“I mean, the finding out I was pregnant part was kind of cool.”
“Fine, we can do that part over and over again, but let’s skip the rest of it.”
“Deal, and for the record maybe not over and over, but just a couple.”
Just a couple. Things were going to be okay. My mate forgave me, he was safe, and we were having twins. Life was amazing.
He scurried off my lap and into the bathroom Pia had pointed out on our way in. “Amazing with a side of morning sickness,” I amended.
23
Corey
With a pillow over my head, I breathed in deeply while the regular rhythm of pounding water in the shower told me Bryce was getting ready for work. He’d stayed with me for the three days after Pia had given her diagnosis, and we’d had it confirmed by a doctor from the claw clinic. Not that I doubted her. I’d never been more certain of anything as I gazed at her wrinkled face and bright blue eyes. But my work needed a medical certificate.
And I needed Bryce at my side. I was pregnant. Shocker! With twins. Double whammy! And he could take some of my symptoms. Whoa! Sadly he couldn’t pick and choose which, and it was only while we were together, but still.
Being confined to bed for at least a month at claw headquarters was going to be rough. With Bryce working from the tiny Alpha apartment at Nightsong Estate, he brought my meals into the bedroom and helped me shower. Never having been to the claw before, I’d not seen this apartment which he rarely used. I’d only been to what I now called home, his place on the second floor above his private office. Like Brad, Bryce said it was good to keep some distance from the claw.
But with him headed to work today for the first time, he’d enlisted omegas from the panther community, working in shifts, to assist me. And this had my stress level rising. Not only was their Alpha mated to a human, but I was carrying shifter/human babies who may be as human as me, be able to shift like their dad, or none of the above.
I’d come up with a million different scenarios as to how I could stay on best rest at my place or Bryce’s apartment, but none of them worked. I had to put my babies’ health before my discomfort which meant staying put. Part of me was worried the other shifters would think I wasn’t good enough for their Alpha, no matter how many times my mate disavowed the idea.
The bathroom door opened, and I lifted the pillow and peered at my man. Bryce sauntered through into the room, a towel wrapped around his hips and another in his hands as he dried his hair. Water slid over his chiseled chest and dribbled through the happy trail only to disappear. Being sick had decreased my libido to the point I couldn’t imagine having sex. But after catching a glimpse of my mate, I was closer to ripping off my PJs than I’d been in a while.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Sort of. Wish you didn’t have to leave.” I held up my hand as he opened his mouth. “No need to say anything, babe. I get it. It’s just…” I squirmed and fiddled with the comforter. “They might not like me.”
“What?” He slid under the covers, his damp skin and towel leaving wet patches on the sheets, and flung an arm over my chest. “Haven’t we had this conversation?”
“Yeah, but I keep coming back to it. You’re a smart guy, Bryce, but like many alphas you’re blind to how society views omegas. We’re often invisible until we’re with an alpha.”
“And what does this have to do with you needing help while I’m at work?”
I sighed. “They might judge me. A human getting pregnant, snaring the panther Alpha on a ruse.”
He wriggled his hips, which had my tired body tingling. “We both did the deed as I recall, and we’re mated.”
“Maybe someone in the claw had their eye on you.”
Bryce shrugged. “If they did, they kept it a secret. And it wouldn’t have made any difference. You are my fate, Corey.”
“Mine too.”
“But now you mention it, Brad said something in passing about an omega and his dad causing problems at the den a while back.”
I got up on one elbow, immediately regretted it as the room spun round, and flopped back on the mattress. “No! That was a whole other level of insanity. If anything similar happened to us, I’d take your hand and run.”
“Sounds painful.” He kissed my shoulder and got out of bed. “I have to get ready.”
“Naked butt before breakfast. I’m up for that.” I grabbed the towel and whipped it off.
Bryce smirked and posed, showing me his muscles as though he were auditioning for the Mr. Universe competition. I reached out and trailed my hand over his fingertips. “Thank you.”
“For what? Impregnating you with twin babies?”
I bent my knees and leaned on them. “Of course that. At first, I watched my life from a distance, spinning out of control. But this is where I’m supposed to be.”
“At Nightsong Estate?”
“No. I mean, I’m thankful the claw is looking after me. But I’m talking about this situation with you. Us about to be parents to two babies.”
“One of each,” he said as he mimed juggling.
“Each what?” I asked. “Omega and alpha? Male and female?”
“Each arm, silly.”
“But I have to push them out.” I made a face. “Two of them. Maybe you can take that part for me.”
“I can take some of the pain, but the actual pushing, that’s on you.” Bryce gave me a hug and waved as he buttoned his shirt and picked up his briefcase. “Behave today.”
With a hand on my phone, I waved. “I always do.”
“I’m serious, Corey. No getting out of bed except to the bathroom and send a message before you do so one of the guys can help.”
“Yes, boss.” I saluted.
As soon as the door was closed, I sent Gabe a message. He was getting ready for work and sent a brief text saying he’d call when he got to the office. I hadn’t told him the news. My best friend, and he wasn’t aware I was pregnant. But I’d need the last few days to get my head around it. Imagining two little Ursulas depending on me had me pulling the covers over my head.
