Page 24 of Alpha Wolf Bodyguard

I pulled Trig into my arms and held him against my chest. Licking over the shell of his ear was one of my favorite things to do because it elicited the most desperate sounds from my big, strong alpha mate. It was also the perfect position to whisper right into his ear so our keen-hearing bear didn’t catch it. “He’s pregnant, Trig. Can’t you sense the changes in his body?”

Trig pulled back and looked right into my eyes and then closed his as he inhaled deeply. When he opened them again, they were glassy with unshed tears. “How did I miss that?” He shook his head in disbelief. “Why hasn’t he told us yet?”

I turned Trig so he could watch Nate as he came out of the bathroom with my arms wrapped around his middle. I wasn’t giving up a chance to see him with damp hair and nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

“I don’t think he knows yet, babe. Maybe we should tell him?” This was whole new territory for me. Was there a protocol on this?

He sniffed and nodded against the side of my face. “Yeah, we should. Can we do it now?”

Coughing out a laugh, I squeezed him even tighter. “Over laundry?”

“No time like the present—and besides, he’s mostly naked. It will make it easier for us to celebrate.” He turned and smacked a wet kiss on my cheek before dragging me to our omega. “You get the honors since you figured it out.”

“Figured what out?” Nate looked back and forth between Trig and me. “Everything okay?”

Trig was the worst at keeping secrets and couldn’t help himself. “Everything’s great, little one. So great.”

Nate’s towel fell to the floor, but he made no attempt to retrieve it. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense. What’s so great about…everything?”

Trig pursed his lips together to keep them from talking, and then he looked at me with encouraging eyes.

I laughed and pinched his ass. “Okay, okay.” I held my arm up, and Nate rushed right into it, crashing against me and Trig as his arms closed around both of our necks. “If you really want to know…”

“Garin, please!” Nate licked across my mark and then kissed the skin. “I need to know what’s so great!”

Instinctively, I pressed my palm to his flat belly. “You’re pregnant, Nate. You’re carrying our baby.”

He looked down at my hand and placed both of his hands over it. “You think?” His gaze bounced from mine to Trig’s. “How can you tell?”

Trig pulled him in for a kiss, unable to keep those lips still. “We can smell it on you, little one. And…we can feel it. Can’t you?”

He pulled back and concentrated. “Yeah, actually. I can. That’s incredible.” He looked up at me. “You knew this and didn’t tell me?”

“I just figured it out myself, but I’m so fucking happy about it.”

”And I’m so naked… Just saying… If we wanted to recreate what brought us to this point, I’m game.”

Like either of us could turn that offer down.

Chapter 21

Nate

The day of the trial was finally here. Even though my testimony was on video, Anders suggested that I come. He said it would look better, and then we could explain to the jury why the testimony was done the way it was, that there were real fears and attempts on my life. He also said it was solid protection in case the defense attorney managed to get it thrown out.

Truth was, I wanted to be there regardless. I needed to see with my own eyes that he was brought to justice. Unless I did, I’d never feel safe. And now that our baby was growing inside of me, I refused to allow that.

Neither Anders nor anyone else ever brought up the dead henchman at the cabin. From what I could tell, that was over and done with. We owed the koala so much.

Once we got through this trial and sentencing, we would be free at last. We wouldn’t need hired shifters circling the apartment property making sure no cats showed up, ready to pounce. We wouldn’t need to wonder if a click echoing in the hallway was attached to a gun. We could go to a store and buy real food without worrying someone would intentionally run us over in the parking lot.

Alpha For Hire thought we were nuts when I said we were looking for squirrel shifters specifically. They kept offering me wolves and lions, and even a gator. To them a squirrel seemed too small, too meek. But I threw enough money at them that they managed to fill the spots.

Squirrels were ideal for what we needed. They could just chill in their fur and hang out around in the trees or under the bushes and no one would be the wiser. If they had been in their skin, neighbors would notice, and then we’d have to deal with that. This was so much better.

Their job was boring. And I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Not once had anyone come near the building that had them concerned. Sure, some shifters came in and out of the building, but they were all there to visit other people or because they lived there. And they were few in number.

Ash and Anders had come up with a better plan than even they had realized. Having that testimony ready to go covered our backs. It wasn’t foolproof, and I was glad for the extra protection we’d hired, but it worked out for the best.

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