Page 390 of Bride of Choice

Jeh-kal’s lips were shut tight, muffling the warning rumble that matched the narrow-eyed stare he was giving Rosa.

Noyel stood behind her, his hand on her back comfortingly but the look on his face and the way his fur was all puffed up said he didn’t care how big Jeh-kal was, if he touched his mate there’d be hell to pay.

Rosa’s mouth dropped open and she sputtered for a moment. “I- You’re- A baby?! OH- Oh, Joanie- Oh- Oh my god- I-”

Grinning, I reeled her back in. It felt so fucking good to see this bitch again. “Just hug me, woman.”

Rosa trembled in my arms. I felt myself tearing up the moment the first soft sob shook her body.

I knew part of that shock was my new appearance— my fucked up face was kinda hard to miss— but the more it happened, the easier it was getting for me to dismiss. Or that was the shock, I supposed? Either way, I couldn’t do anything to fix it. This was the new me.

“Are- Are you okay?” she whispered.

“I’m home.” Pulling back to hold her at arm’s length, get a good look at her, I gave her a little squeeze. She had dark circles under her eyes. I’d wager this wasn’t the first time she’d cried today. If our reunion was any way to gauge things, it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

“Do you- Do you know who the father is?” Rosa blurted.

As if she’d just realized what she’d said, how I could have taken it, versus what she’d actually intended— meaning, she meant which one of my guys before it had occurred to her that it might actually not be any of theirs at all, Celuk answered before anyone else could, “Mine. Jeh-kal’s. Odix’, Gopher’s, Rek’s, our Jo’s Buu’s.”

“Buu?” Rosa blurted, looking both relieved and confused.

“Buu Jo’ Yowie,” Jeh-kal supplied.

Noyel’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A Yowie? You’re certain? Mama left that part out.”

Rosa glanced up at Noyel sharply. “You mean you knew she was pregnant? And you didn’t tell me?”

“Mama informed me, quite convincingly, in my defense, that it wasn’t my place to say anything.” Noyel cleared his throat repeatedly. Were he wearing a shirt with a collar, he’d be tugging at it right now nervously.

Rosa shook her head at him but let it go. Immediately, her focus was back on me. “I came by last night,” another pointed look at Noyel, “as soon as I heard, but Celuk said you were, uh- erm,” Rosa blushed as she hurriedly finished, “that it had been a long journey and that you all were, uh, getting ready for bed.” Eyeing me, she smiled in relief. “You look good.” Hugging me to her yet again, she whispered, “I’m so glad you’re okay, and now you’re home.”

“Me, too.” Hugging her to me, I rested my chin on her shoulder for a moment.

A tiny kick had us breaking apart to stare down at my belly.

“I felt that!” Rosa exclaimed excitedly. “Has she been very active?”

“That’s a first like that,” I whispered, staring down at my stomach.

Rek dropped the pair of socks in his hand, the very pair I’d thrown at him, and scrambled to beat Celuk and Jeh-kal to me.

Rek was doing better, for sure, but he wasn’t even close to one hundred percent.

Celuk beat the others out. Noyel quickly picked Rosa up and set her behind him as Celuk dropped down to place his hands below mine.

Rek squeezed his hand in beside ours, and Jeh-kal brought up the rear, content to let them outrun him as long as he got to join in. His hand landed on the other side of mine and Celuk’s.

A grin stole over my face as they all leaned in, eyeing my belly hopefully.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but you’ve got an audience,” I joked to my stomach.

“Kirch is going to be so jealous when he hears,” Rosa chuckled out as she peered at us from around Noyel.

“Kirch know,” Celuk grunted out.

“My Jojomine’s baby,” Rek grumbled. “Kirch have to give baby back to my Jojomine. No’ keep.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean- Of course he has to give the baby back. I- Am I the last to know?” Rosa spluttered.

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