by C. W. Gray
Sonny shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never added it before. Only one way to find out.”
Miles nodded and started gathering ingredients. “One special carrot cake coming up.”
Chapter 26
Leo whistled as he carried Ravenpaw into Rocci’s Garage. The coolness of the air conditioner made him sigh with pleasure. His coveralls were not meant for hot summer days.
Coleen looked up from her laptop and smiled before holding out her arms. “Hand over Ravenpaw. I need some company up front today.”
Leo scowled and set Ravenpaw on the front desk. “Maybe he wants to spend the day with me.”
Ravenpaw’s tail swished as he walked to Coleen. The blue and gold, Ravenclaw-themed bowtie looked particularly good against his thick black fur. He climbed into Coleen’s arms and turned to stare at Leo.
“Well,” Leo huffed, trying to hide his smile. “See who you like at lunch time. I’m the one with the cat treats.”
Coleen gave him a smug look. “I have some in my desk.”
Leo turned on his heel and stalked into the next room. His dad was just leaving the breakroom and almost bumped into him.
Jesse steadied Leo as he nearly tipped over. “Sorry about that, Leo.” He gave him an eager look. “Has Sonny finally told –”
“No,” Leo interrupted, sulking. “He still hasn’t said anything and Litha is on Sunday. Myrtle said that the scrying should be done on Litha for the best results, and Sonny hasn’t even mentioned it.”
Jesse rubbed his arm. “Sonny probably has a plan. We’ll just surprise him before he surprises you.”
Leo rubbed his nose. Shifters had a keen sense of smell, and Leo had noticed Sonny’s delicious scent had changed a couple weeks ago. His mate was pregnant. “Can I ask you something?”
Jesse gave him an understanding look and pulled him into the breakroom. “What’s wrong?”
“What if I’m not a good dad?” Leo swallowed hard. “I’m good with all the little Rocchi kids and Aaron and Gemma’s daughter, but what if I fuck up? This is my child. I’m scared, Dad.”
Jesse sat him in a chair at the break table, then sat beside him. “I’m going to be honest, Leo. You are going to fuck up.”
Leo glared at his dad. “This is the worse pep talk ever.”
Jesse chuckled. “Every parent fucks up at some point. Do you know how many times I dropped Burkhart? Frankly, I’m surprised he’s as smart as he is. Then there’s all the times we forgot to pick you and Thorwald up from daycare or school. After a while, you two started taking your afterschool snacks with you in the morning. Plus, do you remember when I told Coleen’s first boyfriend how often she had to shave her legs? She didn’t talk to me for a month.”
“Oh fuck.” Leo buried his face in his hands. “My child’s going to hate me.”
Jesse patted his back. “Do you hate me?”
Leo peeked through his fingers. “Not all the time.”
“Why not?”
“Because I know you love me, even if you and Mom do stupid stuff sometimes.”
Jesse smiled. “Exactly. As long as you love that kid unconditionally, the rest can be figured out.”
Leo leaned back in his seat and stared at the ceiling. “I already love the baby unconditionally. It’s part of me and Sonny, but it’s more than that.” He looked at his dad. “The baby’s our family.”
Jesse gave him a soft look. “That’s as it should be. Now, your grandma called and told me everything’s set up for the Litha celebration on Sunday.”
“Do you think Sonny will mind us inviting everyone?”
Jesse shrugged. “He hasn’t minded us being there before.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“Here.” Jesse picked up the lasagna carrier. “I’ll take care of that for you. Go and relax for a minute. It’s going to be busy today.”
“Don’t eat our lunch for breakfast,” Leo warned as he headed to his station. His dad was right though. It was going to be a busy day.
Leo lit the pink, black, and white candles Sonny had given him a while ago. Pink for harmony, white to dispel negativity, and black for protection. He had no idea if they worked or not, but he had promised Sonny that he would light them every morning.
That done, he started reviewing his appointments for the day. The morning would bring two oil changes, one new fuel tank, and one set of tires.
A moment later, his brother Burkhart came in. “Hey, Leo. Has Sonny—”
“No.” Leo threw a bottle of water at his eldest brother. “Why do you all ask that every morning?”
