Page 35 of Mated to the Pride

Jessica

Ihadn’tfainted. At least, I didn’t think so; I could still hear all their voices around me. I was just a little overwhelmed, and had to take a moment to withdraw. Surely anybody would feel the same way? Even so, I felt an irritating flicker of weakness coursing through me. I was surrounded by these form-shifting beings, skilled and talented enough to conduct top-level government work — and here I was fading away like some damsel in distress.

Granted, I was supporting another life now, but… jeez. The kid couldn’t take up that many resources so quickly, could they?

When I opened my eyes, I saw four concerned faces around me, and reddened with embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to freak out like that.”

“Don’t apologize,” said Stone. “It’s a lot to take in. But, uh. You said…?”

I ran my tongue over the back of my teeth. Me and my big mouth. “I said, um, Lion baby.”

It was Stone’s reaction that reassured me. The instant it came out of my mouth, still hesitant and unsure, his eyes illuminated.

“Are you sure?” he pressed, lifting his hand to grip my forearm instead. He seemed consumed with excitement — filled to the brim with the exact opposite of the disgust and anger I had been so afraid of. “I mean. You took a test? It’s — definitely, yes? You’re pregnant?”

I looked between Stone and the others. His face was always easier to read than anybody else’s, but I could see traces and glimmers of the same excitement in their eyes too.

“Yes,” I said, after a moment’s hesitation. For the first time, I felt free enough to smile about this whole situation — to acknowledge my excitement and my happiness, not just the panic and upset. It felt like ages since I’d seen that test develop, but in truth it had been less than 24 hours. As they all shifted in closer to me, hands petting and smoothing at any inch of me they could reach, I felt my eyes brim with happy tears. “I’m sure.”

They peppered the bare skin of my body with eager kisses, too quick and numerous to track. Blake alone sat upright, his gaze steady and soft as he met my eyes. “As though there was any doubt about who you are,” he said. “As though there ever could be.”

“I don’t know whose baby it is,” I admitted.

He shook his head. “It’sourbaby. We’ll all parent it together. The biological details are… not all that important.”

I swallowed, trying to push down the knot of emotion in my throat. I had experienced such extremes of emotion today that I had no stamina reserves left to use. Still I wanted more; I didn’t want to spend a second away from them ever again, but we still had so much lost time to catch up on. I felt one of their hands smooth over the flat plane of my stomach, as if feeling out for the young life inside. It would be some time yet before our baby could ‘talk’ back.

“Is this what you were worried about?” Blake asked. “What was making you sick?”

“Actually, no. I didn’t even know until Doctor Gray came. I was worried about causing a fight between you guys. I’ve never… I mean. Not that I spent a whole bunch of time around military units,” I admitted, lips twitching into a smile. “But I’ve never seen a group so tight-knit. The thought of ruining that… I don’t know.”

Preston fingers combed through my hair, gentle and soft. I leaned into his hand, closing my eyes, and tried to let go of all the weight.

“I guess I don’t need to worry about that any more.”

“Definitely not,” Hale confirmed. “We just want you happy and safe.”

I opened my eyes, ready with a bright smile for him — but was surprised to see looks of guilt and sadness on all their faces. I blinked, looking between them all. “Wait. What’s wrong?”

“The safety part,” said Stone. “We failed you on that one, pretty hard.”

I flushed, shaking my head. “That was my fault. I went out for a walk by myself. I should have known better than that.”

“It’s our job to keep you safe,” Blake said. “We’re glad that you are, but-”

“We’re all safe now. That’s all that matters,” I insisted. I felt the intensity of all their eyes on me, and took the time to meet their gazes one by one. I wanted them to know that this wasn’t on them — that I didn’t think they’d failed me in any way. Far from it. They’d rushed ahead their mission and risked their lives just to bring me back as quickly as possible.

I caught Blake’s eyes last, strong and certain. After a beat, he relented, nodding his head.

“Okay,” he said. “You’re right. But still, I-”

“Ah!” I reached out for his lips with my finger, playfully tapping him into silence. I felt him smile underneath my fingertip. “Quit while you’re ahead.”

“Game’s over, guys,” said Hale, grinning at us both. “If that’s how easily she controls an alpha, we’re all screwed.”

We laughed, but there was already a jolt of electricity in the air between us. Before it could bubble up and over, I extricated myself from the pile and stood to face them — my four North men, all gazing at me as though painlessly staring into the sun.

“I’m going to get a shower,” I announced, trying to keep my voice even. “You should all clean up too, and then — then maybe we’ll see.”

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