Page 64 of Connected

“Okay, but if I think things are gettin’ too much then I’m pullin’ the plug, do you understand?”

“No… No, please swear to me you won’t do that. Digby on this pup’s life tell me that you’ll let me choose the right time to tell Darius. Please, I don’t want him to hear it from anyone but me, and you swore you wouldn’t break another promise—after Alyssa—you swore. So, promise you’ll let me tell Darius.”

“Okay… I don’t like it—but okay. You will tell him the minute you feel like you can’t do it, right? Just promise me that much.”

“Sure—the minute it gets too much, I’ll stop.”

She watches as he picks up his phone, checking his messages. “Hmm… ‘Get your ass here now’,looks like I’ve been summoned, I best go. Let me know how it goes with Riley.”

“I’ll uh… probably go get something to eat with him after. You don’t mind, do you? Could you get some takeout or something?”

“Oh yeah, yeah I’ll catch up with Zak and the guys, it’ll be good to get some pack time.”

“Yeah, go, have some boy time—you deserve it. Diggs… I’m sorry.”

“Hey… Kat, really, it’s gonna be okay. We can do this, we just gotta work out a plan.”

“A plan—yeah, I’m working on that. I’ll see you later.”

***

Kat smiles as she enters the consulting room and watches Riley as he sits behind his desk writing. “Hi. So… do you have time for a talk?”

“Kat, hey… Yeah, sure, you know I’ve always got time for you,” Riley kisses her cheek and smiles. “Are you okay, only I haven’t heard from you for a few days. Did you getspunup again?”

“Uh, no. No, I just had some things on my mind that I needed to think through.”

“Is everything, all right? You and Digby, you’re okay? Sorry, that’s none of my business.”

“No, me and Digby are fine.”

“So, do you wanna go get some late lunch or maybe go somewhere—a movie or a bar?”

“Um… maybe later. Riley, I need you to do a couple of things for me. Sorry, I should have probably called first but it’s… a little awkward—embarrassing even.”

“Okay, so what is it? Kat, are you okay?” he frowns, as a feeling of concern bubbles inside him.

“Um, no. No, not really. I need your help—medically. I need you to do something for me.”

“Okay, I’ll shut the door then.” He sighs, “Kat, what is it? Come on, just tell me, and then maybe I can help?”

Placing her purse on the desk, she looks up with nervous apprehension. “I hope so because… I have a big problem. We did something, me and Digby, and we… we had anaccident.”

“An accident? What like a road traffic accident or something at home? What kind of accident? Is Digby okay?”

“Oh… uh God no, no not that kind. Oh hell, this is really embarrassing. We err… well we… Riley, when wolves are in heat and they have… sex, well then, sometimes, something can happen. And if they’re not careful, then they… they could—they couldknot.Have you heard that term before?”

“Uh, I think so—maybe. I mean yeah, in a biology class. I didn’t know it was a real thing for—people. Sorry, what is it exactly?”

“Well, without getting too technical. He—the male wolf, the guy—he gets a swelling at the base of his; you know; his… cock. Then when they’re having sex, the two of them, well they kinda… kinda get stuck together, to make sure, they…catch…get pregnant, fertilize however you want to describe it. Oh god…” she takes a breath, “Riley, I’m pregnant and I don’t know what to do about it.”

“Holy shit! Kat, I-I don’t know what to say. And what thisknotthat’s what happened to you?”

“Uh-huh—a couple of nights ago and I’ve been trying to work out what to do about it.”

“Okay, and so how do I come into this? I mean, what exactly do you want from me?”

“Well, firstly the swelling—the knot, well Digby he’s kind of… he’s quite large down there and… Oh shit.” Kat coughs with embarrassment, rubbing her hand over her face as she blushes. “Sorry, this is harder than I thought it would be, but I didn’t know who else to ask.”

---