Page 21 of Bearly Mated

She obviously knew that her son was the father of Wren’s child, but she had agreed to keep it a secret unless Reed specifically asked. Her mate had been the worst of the bear shifters, and I’d heard some of the shit he’d done from Hudson when we were kids.

Even though Reed wasn’t anything like his dad, he’d still left his mate after sealing their bond. Every bear shifter knew that knocking a woman up inevitably followed claiming her, unless she was on birth control. They’d been using condoms when they were together, but no condoms during the claiming?—

So basically, he had to know he’d knocked her up.

Parker started crying, turning his head away from his mom’s neck so he was facing me.

His cute little lips parted as he sobbed—and the sob quickly turned into a gag, which turned into vomit.

I was so shocked when it hit me, I didn’t even jump.

Wren hurried him to the bathroom, apologizing over her shoulder as she rushed away. I called after her not to worry about it, following her there.

Her mom and I sent her home with Parker as soon as she was done washing his face and making sure he wasn’t going to puke again immediately.

Her mother took my shirt from me and scrubbed it in the sink while I hauled the shop’s portable upholstery cleaner to the couch in my bra and leggings. I took care of the rest of the mess, pausing to help someone check out halfway through. Considering the size of our town, everyone understood the situation and was understanding about it.

When she congratulated me on my new mating, I knew everyone in the shop had heard the drama I’d whispered to Wren about.

All of Cub Lake was going to be gossiping about me and Hudson even more by the time I left.

Yay.

An hour later, I finally made it back to my car. I smelled strongly of hand soap, and any bear shifter worth their weight would definitely be able to scent the vomit beneath the fragrance. But that didn’t matter.

I just kept thinking about Hudson and I having a baby.

About the possibility of himstaying.

Of us being together.

Had he even told his mom that he mated me?

He probably hadn’t.

But she deserved to know.

I reached the intersection I’d taken so many times. The one that would lead me to his mom’s place.

And, without missing a beat, I turned there. She needed to know as soon as possible—even if I smelled like soap and puke.

eight

CALLIE

I turnedonto the street Hudson’s mother lived on, then hit the brakes and parked in front of a house a few doors down.

My wide eyes were glued to the front of her house.

She was wrapped in a lacy robe, her hair up in a bun on top of her head. Her eyes were bright, and she was chatting with a man as he walked out to his car. He didn’t have a bag, and he was in clean clothes, freshly showered.

It didn’t take a genius to recognize the guy.

He was Hudson’s father.

And he was talking to her just as easily as she spoke to him.

They hadnevertalked that way.

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