In Spite of Everything

by Catherine Lievens

  “You can’t know that,” Randy said.

  Kaspar was starting to be bothered by Randy. He seemed to have a problem with them, and Kaspar didn’t know what that problem was. He didn’t care, either. He just wanted Randy to leave them alone.

  “Randy,” Luther said. His tone told Randy and everyone else everything he needed to know. Even Kaspar was able to read it, and he wasn’t the greatest at that. If Randy continued flapping his mouth, he would pay for it.

  Randy snapped his mouth shut and glared. Kaspar grinned at him. He liked Randy much better now that he was silent.

  “You’re welcome to look around cete territory,” Thomas said. “If you could stay away from the house for now, though, I would be grateful. As you know, my son-in-law is having a baby right now, and I need him to stay calm and focused.”

  “That’s not possible,” Randy said.

  Luther looked like he might be about to throttle him. “Randy,” he repeated.

  Thomas ignored Randy. “You need to knock on doors instead of barging in, though. Even though you were sent by the humans and we have no say about your presence here, this is still our home. You have no right to walk around the way you’ve been doing. If you believed your anonymous caller, you should have come to me, not barged into my home like you were doing.”

  “I apologize,” Luther said.

  Randy made a strangled sound. Kaspar wondered if he was about to leave or do something just as stupid. He looked like the kind of person who might.

  “I accept your apology,” Thomas said with a nod. He looked back at the house, and Kaspar knew he wanted to go in and check in on Seamus. He wanted to do the same, and he and Seamus weren’t even related.

  “Thank you. And you’re right. I acted impulsively. I should have thought better about what was happening, but it was easier to just act.” He looked at Randy. “Randy? We need to talk.”

  Things wouldn’t end well for Randy. Kaspar could tell just by the look in Luther’s eyes. Luther had realized that something was wrong, and he was about to find out exactly what. Kaspar would be curious to find out, even though it wasn’t his business. He was still one of the people threatened by the humans, and he wanted to know what was happening, especially when it came to that anonymous source. It felt like someone was working against shifters from the inside—that was the only thing that made sense—and it couldn’t be good.

  Chapter Eleven

  Randy was in trouble, and Julian was happy about it. He didn’t care if it made him petty or a bad person. He could tell that something was up with Randy, and he was curious to find out what it was.

  He already knew Jacqueline was behind this. It was obvious. Josiah had fired her from her council member position, and she wanted revenge. Julian wasn’t surprised about that, but he was surprised that she was using the humans to get it.

  “Randy? How did that person get your phone number?” Luther asked.

  “How should I know? I got a phone call, that’s it.”

  “Did you know anyone in the forest before we got here?”

  “Of course not. How would I know anyone here?”

  “Well, it’s obvious that someone has your phone number, and I want to know how and whom.”

  Randy shook his head. “Why does it matter? We have a reason to arrest all of those animals. Who cares who the anonymous tipper is? She gave us the weapon we needed, and we can use it and go home.”

  Julian jerked back. He’d suspected that at least a few people on the human team thought shifters were barely more than animals, but it was still hurtful to hear it. Julian didn’t want to be friends with any of the humans, but that didn’t mean he enjoyed anyone telling him that he was only as good as his weasel was.

  “I don’t want to hear that from you ever again,” Luther snapped.

  “You saw them! That guy is having a baby. You can’t tell me that’s normal.”

  “I don’t care what’s normal and what’s not. I want to know what happened, and I want to know now.”

  “I told you, I don’t know how she got my phone number.”

  “She? That’s the second time you’ve said she.”

  “The woman who called me. She asked me if I wanted to help her.”

  “Help her do what?”

  “Get rid of the shifters in the forest.”

  “And you said yes.”

  “Of course I did. That’s why we’re here. Besides, it’s not like they’re human beings.”

  Luther sighed and gestured. Julian wasn’t surprised to see several team members come closer. He was surprised to hear Luther say, “Arrest him.”

  “What are you doing?” Randy protested.

  “You’re under arrest. I’m sending you back home.”

  “You can’t do that. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “You almost started a war. That’s very wrong.” Luther turned toward Thomas. “I apologize. I should’ve known better than to listen to Randy. I thought I could trust him.”

  “I understand. He’s a member of your team, and if you can’t trust them, who can you trust?” Thomas asked.

  “Exactly. Still. I shouldn’t have acted instinctively the way I did. I should have listened to you.”

  “You should have. But as long as you look into what’s happening, I’m happy with the outcome. I want to know who called your man and got him to do this.”

  Thomas had to suspect it was Jacqueline, but he didn’t say anything. If she had tried to start a war, the shifters would deal with her. It wasn’t the humans’ business.

  Luther nodded. He turned to watch his team members drag Randy to one of the cars, then turned back to Thomas and hesitated. “Is he going to be okay?”

  Thomas frowned. “Who?”

  “Your son-in-law?”

  Thomas smiled. “He will be. He’s just having a baby.”

  “I can lend you my medic if you want.”

  Thomas shook his head. “We have a healer.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “I am. I know it’s surprising to you, but here in the forest, we’re used to men having babies. Seamus will be fine. Well, not right away, but eventually. Feel free to call me if you need anything.”

