by White, Jade
THE TIGER'S
BABY
A PARANORMAL PREGNANCY ROMANCE
JADE WHITE
Copyright ©2015 by Jade White
All rights reserved.
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About This Book
There is one thing that Kristen has always wanted in her life and that is a baby.
However, being a female tiger shifter makes this task very difficult since she can only mate with other Tigers and finding one is not easy.
But now the time has come.
She has been matched with a fellow Tiger shifter named Rodney who is set to be her mate and provide her with the one thing she has always wanted.
Now she must make the journey to go and meet this man for the first time and begin the mating process. But will she really be able to mate with a complete stranger? And will this pregnancy really be as straight forward as she hopes?
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER ONE
Kristen slammed the old Chevy into fourth gear and took notice of the sign board that was situated on the side of the road. It looked as if it had seen better days, and the faux wood paneling had started to come away in certain places. Still, there were fresh bouquets of flowers next to it, and up ahead she could see the autumn colors pre-launching through the maple trees that lined Nelson. It was definitely a quiet place, but after having spent nearly a decade in the hustle and bustle of Seattle, she was ready for a break.
Her job as a reporter for the Herald had been her pride and joy, and even now she knew she couldn’t totally shake her attachment to it. But this was for the best; she had to remind herself. She pulled back on the black braid that was tightly pulled behind her head and unleashed it down her back. So I’m finally here, huh, she reflected.
The truck squealed as she pulled the clutch down to third gear and started in on the main street. Huge tall colonial buildings lined the quaint township, and spoke of its British origins – despite the fact that everything else about it smacked of being Canadian. Having growing up in Seattle, Kristen had often gone across the border to explore Vancouver, especially for skiing. But she had never dreamed she would ever spend more than a fleeting vacation in the northern neighboring country.
Well at least they live up to their stereotype, she reflected, seeing smiles dance out at her from the sidewalks. Everyone seemed to be in a perpetual good mood, and she could see lots of alternative clothing shops and organic food stores. Hippie Central. That’s what Gloria had called it anyway. Kristen pulled down the zipper on her dark burgundy leather jacket and rolled the window down, letting in a bit of the crisp air that still lingered with the smell of summer. In the passenger seat, Gloria was still sleeping. Kristen’s best friend and confidante, the shorter and slightly chubbier brunette seemed to be dozing peacefully, perhaps lost in a dream.
Silly Tiger, Kristen thought fondly. Truthfully, she was glad that Gloria had decided to come along because she wasn’t sure she would’ve had the nerve to go through with it by herself. And what exactly have I gone through with, she wondered absently, feeling a cold ball grow in her stomach. As she looked back out the window, she almost ran a red light pulling a right turn up Vernon St. It gave her cause to speculate about how many of the men and women and children she saw going about their daily business were like her, a shifter.
Probably very few, she decided.
Kristen had grown up in the Enclave, a small community based in and around the Seattle area, and composed of others like her. There were names for her kind, names that normal humans had relegated to the stuff of fiction and fantasy and myth: shape-shifter, werewolf, whatever. In truth, there was about as much verisimilitude to the fictional form of her people as there was to the bogeyman. More so because, as far as true Wolves went, there were only a relatively few bands that stuck mainly to the Oregon coast or farther north. In fact, she was herself a Tiger.
As she flexed her hands on the steering wheel, she could almost feel the inner animal stirring within her. She knew that she was better suited to an active lifestyle, being cooped up in the car for two days straight had put both her and Gloria on edge, though Gloria, she suspected, probably enjoyed the opportunity to get out of the Enclave.
“Hey, psh, wake up,” she said, giving Gloria a gentle nudge.
The woman made a humming sound and opened her eyes. Far to the west the sun was beginning to set on the far hill, closing like a winking eye. It cast all the buildings in a kind of ginger light and only seemed to emphasize the beautiful maple leaves.
“What, already?” Gloria said, wrinkling her pug-nose. “You were breaking the speed limit, weren’t you?”
“Oh, shush,” Kristen said, nudging her again.
The small loft that had been provided for them was also colonial and looked out on the city below. Inside, the two women made themselves comfortable, taking note of the different rooms.
Gloria let out a sigh. “Well, it’s not much, but…”
“It’s pretty nice, I think, quaint. It’s kind of cute,” Kristen said, pulling her socks off and unzipping her jacket. She threw it casually onto the back of one of the chairs. “I mean, if I have to spend a long time here… if…”
When Kristen turned hesitantly away and walked to the kitchen, Gloria frowned. She had known Kristen almost since the two of them had been children. They’d grown up in the Enclave together, and the fact they shared the same form had only served to heighten and strengthen their friendship.
“Kristen,” the brunette said, crossing her arms and taking a step forward.
