by Quinn Loftis
His eyes widened, and a look of horror marred his handsome face. “It’s just going to drop out of you? We should get you a wheelchair. That way there’s no chance—”
Bethany’s eyes narrowed. “If you get me a wheelchair, I will not be held responsible for what happens to you while you sleep,” she bit out through gritted teeth.
Bethany noticed that the three females behind her mate were all attempting to stifle their laughter.
“Bethy,” Drake began again, his voice softer as he ran his hands up her calves.
“Seduction won’t work, Drake,” she snapped. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked. I’ve put up with your overprotective, overbearing—”
“Over-the-top, dominant, ass-holery,” Jacque offered.
“Yep,” Sally said, pointing to her best friend. “That. Definitely that.”
“Also unfair seduction tactics,” Zara added. When all eyes turned on her, she shrugged. “What? You all know Wadim and I completed the bond. Since then, I can’t win an argument. All he has to do is put his hands on me and I’m like, ‘Whatever you want, sir. How can I please you, sir?’”
“Uh, we’ll come back to that later.” Bethany motioned to the three females. “All of what they said. I have graciously—”
Sally shook her head. “I wouldn’t say graciously.”
“No,” Jacque agreed. “You’ve been a raging bitch, and I do mean that literally because you’re a female werewolf.”
When Bethany glared at them, Jacque held up her hands. “But you totally have the right. I mean, hello, you’re growing his baby. He did this to you.”
“Thanks for throwing me under the bus, alpha,” Drake grumbled.
“Just doing my part. Keeping it real.” Jacque lifted her mug as if to toast herself.
Bethany knew Jacque had just been trying to get her ire off of them and back onto her mate. It worked. “Yes, exactly.” She pointed at him. “You did this to me. I am the size of a house. I waddle like a duck, and I pee every time I move. So, you get to go build a damn sleigh.”
Drake sighed. “So, what I hear you saying is that you need some space.”
“You hear right.” She kept her tone firm, despite the fact that she wanted to take the hurt look out of his eyes. She knew he just wanted to protect her, but she had to stay firm or he’d stay glued to her side.
Drake stood up and gently laid her feet back on the ottoman. Then he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. “For the record, you look breathtaking to me,” he said through their bond and then walked silently from the room.
Bethany felt as if she’d been sucker punched. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“He said something really sweet, didn’t he?” Jacque asked.
Bethany nodded, unable to speak for fear that she’d call his name and beg him to stay with her. Finally, after a few minutes, she managed to sniffle out, “What is wrong with me? One minute I want him in Timbuktu, and the next, I want to crawl all over him and plead with him to never leave my side.”
“Welcome to baby-making hormones.” Jacque sighed. “They’re a bitch.”
“And then you die,” Sally said dryly.
“That’s not how the saying goes,” Jacque said.
Sally shrugged. “I wasn’t sure, but it popped into my head so my mouth just said it. It’s called Jen syndrome.”
“Ahh.” Zara nodded. “I’ve caught that a few times. The only cure is separation from the infected person.”
“I think I hurt his feelings,” Bethany said, unable to take her mind off of Drake, despite the three girls’ attempts to distract her.
“He’ll be back in about five minutes,” Jacque said, waving off her concern. “And then you’ll send him away again, and he’ll be back five minutes after that.”
“I’m never getting pregnant.” Zara shook her head.
“Babe, you good?” Bethany turned to see Wadim’s head pop around the corner from the hall as he glanced in at his mate.
Zara gave him a thumbs-up and a sweet grin that met her eyes. “Still not regretting a thing, history boy. Quit worrying.”
Bethany’s head swung back around to the male and saw heat fill his eyes. She knew that look.
“Oh, boy,” Sally muttered.
“Later,” he said, his voice gravelly with his wolf. Then he was gone.
“See?” Zara pointed to where her mate had just been. “He pops up out of nowhere, checking on me constantly. And that’s not counting all the times he’s popping up in my head, worried that I’m going to suddenly freak out because we’ve—”
“Gotten your freak on?” Jacque offered.
