Page 9 of I Can't Bear It

“Nah.” I filled our glasses with lemon-lime soda and took them to the kitchen table. “I called them ahead of time and let them know. And the front gate texted me when they put the guy through the checks.”

“Good to know they even checked the delivery guy. Has there been any news lately about Alessandro?”

“Nothing major. He did have a couple of private investigators looking for you, and he did receive the divorce papers. Everything on his end seems quiet, however. We are still watching though. Hopefully, he will sign them and not fight the custody section, giving you full custody. I was surprised that it didn’t cause him to spiral, honestly.”

“Am I naive for hoping the sweet boy I fell in love with is fighting the hard man he became, and that’s why?”

“Maybe.” I kissed Peter and hugged him. “But there’s no harm in hoping for now, as long as you are safe here.”

“Let’s go get Georgi and eat dinner.” A loud grumble radiated from his stomach. “I told you I’m starving.”

“I’ll go get him. You start filling that monster before he escapes and devours us all.”

“Oh, ha.” Peter knocked on my shoulder but sat down and picked up a slice of pepperoni pizza. “Well, go on. Get our boy.”

“I am. I am.” Chuckling, I walked out of the kitchen to get our son for dinner.

Chapter Six

Peter

“Hello, Peter.” Doctor Michaels greeted me with a giant smile and a firm handshake. “How are you doing this morning?”

“Pretty good, Doc.” I adjusted the paper gown the nurse had me put on when I arrived. “I was wondering if we could check my vitamin levels. I have been exhausted for the last couple of weeks. At first, I thought I was coming down with a slight cold, but the longer it lasted, the more I thought it might be something else. I know shifters don’t get ill often, but I have had issues in the past.”

“I see.” Doctor Michaels placed the stethoscope on my chest. “Have there been any other symptoms, such as nausea, headaches, hair loss, weight loss, or gain?”

“I have felt a bit queasy in the mornings, but after a cup of juice, I usually feel much better.”

“And you are newly mated, correct?”

“Yes. But I married another shifter before that. Could that be the cause? If the fated mate marks you, your previous bond becomes void, doesn’t it? I didn’t hear of any health-related consequences of a new relationship.”

“No. Since he is your fated mate, the previous claim would have faded without any issues for you or your bear once you made the claiming bites.” Doctor Michaels took notes on his tablet and hummed. “I am going to run a couple of tests. Sheila will come in here and take your blood.”

“Okay.” I hated blood work, but if I could find out why I felt like sleeping all day long, I would be willing to let them stick me as many times as needed.

“Hello, dear.” Nurse Sheila entered the room, wheeling the cart of supplies ahead of her. “Doctor Michaels has asked me to get a urine sample from you, so after I take your blood, you can go down the hall and fill this cup for me. There is a little door in the wall. When you are finished, place the container there, and we will collect and process it. Okay?”

“That’s fine.” I held out my arm and looked in the opposite direction. I’d learned the hard way never to watch, or I would lose consciousness. It’s not even the sight of blood that does it; I can handle that. It’s the stupid fear of needles.

“All done.” Sheila put a Band-Aid on my arm. “Come back here when you are all finished, and Doctor Michaels will be back to talk to you.”

“Oh, okay.”

After returning to the examination room, I played games on my phone while waiting for the doctor. I hadn’t had time to do so in so long, and I missed it. These games could become quite addictive, though. I laughed to myself when I remembered the times I hadn’t fallen asleep until after four a.m. because I was up playing ball-blasting games. But when waiting for a doctor, it was better than wondering what horrible news the doctor may come back with.

Knock. Knock.

Doctor Michaels entered the room, and my anxiety spiked. Hopefully, it was just some low vitamins.

“Congratulations, Peter, You’re pregnant.”

***

“Honey, we’re home,” Karl called, coming through the front door of our house. He told Georgi to leave his shoes in the cubbyby the door. “I brought home Chinese food like you asked. Are you in the kitchen?”

“Yeah.” I set the last plate on the kitchen table and grabbed the glasses. “Thanks for picking dinner up. I didn’t feel like making anything after today’s doctor’s appointment.”

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