Page 133 of As The Shifter World Turns

“That’s why you were so sick,” Daire noted. “I should have guessed.”

Archer sat beside Micah and put his head on his mate’s shoulder as Toby whispered to Patch, “Another Sunshine Manor baby.”

But it was Ryder who had my attention. “We’re going to have a baby, Ivor. Surely this changes everything.”

Ryder’s scent, the smell of charred beef on the grill as Martin flipped theburgers, the aroma of jasmine floating off Neil and Elune and even Patch’s unwashed dog stink combined to make a heady perfume. And Ryder being so close. Closer than we’d been since the breakup. The scent I loved. The fragrances clogged my nostrils and I put a hand on Ryder’s chest to steady myself.

“Ivor.” There was more than a hint of panic in his voice.

“Ivor, sit.” Archer was at my side and he and Ryder led me to the bench.

“I’m fine,” I protested even though I was clearly not.

A glass of water was placed in my hand. “Tiny sips,” Neil instructed.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Ryder asked.

“Not telling you. I was going to but?—”

“Doesn’t matter. I know now.” He grinned. “We have Toby to thank for that.”

I leaned my head against his shoulder. This didn’t change things between me and him. Yeah, I was carrying his baby but Kellan’s apology didn’t make a difference to our relationship. We knew he’d lied, he’d just put the truth into the open. But knowing Kellan, he’d be back, stirring up trouble.

“I need to go home.” I got up, a little too quickly and Ryder steadied me.

The darkness of the night sky changed from black to blue black and it closed in. The bright lights on the roof blurred as did my friend’s faces and their voices. And when my vision was reduced to a tiny pinprick of light, the darkness took over.

52

HOSPITALS ARE NO FUN

Ryder

The drive to the emergency department was one of the scariest I'd ever taken. We’d managed to get Ivor to my car, but he still looked out of it and like he was going to collapse again. I wanted to call an ambulance, but he adamantly refused saying he would deny service once they arrived.

I got it, I did. They cost a lot of money, and as it was the trip to the emergency department was going to cost him an outrageous co-pay, but his health and our baby’s health came first. If I didn’t have enough money, I’d find it. Heck, I’d steal it if it meant they were okay.

“I’m the party responsible for the bill.” I told the nurse as I brought up Ivor’s paperwork. They stuck us in a waiting room and had given him an entire clipboard full of papers to fill out, promising they would be with him soon.

They lied. The people around us were all complaining about being there three plus hours. I wish he had just taken the ambulance. My stubborn mate.

He wouldn’t call me that. Shit, he didn’t call me his boyfriend or even friend, but I felt it deep down, probably always had, but when he collapsed, the first thing my beast did was repeat:

Mate.

Ours.

Mate.

He still was, only I’d been able to knock him down a little with the assurance that I was getting our mate help.

“You’re not on the paperwork,” they bit back.

“Let me pay the co-pay,” I told them.

“We can’t do that until we decide if he stays or goes.” And they walked away. So freaking helpful.

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