Page 5 of Baby and the Beast

“Humans and us.”

“Oh,” Seth said inadequately. “I have a friend who’s looking at gender reassignment surgery. I guess I just assumed it was that.”

Jesse shook his head. “I can’t even remember his name, but a month later I knew I was in trouble. My mom offered to help me get rid of it—”

“Why?” Seth asked, seeming horrified.

“Because the one law that none of us can ever break is mating with a human. It’s considered too risky. The child might not ever shift. We’re nearly extinct as it is. If babies start being born that cannot shift, it will lead to the end of us.” Jesse was repeating the mantra he’d grown up with, and in a way, he could understand, but not when he was forced to make the decision himself. “And we don’t shift for the first time until at least seven or eight, so…” Seth blanched at the implications. It had happened once in the family a few years ago. A cousin, and she’d never seemed the same. One morning about a year after they’d taken the baby from her, she had run away, and no one had gone after her.

“What do you plan to do afterwards?”

Jesse shot him an agonized look. He didn’t know. He had hoped to get farther south by this time and into the warmer weather.“Keep moving.”

“Are you safe here?”

Jesse nodded. “Hundreds of miles away safe.” At least, he hoped they wouldn’t follow him this far away.

Seth breathed out a sigh of relief.

“I can’t believe you’re not running screaming.” Jesse pressed his lips together as another pain hit.

“Where would I run?” Seth tried to make a joke out of it. “I managed to wreck my car.” The faint hint of pink that Jesse felt bloom on his face might have given Seth a clue. “Was that you?”

Jesse nodded. “I’m sorry. I hung around to make sure you weren’t hurt, but I knew I had to get inside because I could feel the shift starting. We have to give birth in human form, and it’s why I only managed it for a few seconds when you came into the cabin.”

“Half of me wonders if I’m in an ER somewhere on really good drugs,” Seth admitted and grinned. Jesse’s eyes softened.

“I shouldn’t be, but I’m kind of glad you aren’t.” Very glad, which was dangerous, but Jesse was beyond caring. The pressure built in his abdomen. “It’s happening.”

“What do you need?”

“Prop me up, please.” Except the please came out on a wail, and Seth hustled. He bundled his jacket up behind Jesse and then disinfected his hands. The string was ready. Jesse had even watched Seth put the sharp knife he had in boiling water too, but before he could do anything, Jesse was pushing. “You have to make sure—” But his words were caught up by another cry, and Seth simply held his hands out when he saw a head.

“Take your finger and make sure the cord isn’t wrapped around his neck,” Jesse managed to get out, and delicately Seth did just that.

“One more big push,” Seth almost demanded when Jesse seemed to sag as the energy left him.

And one more big push was all it took. Seth seemed to gaze in shock at the handful of baby that he held. Then he looked up as his face broke into a huge smile. “Congratulations, Daddy. He’s absolutely gorgeous.”

Jesse’s eyes swam as emotion clogged his throat, and he stared at his son. He was beautiful, but the sight that had made his throat catch was the gorgeous picture of Seth cradling him. Jessewas already in a heap of trouble, but he had a feeling it had just got a million times worse.

Baby and the Bear

Chapter Three

“Shouldn’t he cry?” Seth asked worriedly, passing him to Jesse.

“Give him a minute,” Jesse murmured and rubbed the baby’s back. Seth held his own breath for what seemed like forever until the baby seemed to gasp and then inhale. “Good job, sweetheart,” Jesse murmured, and Seth took out the clean towels and laid two over Jesse and the baby to keep them warm.

Jesse met Seth’s eyes. “Now the hard bit.”

“We’re not done?” he joked, knowing it was wishful thinking. He hadn’t been with Rachel when this bit happened, but he’d watched a ton of videos of the action because after she’d chosen him to be her birth partner, he wanted to be prepared. Sure enough, within another twenty minutes, the placenta was delivered and the cord cut once it had stopped pulsing. Seth cleaned up as much as he could and saw to the fire, making sure the room was warm.

“Can you make some milk please?” Jesse said before yawning a second time. Seth obliged. At least he knew what to do here thanks to his niece. He had been hands-on practically from day one with his sister. Seth heated the milk and turned to where Jesse was lying holding the baby, his eyes shut and his lips parted. He must be exhausted, and Seth had a moment to look at him again. He’d already noted the huge, soft brown eyes that seemed bigger in his slim face. Too slim, and Seth suddenly wished he had some way of getting him more than protein bars and soup.

When the bottle was ready, Seth debated whether to wake Jesse up or manage it himself, but in the end he simply swapped out the jacket behind Jesse for himself so he was supporting them both and held the bottle.

Jesse stirred when the baby did, but he seemed content to lie back against Seth. “Thank you,” he whispered. “You were amazing.”

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