I’d told Bryce the birth was scary. But I was more fearful about what happened next. The phone rang and I took my time answering it. “Hi. What’s up?” Gabe asked. I could picture him with the phone cradled under his ear while he did a million other things.
“A lot.”
“Such as? Everything okay with Bryce?”
“Couldn’t be better,” I answered. That was true.
“Your voice is weird. All high and squeaky.”
“Oh, that’s probably because I’m in bed, snuggled under the covers,” I told him.
“Have you got the day off?”
“Sort of.” I had to tell him. Wanted to.
“Corey, you're being deliberately vague. It’s not like you. Spill.”
I scratched my ear. “Funny thing happened.” I yanked off the covers and studied my belly, imagining the huge bump I’d have with two babies snuggled in there. “I discovered…”
Gabe interrupted with, “I love you but I have a meeting in ten minutes. Can you speed this up?”
“Pregnant,” I blurted out and held the phone away from my ear as his scream echoed around the small room.
“What? How?”
“The usual way,” I deadpanned. “We didn’t use a turkey baster.”
“You have to come over tonight.” There was a tapping on a keyboard in the background as he spoke.
“Ah, that’s the second thing I have to tell you.” I had a list in my head and was mentally checking off each item.
“There’s more? What else could there be?”
“I’m on bedrest for a while.”
“Oh my God, is there a problem?” Gabe shrieked.
“Not really. They just want to make sure there isn’t one.”
“Fine, I’ll come to you,” he said.
“Ahhh well, I’m not at home.” The list was getting shorter.
“Hospital?”
“
Nope, claw headquarters, Nightsong Estate. Long story.”
“I’ll be there about twelve.” His tone left no room for discussion
“I’d love to see you but is that wise? Will they let you in?” I asked.
“They’ll have to.”
One final piece of news. “And Gabe, there’s one more thing? You might want to sit down.”
“I am.”
“I’m having twins.” There was a thump on the other end. “Gabe? Gabe, you there?”
Heavy breathing followed by a weak voice mumbling, “I thought you said twins.”
“I did.”
After our conversation, I dozed off but was woken up by Bryce standing at the foot of the bed, his arms folded. “Hey, babe,” I said, my voice thick with sleep. “Did I sleep the day away?”
“Corey, I brought you a present.”
“Cake. Please let it be cheesecake.”
“Sorry, not cheesecake. Something better.”
“I’m here, Corey.” Gabe stepped into the room. “And maybe next time tell them I’m coming. They were so confused when a human smelling like a bear, just strutted up demanding to see the Alpha’s mate.” He brushed past Bryce and sat on the end of the bed. “Now tell me everything.
“Sorry about that. I didn’t think,” I told Bryce.
“It’s fine, and now I’ve met Gabe. Hi.”
“Hi,” Gabe replied. “Not sure why we haven’t met before, but here we are.”
Bryce’s warm smile was a sign he wasn’t annoyed. One faux pas done and dusted. I’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen again. He waved as Gabe crawled up the bed to get all the news.
24
Bryce
Gabe. I’d heard so much about him, even spoken to him on the phone, but with the craziness that surrounded my life, we’d never met up. But based on everything Corey had told me, I couldn’t ask for a better bestie for my mate even if he charged in like this wasn’t shifter land. And really, he knew better. He lived amongst the bears, and from what little I heard on the gossip mill, he’d been given a trial by fire membership into the shifter life. I didn’t know the details, but his shoulders had obviously been strong enough to cope with it.
Seeing the look on Corey’s face when his friend came in was everything. My mate was adjusting to things really well, especially the pregnancy, but being cooped up, even with your mate, was rough, especially when the instructions were to rest...not play, just rest.
Pia made it sound like it was typical protocol for him to be on bedrest like this, but I knew better. Something was worrying her. I stepped out. I wouldn’t go far, just into the grounds, hoping it would keep me close enough to help Corey keep the nausea at bay. In that way, I had mastered this alpha dad thing. I’d been able to almost pull the feeling from him. It sucked for me, but I’d take a million near-puke moments to keep him from one.
I called Pia and she met me outside almost too quickly, like she’d known I was coming.
“Pia, the bedrest—the real reason.” I wasn’t playing around and it was the first time I felt comfortable enough to be away from Corey enough to ask.
“He is human. We are not. I am unsure how that will play out.” Her words cut.
“You mean he could…” forcing the words from my mouth had a wave of nausea rushing through me, this time my own.
“I do not believe so, but caution is wise.” She placed her hand on my shoulder. “You are strong—but make no mistake about it, your omega is stronger.”
“He is.”
“So let him be strong and grow your kittens and just be him. Don’t try to force him into the claw before he is ready.” Why did she have to be so wise? “We love him already, but we are an acquired taste.”
“He is nervous he won’t be accepted.” And maybe, in a small way, I had been as well.
