Page 15 of Small Town Girl

I shake my head. “Thanks, man, but I’ve got to do this on my own.”

He nods. “Call me if you change your mind. I can come back early.”

His words surprise me. I don’t give him enough credit. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

I end up laying out a sleeping bag next to the mushrooms. The night air is chilly, but I find that in partial shift I’m not as cold. It’s peaceful, and for the most part quiet, despite my proximity to the Wild Hare. At some point, I must fall asleep, because I wake up to Frigg’s body pressed against my back. Porshetta and Chad are spread out in a semicircle above my head. A soft snore comes from Frigg, so I try not to move.

I have no idea how much theyunderstand, but they helped Zach’s mate, Red, when the trailer she was in got broken into, and they probably feel like they’re helping now, too. I close my eyes and let the sound of Frigg’s snore lull me back to sleep.

Chapter Nine

In Which Everyone’s Real Self Is on Display

“Zander.”

“Zander.”

A foot pokes at my hip, and I open my eyes to see Zach and Darla standing over me.

“You sleep out here all night?” Zach asks, looking down at me, worry etched between his brows as I blink against the morning sun. Darla’s eyes are looking past me. I roll over to see what she’s focused on and suck in a breath.

The mushroom village has grown exponentially overnight. Where six mushroom houses once stood, thirty or so more have joined them, each more colorful than the last. They remain crowded inside the original area protected by the force field. Darla squats down near my feet and stares into the little town of mushrooms.

“This deal you made is generational,” she says ominously. “Your great-grandchildren will be held to it.”

“If she really is pregnant, my great-grandchild will be living inside there with them,” I respond, unable to take my eyes off the little town.

“This is serious,” she says, shaking her head. “Your future Alphas will be held to this as well. There are dire consequences for changing the deal.”

Zach just shrugs. “If Zander’s mate is pregnant, then she and the kid are already part of our pack. It doesn’t matter if they’re fae or aliens or the Loch Ness Monster. No member of the Lamar pack is considered a burden. We’ll keep them safe as long as our pack exists.” He puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. We aren’t an emotional family. Hell, I only ever saw Mama cry once and that was at Dad’s funeral, but hearing Zach stand behind me like that, even in this stupid situation I’ve gotten us all into, chokes me up a bit. I swallow and turn to Darla.

“We aren’t changing the deal, and our pack won’t either.”

Darla nods. “Good. They can be a pain in the ass, but they can also be a blessing, too. Especially if youstay on their good side.”

Thursday night I lay my sleeping bag out by the mushroom town one last time. As the sun sets, the pig family returns to help me keep guard. Tonight’s the full moon, if she doesn’t return—I cut off that thought immediately and find a spot near a tree to lean against and wait for the moon to rise.

Frigg shuffles to my side and stretches out, her body pressed against my leg. My sleep the past few days has been crap, and I find myself drifting off as the piglet snores at my side. I’ve closed my eyes for what feels like seconds when something startles me wide awake.

“Zander?” calls out a voice. I jump up from my spot, not quite believing and praying at the same time my hearing isn’t playing tricks on me.

“Nollaig?”

She emerges from the forest in the same green skirt and top. I don’t give her time to speak. I simply pull her to me and kiss her, relieved above all else that she’s actually returned. She responds just as she did three nights ago, her tongue finding mine as she pulls me asclose as she can.

When she pulls away at last, I say the only thing I can think to say. “You’re pregnant?”

She nods. “Aye, I am.”

“We should get married, or if marriage isn’t your thing, at least move in together. You’ll need help with the baby, and I want to be there for both of you.”

She sighs and squeezes my hands. “Zander, my people live for a very long time compared to yours, our daughter–”

“It’s a girl? You already know?” I lay my hands on her belly, and she rests hers on top of mine.

She chuckles. “Firstborn children are always girls among my people.”

“So is that a no?”

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