Dragon Whelps: Earth Dragons Series: Book 3

by Hartnady, Charlene

  “Alabama is close enough.” She sat down, pulling her chair in.

  Shale sat down across from her. “I’m the father…of…” He glanced at her belly. “I’m the dad and you still won’t even tell me your name.” He was still smiling. Not as tense.

  “Let’s see how this goes and then maybe.” He still had some answering to do. “Let’s start with the whole ‘sterile’ thing. You led me to believe that you couldn’t have kids. How else could you have been so sure that I wouldn’t become pregnant?”

  “Let’s get you some tea. What kind do you prefer?”

  “Just answer the question? It’s not that hard. You had me convinced I wouldn’t get pregnant. That it would never happen. I believed you. So much so that I didn’t get that morning after pill. Stupid! I’m so stupid.” She felt a pang of guilt immediately after saying it. Like she was wishing her baby away. This child was not to blame. This child was innocent in every way and deserved everything and more.

  She grit her teeth for a moment, trying to gain composure.

  “I’ll get you some tea,” Shale said, sounding concerned. He pushed the chair back and headed for the counter.

  What was he hiding? He was hiding something. That much was clear to her. It took him a few minutes to return and when he did, he not only had a mug with a teabag hanging over the edge, but he also had a plate full of tasty goodies.

  “I wasn’t sure what you liked,” he put the plate down closer to her, “so I got us a couple of things.”

  “Donuts, a chocolate chip cookie, a blueberry muffin, cream puffs, a slice of pie…it’s cherry.” Shale handed her a fork and she took it.

  Her mouth watered.

  He slid the plate closer to her, taking one of the donuts off the plate, and taking a big bite. He groaned around the food. “That’s so good.” He licked the frosting off his lips, taking another bite. He gestured to the plate in front of her. “Not hungry, Wisconsin?”

  “Don’t.” She shook her head. “This is no time for joking. It’s serious. We need to talk about this.”

  “I am serious. I’m very serious. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.” He put what was left of the donut down on the plate and wiped his hands together. “Let’s get out of here. Somewhere we can talk…somewhere a little more private.” He looked around the room before turning his gaze back to her.

  Georgia found herself glancing to the left and right of them as well. Aside from the lady working behind the counter, there was one other couple in the place, and a businessman in the far corner. The couple were in deep conversation with one another and the businessman was reading a newspaper while enjoying a Danish. The server was too busy frosting cupcakes behind the counter, to pay them much attention. “No one cares what we’re talking about. No one is paying any attention to us. I get the distinct impression that you’re either trying to buy time or that you’re hiding something.”

  “It’s not what you think.” He grimaced.

  “I don’t think anything. I have no idea what to think and it’s driving me a little nuts.” Unless… “Have you changed your mind? About this? About the baby?” That was most likely it. He was too afraid to say so in case she made a scene.

  “No,” he answered immediately. “It’s just, you might have a hard time dealing with what I have to say. It might—”

  Oh shit! “You’re married.” She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed a hand over her face. “You already have a couple of kids and—”

  “What?” He frowned. “No! That’s not it at all.” He frowned some more.

  “Tell me then. Just spit it out.” When he didn’t anything she went on. “Just tell me. I can take it.”

  “It’s not that simple. Trust me on that one.”

  What else could it be? What was so bad? What was he skirting around? “You’re moving to Iceland? You just lost your job and need to move in with me.” That was probably it. Then again, she could think of worse. “Your family has some kind of genetic disorder and you’re afraid the baby might be affected?”

  He choked out a laugh but quickly sobered. “You have some imagination there, Indiana.” Then he raised his brows in thought for a moment. “Although you’re not far off.”

  “On which guess? You can’t move in with me. I’m sorry, but—”

  “That’s not it. I…are you sure you don’t want to take a walk? I’d prefer—”

  “Tell me, Shale, before I lose my shit. It won’t look pretty, I can tell you that much. I’m far too pregnant to be losing my shit—”

  “I’m a shifter.”