  “I will. I promise I’ll find out what happened. I won’t tolerate what Randy did, and I’ll get to the bottom of the situation.”

  “That’s all I’m asking for.”

  Julian was relieved. He’d thought things would end badly, but instead, the only one who was in trouble was Randy. It could have gone so much worse.

  The thought made his stomach churn. He didn’t puke again, but it was a close thing. Instead, he leaned against Kaspar, and Kaspar wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close.

  Julian didn’t miss the way Luther looked at them, but thankfully, he didn’t say anything. Julian wasn’t in the mood to defend his relationship with Kaspar. He wasn’t in the mood to give the humans any more information than they’d already gotten. Even though Luther was trying to make things better, it didn’t change the fact that he’d acted without thinking and that he shouldn’t have. He wouldn’t have if he’d been working with humans. The only reason he had, in this case, was that he was dealing with shifters.

  But that was his job, wasn’t it? He was here to police the shifters, and he’d believed his man. It was surprising that he’d allowed Thomas to reason with him, and that he was taking this seriously. Julian hadn’t expected it, and he wasn’t sure what to think of Luther anymore.

  It didn’t matter, because Luther was leaving—for now. Julian, Kaspar, and Thomas watched as the humans climbed into their cars and drove away. Julian only relaxed when the cars disappeared at the end of the driveaway. He hoped he wouldn’t see any of those people anytime soon, but he knew better. He was the carrier council member, after all.

  “Thank you,” Thomas said.

  Julian shook his head. “You have nothing to thank us for.”

  “You p
rotected Seamus.”

  “Of course we did.” What else did he expect them to do?

  Thomas smiled. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Why don’t we go in? Estelle can tell us what’s happening and how long it will be. And thank you for bringing Seamus home. He didn’t tell Alex he wasn’t feeling well, which is why Alex and I left.”

  “He mentioned that. He didn’t realize he was in labor until I told him.”

  “Well, he was lucky to have you there.” Thomas patted Julian’s shoulder. “Let’s go inside.”

  Julian followed, relieved that he would finally be able to sit down. He still wasn’t feeling well, and he didn’t want to think about what it meant.

  Not yet. Eventually, but not yet.

  * * * *

  Kaspar was relieved when they finally went inside. He wished this mess hadn’t marred the moment, but at least things had ended better than he’d thought they would. Luther seemed to be a good man, just like Julian had said. Kaspar was surprised, although he supposed he shouldn’t be.

  It wasn’t like he’d ever met humans. They lived outside the forest, where they belonged. They stayed away. They’d locked the shifters inside the forest, and shifters had to stay here. Kaspar didn’t mind. The forest was his home, and it always would be. He didn’t want to meet the people who lived outside, especially if he thought about the way they treated them.

  But he had to admit that he was happily surprised at Luther’s behavior, although he could have done without all the drama.

  He wasn’t surprised at Randy’s behavior, though. There were bigots and assholes in every species.

  “Thank you for bringing Seamus home,” Thomas said. It had to be the tenth time he’d repeated that, and it made Kaspar smile. Scarlet wouldn’t be Thomas’s first grandchild, but technically, she would one day be the alpha, and that meant a lot. Besides, Kaspar suspected Thomas would be emotional with every single one of his grandkids. He was just that kind of man.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Julian said. He was still a little pale, and Kaspar wondered if he should grab Estelle after Seamus had given birth and ask her to check on Julian. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know if something was wrong, but he also did want to know. It was a horrible dilemma, but it was one they would have to face eventually. Today might not be the best day for that to happen, but with the way Julian had been denying something was wrong, it might be a good thing to be in the same house as Estelle.

  They walked into the kitchen, and Kaspar blinked at finding Estelle there, filling one of those reusable bottles of water with a straw that kept water cold.

  “What are you doing here?” Kaspar asked. “Shouldn’t you be with Seamus?”

  Estelle chuckled. “It’s going to be a while. He doesn’t need me there holding his hand, not when he already has Alex and Hope with him. Patrick is there, too. That boy needs to learn how to do this, so he’s keeping an eye on things.”

  Kaspar was slightly worried that the only healer with Seamus right now was an apprentice, but he didn’t say anything. Estelle knew what she was doing after all, and he certainly didn’t.

  “How is he?” Julian asked.

  “Pretty good. He’s dilatating, but like I said, it’s still going to be a while.”

  The thought of what was happening in Seamus’s pants made Kaspar feel queasy. He eyed the kitchen sink, wondering if it would be a good place to puke. Probably not since there were so many people in the room with them.

  He swallowed. Estelle was still talking about how Seamus was doing, and Kaspar tried to ignore her. He was nauseous, and he suspected he might be pregnant. He didn’t dare hope, though. “Do you have some time?” he asked Estelle before he could think better about it.

  She blinked and looked at him. “Of course. Do you need something?”

  “I’m not feeling well.”

