Page 151 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

Just eyeing the diabetic-on-a-fork food was causing my stomach to roll. Another fact of pregnancy that I was finding hard to adjust to. That and the slight swell of my belly I had attempted to hide from my mate for weeks. I wished to surprise him on this special day. My teeth caught my bottom lip as I wondered if he’d realized I was carrying. If so, he did a fabulous job of not letting on that he knew.

Another ripple of emotion from my babe, a fissure of irritation.

I giggled. “Demanding like your father, too,” I whispered.

Amber quirked her brow. “What was that?”

I gaped at her. I’d forgotten that I had listening ears nearby. “Oh! No, nothing. Just mumbling to myself.”

Amber’s eyes gleamed with suspicion, but the dominant female bear didn’t pursue the topic further. My shoulders sagged in relief. Then Damon sauntered toward me with a devilish smirk. I raised my hands, warding him off.

“Don’t you dare!” I backed up a step, but Damon advanced.

He swiped a dollop of frosting with his finger, aiming it at me, his smirk widening. I squealed in surprise, dodging and batting at his hand.

“No!” Strangled laughter bubbled from my throat. “Stop, stop it.”

“Not until I paint that delicious mouth of yours with frosting.” Damon chuckled.

A cheer arose from the pack members, every bear, latent, and wolf turning against me. And my skin tingled with delight. Damon smeared the corner of my lips. I glared at him, though a smile tugged at my lips.

Undaunted, Damon said, “You look edible with frosting on your lips.” His eyes glinted. I didn’t miss the interpretation. Heat stole across my cheeks, spanning the length of my neck.

More laughter, followed by catcalls.

“Alright, alright,” Danika called, pushing her way through the crowd to stand at my side. “She’s blushed enough. We don’t want her turning into a tomato now, do we?”

I slapped a palm to my brow, feeling the rush of heat on my face. “You’re just making it worse, Danika.”

“Don’t you just love me?” She winked.

I shook my head, enjoying the good-natured fun. As chatter lingered throughout the group, a cozy ambiance settled over the cabin. Before making my way through the front door, I cast one more fleeting look at the energetic partygoers. I stepped onto the porch and leaned on the railing, feeling the cool, smooth surface against my skin. I looked up and saw the vast expanse of star-filled heavens above.

I couldn’t shake off the curious feeling that grazed my mind. I smiled, feeling a warm connection forming between myself and the babe.

It’s okay, little one. Mama is just out here reminiscing.

A swell of contentment replaced curiosity, the baby settling in. I blinked in wonder at the knowledge that I was pregnant with Damon’s child. If someone had told me eight months ago that I would end up mated to a bear and pregnant, I would have reacted with extreme hostility, ready to attack them. I shook my head. Time sure could bring about the strangest—yet wonderful—changes in one’s life.

The creak of the front door opening behind me met my ears. The door slid shut and footsteps resounded. Cedar and campfire spice wafted into my nostrils. I sighed in fulfillment as Damon wrapped his arms around my shoulders from behind. He placed a sweet kiss on my neck and I purred, pressing my body back into his.

“What are you doing out here?” He angled his head to gaze down at me, watching my expression.

I gave him a secretive smile. “Just thinking.”

Daman gave me another kiss, this time on my shoulders. “Thinking about what?”

“Life, and how crazy it can be.”

“Example?” His brows lifted.

“How you and I met. Who discovers their mate is the enemy, huh?” I turned, gazing at him.

As Damon dropped his head, his face displayed a mixture of guilt and regret. “That… that was something all right.”

I nodded. “Yeah, you straddled me, intent on ripping my throat out.”

Damon winced. “But I couldn’t. You know, your soul just called to me… and I knew.”

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