  Georgia could not have heard right. “What’s that?”

  “The thing about the genetics. It’s kind of true since I’m…” he looked around them and even leaned forward on the table, “I’m a shifter.” He kept his voice down. “Not one of the regular kind either.”

  “A shifter?”

  “Keep your voice down.” His eyes darted to the couple and then to the lady behind the counter.

  Georgia picked her jaw up off the floor and took a big gulp of her tea. Thankfully it had cooled down or she would have burned herself. “A shifter but not the regular kind?” She realized she was repeating what he was saying but couldn’t seem to stop herself.

  He pushed out a breath, running a hand through his hair. “Yep, I’m a…shifter.”

  She was sure she heard him whisper the word ‘dragon’.

  “Okay, so I know shifters exist, although I’ve never met one.” Her voice was a bit shrill.

  “Um…yes, you have. That’s what I’m trying to tell you here. All of the guys I was with, we’re all…” He widened his eyes.

  “Dragon shifters,” she whispered.

  Shale smiled and nodded. “Yes, exactly. We live in a vast territory to the north. That doesn’t matter right now. We don’t live amongst humans, although we mix with you guys from time to time and have been taking human mates.”

  He sounded so believable. Like he meant every word. Like he believed every word.

  “I’m a prince in my tribe.” He leaned even closer to her, pulling his shirt down a little and revealing what looked like a tattoo on his chest. It was pretty elaborate. A golden tribal type of artwork with dark swirls. His chest was still broad and muscular and— She needed to stop with that particular line of thought.

  “That’s one hell of a tattoo,” Georgia found herself saying, despite the crazy stuff coming out of his mouth. “Did you have it done in the last six months?”

  “It’s not a tattoo,” he corrected her, shaking his head. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I was born like this. All dragon shifters have these markings.”

  “Oh!” Yeah, right! “Why didn’t you have it on you that night?”

  “I did. We wear a special concealer. It would be odd if all of us had similar golden or silver chest markings. The hunters know of these markings.” He touched his chest. “If they were to catch wind of our activities on human soil, they would devise plans to capture us.”

  Shale was completely certifiable. It was worse than she could ever imagine. “Oh, o-okay.” Georgia wasn’t sure what else to say.

  “I didn’t think you would become pregnant because you weren’t anywhere close to your heat. We have much better-developed senses. I’m not sure what happened there.” He shrugged. “I guess it’s not an exact science.” He took a sip of his soda. “Normally we can scent if a female is nearing her heat, and you weren’t. At least, that’s what I thought.” He shrugged.

  Or maybe it was because he didn’t have heightened senses. He only believed he had them. She felt so bad for Shale. Georgia understood mental illness to some degree. She was watching dementia steal her mother from her one day at a time. It was horrible.

  “You’re taking this better than I expected.” Shale smiled again. He looked so normal. So darned believable.

  Georgia took another sip of her tea, holding her belly with her other hand. Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.

  “This next part might scar
e you.” He took a sip of his soda.

  As if everything he had just said hadn’t scared the bejesus out of her.

  When she didn’t say anything, he went on. “You’re carrying twins…” he grimaced expecting a reaction out of her, when he didn’t get one, he carried on, “and you are going to have them any day now. Like I said,” he glanced at the couple, before locking eyes with her, “we have taken human mates who have had our offspring. Our females only carry for six months. It’s very rare for a female to have more than two. Twins are the norm.” He smiled again. “I really thought you were going to freak out.” He looked relieved, even sitting back in his chair for a moment or two before leaning forward again. “We’re having boys. So far, no human has birthed a girl, so chances are good we will have sons.”

  She took another sip of her tea, not tasting anything. Georgia nodded once. What the hell was she going to do?

