Page 142 of Hawke

“Shouldn’t she eat first?” Hawke muttered, putting one arm gently under my legs and the other behind my back.

He cradled me to his chest, and Anaki helped move my arm, so it laid on my stomach.

“That steak will hold her over,” Bram said, grabbing bags from the closet. “I’ll bring some clothing for when she shifts back.”

“She won’t last long with her shift, not as long as Journey,” Tajah said, opening the door to lead us out. “Not with that pup in there, she’ll be too tired after the events today.”

I raised my good hand and delivered a sharp slap to Hawke’s chest in surprise. A crack sounded in the room, leaving a sharp feeling in the air.

There was no breathing, the silence deafening in the room, and the grip that Hawke had on my body grew tighter.

She did not say what I think she did, did she?

That just couldn’t be possible. There was no way that could happen! Each day I took preventatives during my heat, during all the times we had sex. I did everything I was told to do to prevent a pregnancy.

A baby? We were going to have a baby? A pup?

Hawke’s heart reanimated, his heart thundering louder in his chest. Everyone in the room took slow and steady steps away from him, taking their places amongst the walls of the room.

“What...” Hawke whispered. “Did you say?”

Tajah audibly gulped and looked at Journey. “Did he not know?”

Journey shook her head. “Guess not?”

Grim pulled Journey behind him, a growl radiating from him for Hawke to stand down.

With a slight pivot, Hawke pointed himself and me toward Bram, who was stumbling backwards.

Bram licked his lips, his hands shaking in front of him. I don’t know if he looked frightened before he got the crap beaten out of him by Shane, but I bet I had a feeling it wasn’t like this.

Hawke’s face was contorted in rage. His face was red, and there was a visible throbbing in his neck veins.

But was he really mad? Or was he just worried?

I ran my good hand gently over my stomach in a soothing gesture.

I never thought about having a child. I never thought about having a family. I always made sure not to get pregnant with Shane. The thought of having his baby was downright disgusting.

But Hawke’s?

A muscular, tattooed, completely out-of-place man cradling a tiny bundle with a baby inside sounded so perfect. Feeding them a bottle, changing a diaper, pushing them in a stroller.

In all honesty, it sounded sexy as hell and turned me on a little.

I couldn’t wait to watch our son or daughter grow up. I wanted to watch Hawke teach them how to ride a bike. Color funny pictures for all of their uncles and aunts and be loved not just by their mommy and daddy, but their whole family at the club.

Tears flooded my eyes at the thought of having a little baby. Hawke’s baby.

Hawke kept me in his arms, walking slowly toward Bram. His growling echoed through my body, vibrating, shaking me down to my soul. It was so loud, I worried my wolf would wake too soon.

Bram continued to back away until his body hit the back of the couch. He had nowhere else to go. He braced himself—waiting.

Hawke’s hands were full, yet Bram was downright terrified.

Surely, Bram didn’t think Hawke would hurt him, would he?

Moving my fingers cautiously up Hawke’s chest, I trailed them over his piercings and up his neck, feeling the bumps of the metal along the way. We were still in the same white terrycloth towels, and lucky me, I got to feel all of his skin until I finally cupped his cheek.

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