Page 55 of The Buck Stops Hare

Cliff paled and panicked, glancing about. “Dude, I can’t do four babies. I can’t do a whole-ass litter. Buck!”

In his distress, he spilled his drink, and I helped him pick the plastic cup up, shushing him softly. “Godbeasts never have more than twins. Even the twins are rare.”

That seemed to calm him, and I was very glad I’d already packed his belongings. So, when I wrapped my arms around him, I drew him to myself and offered him all I could. “I’ll do all I can. I can raise the baby. I can— You don’t have to lift a finger.”

He shoved me back and glared. “Fuck off, I’m not like… It takes two and I walked right into that mess. We got the village. We got you, my brother, and I guess I’ll be fat for—nine—eight months?”

“Three more, if your last heat was right.” I offered him a shrug.

“Three! What the fuck? Damn.” He pulled away and sat down on the floor of the porch, resting his head over his knees with a laughing huff of disbelief.

“We’d have told you this morning, but we didn’t want to disrupt your tests.” Dani gave me a wink and leaned back in her chair. “Guess this means I really do have to move down. AuntieDani will have lots of work to do. You don’t hit me as the real paternal types.”

“Buck’s amazing with babies.” Cliff gestured at me, and I earned a glance of respect from the witch. “I’m shit with them.”

“You’re fine with babies. I promise you.”

“Vida pooped on me twice.” He offered me a glare.

“And me a dozen times. Consider it a compliment.” I had nothing else to offer, but Dani did, nudging him to stand and come inside. Ransom followed, as entertained as anything and delighted to be involved with the business of gods.

“I have like twelve niblings, and I can tell you that it’s hard but it goes by fast. Hell, if I find a job nearby, I can help, too. You staying—”

“Thunder Acres. We live there and move from there to my land. Nowhere near your skulk land.” The thought of this random alpha wanting to be around Cliff made me a little anxious, but part of me knew he meant well.

“Ah. I’m mobile for the moment. Maybe I should go down that way and check it out. Find some work out that way.” Ransom stared me down with big eyes full of hope.

“I’m starting my own company. Talk to Grayson about housing and see if you can work a deal out for someplace to stay. They have room and we’re designing eco-housing. There’s a big market, some grants for it. Some guys in the pack are setting it up, but our degrees make it a little easier.” Cliff shrugged, and that told me all I needed to know. He approved of Ransom as a pack member, and the slight adoration I sensed on the fox would be good worship someday. Like any other shifter, they had the potential for good and bad, and he had done good so far.

“As long as you don’t send my mate off after revenge again.” I cut my gaze and smirked. “You’ll be helping Dani here pack and move.”

Ransom pursed his lips and glanced at Dani, who folded her arms, sizing him up. “He’ll do. Hope you like hard work, fox.”

“I don’t, but I’m the luckiest asshole this side of Ohio, if I’m on the side of a god and a witch. All the packs are falling apart, but we hear so much good about the packs with gods.” He beamed.

“And in a generation, there’ll be more gods ready to protect. We’ve had a goddess born.” I pulled Cliff to me and folded him into my arms. “And we have another god on the way.”

“May they be as lovely as their parents.” Dani smiled before grabbing Ransom by the upper arm and dragging him off.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Cliff

I stood on a jobsite, arms crossed. Nobody would let me lift a finger and I wanted to hurt someonebadly. The septic system had been laid out in advance, the permits notoriously hard to secure in that county. Though, Ransom had some skills and finesse in getting things approved fast.

A backhoe moved around, leveling soil in a way I knew I could do on my own, but there was a fine line between things that needed to be done by god powers and things that I should pay people to do. Admittedly, the cycle of blessings and favors depended on having followers that were blessed. Nothing was more blessed in the world than having a stable, well-paying job.

Unlike my brother, I didn’t suffer the side effects of pregnancy, the experience quite easy on me, as if the universe was apologizing for my inconvenience. Even so, it didn’t stop me from shoving my hand into my hooded sweatshirt’s pockets to palm my belly. The low swell had me self-conscious, but the gentle flutter that responded to my touch had me caught somewhere between amused and freaked out.

I should tell Buck.My mind drifted to my mate and his voice whispered in my ear, as if he were right there, a thing that took time to adjust to.

Tell me what?A worrying note permeated his thought.

I feel it moving.I sent the thought along as I walked along a ditch being dug and subtly used my gift in an inconsequential way, packing the soil tighter.

Them, he, or she. It sounds like you’re resentful. Are you sure you’re okay with this?His words soothed me as I sighed.

I don’t mean to be. I just can’t wrap my head around the concept of being pregnant. Like, I grew upreallynot expecting this, dude.

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