Page 20 of Hunny and the Bear

Hunny furrowed her brow. “Well, that’s a hell of a way to look at it.” Knocked up and rejected, just to find ‘something better.’

“Oh, I’m always optimistic.” Tabitha laughed, shooing Hunny toward the open bathroom door. “Go, get cleaned up. There’s a spare toothbrush under the sink!”

With that, Hunny did as instructed, taking a quick shower before brushing her teeth and dressing. Her clothes might not have smelled like Tank anymore, but her body did from his soap, and she sighed contentedly before making her way back to the bedroom.

She’d barely stepped through the door when Tabitha jumped up from her seat on the bed, sending Hunny another happy smile. “Oh dear, you really are a beauty. I see why my Tank kept you to himself.”

Hunny blushed, waving her hand in denial. “Oh! Oh, no. That’s not—Henry and I—we’re not likethat …We’re just friends,” she finished lamely, feeling like she’d just gotten caught lying. But she wasn’t. Her and Tank’s relationship was strictly platonic.

Isn’t it?

Tabitha raised a brow. “Henry, is it?”

Hunny’s entire face turned beet red. “I meant Tank.”

“If my son prefers you to call him Henry, go for it.”

“He didn’t actually tell me if he preferred it or not.”

Tabitha laughed loudly, like Hunny had just told her one hell of a joke. “Hunny, if my son told you his name, that means he wants you to call him by it. He never tells strangers anything personal about himself. You must make him feel very comfortable.”

Hunny shrugged nonchalantly, but she couldn’t help the fluttering in her stomach at Tabitha’s words. “He makes me feel comfortable, too,” she admitted softly.

“Even more reason for you to stay with our clan,” Tabitha stated, bringing their original conversation back full circle. “I’ll have a word with Murphy on your behalf, if you’d like. Not about your mate, that is private and for you to discuss when you’re ready, but just that I think you’d be a good fit for us.”

Hunny’s shoulders relaxed. “You’d do that for me? You don’t even know me.”

“Nonsense.” Tabitha pulled Hunny in for a sudden hug before letting go. “I feel as if we’re family already. That’s what a bear clan is: family.”

Family. God, the word brought up so many old memories of her parents, of how happy she’d been growing up. How loved she’d felt. For the last five years, she’d missed that aspect of being part of a nest; the companionship, the friendship, the affection.

And now Tank’s family was offering a semblance of that, even if it was just for a little while, until she got back onto her feet. Hope blossomed in her chest, the sensation so sudden, so foreign, that it took her a second to process the feeling. When it did, a tear spilled down Hunny’s cheek, her emotions too strong to push back.

“Ah, I’m sorry,” she mumbled, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. “I’m so emotional nowadays.”

“I’ve been there several times,” Tabitha joked. She moved to the desk, grabbing a Kleenex from a box and handing it to Hunny. “Speaking of babies, I’m the clan doctor, so if you’re needing a checkup, I’d love to help with that, when you have time.”

“That would be really great.” Hunny had barely even thought about her next steps regarding her pregnancy. “I’m only a few weeks along at most, so I wasn’t sure when I’d need to make an appointment with anyone.”

“Well, with a shifter pregnancy, it’s imperative to be seen sooner rather than later as our offspring develop faster than a human’s. Aside from that, rabbit shifters are prone to carrying multiple kits. And if the one who impregnated you is a different shifter breed than yours, those pregnancies almost always result in multiple offspring.”

Hunny blanched, her breath stilling in her lungs. More than one kit?Multiple babies?!She didn’t even know what she’d do with one, let alone a swarm of them!

No, Tabitha had to be mistaken. There was nofuckingway. “I’m sorry? I think I misheard you.”

“You didn’t mishear, and I’m a bit surprised you weren’t aware of this beforehand. Did you grow up in a nest?” the older woman asked casually.

“I left before I was eighteen,” Hunny mumbled numbly. “I guess I never really questioned why there were so many twins and triplets running around.”

Hunny’s parents had never had ‘the talk’ with her, and she was an only child, so she’d never even thought to question how many kits she’d produce.

Oh god.

“Henry’s going to kick me out if I’m pregnant with twins,” she whispered faintly, anxiety crashing through her. He wouldn’t want anything to do with her after this newest shock. And then she’d never see him again, never feel that safety, or his scent—

Tabitha snorted, and then immediately rubbed Hunny’s arms in comfort. She barely felt the touch, too focused on the pulse now frantically beating in her ears. The walls seemed to close in on her. “Now, now. I can’t imagine he’d do that at all.”

“I can’t stay here with a hoard of children. This place is so small. Henry will want his space back,” Hunny argued, her heart rate skyrocketing the more she thought about it. “Is it hot in here? I feel too hot.” She blinked quickly as she fanned herface, looking around the bedroom frantically. She could already imagine the cribs stacked on top of each other, ready to topple over and crush her at any second. “I-I think the air conditioner is broken.”

---