“Daddy, what about…”
“He will never bother you again. His pack has him, and they will make sure of it.” I hugged Tate tight. “And we will continue with our lives as if he never was born.”
We wouldn’t speak of this again. Justice had been meted out by the wolf’s alpha, and his body would also be dealt with. Probably dropped in a deep hole somewhere. It was too good for him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Tate
I’d paced the house until the walls blurred together. My playroom was lonely, but my wolf and I were focused on the pup inside me. I was overdue by two days and was doing anything I could to make this baby come out.
Pregnancy had been a dream, and I now realized my struggle and loss with my other baby had been because of the abusive ex who called himself my mate.
Troubled papa, troubled baby.
Bronson made sure I had no troubles, as best he could. We had everyday things, but we kept our home calm and safe.
Safe was undervalued in a relationship, or I had undervalued it.
No one should be afraid to be themselves.
“You’re going to drive yourself mad, mate.”
I stopped at the sound of his voice. So did the babe inside me. They knew their papas well. “They stopped kick…nevermind, there they go again.” The kicking and movement inside me went on nearly twenty-four hours a day. The healer said it was normal, but it felt like an earthquake was going off in my belly. Feet sticking in my ribs. Fists pressing out of my abdomen. The kid never stopped.
“Come relax in the living room. I made you a smoothie. Pineapple and papaya.”
“Another thing you read about in your pregnancy books?” I laughed. He took my hand and led me into the living room where we sat side by side in our chaise lounge. It was perfect for me to sit in because I could keep my feet up. Swollen ankles hadn’t been an issue, but it felt good.
“Yes. Dates, too. Drink up.”
I sighed but did as he asked. He took such good care of me. The smoothie was delicious, and I drank it all while Bronson rubbed circles on my belly. He lay across my chest, saying things to my belly, or rather, the babe inside my belly.
“What are you telling them?” I asked, running my hands through Bronson’s dark, thick hair. I hoped our baby had his hair. And his eyes and his nose. A replica would be fine with me.
He chuckled and wrapped his arm around the bottom of my belly. The support made me sigh. “I’m telling this pup to come on out. How much he or she is loved and how excited we are to see them and have them in our lives. I’m also telling them how beautiful of a papa they have. How lovely their pale-yellow nursery is.” He placed a kiss on my lower belly, and a pain struck me in my lower back.
“Oh!” I said, bucking from the lounge.
Bronson sat up, his eyes wide. “What is it?”
He helped me to stand, and another spike of pressure and pain shot through me. “This pup listened to you. That’s what. Call the healer, please. Now, mate. Please.” Two pleases. I was desperate.
While he talked to the healer, I moved back to the chaise but this time got on my knees and used the back of the chair as a brace to lean on. The contractions were coming in waves now, and each of them seemed more painful than the last. Each one left me breathless and spent.
“He’s at another birth. He’s sending someone else.”
I shook my head so hard it made my temples throb. “No. No one else.” I was slow to trust. That wasn’t going to change today.
“Hospital?” Bronson asked, coming over to stroke my back. His strong, warm hands felt so good.
“No. I’ll do this myself. My wolf and my body know what to do.”
“Do you want to be here, or should we go somewhere else?” he asked.
I turned my head. “You’re not going to argue?”
“Absolutely not, mate. You have survived so many things. You are strong and capable and brave as fuck. I trust you with our baby’s life.”