queen, and with an heir it made me look stronger. Our line struggled to conceive andcarry to term, but something told me Kade’s child would be one strong little fighter.
I yanked one of the tests out of the basket and ran into the bathroom to pee on it, almost tripping over Finn as he raced in the door.
Pregnant?he asked me, his soulful yellow eyes dancing.
“I don’t know! Violet says yes, so I’m going to take the test.”
I’ll wait out here.
I shut the bathroom door and peed on a stick — a stick, which could possibly change my entire life. I sat it on the sink, washed my hands, and opened the door to step out and stand by an anxious Finn. He had been waiting right on the other side, and I could feel his energy thrumming across our bond. We didn’t talk. Neither of us could. Would the baby be a bear or wolf? Would it be healthy? I’d had a ton of chocolate last night — was that okay?
It will be fine, Ari,Finn finally said, trying to calm me down.
I forced myself to calm down, and reinforced my shield between Kade and me. With my emotional overload, I was struggling to keep him out of my head, but I didn’t want to get his hopes up.
He should be here, though.
Waiting with me.
We were a team. We celebrated and comforted each other, no matter what the results.
I had just decided to run and get him — this was not something I should see without my mate — when the second hand on the clock ticked over to two minutes.
I froze to the spot.
Do you want me to look?Finn asked.
“Yes … no … I don’t know.”
He gave me a second and I finally sucked up the guts to walk forward and pick up the little stick. I held my breath and lifted it up. I then looked between the box and the test three times to make sure I was reading it right.
So…?
Finn was getting impatient, so I spun around and let my absolute joy spread across my face. My cheeks were hurting I was smiling so broadly. “I’m pregnant!”
He tipped back his head and let out a long howl, strong and filled with happiness. He then butted against me, and I dropped down and wrapped my hands around him, careful not to tangle the pee stick in his fur.
We’re adding to our pack. And finding out on Winnie’s birthday … another blessing in our lives.
