Page 37 of Hunted

She nods, eyeing me for a beat. “It’s the baby.”

I blink at her. “The what?”

She passes me the mug of tea and doesn’t give me the option of refusing. Smiling, I cradle the mug to appease her.

Only after I’ve taken a sip does she explain. “You’re about to become a father. Those protective urges will be running rampant.” She cocks her head, expression still thoughtful. “I gather that plan of yours is also motivated by the need to protect.”

When I glance at Aerin, she’s still asleep, her breathing steady. I relax, relieved she’s not in pain and is as comfortable as she could be.

I drag the chair from the dressing table next to the bed and take another sip of tea before I speak. “Not just about protection. It’s something I’ve been thinking about off and on for a while.”

“Well, Gregory and Jude are delighted with the thought of being closer to Aerin and their grandchild.” She raises her eyebrow. “What has Aerin said?”

I release a sigh when I read something else in Adela’s gaze. “Yes, I know you think I should have told Aerin first, and I will, and it goes without saying that if this isn’t what she wants, then it won’t happen. We all have to want it.”

“So why haven’t you told her?”

“It was just a fragment of an idea before.”

“And then?”

“This germ of an idea turned into a concrete plan within a few days. Chris had a real estate listing he showed me. I wasn’t expecting everyone to be so excited and immediately say yes.”

“Ah, so you thought this would be a few months away and you could slowly gauge Aerin’s thoughts on it before telling her?”

I nod. “She loves this house and the forest. Has loved it from when she first arrived. That made it harder to ask her if she wants to move.”

“And instead, everyone is now galloping toward this idea of pack living, and you’re still working up how to ask Aerin if this is what she wants?” Humor warms her voice.

I grin. “Something like that. She said home was who you were with and not a place, so I think she’ll like it, and it will take time to find the perfect place, buy it, and rebuild so this probably won’t be a thing that happens for a year or maybe even more. Especially since Thumper will still be so small.”

“Ask her. You two are strangely shy about talking about things that you don’t need to be shy about.”

She’s probably right about that. I overheard Aerin talk about how she feels being an omega is tied to her sense of identity. That she doesn’t know who she is otherwise. It hurts that she didn’t think she could tell me that herself, but I understand all about the fear of opening up yourself like that.

It’s never easy, even with the people you love the most in the world. In fact, it’s harder, because their opinion matters so much more to you than anyone else.

We talk for the next several minutes, and after Adela has gone home, again reassuring me that Aerin is fine, I eat a quick meal and I draw the curtains before I get ready for bed.

It’s not even 6 yet, far too early to sleep, but I’m not going downstairs and leaving Aerin alone. She’s sleeping so deeply that she might sleep all evening. Why not get an early night?

I sent Bennett a quick text after Adela left, just to let him know what had happened with Aerin, and to tell him not to bother stopping by the house. We’re both fine.

But I know Bennett.

I would not be the least bit surprised if I found him stretched out on my garden lounger, keeping an eye on us as I watch over Aerin.

Not wanting to disturb Aerin as she sleeps, I turn out all the lights but the bedside lamp, and get myself as comfortable as I can on the hard, backless chair from Aerin’s dressing table, watching over her in case she needs me in the night.

I don’t intend to fall asleep. But between Aerin’s soft, steady breaths and the dim light in the room, all the excitement from today must have tired me out.

A slight pressure on my scalp makes me blink my eyes open. The room is darker than it was before, though the bedside lamp is still on. It must be night now.

Aerin is awake, and the pressure I felt on my scalp was her combing her fingers through my hair. “Come to bed,” she quietly orders.

“How do you feel?” I get to my feet and slide under the sheets.

“Okay, just tired.” She yawns.

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