Page 38 of His Human Librarian

“Rainy season recently ended and the Sandstones always have this yearly event to commemorate a successful end to the rainy season,” Erid explains. “You are going to be what everyone talks about today.”

We inch our way closer to the ranch, in a long line of vehicles. All the other Hyrrokin point and whisper, amazed to see another human in their midst. Some know that I’m a returning human.

Erid parks the vehicle and grabs for my suitcase.

I get out and gesture at the distance from the house and the crowds of beings. “I need to get in and meet with Sten so he knows I’m here. I have to talk to him in private.”

“Don’t worry, I’m certain he already knows you are here and so does his father. They’ll findyou.”

Chapter 14

Sten

My father stops me in the hallway, looking very agitated.

“What is wrong?” I question, worried there’s an actual emergency.

“Did you know that the Librarian you hired to oversee those artifacts from the cave has returned?”

“Of course I know. It’s all anyone can talk about. She’s here at the ranch for the event. I’ve been trying to find her and have a moment to talk to her alone.”

“That Librarian is pregnant,” he hisses.

I stand in shock and then a flood of disappointment hits me hard. For the last three moon cycles I’ve been wanting her more and more, which is silly considering I didn’t particularly like her when she was on Tarvos. But I continue to dream about her at night and think of her during the day. “She’s mated with a human?”

“No, if that were the case this pregnancy would have nothing to do with me and I’d ignore it unless she spoke up about the child she carries and wish her congratulations. But I saw her out by the main fire pit and stood close to greet her and scented the pheromone trail of another Hyrrokin growing within her,similar to how my daughters-in-law scented when they carried my grandchildren. But I am told that she is an unmated female.”

“So this means…”

“This means that when she was here originally, an unmated male here on Tarvos pleasure mated that innocent human and then left her behind, carrying his offspring. This is unacceptable.”

A growl rumbles in my chest. “Is she here to find this Hyrrokin who mistreated her in such a way?”

“I do not know. But I want to find this Hyrrokin myself so I can exact punishment. Do you have any idea who this could be? Was it Tilden?”

“Or Erid?” I growl.

“We will find out.”

I turna corner and then I finally see her standing on the back balcony. I burst through the doors. “Taylor.”

She turns around and I cannot believe how beautiful she is, more so than before. “Sten,” she smiles brightly, as if she were truly happy to see me. “I was looking for you.”

But all I can think of is the fact that the female I think I’ve concluded I must want as my own, has been avoiding me because she wants another male as her mate and now she’s legally some other Hyrrokin’s bound.

“What’s wrong?” she questions.

“I learned that you are pregnant.”

“It’s true,” she sighs. “I was here to tell you. I wanted you to learn first from me. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out that way.”

I step up close and inhale her scent, trying to gain clues as to which unmated male has treated her poorly, discarding this worthy female and her offspring. A growl rumbles in my chest and I step closer and pull her into my arms. “How?” I choke.“How is this child mine? How can you be pregnant with my offspring?”

She looks up at me with watery blue eyes. “Because, when we were alone in that cave we had sex two different times, and then a rock hit you in the head and you completely forgot it happened.”

I hear a noise behind me and let go of my female. I turn to see most of my nosy family gathering behind me.

“Her baby is yours?” Thorn growls.

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