Page 18 of Vegas Baby!

I stared at him, not quite comprehending what he had said.

“She bonded us before the baby was born. Legally, it’s ours. Pack law doesn’t care about the biology of the father.”

“Oh, shit. I’m gonna be a dad.”

Jesse chuckled quietly. “You’re just figuring that out?”

“There’s a lot to process about all of this,” I defended. “I’ve only recently wrapped my head around the fact that I have a mate.”

I didn’t knowhowto be a dad. My own father was rather…lacking in that department, so at the very least it wouldn’t be difficult to be a better parent than he had been. I assumed, anyway. I desperately wanted to be better. My brain was melting over the prospect, emotions a blur, but definitely more excitement than terror. And there was still some time to adapt. A couple months at least before the baby would be making an appearance.

Jesse yawned and tucked himself closer to Ava. “Sleep while you can. Luke will probably come looking for you when he doesn’t see you in the living room when he gets up.”

Joy. I couldn’t wait to wake up to that asshole freaking the fuck out. Why couldn’t fate have matched Ava to someone more even-tempered?

I put on my pants just to be safe before trying for sleep myself.

It felt like I had barely closed my eyes when I was awoken by a string of curses and someone yanking me out of bed by my ankles.

“What the fucking fuck is wrong with both of you?” Luke growled.

“Luke, stop it.” Anxiety zinged through the bond from Ava.

“I’m not going to stop it. These idiots took advantage of you.”

Ava hurled a pillow at him, but he snatched it out of the air before it hit him. “I asked them to.”

Hurt flashed across his face, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel bad for him when I was sprawled on his floor. I got to my feet and put myself between him and Ava, Jesse shoving himself between me and Luke a moment later.

“Back off,” Jesse demanded.

Luke was red as a beet. “Fuck no. I expected this ofhim, but not you, Jesse.”

“Oh, so I should ignore the omega going into heat in my bed? She washurting.”

Luke let out a feral snarl. “What the fuck do you mean she went into heat?”

I let the two of them argue, Luke losing it, and Jesse trying to explain the science. I tucked my shirt over Ava’s shoulder, buttoning enough to secure her modesty and fetching the panties she had thrown to the floor.

Micah watched in the doorway, seemingly unsure what to do with his packmates going at it.

Ava let out a sharp whine, all four of us freezing in place. “You’re stressing me out! It’s bad for the baby. Everyone not a bondmate, get out.”

“Bondmate?” Luke spat out the word. Jesse shoved him right out the door and closed it behind him, flipping the lock.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Jesse said through the door. “Go take a walk.”

He turned back to the two of us with a sigh and I couldn’t help but notice that he was very naked. Ava noticed too, her eyes fixed on him as he slipped on a pair of underwear from the dresser. “Sorry about him. He’s a hothead, but it won’t take him long to calm down. In theory.”

Ava burrowed against my chest, my purr coming to life at having her in my arms. “It’s okay, honey. We’re both right here.”

Jesse crowded her against me and kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry, sweetness. I yelled a lot more than I should have.”

“I come from a really loud family,” Ava said softly. “I don’t like it.”

“I’ll tell him. Micah will get him sorted. Can I get you some breakfast?”

“I like breakfast.”

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