“Then we will have to show him otherwise. In the meanwhile, spoil him. Get him his favorite foods and comfy slippers and binge watch his favorite shows with him.”
“Thank you.” More than thanks were needed, but it was all she would ever accept. It was her way.
“I will go and check on him and you can begin your operation spoiling him. I will remain until you return.”
“Won’t he get sicker?”
“Not with me around.” She smiled and then pointed to my car.
I ran into town grabbing anything and everything I could find that he might like. I came back looking like that scene from Pretty Woman, only instead of high fashion I had cheesecake, warm pajamas, slippers, a video game system, board games, some parenting magazines that looked fun, and anything that remotely seemed like he might enjoy it.
“I’m home,” I called as I dropped the bags on the floor.
“You and I need words.” Gabe stood there, his hands on his hips.
“Okay. What’s up, Gabe?”
“Corey is my bestie, and if you mess with him you have me to answer to.” He was dead serious.
“I deserve that.”
“Did you really get mad at him for being sick?”
“I did.” I wasn’t going to make excuses. I had.
“And was it because you got his weird hormone mojo?” I nodded. “And you get sick for him?” I nodded again. “Damn, you need to teach Brad all those things.” This conversation was going very differently than I thought it would.
“I don’t even really understand how we do it.”
“You went shopping?” He picked up one of the bags and started to empty it onto the table.
“The healer sent me to spoil Corey so...let the spoiling commence.” I grabbed a bag and started doing the same, arranging the items I purchased and wondering if the table even had enough room. I might’ve gone overboard just a tiny bit.
“Truth time...is he sicker than he looks?”
“No. It’s a precaution because panther kittens can be rough on humans.” But fate put us together, and I refused to believe destiny could be that cruel as to cause him or our young harm.
“Good. I kind of need him, you know.”
I did know. I needed him too.
“Is this—” Gabe held up the gaming system. “He is going to never want to leave Nightsong Estate.”
“I’m pretty okay with that.” I didn’t want to leave the land either, and if things went as well as Brad hoped, we wouldn’t have to.
“He needs a home, not an apartment.” Gabe was not one to mince words. “I mean, I know you have the other place, your main home. But he and the babies need a house with a proper yard.”
“Once we figure out things with the claw land, I plan to build him the house of his dreams on claw land but away from the main building. Sort of what you and Brad did.” I just couldn’t bear to do so not knowing if it would be torn down before it was even finished. “Good thing I have a great lawyer.”
“He’s the best, and Corey’s contributions have really helped the clan’s case, or so Brad told me.”
“Claw,” I corrected him and instantly felt crappy about it as he gave me the evil eye. “But I know and the claw knows. He’s pretty amazing.” I picked up the bag of assorted cheesecake.
“He’s the best.” He eyed the bag. “I’m assuming you brought some for everyone?”
“That’s up to Corey.” I shrugged. I knew better than to get in the way of a pregnant man and his cheesecake.
“Corey,” he called into the bedroom. “We’re coming in and the answer is yes.”
Oh Gabe.
25
Corey
After a month in bed, being given the okay by the claw doctor, and Pia had put her hands on my belly and agreed I could get up, I was home. And home was now at Bryce’s. Being bedridden, I’d had a lot of time to think. And continuing to rent my apartment made no sense.
Before becoming pregnant, we spent most of our free time at Bryce’s due to his workload. I’d informed my landlord, arranged for a company to pack what I was keeping, and put the rest in storage at the Nightsong Estate while flat on my back.
Gabe, bless him, supervised the packing, so by the time I set foot in Bryce’s and my apartment, the spare room was piled high with boxes, reminding me of when my bestie had arrived in town and stayed with me.
I was itching to get in there and sort through stuff, but Bryce had put a huge lock on the door saying, “If you need anything urgently, I’ll get it for you. But you’re not going in there. Not yet.”
And I replied with, “But that’ll be the nursery.”
Bryce leaned on the door and said, “In case you hadn’t noticed, there are three bedrooms in this apartment.”
Damn that man! “Okay,” I huffed. “It’s the spare room, but it’s crying out to be organized.” Not to mention it was tiny. I had a feeling twins would have us outgrowing this place quickly.
“No!” the panther in him snarled at me and I let it go.
I’d arranged to work three days a week, but as it was a weekend, I was free. I hovered outside the locked door. “Bryce, going through my belongings would be the perfect way to spend a Saturday.”
He looked up from his phone. “Nice try. Read a book or watch Shifter World. Relax.”
“You can talk. You barely sleep, prepping for the court case and getting people interested in your cause.”
Turned out many organizations were willing to help save the land, but they all had different ideas and no one could agree on how best to turn the tide of opinion against the government.
While I’d been confined to bed, a huge protest took place one Saturday and I’d had to watch it on the TV. It definitely got the relevant people’s attention, but it appeared the powers that be were still headed to a trial.
“That’s different,” he replied.
“How?” I asked, tapping my foot on the floor.
“It just is.” He tossed his phone on the couch. “And today I’m spending the day with you.”
“Doing what?” I asked.
Matched To His Panther Page 10