Page 31 of His Protective Bear

“Bee,” he repeated.

“Yup, enormous, soon you’ll be off to school.” I teased.

He gurgled a bit more, but I must have become boring to him because he wiggled to be let down. I watched him crawl over to my dad; apparently, he missed his sister.

“So, what brings you over?” Papa said as he got up from the mat.

“His mate went to work this morning. I bet he’s bored,” my dad replied.

I chuckled, “Guilty. But I actually needed some advice.”

Papa took a seat on the corner of the L-shaped sofa, so he was sitting across from me. “What’s up, son? Everything alright with you and Sage?”

“We’re great.” My mind couldn’t help flashing to this morning.

Dad snorted, and I glanced his way. He wore a knowing look that managed to make me blush.

I cleared my throat, and dad and Papa chuckled. But Papa said, “Ignore your father. What’s going on?”

“Sage is pregnant,” I told them.

“Oh, congratulations Hunter,” my Papa's hand went to his heart. “How is he? I hope he’s okay?”

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. “Well, he doesn’t know. I smelled it on him, but—”

“He wouldn’t be able to tell yet,” Papa finished for me.

“Yeah, I was kind of hoping there would be morning sickness or something so I could use that to bring it up, but it seems to be going very well.”

Papa and Dad shared a look, but it was my Dad that spoke. “Just come out with it and tell him, Hunt. Communication and honesty are the keys. He has to know that he can always count on you, especially in this case. It’s different for your brothers’ mates. They’re human, so when we can tell before them, it’s not really keeping it from them… but Sage may feel you’re keeping it from him or you’re being dishonest and taking advantage of his condition.”

“I would never.” It came out harsher than intended, and Izzie whimpered.

My Papa nodded. “Of course, you won’t, son, but he might see it that way. So you need to talk to him. We really like him. He’s a wonderful man.”

“Yeah, he is.” My mate was incredible, and I was ready to take on anyone that said otherwise or made him feel like he wasn’t.

“Oh, and a new addition to the family,” Papa sighed happily. “All my babies are having babies.” He sniffed. “I can’t wait.”

“Could you keep that on the down-low until I’ve told Sage? I don’t want him to hear it from anyone but me,” I pleaded.

“Keep what on the down-low?” I looked up and found my brother Austin. At the sound of his voice, both kids wiggled and stretched their arms out, clearly excited to hear my brother’s voice.

“Nothing,” I replied.

He studied my face, and then his lips curved slowly, “Let me guess,” he wore a knowing grin as he walked over and lifted Rafe, “my kids are about to have even more cousins.”

“What?” I sat forward. “How can you know that?”

“You just have that pleased and proud look,” he shrugged.

I groaned, “At the rate the news is spreading, I better tell Sage as soon as possible.”

Chapter 15

Sage

When I got home… to Hunter’s house, it wasn’t the first time I’d had to remind myself that this wasn’t my home. I was just a guest, one that would have to leave soon. When I walked into the house, the lights were turned down.

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