Burkhart easily caught the bottle and took a drink. “We all scent him, and we want to cuddle and pamper him. It’s what we do with pregnant people in our family. You know that.” He tilted his head. “Well, except for Aunt Tula. When she’s pregnant, she’ll cut your nuts off if you try to cuddle her.”
Leo shuddered. During her last pregnancy, Leo had made the mistake of trying to bring her a plate of food. “Don’t remind me.”
Thorwald yawned as he stumbled into the garage. “Hey, has Sonny said any—”
Leo growled and shoved his sleepy brother into Burkhart. “Be a good brother, Burk, and throttle him, please?”
“With pleasure.” Burkhart laughed and maneuvered Thorwald into a headlock so he could mess up his hair.
“Not the hair.” Thorwald wiggled and pushed away from Burkhart before smoothing his hands over his blond hair. “Dude, really. Grow up.”
“Thorwald, I’m going to kill you!” Niels, the youngest of the Rocchi children, ran into the garage, eyes furious. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Leo covered his mouth to hold back the laughter. His omega brother’s hair was baby poop green.
Burkhart whined but kept his lips pressed together.
Leo’s sister Rosemarie was the last into the garage. She ran an eye over Niels’s hair and shoved Thorwald. “Dye in the shampoo? Good one.”
Leo and Burkhart’s eyes met and neither of them could hold it in any longer. Laughter filled the garage.
“I hate you all.” Niels stomped his feet. “I’m going to get Sonny to turn your heads into pecan pies. Let’s hear you laugh then.”
Four hours later, Leo and his family gathered around a table and ate lasagna in the breakroom. Ravenpaw’s considerable bulk stretched along the middle of the table, and the black cat happily nibbled on his treats.
“Sonny’s food always makes me feel good,” Rosemarie said before taking another bite.
“Me too,” Leo’s mom, Katrin, agreed. “Speaking of Sonny, did you send the reminder e-mail, Coleen?”
“Of course. I even remembered to send it to the Blackwoods and the other witch families we know.” Coleen gave them a smug look and slid Ravenpaw a bit of sausage. “I got a reply from the Blackwood.”
“Huh?” Thorwald eyed her. “There’s only one?”
“No, you nitwit.” Coleen leaned forward, eyes bright. “The head of the Blackwood family. He lives in Haverdell and is one of the senior members of the Witches Council.”
“Really?” Leo almost missed his mouth with his fork. “Is he sending someone?”
Coleen shook her head and leaned back. “He has business to handle near here, so he’s coming to celebrate Litha with us. He even offered to do the scrying for Sonny, but I told him that Sonny would probably want Myrtle to do it. He was super nice.”
“I’m glad he’s not a dickhead like some of the other witches,” Katrin said. “Our Sonny deserves to be accepted as he is.”
“Well, the man’s from Haverdell, so he’s used to seeing different species mating and marrying one another,” Burkhart said, fixing a second plate of lasagna. “Thorwald and I will try to keep the rest of the family in line, but you know how they get when it’s a celebration.”
“This Litha celebration is going to be the best surprise.” Coleen clapped excitedly. “Myrtle will do the Litha scrying for the baby and the protection blessing for Sonny, al
l his friends and family will be there, and, of course, we’ll have a bonfire and dancing.”
“Grandma invited Maddel and the rest of the neighbors,” Rosemarie whispered. “Who wants to be the one to break it to Sonny that gnomes are coming to the Litha celebration?”
“Not it,” Leo said, standing quickly and running to the door with his lasagna. “Not it, not it, not it.”
That evening, Leo parked his truck at the apartment complex, then got the empty lasagna pan from the passenger seat and let Ravenpaw out of his travel carrier. “Come on, Rav. Let’s get inside and out of this damn heat.”
“Meow.” Ravenpaw hopped out of the truck and started for the stairs.
Leo took a moment to pick some of the Blackwood roses from the bush planted next to the door of their apartment building. It had become an evening ritual.
“Flowers for my sunshine,” he whispered, smiling softly.
He ran up the stairs and found Ravenpaw waiting for him in front of their apartment. “I’m coming. I’m coming.”
