Diyapressed the ultrasound wand to Emma’s belly. She stared at her handheld monitorfor a moment and frowned. “Emma, roll to your side.”
Myheart hammered in my chest. My eyes went yellow. I was about to call for Kaiwhen I heard it. Thump, thump, thump. The baby’s heartbeat.
“MyGod. You scared me,” I told Diya.
Emmalooked at me and laughed. “You’re going to have to toughen up if you want to bein the delivery room.”
I smiled.“Really? You want me there?”
Emmanodded. “Who else will hold my hand when Devon faints?”
Weall laughed.
Diyamoved the wand around. “Eighteen weeks. Everything looks great. I can see thesex organs clearly and it all looks healthy.”
Ipeeked over her shoulder at the moving blob, trying to interpret the sexorgans. I saw a huge, long protrusion. Oh my God, it’s a boy! Diya looked backat me as if she knew what I was thinking.
“That’sthe umbilical cord,” she pointed out.
Oh.
“Well,Emma, I’m really happy with your progress. You will need to go on strict bedrest in another few months. The baby will start shifting from human to wolf atabout twenty-eight weeks. That will make your uterus contract and can startearly labor if you are too active. You can’t shift yourself after twenty-eightweeks, it’s too risky.”
Emmanodded.
“God,what a buzz kill. We were all excited about the baby, hearing the heartbeat,then you have to drop that news,” I joked.
Diyagave me a sassy look. “How many werewolf babies have you successfullydelivered?” she asked me. Considering Diya’s mother had thirteen children andthat Diya herself had been the midwife to the largest werewolf pack in India, Idecided to shut my mouth.
“Touché.”
Theyboth smiled.
Emmareached over and squeezed my hand. “I will be fine.”
“Look,I wanted to tell you guys I will be going out of town for a few days.” I triedto make it sound light.
“What?”Emma sat up.
“Where?With who? Does Kai know?” Diya prodded me.
Somuch for keeping it light.
“I’mgoing on a spiritual journey with a Shaman.” There, the truth.
Diyamade a face that looked like she was smelling skunk. “Is this a witch thing?”
Ilaughed. “No, kind of.”
“Becauseyou smell like a cat. You’re all witchy lately.” Emma frowned.
Ismelled my underarm. Luna. I wonder if Kai would feed her while I was gone.
“Hey,my witchy powers helped this pack. It’s kind of a witch thing, yeah, and Kaiknows.”
“Hmm.Well, be safe.” Diya didn’t seem to like the idea.
Ohwell. I stayed and chatted with the girls for the next few hours about plansfor my wedding. I wanted it on the mountain. I promised Emma that Voodoo Doughnutscould cater the dessert. I wasn’t your average bride. I didn’t care aboutcolors or cakes. I wanted one thing. Kai. Happiness. No vampires on the guestlist.
