Page 45 of Abundant Moon
“Will my scent return to normal after the babies are born?”
Jack nodded.
“Yes. All will be as it was before.”
She pressed further, still unsatisfied with the answer.
“What about the babies? Will they smell like me or know I gave birth to them?”
They had discussed this several times already, and Jack did not understand why she needed to hear it again. Nevertheless, he attempted to explain it dispassionately.
“The twins will share a combined scent of the three of us. They will feel comfortable with you, and when they are older, will realize you bore them. That is all. At the same time, you will feel nothing more for them than any other child in the pack. Trust me, Robyn, as I have witnessed numerous Triad matings and their offspring, and it is always the same. Luna enables you to step away without the ties of motherhood, and the babies will only bond with us as their parents.”
Thus reassured, Robyn returned to her bedroom to fuss with the nest, again. She’d been careful not to reveal her Triad mate status or pregnancy to her family, or even Alpha Sheppard. It required carefully edited phone conversations, no full-body photographs, and absolutely no visits home to Duluth for the entire six month pregnancy. In addition, she’d made it clear to Ben and her packmates not to reveal her secret to anyone outside of Gladstone.
When questioned as to why she desired such secrecy, Robyn deflected the questions by saying it was no one else’s business. Privately, she revealed her reasons to Jonah – someone she knew would keep it confidential.
“I don’t want to attract attention simply because I was the first Triad Mate in recent history! I’m not ashamed or anything, but I’m not going to let it define who I am. How will my future mate feel if people keep asking about it? The same goes for the twins. Nobody wants to be whispered about and pointed at.”
At the moment it was a non-issue – exactly the way Robyn preferred it. They were focused on the joy of bringing precious children into the world and not the unique circumstances behind their conception.
####
AFTER JONAH GOT HOMEand changed clothes, he walked over to the packhouse for supper as usual. He looked forward to the movie later, intending to get here early for a good seat and popcorn. They were serving lasagna tonight, with crusty garlic bread, salad, and warm apple pie alamode for dessert. An upbeat mood allowed him to enjoy the meal and let his hair down after another day of being careful around humans. The dining area filled with laughter, conversation, and the anticipation of a fun evening.
His phone buzzed with an incoming text, interrupting a conversation with Scooter about his upcoming classes. The message came from William.
Robyn is in labor. Please come.
He quickly responded.
Be there in ten!
The look on his face, and worry-tinged scent, got Scooter’s attention.
“Whoa! Bad news, Jonah?”
He forced a smile.
“Sorry, I have to go. I’ll explain later.”
Jonah left the packhouse in a rush, heading back home to pick up a few things he might need. It took only seven minutes to reach their front door, hoping he hadn’t missed anything. Jack let him in with a nod of thanks and Jonah made a beeline for his best friend. Thankfully, she was in human form and stopped her agitated pacing to return his hug. His scent calmed her but didn’t stop her need to move, and they spoke as she resumed her laps around the loveseat.
“I’m so glad you’re here! I didn’t want to shift until you arrived.”
Perplexed, Jonah turned to William.
“Why didn’t you call me earlier?”
He opened his mouth to answer but Robyn beat him to it.
“Don’t be angry. I told him not to until I was a lot closer. You would have worried all day for nothing.”
Jonah conceded the point by saying nothing more. He joined Robyn, slipping an arm around her waist as they walked together. The panting began only a few minutes later and all three men suggested letting her wolf take over. This was the plan all along; to end the process the way it started – in wolf form. Now seemed like the perfect time, but she had something to say to her mates first.
“I know I’ve been terrible to live with, and I’m sorry. I’m so happy for you, but when it comes time for me to shift back, I don’t plan on staying long. I hope you understand, and I love you.”
Robyn stepped closer to give each of her mates a hug, then did the same for Jonah before slipping into the bedroom to shift. As they’d discussed earlier, both Jack and William did the same – intending to remain in wolf form through the delivery. Only Jonah carried on as a human; at the ready in case something came up.