“Danced between the sheets?” Sally asked.
“Banged up against a wall?” Bethany sat her mug down and then picked up her popcorn string and needle. When she didn’t hear anyone else speak, she raised her head to find three pairs of eyes blinking at her like cartoon characters. “What?”
“You’ve got Jen syndrome, too,” Jacque quipped. “We’re doomed. Sweet Bethany has turned into a raging sex freak. If it can happen to her, it will happen to everyone in the pack, and then nothing will get done because everyone will be banging—”
“I leave for five minutes, and you four are talking about banging?” Drake’s voice interrupted Jacque’s tirade. “Bethany?”
She squirmed in her chair, trying not to look guilty. Her eyes met Jacque’s, and the alpha female winced and grabbed her belly.
“Crap, ow, fracking pixie sticks!” Bethany dropped one of her hands to her large stomach.
Drake immediately forgot the dirty conversation and dropped to his knee. “What’s wrong? Is it the baby? Is it coming? Should I check…” His hand reached for the bottom of her dress. Three voices rang out, “No!”
“It’s probably just Braxton Hicks,” Sally said.
“Who the hell is Braxton Hicks, and what does that have to do with my mate going into labor?” Drake’s hands roamed over Bethany’s stomach as if he could figure out what was wrong by touching her.
“They’re fake contractions, basically. They will pass,” Sally assured him. “Food helps.”
“Lots of food,” Jacque added. “You should probably go make her something to eat. I’d get several different choices, too, since her taste buds are all over the place.”
Bethany tried not to snicker at them.
“Are you really okay?” he asked, looking up from her stomach to her face.
Bethany nodded. “I’m good. It’s passed now, but food sounds great.”
“Okay, I can do that. But don’t move. At all, not an inch.”
When he was gone, she looked back at the girls. “Food helps?”
“Dude, we were trying to keep you from getting in trouble for talking about banging. We all remember how happy Drake was when he found out Jen fed you bedroom advice like it was Halloween candy,” Jacque said sarcastically. She wasn’t wrong. Drake had not been pleased. Bethany had found out just how possessive and private he was.
Forty-five minutes later, Drake came back in, pushing a cart laden with food. Sandwiches, salad, grilled chicken, rice, vegetables, and pickles. “Ohh, pickles.” Bethany eyed the large jar. She’d turned out to be one of those pregnant chicks that loved pickles. Leave it to her to be typical.
“Do you need help?” Drake started to kneel, holding a full plate and fork.
“You are not about to feed me, babe.” Bethany shook her head. “Pregnancy has not made me an invalid.”
He sighed and set the plate back down. The Great Luna love him, he just wanted to take care of her. “I’ll be outside putting together something that they claim is a sleigh,” he grumbled as he stood. Drake brushed a finger down the side of her cheek before heading out again.
“How long do you think he’ll last this time?” Zara snagged a sandwich from the overflowing cart.
“Z, you want something to ea—” Wadim’s voice came from behind Bethany.
Zara rolled her eyes and then threw her sandwich at
him.
“Maybe we should be taking bets on both wolves,” Sally suggested.
Drake’s shoes felt as though they were covered in concrete as he walked away from his mate. His wolf was ticked off. He was ticked off. And the last thing he wanted to do while his mate sat inside having Brax-whatevers was build a bloody sleigh. He closed the door behind him, stepping out into the crisp winter air. It was early afternoon but already the sun was beginning to lower, preparing for the early nights that the season brought. His wolf loved the cold air, especially when it snowed and they could take a romp through it.
He rounded the corner of the house, then stopped and stared at the mess of wood, nails, and possibly duct tape that was attempting to pass as a Christmas sleigh and failing miserably. “Didn’t it come with any instructions?” Drake walked over to the group of males who stood staring at the hapless structure.
“Yes.” Adam sported a wide grin on his face. “The instructions said, ‘Here’s some wood, make it a sleigh.’”
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say those instructions weren’t from a booklet but from a certain female's mouth.” Drake couldn’t help but chuckle as he glanced at Decebel. The beta looked ready to set the sleigh—and he used that term very, very loosely—on fire.
