Page 17 of Her Shifter Babe

I began to think of every conceivable reason I shouldn’t go. “But...”

“Go,” Mom said firmly, putting on her authoritative parent voice. And there was no arguing with that one.

“Fine.”

Fuck!

I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.

Bloody parents.

They couldn’t possibly know what the right thing was for me. And they were totally wrong. It did matter that the baby wasn’t mine. I wasn’t even there for the conception, which at least Tanner and Wade had shared, I assumed.

Despite the fact that I’d always thought I’d live with Tommy in a family, we’d never had a single threesome. It seemed stupid in hindsight, but we just assumed we’d be like most perfect pair twins, and we’d find our mate and get married. Full stop. End of story. Once again, stupid. There had to be more to it than that.

How could we have been so naïve?

I jumped in my car and headed home. There was no way I was going to the medical clinic. I’d grab some clothes and go stay at the motel. It wasn’t like I couldn’t afford it. But I had a shift starting in four hours, and I needed a shower and my work clothes. But my car didn’t park itself outside my house. Instead, I somehow ended up outside the clinic and the lights were on inside.

“Shit!” I hit the steering wheel with my palms and groaned. “No! Fate be damned, I’m not getting out.” I cringed just hearing myself. I sounded like a petulant teen. But I couldn’t sit here without getting out of my car. Even I wasn’t that stubborn or stupid.

I slid out and marched up to the door. It would likely be locked, and I didn’t have my cell phone on me, so I wouldn’t be able to call my brother to let him know I was here. So, then I’d go home. But my heart pounded against my chest, refusing to be quiet, and I couldn’t calm the fear that threatened to consume me.

What was the worst thing that could possibly happen here? I’d find out she wasn’t my mate after all, and she was here just for Tommy? Or that she’d refuse to even consider me?

I didn’t know, but I wasn’t a coward, and I’d prove it. I lifted my hand and knocked on the door stubbornly. I waited for two whole seconds then turned to leave.

There, I did it.

The door opened, and my brother was standing on the other side with his eyes wide and his jaw practically hanging open. “You’re here.”

“Mom and Dad thought I should come and see how my...” I gulped at the lump that lodged firmly in my throat. “Neice or nephew is doing.” The sadness I saw sweep over Tommy’s face was heavy enough that it made me look away. I couldn’t bear that kind of disappointment on top of what I was already feeling.

“Well, come in. We’re just getting set up.” Tommy waved me in.

I took a deep breath, then walked inside the clinic and glanced around the waiting room. “You painted,” I said, gesturing at the new light blue walls. The waiting room had been a crisp, sterile white for years. This felt much more welcoming and relaxing by comparison. It somehow settled the nerves.

“Yeah, we did,” he answered simply. “Come on, brother.” Tommy patted me on the shoulder encouragingly.

I walked down the hallway to the room at the end and followed him in.

Inside, Stacey was waiting, sitting on top of the table.

As soon as I entered the room, I lost my breath. She was so beautiful that my shifter howled inside my mind like a lunatic.

“Hi, David,” she said, smiling hesitantly at me.

“Hello,” I replied, shoving my wolf down as I stepped around one side of the table, away from all the machines. Her belly was huge, a lot bigger than I’d realized previously. “I’m sorry I didn’t stick around yesterday.” I didn’t touch her, though my skin tingled with anticipation.

She chuckled softly and ran her hands over her baby bump. “It’s okay, and I don’t blame you. Yesterday was really full on.”

I just nodded because what else could I do?

Tommy turned on the monitor and grabbed a paddle. “Just lie back and get comfortable, Stacey. Lift your top.”

She grimaced a little as she leaned back, shifting as though uncomfortable, then raised her tight black t-shirt. Her belly was round and odd... and strangely perfect.

“All right, let’s see how everything is going,” Tommy said as he applied clear gel and ran the probe over Stacey’s belly.

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