Page 111 of Awakening

“Just enjoying the view,” I say with a wink as I start to pull my clothes off as well. “Okay,” I say once we’re both outside, “just close your eyes, breathe calmly, and think about wanting to shift. It’s really that easy. You go first. I’ll wait for you.”

“Okay.” She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and releases her breath slowly. “Nothing is happening,” she says with her eyes still closed.

“You’re probably just a little nervous. Try again.”

She does the same thing, standing there with her eyes closed. “What am I doing wrong?” she asks, opening her eyes.

I narrow my eyes a little. “Are you sure you’re thinking about it?” I wonder if she’s just trying to avoid the discomfort of shifting.

“Yes. I swear,” she says with irritation in her voice. “I’m breathing, I’m thinking, and nothing is happening.”

“Shake your arms and legs out. Try to loosen up a little.”

She does as instructed, then repeats the process. She opens her eyes with a loud, frustrated sigh. “I’m doing it, Ethan. I swear, I am. Why the hell can’t I shift?”

Then it hits me. No fucking way. Could it really be? A huge smile spreads across my face and I go to her, taking her face in my hands, and kissing her hard. “I think I know what’s wrong. Put your clothes on.”

“What? What is it?”

“Are you late?”

She scrunches up her face. “Late? The only place I need to be right now is here with you.”

“No, Liv. Are you late?”

“Oh.” Her eyes widen as she looks at me. “I don’t know. I totally lost track of where I should be in my cycle with everything that’s happened lately.”

“Put your clothes on. I’m calling Jillian Carter.”

“Do you really think it’s possible?” she whispers.

I smile as I take in her beautiful face. “It would certainly explain why you can’t shift. Your body won’t let you.”

“The champagne today,” she says.

“You had more fucking champagne today?” I ask with a frown.

“Holly brought us each a glass with the cake. I tried it, but it tasted awful,” she says with a big smile. “I couldn’t drink it, but Chloe said hers tasted fine.”

My heart thunders with excitement in my chest as I pull her to me and kiss her. “Get dressed.”

Olivia

“How much longer? This is torture,” Ethan says as he paces the exam room.

“Ethan, sit down. You’re driving me crazy with all this back and forth. She should be back any minute.” Jillian was kind enough to work us in and run the blood test herself. “You should feel lucky right now. If you weren’t the Alpha, we might have to wait until the next day for our results like everyone else,” I say right as there’s a knock on the door.

Ethan flings the door open. “Do you have the results? I’m about to lose my fucking mind in here.”

Jillian enters the room and Ethan closes the door. “I have the results.”

“Well? Was I right?” Ethan asks.

“Yes,” she says, looking over at me with a big smile. “Olivia is pregnant.”

Ethan pumps his fist in the air. “Yes! I fucking knew it!” He bends down and lifts me out of the chair, and I laugh as he hugs me to his body and swings me around. “Whoo!”

He puts me down, and I smile as he holds my face in his hands. We look into each other’s eyes, and it says everything. My heart feels like it might explode with pure joy. “I can hardly believe it.” I look at Jillian for confirmation. “You’re sure? I’m really pregnant?”

---