Page 64 of Forced Pregnant Mate

“Me too!” Gina sniffles. Lena chuckles, even through her tears. Reluctantly, she lets her brother go.

“I’m so proud of you, and so happy for you,” she mutters through her tears. “Just so long as this is what you really want.”

“It is,” he says, smiling. “It truly is. I’ve thought about it a lot, and I want our pack to be strong more than anything.”

Sam reaches out and pats her stomach gently. “For my little niece or nephew, and for my own children, when that time comes.”

Lena clings to his hands, shaking her head.

“You aren’t going to get off that easy, you know,” I say, making Sam look over at me in surprise. “We’ll be there visiting you, like, all the time.”

He laughs. “Will I get a moment’s peace?”

“No,” Mom snaps. “Never. You’re almost grown up, not all grown up! If you move back there by yourself, who’s going to feed you?”

All of us laugh at that, breaking the somber mood. Sam asks if he can leave for the graduation party, and I let him have the keys to my truck.

“You know what, you might as well keep it. I need a new one, anyway. Something family-friendly.”

“For real?” Sam asks, looking at the keys in shock.

“Yeah. Go ahead and take her. We can borrow Mom’s car until I buy a new one.”

“How did I not see this coming,” Mom mutters.

“Don’t thank him too soon,” Bae says. “He’s had that piece of junk since he was sixteen. You’ll be lucky if it runs another two months.”

Sam shakes his head and gives me a quick hug. I let him go, and he says goodbye to everyone, leaving Lena until last. They exchange a few words and a tearful hug, then she lets him go.

I know he’s going to pack his things and probably be gone by the time we get home. Lena will miss him, but she’ll also be proud that he’s out there doing what she always wanted him to do.

Making a life for himself. A life that makes him happy, and his family proud.

Chapter 25 - Lena

I never thought our spacious house could feel so crowded. Jack’s entire family seem to have come for my baby shower, dragging the majority of the pack along with them.

I’m sitting in the living room, surrounded by wrapping paper and boxes of gifts. I’m barely halfway through the pile. I think the nursery will be literally overflowing by the time I’m done.

“Open this one!” Carla cries, handing me a huge box. I look at the tag, laughing when I see what it says.

“Carla, this is another one from you!”

“Is it?” she squints, looking skeptically at the package. “How did that get in there? I swear, I only bought like one or two presents. Three, tops.”

“Carla,” one of Gina’s aunts rolls her eyes. “Do you really expect any of us to believe that?”

“Not at all,” Carla giggles. “But I’ve got to put on a good show, don’t I? Otherwise, I’ll embarrass all you cheapskates!”

The group erupts with groans and cries of “oh no, you didn’t!” There are at least twenty people in here, and I can’t remember a single name. I’m going to have to pull Gina aside at some point and try to learn them all.

“Open it, quick,” Gina says, nudging me. “Before she explodes.”

I tear open the pretty pastel paper and open the box. It’s a musical toy, with buttons to push that make different sounds.

“Thank you, Carla.” I’m humbled by every single one of her gifts. This one is probably the most elaborate and not immediately useful, but I’m touched all the same.

“I must admit, I was a bit mad by the time I bought that one,” she laughs. “I was on the site going for basics, and then it started suggesting things to me. I couldn’t resist.”

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