Emerald City Shifters (Bundle)

by Kit Tunstall

  She nodded, bracing herself for angry words, unfounded accusations, or perhaps for him to simply turn around and walk away.

  Instead, he surprised her by leaning down and pressing his face against her stomach. She yelped in surprise, but it was over almost as soon as it had begun, and he stood up fully again. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  She blinked. “I just got back from Africa. I’ve barely had time to do anything besides catalog our finds and see the doctor.”

  “I see.” He crossed his arms over his chest as he took a step back. “Were you planning to tell me at some point?”

  She nodded. “I wasn’t sure if I could find you again, but I had planned to visit the bar this evening and talk to your nephew, hoping he could give me a lead. I thought you were part of a biker gang or something, so I didn’t know if I’d be able to find you.”

  A sinking sensation filled her as she realized he was not going to take it nearly as well when she divulged how far along the doctor estimated she was. She knew it was impossible, but Cody barely knew her. He was unlikely to believe she hadn’t had a lover two months before him, and he would probably doubt paternity. Since they’d used a condom, she was surprised he hadn’t insisted on a DNA test right away.

  The cowardly part of her wanted to put off the revelation, and she decided to embrace that, just for a short time. When she was better rested and could meet with Cody again, then she would show him the pictures and tell him what the doctor had said, while maintaining the truth.

  That was all she could do, though she was certain it would eventually denigrate into an argument, with name-calling slung in her direction, and ultimately require a DNA test and a court order for custody and child support arrangements. She dreaded the whole idea, so she didn’t fight when Cody took her into his arms again, rubbing her lower back as though he sensed instinctively which spot was already starting to cause her pain. She moaned with pleasure as he pressed his fingers into her lumbar area, massaging gently. “Oh, that feels good.”

  He laughed softly. “I’ve missed the sounds you make when I’m touching you, Jade.”

  She blinked in surprise at the revelation. If he was telling her the truth, that meant he’d thought about her while she was gone. She’d certainly thought about him multiple times, even before realizing they had accidentally created a life together. Two lives, she hastily amended. At the time, she hadn’t known that though, and she had logically assumed she was carrying one baby, not two, and she’d been unable to stop thinking about Cody, particularly in the moments where she wasn’t occupied with anything else, though they were few and far between.

  At night, she had lain in her narrow camping cot and wished she was back in that larger hotel bed with Cody. To find out he had thought of her during the time too was surprising, flattering, and maybe a little alarming. It indicated that perhaps she was more than a one-night stand to him. That was a daunting prospect, especially under the circumstances.

  He stepped back, looking regretful. “Why don’t you call Security and report the break-in, and then I’ll take you to dinner? After that, we can have a talk.”

  It was a sound plan, but she couldn’t deny she was nervous about the forthcoming conversation. She did as he suggested and contacted Security, unsurprised when he waited beside her until the guards had come. She gave the report to the older one, though the younger one was the one taking notes. After taking her report, and assuring her someone from Housekeeping would be in to help right the mess, the guards left.

  She decided to be irresponsible and leave the wreckage for the time being. All of the items had been catalogued except for some smaller finds that were still stacked in the corner. The crates had been disrupted, and she hoped nothing had been shattered, but a lot of it was already shards of pottery and sundries that weren’t nearly as important or unusual as a couple of other items they had discovered. Those items were already with experts being evaluated and carbon dated.

  There was nothing that couldn’t wait until morning, and though she was dreading the conversation, she was happy to leave the scattered mess in her office as she walked out beside Cody a few minutes later. When he took her hand, it felt natural and right to hold his as they walked together. It was only back in his proximity that she realized just how badly she had missed the man with whom she had what was supposed to be a one-night stand. Her conviction that it had been just sex was shaky at best.

  Chapter Three

  Cody’s bear was grumpy to be sitting across the table from Jade. Cody was grumpy himself, though he was pleased to be back in her presence. The last four months without her had been sheer torture. As soon as he’d smelled her across the bar, he’d known she was his mate, and though he hadn’t wanted to rush her, now he wished he had revealed everything to her that first night and bitten her to claim her as his mate. If he’d had any clue she was going to be departing for four months, he certainly would have done so and found a way to rearrange his schedule last-minute to accompany her wherever she went.

  She’d mentioned something about Africa, and he made a mental note to ask her about it later, but right now, his attention was split between his bear’s desire for her, which she shared, and his shock that he was going to be a father. Elation filled him as she opened her purse to hand him the sonographic pictures. He looked down at the images, having already been warned there were two of them. The twins looked beautiful to his untrained eyes, and he could make out definite features. They looked like babies rather than little blobs. His insides softened, and his bear purred his satisfaction at the realization that his mate carried his cubs.

  It also added new pressure to the relationship. He’d planned to give her time and move slowly once she returned. That plan had gone out the window in light of the knowledge she was pregnant with his babies. He was going to claim her and do it quickly. He just hoped he could gain her cooperation with the minimal amount of fuss. He couldn’t in good conscience give her the mating bite until she consented. That was a taboo thing in their culture, and only the lowest of scumbags would do such a thing.