  “…and they’re dragon shifters. They’ll even have a mark on their chests, only, chances are good it won’t be golden like mine. You see I’ve undergone allergy treatment for our aversion to silver so…” He chuckled. “I’m bombarding you with information. Too much too soon, yes?”

  “You could say that.” She nodded again.

  How was she going to tackle this? She couldn’t just leave him there. He was in the middle of a major breakdown or episode or something. “So…” she smiled, “do you perhaps have a family member who we can call to join us? Your mom or dad maybe?” She tried to sound light and breezy. “I would love to meet your family.”

  “Um…” he looked confused, cocking his head, “both my parents are…they’re staying on our dragon lands, nowhere near our main settlement.”

  “Oh, I see.” Shit! “Any other family?” Act normal! She forced out a smile.

  “I have a sister and several brothers, including a twin.”

  “I see.” She nodded. “Let’s call him if—”

  “No one is available right now and,” he scratched the back of his head, “there will be plenty of time for that soon enough.” He cocked his head looking confused.

  She needed to do something more drastic. “Did you take your medication this morning?”

  Shale made a face of complete confusion, his forehead furrowed. Then he looked taken aback. “What medication would that be? I…” Then he fell back in his chair. “You don’t believe a word I’ve just said, do you? That’s why you’re taking this so well?”

  She pushed out a breath. “Shale, I’m just trying to help you. I know that’s difficult to understand. Have you been seeing someone? A psychologist?”

  “Of course not! There is nothing wrong with me, Virginia…Indiana…Wyoming…”

  Shit! He was getting agitated.

  “I wish I knew your name.” He pushed a hand through his hair, mussing it a little. The couple from the table next to them had stopped talking. They were listening in. “You do know…” He glanced at the couple, giving them a dirty look. His jaw clenched and his eyes got an aggressive look.

  “Honey,” the guy at the table said, his voice a touch high-pitched ‒ especially for a man, “um…I think we should go now.” His eyes stayed on Shale the whole time.

  “Yes.” His partner’s eyes were wide and filled with fear. They were also trained on Shale. She pushed her chair back. “I think that might be a good idea.”

  Shale waited until they were gone, only then did he relax just a little. Perhaps ‘relaxed’ was the wrong word. It was more a case of not being as agitated than actually being relaxed.

  “I am who I say I am. You do know that shifters exist? If not, you’re living under a rock. There are several non-human species.”

  “Yes, I know.” It was true. “But I’ve never heard of dragons. There is no such thing.”

  “Look at me…” He clenched his jaw in frustration, probably because he didn’t know her name. She should have told him by now but…she couldn’t. Not now. Especially not now. “I mean really look at me.” He gestured down his torso. “Do I look human to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Look closer.”

  “You’re big.” She looked him up and down. “Not just big, but really tall as well. Bigger than most guys but that’s not proof of—”

  Just then a group of three giggling teenagers walked in and jostled their way to the counter.

  “I would like nothing more than to prove it to you, but…I can’t right now.” Shale spoke under his breath. “I’m telling you the absolute truth. Let’s go somewhere and I’ll…”

  “I can’t.” Like hell! She shook her head. “I need to get back to work.”

  “I’m serious. You are going to have these babies any day.” He stood up as well, walking to her.

  Georgia had to work hard not to take a step back. Her heart beat really fast. She could hear it in her ears. Thump…whoosh! Thump…whoosh! Thump…whoosh! Shale was dangerous. Or maybe he wasn’t. Truth was, she couldn’t be sure right then. She had the baby to think of. “We can meet in a couple of days.”

  “I have a feeling that when you walk out that door, it’s going to be the last time I see you.” He was clenching his jaw again. His eyes were intense.

  “That’s not true.”

  “Like hell.” He spoke under his breath, which was almost worse than if he had been screaming. “You think I’m crazy.”

  “I think you might need help, but I—”

  “There you go! Admit that when you leave it’s over.”

  “You are still this baby’s father, even if you do need help. Shale, please, you are scaring me.”