A wreath of Hawthorne wood and summer flowers decorated the door. Leo recognized a few of the flowers and remembered what Sonny had told him. “Lavender for love, geranium for protection, larkspur for laughter, and marigolds for happiness.”
He opened the door and let Ravenpaw in first, before entering and closing and locking the door behind him.
Sonny was asleep on the couch, curled around Flufflepuff. A plate with the remnants of carrot cake sat on the table.
Leo bent and kissed Sonny’s head before tucking a throw around him. He grabbed his phone and ordered delivery from the Indian restaurant down the road. Sonny would likely wake up hungry, and he seemed to always want either strawberries or chicken curry.
When the order was placed, Leo sat on the edge of the couch and lightly ran his hand over Sonny’s abdomen. Soon, Sonny’s body would begin to more noticeably change, but Leo could already see tiny changes in his mate.
I hope Sonny likes the surprise, he thought absently. His mate deserved Leo’s absolute best, and he swore he would always give it to him.
Chapter 27
Sonny sipped his tea and fought back a yawn. “Why do we need to leave so early?”
Leo looked up from where he was packing the last of Flufflepuff and Ravenpaw’s toys. “Grandma really wants to see you.”
Sonny hummed happily and shook the bangles on his wrists. Janine had sent them to him last week. “I love her.”
Leo leaned in and kissed his cheek. “She loves you too. Now, get a move on, sunshine.”
Sonny looked around, eyes narrowed. “I don’t see the honey cakes I made last night. Really, Leo? Those were for the trip. Now what are you going to snack on while you drive?”
Leo winced. “They looked so good, and I hadn’t had breakfast yet.”
Sonny fought back a smile and opened a cabinet. “You’re lucky I made extras.”
Leo’s face brightened. “Yes! You’re the best mate ever.”
“You bet your sweet, bitable ass I am.” Sonny grabbed more of his tea mixture while he was thinking about it. “I wish Aaron, Gemma, and Wendy were coming with us. I don’t know why they needed to go to the beach this exact weekend. They didn’t even say goodbye. Everyone is too busy to celebrate Litha, and it’s not fair.”
Sonny tried not to scowl. He really didn’t mind spending the holiday with Leo and his grandparents, but he’d gotten a little spoiled over the past year. Everyone in the family loved get-togethers and celebrations, but no one could join them at the farm.
Leo pulled him into a hug, his warm hand soothing against Sonny’s back. “Don’t think too hard on it, sunshine. I’ll carry our bags down to the car.”
Sonny picked up the extra-large cat carrier. Ravenpaw and Flufflepuff liked riding together when possible.
Leo dropped the bags he had just picked up and rushed over. “I’ll get that, love. Don’t worry about carrying anything to the truck.”
Sonny eyed him. “When did I become a delicate flower? I can carry the damn cat carrier.”
Leo gave him a nervous look and picked his bags back up. “If you’re sure.”
Sonny rolled his eyes. “I love you, honey bear, even when you’re way too protective.”
“You wanted to go get a few herbs from your rooftop garden, right?” Leo asked, giving Sonny an innocent look.
Sonny shook his head. “You’re up to something, but I do want to bring some of our lavender to make Janine a wreath, so I’ll go along with it. This time.”
“Take your time,” Leo huffed as he picked up Sonny’s shoe bag. “Do you really need this many shoes for a weekend?”
Sonny looked over his shoulder as he walked to the door. “Don’t you like my shoes, honey bear?”
Leo’s eyes heated as he looked over Sonny’s floral ankle strap flats, and his long, bare legs which were on display in his short, blue jean cutoffs. “I love your shoes. Maybe we don’t have to get there so early.”
Sonny giggled and ran out the door. “Focus, Leo.”
Eventually, they managed to load the truck and buckle in. Sonny happily cuddled against Leo’s side. He hugged Leo’s arm as the city faded and they entered the suburbs. Nervousness settled in his stomach.
Do it now, Sonny. “Do you know why Litha is a special holiday.”
Leo’s nose scrunched up as he thought hard. “It’s Summer Solstice and the longest day in the year. After Litha, each day grows shorter and shorter until Winter Solstice. It’s a time of abundance. Right?”
