Page 45 of Jack of All Trades

Maltin watched Jack moving to the table and said, “Doctor, this won’t go further from us if it won’t for you. If the doctor is dead, then I’m sure Jack’s witch parents will have to let it go.”

“Let’s hope. My mentor has a family. I hope they don’t become set on retribution.”

Jack felt like a tiny man in a world of giants. Maltin sensed this and stood next to the exam table, holding his hand. “Let’s get on with this, doctor. My mate will get sick if more worry is piled onto him.”

“Of course. I’m sorry, Jack.”

The ultrasound felt strange, the cold stick with lubrication to move it easier over his lower abdomen. It wasn’t long before the doctor told him he indeed had the organs inside of him to carry children. “See there? Your uterus and birth canal branch off your rectum. Quite different than a female, but there it is.”

“I’m a freak,” Jack said, then the doctor frowned at him.

“If you are, I am, and a lot of others, Jack.”

“Sorry. I just…never expected any of this. It’s not easy to get used to.”

Maltin’s hand gripped his tighter, and he told the doctor, “He’s thought he was a powerless witch all his life.”

“This is better,” the doctor told Jack. “I promise.”

Jack looked into Maltin’s eyes, knowing that was the truth. “You’re right.”

“Good. We all come with issues, Jack. Some of us have to get used to flying, some having four legs; others, like you, are made for an even greater destiny. We all have roles to play, and yours,well, you take evil from this world. That’s the most important one, if you ask me.”

Jack hadn’t thought of that. “Thank you, doctor, for…all of this.”

“So, another thing, you will go through a…season. But they won’t last long and won’t produce children yet, so I’ll give you a suppressant, and once you turn, know that when Maltin enters you and knots, there is a great chance that you will have children.”

Jack sat up after redoing his pants. “Will they…come out like babies, or puppies or what?”

“Children, human children, Jack. They, like you, won’t automatically shift until they’ve found their mates and will produce too, but that could be centuries.”

“Centuries?”

“Yes, Jack. Hellhounds are rare! Only so many come into the world, and then they may not have children for a long time. You’re very young to have found your mate. Some never do.”

Maltin held up his hands and said, “Wait a moment, doctor. My father could have children with my mother, who wasn’t his fated mate. They had me. I’m only half a shifter.”

“Then you’re very rare, but it’s not impossible. He wasn’t the one who carried you, I am guessing.”

“No. Of course not.”

“Then that is the reason you are here. And you, Maltin, may never shift. Not all children of shifters shift. Those that aren’t full, like you, I can’t tell you if you will or won’t. I wouldn’t expect to, however. I’m sorry to break this to you.”

“No, no, thank you. We need to know all we can, of course.”

When they left the office and returned to the limo, they filled Rodney in on everything the doctor told them. Rodney listened and then was sympathetic. “It’s a little sad you might not shift,Maltin. You have finite witch power, and it seems possibly no shifter power.”

“I’m fine with it. As long as my mate is okay, that’s all I care about.”

Rodney nodded quickly, then pulled out the carafe of cognac. “Let’s drink, then! Jack can finally take a sip, which may help his nerves. We’re about to head into the witches’ lair!”

Chapter Thirteen

The witches’ lair, Rodneyhad said, and of course, he was right. A play on the phrase, into the lion’s den.

Maltin had no worries for himself. He didn’t have one worry about Rodney, who bore most of the power in the Hilderbrand clan. No, he only worried about a very fragile Jack.

Strong, tough, yes, he was both of those things, but his need for familial love ran deep in him. He may get that with his biological family, surely, but he didn’t know them. Getting to know and feel anything for them would take time.

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