  He sniffed the air. His whole demeanor softened. “Shit! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  “It’s okay. I won’t just leave and cut ties. I would never do that.”

  He pushed out a breath. “Please…” He glanced at the young girls who were openly admiring him. They giggled as he looked their way. “Shit!” he said under his breath. “I can prove it to you if you’ll just trust me, please.”

  She wanted to. She burned to, but she couldn’t. There was just no way. It was too far-fetched. A dragon? A prince? Twins? No way! Just no way! “I can’t.” She stepped back, getting ready to run if she had to and—

  There was a popping sound. An honest-to-god popping sound. Water gushed down from between her legs. Georgia’s first thought was that she had wet her pants. That all of this stress had caused her to lose control of her bladder. Then she realized what it was.

  Chapter 12

  “Oh, no!” Her face morphed into one of utter shock. Shale watched as the blood drained from her features. “My water just broke. Oh…” She put a hand to her belly. “Ohhh!” She clenched her teeth. “I think…I think I’m having a contraction. No! Oh no! It’s too early.”

  “That’s what I’ve been telling you. It’s not too early. This is happening right on time. The babies are fine.”

  “Stop with the—” She groaned, her face pinched, her eyes closed.

  He gripped her elbow. “Everything is going to be ok. Please tell me your name already,” Shale urged.

  Her eyes were wide, and she was doing this weird breathing thing. There was no way she was talking right then. “Let’s go outside.” He tried to take her arm, but she pulled away, still breathing heavily.

  “Do you want me to call an ambulance?” the female behind the counter asked. The group of young females looked both fascinated and horrified.

  “No!” he growled.

  The server flinched at his harsh tone.

  “No ambulance,” he added, softer this time.

  “Yes!” Alabama ‒ or whatever the hell her name was ‒ nodded, eyes on the server.

  “Hold on just a second,” he asked the server, who had just picked up her phone. She looked seriously spooked.

  “I can get you help,” he tried again, gripping her elbow carefully. “Please just tell me your name. Let’s start there.”

  “Georgia. It’s Georgia.”

  Shale sighed. He couldn’
t help the smile that formed on his lips. “Good to finally officially meet you.”

  Georgia made a pained face, this time not from actual pain. “Why do you have to sound so normal?”

  “Because I am normal, New York. I’m completely fine. I swear to god. Let me help you. My SUV—”

  Georgia shook her head, eyes still wide. Both hands on her belly. “Call them!” she yelled, looking over at the server.

  “I can help,” he insisted. “Get in my car. I can drive us somewhere secluded,” he spoke quickly and softly and directly into her ear. “I’ll shift into my dragon form and fly you back to my lair. There are healers there who can help you,” he continued. Shale realized how unbelievable this sounded but he had to try. “You are going to have dragon whelps…don’t get me wrong, they’ll look human—”

  “Of course they will. ‘They.’ Listen to me,” she muttered to herself. “My baby will be normal,” she pushed out. “Because he or she is human.” She moaned, arching her back a little. “I’m having another one. Oh god…it’s bad.”

  “Maybe you should sit.” The server pushed over a chair.

  Why hadn’t he thought of that? He helped Georgia to the chair and helped her sit.

  The female had a phone to her ear. “The nine-one-one operator says that help is on the way.” She listened for a moment or two, nodding her head at whatever they were saying to her over the phone. “Okay…thank you. Yes, I will.” Then she looked down at Georgia. “They are three minutes out,” she said.

  Georgia nodded once, grimacing. She was doing that breathing thing again. “Thank you,” she groaned.

  “Is there anything else I can do?” the female asked, looking concerned.

  Georgia shook her head once.

  “I’ve got this,” Shale said. “I’ll take care of my…girlfriend.”

  Georgia shot him a look that spoke volumes. She was still breathing through the birthing pains, so she didn’t make any comment.

  “I’m going to wait outside,” the server said. “The ambulance will be here soon.”