  He grinned at her. “They look beautiful. Do you know the gender?”

  Her eyes widened, and she laughed. “I never even thought to ask Dr. Grayson. I guess I was still just shocked myself.”

  He arched a brow. “You were surprised to find out you’re pregnant?” He cast a doubtful glance at her stomach, which was beautifully rounded, making his fingers itch to touch it. Her breasts had also grown larger, and he and his bear both purred at the idea of exploring the new contours. His cock was hard and aching for her, but her visible concern quickly cut through his desire. “What’s wrong?”

  She shrugged. “I wasn’t surprised to learn I’m pregnant, but the doctor did tell me something that was…irregular.”

  His heart stuttered for a moment. “Is there something wrong with the babies?”

  She shrugged, looking uncertain. “The doctor said they’re healthy, but she also said…” She trailed off, biting her lip as though bracing herself for something unpleasant.

  “Said what,” he prompted gruffly. “I need to know if there’s a problem with the cub…children.”

  “She didn’t have an explanation for me, but I didn’t probe as much as I should have. I was still in shock. I’m afraid they might have something like gigantism.”

  He blinked. “What?”

  She shrugged. “It’s just a theory that popped into my head. It would explain why they appear to be bigger than they should.”

  Relief swept through him as he realized the problem. “How far along did the doctor guess you are?”

  “She said six months.” The way her mouth tightened indicated she was preparing herself for a blowup. Clearly, his mate expected him to attack her, accuse her of vile things, and storm out of the restaurant.

  Instead, Cody leaned across the table and took her hand in his. “There’s a perfectly valid explanation for that, but it’s not something I can tell you in public. Let’s have d
inner, and then we’ll go back to your place or mine for a more in-depth conversation.”

  After a moment, she nodded, and there was a hint of relief in her eyes. He hoped it was because he had eased her concerns over the twins, and not because she was relieved that he hadn’t blown up at her. He didn’t like the idea of her expecting him to be mean or angry. All he wanted to do was take care of her, though he knew he had to convince her of the strength of their connection first. It was going to be a challenge to claim his mate, but he was up for it. He’d do anything to keep Jade. And his babies.

  ***

  Cody lived a few streets over from her, still within easy walking distance of the university. His place was closer to the restaurant where they had eaten, so she had acquiesced to the suggestion they go to his place. It was a neat and orderly apartment, though a bit impersonal. There was a shelf full of an eclectic assortment of books, and a couple of picture frames on the wall with Cody and an older couple, but nothing else that gave a personal touch to the apartment.

  The walls were still white, and he hadn’t even added any throw rugs to the hardwood floor. His furniture was new, but mismatched. It was clearly a bachelor’s pad, but at least it didn’t have the requisite revolving door and drop-down bed. She couldn’t help picturing Quagmire’s set up from “Family Guy,” and she was happy to realize the idea didn’t gel at all with what she knew of Cody.

  Admittedly, that wasn’t much, but she was optimistic that would change. He clearly wanted more than the one night they’d had together, and he hadn’t freaked out about the pregnancy. He hadn’t shied away or accused her of being a whore when she’d divulged how far along the doctor thought the babies were. Instead, he claimed to have an explanation.

  That alone would have gotten her back to his apartment, but she couldn’t deny her rampant libido was hoping for a different outcome entirely. It had been four months, but it felt like forty years since they had been together. She wasn’t accustomed to sleeping around, but of the few affairs she’d had, she couldn’t recall ever craving a man this intensely before, and she’d certainly never pined for one while she was parted from him for months on end. To have such a connection with a man whom she barely knew was strange, but also kind of wonderful.

  She sat down on the brown leather sofa, and he took the seat beside her, though he didn’t infringe on her personal space. Darn it. Perhaps it was for the best, because she needed to focus on the babies for the moment before allowing any carnal thoughts to interrupt. “You didn’t seem all that shaken by the news that the babies are larger than they should be.”

  He shook his head. “That’s because they aren’t. My people have shorter gestation periods. Six months versus nine for humans.”

  Her heart seized for a moment, and fear filled her at his words. Great, he was clearly unhinged. She licked her dry lips, trying to proceed cautiously as she began to work out a plan to make it to the front door. “Oh. That’s interesting.”

  He shot her a repressive look. “I’m not a nut job, and you don’t have to patronize me.”

  She shook her head. “I wasn’t. I’m fascinated to hear all about your…people. You aren’t human then?” She felt like an idiot for having the conversation, but it seemed safer to play along until she had an opening to escape. Crushing disappointment was trying to take over as she realized all the half-spun dreams she’d been indulging in over the last few hours were coming to a screeching halt. No matter how attractive she found Cody, she couldn’t continue the relationship, or whatever it was, with him being a possible danger to her and the children.

  He rolled his eyes. “Do try to keep an open mind. Since you’re a professor, with a specialty in archaeology, you should be capable of that.”

  It was her turn to roll her eyes. “My mind is perfectly open, and I’m waiting with bated breath to hear your theory.”

  “It’s simple enough really. I’m a bear-shifter.”

