Page 205 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

Harley thrust the test at him, and he stared at it in almost as much wonder as I had. Finally, he said, “Well, let’s get you to my clinic for some more in-depth tests.”

Harley drove me to the clinic, following Reese. The whole time, I wondered how to tell Jace. He was helping Flynn in Scottsdale and wouldn’t be home for hours. It was a strange feeling, knowing something was growing within me. A child who would one day look up at me and call me Mama. A wistful smile played at my lips as I imagined all the things motherhood entailed.

“You’re a fairly good way along, from what I see here,” Reese said, staring at the screen of the ultrasound machine. “Do you want to know the sex?”

“What?” I gaped at him. “Am I that far along?”

“Sorry,” he said with a grimace. “Shifter babies gestate for the same amount of time as humans, but they develop in the womb at a faster rate. A human would need a few more weeks to tell, but I can see it here already.”

“Yes,” I blurted, “I want to know the sex.”

“It’s a boy, and he’s big. I’m about ninety percent sure he’ll be born an alpha like his dad. His heart is super strong, too.” He leaned forward and turned a knob.

The steady shush-shush of a heartbeat filled the room. Harley grabbed my hand and squeezed. Tears of happiness sprang to my eyes as I listened to it. I was going to be a mom. Nana would have been thrilled for me. Thinking of her made the tears a little bittersweet. I wished with all my heart she could have been here to see her great-grandson when he was born.

“What’s wrong?” Harley asked.

“I miss Nana.”

She leaned over, hugging me. “You’ve got all the family you need. A whole pack who can do whatever you need. We’re here for you.”

“Thanks,” I said as Reese handed me a wad of tissues. “Can you help me with something after we leave here?” I asked Harley.

“What are you planning?” she asked, lifting her eyebrow.

“A surprise,” I said with a smile.

I texted Jace later that afternoon, telling him to meet me at Nana’s cabin when he was done in Scottsdale. He seemed confused, but agreed. Now, as I stood in the cabin, a strange nostalgia tugged at my heart. I hadn’t spent more than a few minutes in the cabin since moving in with Jace. It still felt like home, though. Something about it reminded me of Nana and probably always would.

I moved through the rooms, touching pictures and items. I already knew I wasn’t going to sell the cabin or rent it out. This place meant too much to me, to my family. It would be a special place, and hopefully, my son would love it the way I did.

Harley had departed not long before, and I sat down on the sofa and pulled out the sonogram picture Reese had printed for me. Try as I might, I couldn’t put it away for long. There was something magical about the little gray blob on that paper. I was still staring at it with a goofy smile on my face when I heard Jace’s truck tires grind on the gravel of the driveway.

Jumping to my feet, I tucked the picture in my pocket and took the top off the cake Harley and I had bought. We’d also bought bright blue decorations and balloons and strewn them around the cabin.

“Kirsten?” Jace called from outside, his voice strained and worried. “Is everything all right?” He opened the door and stepped in. “Why did you want—”

He stopped short, taking in the decorations.

“Hi,” I said with a smile.

“What’s all this?”

“A little celebration.” I stepped forward, pulling the photo from my pocket and handing it over. “Congratulations, Daddy.”

Jace took the photo with trembling hands and stared at it. When he finally looked up, there were tears in his eyes.

“Are you serious?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, grinning even more broadly. “It’s a boy.”

He opened his mouth to speak but closed it, then shook his head as if to clear it. “I never sensed a baby, though. We, uh, shifters can sense when our mates are pregnant.”

“I guess not for witches. Reese said I’m fairly far along.”

Jace’s face broke into a smile. “I guess this little guy is hiding behind all that magic you’ve got coursing through those beautiful veins.”

“I think so. Eren’s dead, but my magic still wants to protect me. Either way, it doesn’t matter now.”

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