Page 30 of Omega Haunting

“Anywhere you like but not our house,” Marsin teased him. “You’re too young to see what we’re gonna do when we get home.”

“Bet I’ve done it more than you,” Teddy teased him and gave me a one-armed hug goodbye once my shirt was back on.

***

Later that night, I stared at the sonogram wondering if our little boy was a Raylin or an Ether. He might grow up to be neither and change his name to something dull like David or exotic like Pineapple. Still. We had to call him something. After a few late-night hours of deliberation, I decided on Raylin because it sounded the most like Marsin. I was about to wake him up to tell him that I finally decided when my wolf’s ears perked up. Someone was outside. I sniffed the air, figuring it was one of my siblings or their kids going for a late-night hunt. Sometimes a wolf couldn’t ignore the urge to take down a deer if their belly was grumbling loud enough.

“Not until the baby’s born,” someone whispered. “I need to be here until then.”

“Dern,”my wolf sighed into my thoughts.“Probably out there talking to himself again. If he keeps it up we’re either going to have to hire him a live in carer or put him in thatretirement home on the other side of town. He might even like it there.”

I let out a long, slow breath as I swung my legs out of bed and managed to push myself upright without Marsin’s help. The last thing I needed this close to delivering my pup was for my mate to get worked up about Dern just when they were starting to get along. Whatever was wrong with Dern didn’t matter. He was pack and more than that, no matter what he’d done or didn’t do in his past, he was the only reason Marsin and I were together now. I’d take a bullet for that old hound. Well, maybe not right now, but I’d definitely bite someone’s gun hand off for him.

“I’m gonna do it,” Dern sighed. “Ormund, I’m going to do it. I just—It will too work!”

“Dern?” I said, leaning out the back door, a little out of breath after puttering through the house. “Would you and Ormund like to come inside?”

“You can see this giant ass?” Dern called back, putting his hands on his hips.

“Uh…. Nope, but I believe you can.”

“You better believe it. I’ve had the sight since the day my eyes opened,” Dern sighed. “I don’t know how much you heard but it’s nothing bad, Ast, I promise. I know Marsin’s all worked up and---”

“I don’t think you’re gonna hurt anyone, Dern,” I waved for him to come inside. “Maybe yourself wandering around in the middle of the night but can we talk about that inside? My feet are killing me. Come on in. I’ll get you something to drink. Do you want a sandwich or something too?”

“Okay,” Dern nodded and came up the steps with a sigh. “You stay out here. I don’t need you waking up that damn dragon. No one needs that. You know how ornery they are when they haven’t slept and soon they’re not going to sleep at all when that pup comes and stuff. So you sit out here. Yes, I’ll bringyou a sandwich or something but we still have all that stew you wanted me to cook at home. Damn it, Ormund. Just give me a minute. No, that dragon isn’t gonna eat me. Sheesh. You are on my nerves something fierce tonight! Fine! I’ll see you at home if the imps don’t kidnap me on the walk back.”

Dern flashed ‘Ormund’ a dirty look and shut the door behind him.

“Fucking alphas,” he rolled his eyes.

“That bad, huh?” I chuckled.

“He worries.”

“Dern, I’m worried too,” I admitted opening the fridge and pulling out the fresh sliced deer Marsin had hunted the day before. “If he’s really there… Are you dying and not telling anyone?” I decided straight forward was the only way left for the conversation to go if I wanted to get to bed any time soon.

“No, pup, I’m not dying. Like I told you, I’ve seen him since the day he died. It’s complicated. I’ll tell you about it sometime. I’ll tell everyone when the time is right.”

“What does he want you to do?”

“A few things. It doesn’t really matter, though. I’ll get to it when I do. I’ll get to it before my door shows up anyway. I’m in no rush.”

“Dern,” I sighed. “I summon my ancestors, and I can’t see Ormund.”

“That’s because he’s not your ancestor. He’s my mate.”

“I know that. I’m just---”

“Hormones can do that to you.”

“Did you ever have a pup, Dern?” I asked, changing the subject as I made up a couple of quick sandwiches and grabbed apples from the bowl on the counter.

“I have twins. They’re all grown up and living off somewhere else now,” he said. “They’re good guys. Like I was saying, though, hormones make you worry about everything but youdon’t have to worry about me. I’m old, but I’m not senile yet. I remember everything like it was yesterday.”

“What does Ormund want you to do?” I tried again, as I sat down at the table across from Dern.

I wiggled my toes and groaned internally. I’d have to wake up Marsin to rub my feet after Dern left for the night or I’d never get to sleep now.

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