Sonny smiled against Leo’s arm. His bear was a good listener. “Yep. The God and Goddess are happily married and looking toward the future. It’s a chance to let go of your past and plan for the year ahead. Time to take another step forward in life.”
“We had fun last year.” Leo grinned and tapped the steering wheel. “Lots of food and dancing.”
“Don’t forget the blessings of protection,” Sonny added. “They’re strongest when made on Litha.”
“Meow.” Flufflepuff’s paw poked out of the carrier as his familiar reminded him of the topic at hand.
Sonny took a big breath and let it out. “It’s also a special time for those who are pregnant.”
Leo gave him a half smile. “How so? No one in our group was pregnant this time last year.”
Sonny buried his face against Leo’s arm for a moment, then peeked up. “A Litha scrying can tell expecting parents a lot about what the future will hold. It’s also a perfect time for an early blessing on the baby.”
“Really?” Leo’s voice went high at the end of the word. “Well, do we know anyone that’s pregnant?”
Sonny puffed his cheeks out. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Remember when you said you wanted children?” Sonny asked, leaning his head on Leo’s shoulder. “At our handfasting. In April.”
Leo chuckled. “Yes, I do. I also remember all the fertility blessings people gave us. I also remember the green fertility candles you set up that night and every night until a couple of weeks ago. Then there’s the fertility blessed strawberries and carrot cake you’ve been eating since our handfasting. Plus, I don’t know if you know this, sunshine, but bear shifters have a keen sense of smell and can tell when their mate’s scent changes with pregnancy.”
Sonny growled and bit Leo’s arm. “Are you telling me you know I’m pregnant?”
Leo laughed and leaned over to give Sonny a quick kiss, eyes staying on the road. “I’m saying everyone knows you’re pregnant. It’s been hard keeping Mom and Coleen from starting on a nursery in one of the guest rooms. Burk, Thor, and Dad have all been fighting the urge to bring you food, and Niels and Rosemarie have already started buying baby clothes. There was no stopping that.”
Sonny scowled. “I haven’t even told Myrtle and Aaron yet.”
Leo eyed him before focusing on the road.
Sonny narrowed his eyes. “They already know too.”
“Maybe.”
So
nny leaned back in his seat, fighting a pout. “And they still couldn’t spend Litha with us?” He groaned. “I’m being a selfish jerk, aren’t I? People have their own lives and don’t have to arrange everything just for me.”
Leo grunted but took one of Sonny’s hands and squeezed it. “How do you feel about the baby?”
Sonny hid his face and hugged Leo’s arm again. “I’m so excited to expand our family, honey bear. We’re going to have a bear shifter or a witch, but it doesn’t even matter. We’re going to love them no matter what. I already have the perfect name too.”
Leo’s grin was big and goofy. Sonny didn’t even have to ask how his mate felt about the baby. It was written all over his face. “What name?”
“Rowan Aaron Rocchi. I’d make Aaron the first name, but then we’d have two Aarons and that would be confusing.”
“I like it,” Leo said, still grinning.
“Are you nervous at all?” Sonny asked, fighting the butterflies dancing around in his gut.
Leo swallowed hard. “Hell, yeah. Honestly, I’m terrified. It’s easy to say I’ll just love my kid and everything will be okay, but what if I really do fuck up somehow?”
“I’m scared too,” Sonny whispered. “A baby is a really big deal. We both have a lot of obligations. I love Miles and don’t want to give up my apprentice, but I remember how much time Mother and Father spent with their apprentices instead of me. I don’t want that for our child.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Leo said, voice calm and steady. “You’re aren’t alone in this. Together, we’ll teach them all about our traditions, both shifter and witch.” He squeezed Sonny’s hand again. “Tell me about your favorite Litha.”
Sonny thought for a moment, then smiled. “I was about eight years old. Mom and Dad took their older apprentices to Haverdell to celebrate Litha with the Blackwood family, but I was grounded because they had found another of my stashes of skirts and jewelry. Anyway, I was staying with Myrtle while they were gone. She usually goes to the coast to spend Litha with Hester but had stayed in the city so I wouldn’t be alone.”