  Estelle cocked her head and looked him up and down. “Of course. I can see you right now.” She turned to Thomas. “We’re taking one of the guest rooms. We won’t be long.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Thomas said. “I trust you. If you say Seamus is in good hands, then he’s in good hands. Besides, you’re in the same house. That’s good enough for me.”

  Estelle led the way. Kaspar walked behind her, with Julian at his elbow. Julian hadn’t said anything, but Kaspar knew he wanted to. He leaned closer, and when Julian looked at him, he shrugged. He didn’t want to tell Julian he might be pregnant. He didn’t want Julian to hope if it was only a stomach bug or something.

  Estelle snatched a bag from one of the chairs in the entrance as they walked past it, then headed upstairs. Kaspar could hear the murmur of voices in a bedroom further down the hallway, and his stomach twisted. They entered one of the guest bedrooms, and Estelle made Julian close the door.

  “So? What’s going on?”

  Kaspar looked at Julian. “I haven’t been feeling well, and Julian and I have been trying for a baby.”

  Estelle’s eyes brightened. “Really? That’s good to hear.” She opened her bag and rustled through it, then took out a pregnancy test. She held it out to Kaspar. “You know what to do.”

  Kaspar took the test with a trembling hand and headed to the bathroom. Julian stayed outside, and it was unnerving for Kaspar to have to do this on his own. Kaspar didn’t want Julian to watch him pee on a stick, though, so this was better for everyone.

  Of course, now that he had to pee, he didn’t have to. Kaspar looked at the ceiling, rolling his eyes at himself. He turned on the water in the sink, then focused on what he had to do. Finally, he managed to pee on the stick.

  But now that this was done, he had to wait again. He put the stick on the sink as he washed his hands, then stared at it. He didn’t want to go outside without having an answer, and he was ready to wait for as long as it took. If he was about to be disappointed, he wanted to know before telling Julian.

  But the answer was yes.

  Kaspar’s eyes smarted as two pink lines appeared on the test. It was positive. Kaspar was pregnant.

  He snatched the test from the sink and opened the bathroom door. Julian and Estelle were there, and they both looked at him when he stepped out. Julian’s posture was stiff, and he gave Kaspar a questioning glance. He looked like he might be about to faint, so Kaspar didn’t make him wait. “It’s positive,” he said.

  Julian’s face broke into a smile that could have lit up the sky. “Really? You’re pregnant?”

  Kaspar nodded. His throat felt tight, and he wasn’t sure he could say anything else. He drew Julian into his arms and hugged him tight, unable to say anything.

  They were about to become parents. They were having a baby.

  “Congratulations, both of you,” Estelle said. “Now, if you don’t need anything else, I’ll go back to Seamus. I forgot his water downstairs.”

  “Of course,” Julian said. “Thank you.”

  “Actually,” Kaspar interrupted. He looked away from Julian because he knew Julian would get angry. “Julian hasn’t been feeling well lately.”

  Estelle frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “He’s been throwing up quite a bit.”

  “It’s nothing,” Julian protested. “Just stress and the new job. I’m perfectly fine.”

  Estelle arched a brow. “You don’t look sick. Kaspar said you were trying for a baby, but have you both been trying to get pregnant?”

  Julian blinked. “I can’t get pregnant. You told me that.”

  Estelle’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

  Julian bit his lower lip. “When you saw me after I first arrived at the Bishop House. You examined me, and you told me I couldn’t get pregnant.”

  For the first time since he’d known her, Estelle looked shocked and worried. “That is not what I said, Julian,” she said.

  Julian frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “I never said you couldn’t get pregnant. You can.” She loo
ked from Julian to Kaspar. “Actually, to me, it sounds like you might be.”

  Julian shook his head. “I don’t understand. You said—I know I heard you say that I couldn’t get pregnant.”

  Estelle’s expression softened. “Oh, Julian. No. I never said you couldn’t get pregnant again. I never said it because it’s not the truth. You can get pregnant. Have you been using protection?”

  “No. I thought—”

  “You thought you couldn’t get pregnant.”

  Julian had truly believed that, and he’d told Kaspar. Now, it sounded like it might not be true, and Kaspar wasn’t sure what to make of the news.

  * * * *

  Julian didn’t understand what Estelle was saying. “I heard you. You said I couldn’t get pregnant.” He was repeating himself, but then, his thoughts were repeating themselves in his mind, round and round until he couldn’t understand anything.

  Estelle glared at him and put her hands on her hips. “I said that between your age and the fact that you had Kari on your own and that your first pregnancy and birth weren’t medicalized, it would be hard for you to get pregnant. It was entirely possible, though.” She eyed his stomach. “And I’m pretty sure you managed.”

  Julian’s hand flew to his stomach. “Are you sure?”

  Estelle’s scowl deepened. “Are you telling me I don’t remember what I said?”

  “Of course not. I just—I thought—I was so sure you said I couldn’t have children.”

  Estelle’s scowl softened. “I’m really sorry. It’s obvious I should have been clearer, and that I should have talked to you again after that first visit. Is this a bad thing? The fact that you’re pregnant, I mean. You were happy about Kaspar, but a second baby might be too much, especially if you thought you couldn’t get pregnant.”