  She stared at him in disbelief, finding it was worse than she’d thought. She had braced herself to hear something like he thought he was an alien, but this seemed even more dire. “What is a bear-shifter?”

  “I can turn into a bear.”

  Yep, it was definitely worse than she had expected. “That’s fascinating. Were you cursed? Was it a magical spell?”

  He let out a snort. “Don’t be a smartass. You might think you’re being subtle, but it’s clear as day that you think I’m crazy.”

  Though she wanted to placate him, her temper was starting to frayed. “I imagine you get that reaction a lot when you share your secret.”

  He surprised her by laughing. “I’ve never told anyone outside of my family. We don’t go bandying it about to everyone we meet.”

  Her eyes widened. “Your family is in on it…shares this belief?”

  He let out a long sigh, clearly exasperated. “It’s not anything mystical or magical. Ursa sapiens simply followed a different evolutionary path from homo sapiens. I have a human form and a bear form. If you’re done being skeptical, I’ll prove it to you.”

  She braced herself. “Of course. Please do so.” She had no idea what to expect, but she guessed he was going to don a bearskin rug or something and dance around pretending to be half-man and half-animal. The sad thing was, he probably wasn’t pretending. He very likely believed his own delusion, and she rubbed her stomach in a consoling fashion, as though comforting the babies over the fact their father was a complete loon.

  He stood up and started to undress. Panicked, she put up her hand. “That is not happening tonight.”

  He laughed. “Relax. I don’t want to rip my clothes.”

  She nodded, feeling surreal when she said, “I’m sure it must be expensive to replace your wardrobe when you’re a bear-shifter.”

  He rolled his eyes. “We usually shift when we’re naked, Jade.”

  She sat as quietly as possible, though her gaze continuously darted to the door. She hoped when he was in the process of his elaborate costume change that she would have an opening to run for it. After that, she wasn’t certain what she was going to do, but if he continued to pester her, she’d have to get a restraining order and probably turn him over to the authorities so he could get the mental help he needed.

  She was so busy thinking about her escape route that it took her a moment to realize Cody’s form had changed. There was no bearskin rug or elaborate costume. Where he’d been, now stood an impressive brown bear, and it appeared to be grinning at her. It had sparkling white teeth, which would be strange in a bear, unless he had access to whitening toothpaste and an electronic toothbrush. She looked at the bear, opening her mouth to scream in fear, when she realized it had the same blue eyes as Cody. She let out a little yeep of fright instead, her rational brain trying to find an explanation even as her primal brain embraced it, along with a surge of fear.

  She was instantly thrown back to the days when humans were prey, and her fight-or-flight response kicked in. She scrambled up from the couch and rushed across the room, running as fast as she could as she heard the bear’s claws click behind her. She threw open the door and plunged down the hallway, not even stopping for a second when she heard Cody calling out her name. She didn’t know if he had spoken in his bear form, or if he had transformed back. She didn’t want to know. It was too much to deal with, so she ran. Escape was the only thing on her mind.

  He caught up with her less than a block from his apartment, his large hand on her upper arm forcing her to arrest her flight. She stopped as she pulled free of him, upsetting her center of gravity and almost falling. If it hadn’t been for his steadying hands on her hips, she would have collided with the sidewalk. The realization was enough to bring her to her senses, though she remained wary. She couldn’t risk injuring her baby just because she was trying to escape its father. Babies, she reminded herself.

  “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  She hugged herself defensively. “How do I know that? I don’t know you at all, Cody.”


  “We’ll fill in the details with time, but you need to know you can trust me. I would never hurt you or our children.”

  Looking into his blue eyes, she could see only sincerity, but she was still frightened. “I’m going home now.”

  His lips tightened, but he didn’t try to argue. “I’ll walk you there.”

  She shook her head. “No, thank you.” She needed to escape him, to have time to think and sort through everything she’d seen.

  He crossed his arms over his chest, looking stern. “I insist. You’re pregnant, and you don’t need to be wandering the streets after dark alone. You’re a vulnerable target.”

  Jade wanted to continue arguing, but she realized he was right. They were in a fairly safe neighborhood, but anything could happen to anyone at any time. After all, she had just seen the most fantastical thing in her life, and clearly Cody expected her to absorb it easily. Maybe she was being unfair to him, since he hadn’t tried to force her back to his place. She was in no frame of mind to be completely fair at the moment though. She was still in a state of shock.

  Questions crowded her brain as she walked beside him, maintaining a subtle distance between them. She froze in her tracks when a disturbing thought came to her. “Are the babies going to be like you?”

  He stopped along with her. “Yes, I’m sure they will be. The gene that allows shifting is a dominant trait, though there has been occasional offspring between human and bear-shifters that couldn’t shift. It’s unlikely though.”

  She grimaced. “Are they going to look like bears when they come out?” She couldn’t get past that thought. If that were the case, she was going to have to be knocked out so they could be born, and good luck explaining that to Dr. Grayson. Her face paled, and she swayed unsteadily. “How am I ever going to explain this to my doctor? She’s going to know I’m farther along than I should be next time I go in.”