Her short pixie-cut always seemed to give her a sterner look, especially when she frowned. It was the one expression of her friend that Kristen had never gotten used to, because it usually meant one of two things: either Gloria was disappointed in her, or else she had seen through her emotional façade.
Am I that transparent? Kristen thought.
Maybe that was the reason she had wanted Gloria to come along, after all. Because somehow Gloria always knew what Kristen was thinking, even if Kristen was doing her best to hide it, even from herself. Gloria had become her conscience, on more than one occasion. But now that they had actually arrived in Nelson, it was suddenly very real. There was no way to hide from the fact, or to get away from it. And that only served to increase her temper.
“Drop it, Gloria. I’m not in the mood for this right now.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re in the mood… I can tell you’re sulking. You know you don’t have to go through with this. If you have any doubts, any at all, it’s possible to annul the agreement. You know the Enclave would support you.”
“We’ve come this far,” Kristen insisted stubbornly.
“And
we can go back,” Gloria countered quickly and sat down on the couch.
Kristen leaned over the sink and poured herself a glass of water and took longer than necessary to drink it. Gloria was right of course, there was no reason they couldn’t just turn right around. The Enclave would support her, of course. So why this rotten feeling in my stomach then?
“You’re scared,” Gloria said, filling in the empty space between them, and in a way, Kristen was glad for it. “You can say it, y’know. It’s just me.”
“I’m scared,” Kristen admitted, and took a seat next to Gloria, curling up and putting her head on her pack-sister’s lap. “Ugh, this is ridiculous. I’ve wanted this all my life. You know I have – hell, how long have I talked about it? But now, I don’t know. It feels weird. It feels too real, if that makes any sense?”
“Of course it does,” Gloria said soothingly.
The reason Kristen had come to Nelson, traveling over the border, to a small sleepy lakeside town, had everything to do with the fact the Enclave also functioned as an organization to assist Shifters like her. She could still hear her mother’s lessons ringing in her ears.
All her life, Kristen had dreamed of having a child, but Shifter anatomy was tricky at best. Only another Shifter of the same genetic build had any hopes of a successful impregnation. Even though she was only twenty-eight, she knew that the time to start and raise a family was bearing down on her and, like all Tigers, she sought to bring up the child alone.
But of course, finding another Tiger was troublesome in itself. The Enclave worked with other Tribes across different countries to try and arrange successful breeding programs. It had been a complete fluke they’d managed to find a donor relatively close to Seattle. She opened her eyes and glanced at her rucksack lying by the door. She knew inside was still the manila envelope with all of the donor’s details.
She’d studied the profile so many times it had almost become rote to her. In her mind, she could still see his face and the capitalized name above it. RODNEY MCCALLISTER. In his photo, he was smiling, but what had struck her was the fact it wasn’t a fake smile. In her work as a reporter, she had gotten very good at spotting insincerity in the slightest affectation or twitch of a muscle. But Rodney’s handsome profile smacked of intelligence and honesty.
His sculpted chin and rectangular jaw were strong, and in the photo there was a short stubble forming on his full cheeks. Dusky hair clipped down over his forehead, and was cut very short at the sides, which gave him a very modern and aristocratic look. Except he’s a paramedic, she reflected, feeling pride for having memorized the profile so well.
Gloria interrupted her reverie again. “You’re right, you’ve wanted this for a long time. It used to be all you talked about. But I know how you must be feeling. It’s a big step, it’s life-changing – hell, you’re making a life, of course it is. I sympathize with you, sweetie. But you know there’s nothing I can say that will really prepare you for it.”
“I know. I was just hoping… you would work some sort of magic on me.”
“Fresh out of magic. But I’ll offer this instead: I don’t think anyone is every truly prepared to start a family, to have a child. It’s like a leap of faith, something you just do. And hope it will work out for the best – and in this case, there’s no reason for it not to. You’ve read the profile, you’ve even had a few tentative conversations.”
“But going from a few conversations to… to having a child,” Kristen blushed in spite of herself.
“It’s big, sweetie,” Gloria repeated, “but that’s why I’m here.”
“To cheer me on?” Kristen rolled her head and gave a diffident tight-lipped smile.
“To cheer you on. Give you moral support. Rub your shoulders. Kick your ass. You know, all those best friend things I’m so good at.”
Kristen took in a deep breath and closed her eyes again. She wished there was a way for her to actually express how thankful she was for Gloria, not just for accompanying her, but for everything. She knew that Gloria was aware of her own feelings, but still, it never seemed like it was enough. I am a coward, she thought begrudgingly. She hated to admit it to herself, but she was – when it came down to taking a stand, she had too often run and fled. Even this next big step in her life she hadn’t been able to take alone.
She bit her lip and tried to avoid disparaging herself further. It was a terrible habit with her, one that could end in her spiraling downward in depression. And there was no time for that right now. Tomorrow she’ll be meeting Rodney in person. Oh boy, she thought, letting herself drift off to sleep in Gloria’s warm embrace.