“Adam,” Fane started, but the fae male held up his hands.
“I know you could give me an alpha order, Fane, but don’t do it. Crina’s finally let me close again. She made me swear not to use my magic.”
Drake watched Fane tilt his head up to the sky. He imagined their alpha was praying to the Great Luna to keep from strangling his beta’s mate. Finally, Fane lowered his head and glanced at Costin. “We better have had a damn good reason for dying Thia blue.”
Decebel growled. “What reason could you possibly have to justify that?”
“Your mate?” Wadim asked.
Decebel glared at the historian but then nodded. “Sounds about right.”
The group chuckled, even as they continued to stare at the mess in front of them. They were quiet for several minutes before Drake spoke up. “Anyone else need a drink?”
Their heads turned to him. He could see the sympathy in their eyes, and he didn’t even care. He was exhausted from worrying about his mate and their child. All he wanted to do was protect her, and all she wanted him to do was stay away.
“How about we head to the bar?” Costin suggested. “I haven’t been there in a while. I’ve had one of the single pack males running it for me. He could probably use a break.”
Fane’s eyes narrowed as he looked past Drake and a few of the others standing next to him. Drake turned to see what caused the alpha’s eye to glow. Standing in the large window were eight females, each one giggling and pointing at them.
“Peri will keep an eye on them.” Lucian turned to look at Drake. “If something happens, Adam can have you back to her in a heartbeat.”
“I’ll be back in a little while.” Drake reached out through their bond. “Please try and take it easy and stay off the ladders.”
“I’ll be fine, babe.” Bethany’s voice was filled with laughter. “Go have some fun with the guys. You all look like you could use a break from”— she paused and he felt more humor welling up in her—“well, whatever the heck it is you all were doing.”
Drake’s lips lifted in a small smile. “They said it was a sleigh.”
“Are they drunk?”
“No, apparently Decebel isn’t any better at building sleighs than he is at dog houses.” He heard her laughter in his mind and relished the sound. She hadn’t been laughing much lately, and maybe that was his fault.
“It’s not your fault, Drake. I love you. I’m a walking, hormonal mess, and I take it out on you. I’m sorry. I think some guy time would be good for you. Give you a break from my pregnancy crazy.”
Drake pictured his hand rubbing her round stomach, knowing she would feel it through the bond. “I’ll go because I know I’m smothering you. But I’d rather be by you, even if you’re being a little crazy.” She didn’t respond with words, but he felt her love pouring into him. It would be enough for now, but he knew his wolf wouldn’t be able to be away from her for long.
“They’re going to the bar?” Sally asked, as if all the other females didn’t know, which they did because no doubt their males had spoken to them through the mate bond, just as hers had.
“If you built that hunk of junk and tried to pass it off as anything other than a hunk of junk, wouldn’t you need a drink?” Jen pointed to the mess of wood outside.
“It is pretty bad.” Jacque smiled.
Jen turned from the window and headed to the couch. Her feet were tired, her back was killing her, and she was annoyed, though slightly amused, by Elle and Peri’s antics. They’d all been working constantly for the past few weeks, and now they only had a week left. The cakes had been ordered. They were too elaborate, but she knew they would have made Alina laugh, and so she went over the top for that reason alone.
All of the other ladies joined her, some sitting on chairs, the couch, and others on the floor. Rachel came in a few minutes later with Thia walking beside her and Slate in her arms. Thia ran to Jen as soon as she saw her. “Hell, Momma!” she squealed.
“Could you say, ‘Hi, Momma?” Jen pulled her daughter up into her lap.
Thia frowned. “No.”
“Well, at least she knows her mind,” Crina pointed out, not at all helpful.
Slate babbled happily as Rachel handed him off to Jacque. He clapped and then reached for Jacque’s face. Jen’s eyes roamed around the room, watching the females. Smiles brightened their tired looks, and their eyes lit up with joy as they watched the two little ones.
Peri sat next to Jen on the couch, and Thia turned, looked at the high fae, and then climbed across the couch and into Peri’s lap.
