Page 44 of Protector Dragon's Shattered Mate

“Exactly,” Sofia said with vehemence. “That’sexactlyhow I think of it. I was planning to put some distance between us and live on my own for a while.”

“But is that what you really want?” Juliana asked. “Or have you convinced yourself it’s what youshouldwant?”

Once again, the flood gate of tears opened. Sofia buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Above her, she could hear the four other women whispering to each other.

None of them told her to stop crying, and none of them tried to talk her out of it. They just sat with her, patted her back, and told her they would do whatever they could to help her.

She must have cried for fifteen minutes straight. Her skin was salty, and her eyes were gritty.

Finally, she stopped, and hiccupped. That’s when the other females jumped into action. Clara hopped-up and mopped the spot on the floor where Sofia had thrown up. Juliana brought her toothbrush with some toothpaste already on it.

“Brushing your teeth will make you feel better. I remember that clearly.”

Fallon grabbed her purse. “I’m going to go get a pregnancy test. That’s the first thing we have to do— let’s find out if you’re really pregnant.”

And last but not least, Brynne led her over to the couch. “Sit down. We’re going to sip some lemonade and chill out.”

As soon as she sat down, the back door flew open.

Levi came rushing in. “Where’s Sofia? Is she okay? I was at the clinic, and I felt her distress. It was worse than when the wolves were here.”

He turned his head and spotted her on the couch. “Oh. There you are.” He looked closer, probably noticing her red eyes and blotchy skin. “Did something happen?”

She swallowed. She wouldn’t use the word ‘distress’ about her current state. She was in shock. Just pure, unfiltered shock. “I just found out some information.” She waved her hand. “It’s nothing bad. I was actually going to stop by the clinic in a few minutes. Can I still do that? I’m sorry your work was interrupted.”

“It’s fine. I was about to head out to check on a pregnant mare.”

At the sound of the word pregnant, she jumped in her seat.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

She nodded vigorously, the point where her stomach almost acted up again. She put her hand on her flat stomach, willing it to behave. “Yes. I’ll tell you everything when I get there.”

“Okay…” he said looking at the other women who had all started cleaning the already-clean kitchen. “I’ll see you soon. Let me know if you need anything.”

Then he was gone.

“Well, that was awkward, but also very sweet,” Brynne said. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to talk to him. I’m going to tell him I’m pregnant, assuming the tests confirm it.”

“He’s not going to want you to go live with Rhett. I don’t know how bear shifter fathers are, but dragon-shifter fathers are very involved. And very possessive. He may not demand that you be his, but his kid…”

“I don’t actually want to go live with the motorcycle club,” she said. Wow. She had finally said it. She didn’t want to go. She had wanted to do it at one point, before the battle. Back when she was still so turned around and twisted up inside.

The only reason she was going now was because she felt like she needed to. She convinced herself that she had to live alone in the world and rely on only herself. But the last four weeks with Levi and the rest of the brothers and their mates had taught her that it was okay to rely on others.

It seemed trite and cliched, but it was true. She had finally accepted that being part of a clan was not a liability. It was a gift.

At that moment Fallon breezed back into the kitchen and held out a box. “Here it is. Let us know if you need any help. You have four experts right here in the room with you.”

“Thank you,’’ she said.

Brynne laughed. “You missed it, Fallon. We were all lounging on the sofa and Levi came charging in here. He could feel Sofia’s emotions and thought something was wrong. So, she’s sitting there, and she’s clearly been crying, and we get up and start like, polishing the silverware or something equally inane.”

Clara and Juliana joined in the laughter. “One day it will make a really good story,” Juliana said.

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