*
They agreed to meet at a small coffee shop just off the main street. Rodney was already waiting for her. He had on a dark blue plaid shirt unbuttoned at the front with a white t-shirt underneath and baggy jeans. It was remarkable how much he looked just like his picture, and when he looked up and saw her approach through the doors rather shyly, his smile lit up again. The only thing that was different, as far as she could see, was that he had shaven.
As for Kristen, she had decided to go with a simple white skirt that billowed just below her knees and a black top. Nothing too fancy, but also she hoped not too revealing that it would give a bad impression. At the same time, she wanted to look attractive. It was Gloria who had finally had to literally kick her out of the door and accuse her of stalling.
“Hey! Kristen, right? Kristen Rapelli?” Rodney said, standing up and shaking her hand.
“It’s… just Kristen,” she said, returning his smile, “I hate my last name, to be honest.”
“Oh, mine’s pretty bad, too,” he said, “McCallister sounds like a bad stereotypical detective name or something. But I’m stuck with it. Did you get in last night? I hope it wasn’t too long of a drive. I’ve done the Nelson to Vancouver and back route, and it can wear on a person.”
“It was long,” she said, “but we actually made it a two day trip. To be honest, I had a harder time than I would like to admit. I just wanted to get out of the car and run all the way here. Feel my legs move, y’know? That probably sounds strange.”
“Not at all,” Rodney said, holding up his hands. “I think we at least have that much in common, long drives really drive me crazy, no pun intended. But… I think people would get suspicious if they saw a giant Tiger running on the street, towing several suitcases behind.”
Kristen allowed herself to smile at his awkward attempt at humor. He’s just as nervous as me, she thought, but was charmed by his effort. Clearly he was trying to do everything in his power to put her at ease and that alone was enough.
“Well, I suppose not,” she agreed, “but sometimes I don’t even care. Don’t you ever do that? Just drop everything or in the middle of the night wander into the woods, take off all your clothes and just…”
“Run?” he said immediately, “Oh my, yes.”
His sudden response, and its emphatic meaning, resonated between the two of them and Kristen felt blood rise in her cheeks. One more thing we have in common, she hesitated, not daring to say it out loud.
“What about you?” he continued. “I know you’re planning to stay here for a little while. The Enclave set you up with that loft on Vernon Street, didn’t they? How do you like it?”
“It’s great, very homey. And what a view… I was living in a basement in Seattle. Now all I have to do is find a job, heh. Don’t suppose you know anyone that needs a world-class reporter?”
She had been joking, of course, but Rodney’s brow furrowed as he gave it serious consideration. “Now that you mention it, the local newspaper here might be in need of some temp staff. Ironically enough, their lead reporter decided to take an indefinite hiatus because she got pregnant, haha… she and her husband moved to Thailand. Guess they didn’t like the winters here.”
The mention of pregnancy caused Kristen to clear her throat.
“Er, well, maybe I should get a coffee… that is what we planned, right?”
&nbs
p; This time it was Rodney’s turn to blush, when he realized he already had a cup and had failed to offer her one. In his haste to correct himself, he abruptly stood up and offered to pay for it, and apologized for his negligence. Kristen resisted the urge to grin again at his awkward and neurotic nervousness, but granted him some dignity and merely signaled what she wanted.
As she watched him go to the cashier, she wondered what Gloria would say if she could see them now. Probably that I was overthinking things and that I should have listened to her in the first place, she thought. In many ways, Rodney was exactly as he was listed in his profile but a profile was just that, a single facet of someone’s personality. It could hardly account for the entirety of a person’s conduct, their whole life.
She bit her lip and looked down again. No, don’t get too attached, she reminded herself. It was hard to shake her conditioning in the human world. Yes, she was innately attracted to Rodney, but that’s all she should be focusing on. Like Gloria had said, it was her choice to find a donor – and she did have every intention of raising the child alone.
“Lost in thought?” Rodney’s voice caught her off-guard, and Kristen startled in her seat.
He leaned down, placing a tall cup of mocha in front of her. She cupped her hands around it, felt the heat of the coffee spread through the ceramic into her fingers, and hoped it covered her embarrassment. Yes, deep in thought.
“I’m always thinking. Some people call me scatterbrained,” she admitted, “especially Gloria. She came with me, actually. I don’t know… for some reason it is very hard to focus on one thing. My mind goes places.”
“Mine too,” Rodney offered sagely, his broad cheeks angled in a casual gravity, “although working as I do as a paramedic, I’ve more or less trained myself to focus. But when I’m off-shift, or when we’re just on call, cruising around… man, you wouldn’t believe the places my mind goes. Ask my partner some time, he’ll tell you. I ask the weirdest questions sometimes.”