“Pwerry.” Thia giggled and patted Peri’s cheek. The fae did not look amused.
“Can I help you?” Peri asked.
Jen couldn’t wait to see what her mini-me said in response.
Thia grabbed Peri’s hand and held it up, palm facing the ceiling. “Spwarkles.”
Peri cocked an eyebrow at Jen.
“You brought it on yourself by showing her your little magic trick.”
“I didn’t know she was going to expect me to do it anytime she was bored,” Peri grumbled.
“Obviously you haven’t been around kids much.” Jen rolled her eyes. “Once they see a trick they think is cool, it’s the only thing they focus on until something cooler comes along.”
With a sigh, Peri snapped her fingers and little sparkles filled her hands. It looked like a mini-firework display in her palm. Thia clapped, and Slate turned to see what was happening. Jen watched the boy’s eyes widen, and he hollered in delight.
Elle was sitting next to Jacque. She held her palm up and did the same thing, fireworks filling her hand. Slate reached out, his hand coming in contact with the magic. Jen and Jacque knew the sparks wouldn’t hurt the children. Both kids played with the magic while the rest of them watched quietly.
After a few minutes, Zara broke the silence. “If werewolves can’t get drunk—” she began.
“Oh, they can,” Crina interrupted. “It just takes a lot. Like, seriously a lot of alcohol.”
“Okay.” Zara nodded. “With that in mind, why on earth does Costin have a bar, and why are the males going there to have a drink?”
“They’re mated to us,” Bethany pointed out. “Wouldn’t you need to go to a bar, too?”
“That.” Sally pointed at Bethany. “I know what a pain I am, and we all know what Jacque and Jen are like.”
“But nobody asked you,” Jen sang.
Sally ignored her and continued. “They’ve been cooped up here, hanging lights, getting trees, taking orders, and building a sleigh with all the skill and craftsmanship of a gang of toddlers. I don’t think it’s the alcohol they’re interested in so much as the retreat.”
“What are w
e going to do while they’re gone?” Rachel asked.
“Where’s Gavril and Titus?” Sally perked up, as if she’d just realized that her own child wasn’t in the room. The poor healer looked exhausted. Maybe Jen was working them a little too hard.
“Training.” Rachel smiled mischievously.
“He needs to get over this obsession he has with spying on me,” Jen muttered.
“He’s not spying. He’s hunting,” Sally said, sounding way too pleased.
“Whatever it is, he sucks at it.”
“And your kid has the vocabulary of a juvenile delinquent. You probably shouldn’t be pointing fingers.”
Jen shrugged. “Probably. Doesn’t mean I won’t.”
Sally started to respond, but suddenly the coffee table in front of them was covered with pies and cookies.
“I need less bitching and more eating.” Peri closed her hand and then snapped her fingers again, making a cookie appear. Thia’s smile, which had dropped, was back in full force as she took the cookie from the fae’s hand. Peri picked the girl up and set her on the floor.
For the next hour, there was some chatting, bantering, and not much else because they were all scarfing the feast Peri had provided as if they hadn’t eaten in days. It wasn’t until Jacque started laughing uncontrollably that everyone froze, some in mid-bite, and stared at her. Then, seconds later, Crina and Elle burst out laughing, too.
“What am I missing?” Jen asked. As soon as the question was out of her mouth, Adam appeared with all of the males, including a shirtless Decebel and Costin. Jen’s eyes widened. “Oookay,” she said slowly. “Usually, I’m the one coming home with less clothing than when I left. Are you trying to one up me, B?”
“I may or may not have given the males some fairy drinks to help them relax,” Adam admitted, not showing the least bit of remorse.
“That doesn’t explain why our mates are half dressed.” Sally motioned to Costin and Decebel.
“Oh, that,” Adam said as the other males chuckled. “That was a dare. Wadim, Lucian, and Fane dared anyone willing to try and imitate their mates.”
Jen glanced at Sally, who’s eyes had widened. “I’m pretty sure Sally has never done a striptease in her life.”
