Page 106 of Ascendant Moon
Donna finished what she was doing and then spoke as she examined him.
“You killed Ballard, but almost bled out. I stitched you up to stop the bleeding, but you needed three transfusions. You’ve been in the infirmary for about twenty-four hours, and Lincoln has been with you the entire time. Ben is going to force you to shift, and if everything checks out, you’ll be free to go. Understood?”
Scooter yipped in assent and waited while the exam tables were moved apart and Donna had draped him with a sheet. Ben gave the command and Scooter’s body smoothly reshaped itself into human form. Donna began the examination, asking him to move arms and legs, and listening to his heart and lungs with a stethoscope. As she finished, Scooter’s stomach growled ominously, and everyone chuckled. Evan stepped forward with a bundle of clothing and shoes, setting them next to Lincoln. Donna addressed Scooter directly.
“I asked the kitchen to deliver your meals for a couple of days. You’ll need extra food and sleep for the next forty-eight hours, and then you should be fine. Lou tells me your work schedule won’t resume until Monday, so don’t worry about taking time off. Nothing strenuous for a while, though sex is okay if you’re feeling good. Ben and Evan will wait for you in the hall while you get dressed, and then walk you home. You should know that Lincoln, and your packmates, are very proud of you.”
Lincoln sat on the exam table, watching while his mate got dressed at a much slower pace than normal. He looked a little pale, though showed no signs of pain. When he’d finished, Scooter hugged Lincoln and whispered in his ear.
“I’d do it a dozen times if it meant you’d be safe. I love you, Linc, and our pup, too.”
Lincoln licked his stubbled cheek before Scooter picked him up and set him on the floor. On the way out, he gave Donnaa hug as well, thanking her for saving his life. Ben and Evan walked on either side of the couple, ready to lend a hand if Scooter stumbled. Numerous packmates waved and smiled as they passed, happy to see him on the road to recovery. Once they reached the apartment, Evan insisted that Scooter sit down while they set the food out on the table. Before leaving, he offered a final reminder.
“If you need anything at all, just pick up the phone. Oh, and Melva told me that she’d return the book as soon as she finished the story.”
Scooter had no idea what that was all about, but the others found it amusing. He began to wonder what else he’d missed while he was asleep.
Chapter 53
Late October, Gladstone
Lincoln shifted his position again, trying to relieve the pressure on his distended belly without waking Scooter. Unfortunately, there were other reasons why his long-suffering mate couldn’t get a good night’s sleep, and Lincoln felt guilty to be the cause. Pregnancy meant constant bathroom breaks, inconvenient hunger pangs, and raging hormones that demanded a good knotting. Though he wasn’t due to deliver for another two weeks, Scooter had been infinitely patient with him.
Nothing ever seemed to annoy or bother the man where Lincoln’s needs were concerned, and it simply increased his love for the sweet Beta. Scooter’s unique personality and background had resulted in a mix of tough and tender, driving him to keep his new mate safe, happy, and cared for. After what Bruce had done to him, no one could have blamed Lincoln for remaining single. Luna, however, knew there was one special man who could replace the awful memories with a deep and abiding love.
Instead of falling back to sleep, Lincoln’s affectionate thoughts stirred up randy pheromones, and Scooter began a sexy growling that vibrated the bed. Moments later, he lifted his snout for frenzied sniffing, and then began licking Lincoln’s face and ears. Though it took more effort, the pregnant wolf rolled over on his back to give his mate unfettered access to sensitized nipples. Scooter was happy to give them warm, wet passes with his tongue, prompting his mate to whine with need.
Lincoln carefully jumped off the bed to present himself, and Scooter wasted no time knotting him. They lay comfortably on the carpeted floor, enjoying both the physical and emotionalconnection. While Lincoln couldn’t share what he was thinking, his mind was filled with speculation about their sex life in human form. He’d never made love to another man. Never been kissed. Never had a mind-blowing orgasm. Apparently, Scooter hadn’t either, and Lincoln eagerly awaited the day they could explore and discover together.
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After lunch, packhouse party room
The gathering had been in the planning for weeks, but finding a Saturday or Sunday when both RJ and Scooter were off work was a challenge. Both couples, therefore, were surprised to find an unusually large lunchtime crowd when they arrived at the packhouse. For some reason, they noticed a lot of whispered comments and furtive glances, and they began to wonder what was going on. The lack of any dessert offering today also got their attention, and RJ got up to go ask Perdy and Michelle about it. Instead, Robyn and Ray Dunlap suddenly appeared to escort the men and their pregnant mates to the new party room. The space had been embellished with banners, balloons, two large tables piled with gifts, and a countertop holding decorated cakes.
Somehow the joint baby shower had been kept a secret, which, in all honesty, was more surprising. Silly games ensued, including a bottle chugging competition that Scooter won because he bit a larger hole in the nipple. Then the guests had to guess how big around Jonah and Lincoln were—won by Mandy and Lance. Finally, they played pin the pacifier on the baby, using paper drawings of a binky with sticky tape on the back, and a large drawing of a baby’s face. An embarrassed Zane Metcalf took the prize for that one.
Next came the gifts—mostly practical items the new parents would need. No one really knew the number of pups to expect, or their genders, but disposable diapers, bottles, burp rags, blankets, onesies, pacifiers, and stuffed animals would provide a head start on the mountain of supplies every infant seemed to require. Boxes of gently used clothing, shoes, books, and toys also made an appearance, along with bigger ticket items like cribs, car seats, changing tables, and highchairs. Even Adam and Judy Sheppard took part by sending on-line gift cards to the expecting parents.
After the fun and games, everyone lined up for a generous slice (or two) of cake, served up by Melva and Linda Kilburn. People mixed and mingled, with some telling funny stories about infant care or sharing parenting tips. One thing became abundantly clear to both couples—they were not alone in this business of raising a child. If they needed anything, someone would be there to help. In fact, Doogie came by to reassure them that the coming heat season wouldn’t be a problem.
“Troy and I will make sure there’s someone to watch your pups so you can focus on one another. Actually, Perdy and Melva have first dibs, and I have several others on the list. You won’t have a thing to worry about.”
Once the party wound down, some stayed to help with cleanup while others volunteered to carry gifts to the Wilson’s home and Scooter’s apartment. Nolan, Garrett, Ash, and Robert all stayed to put together the flat-pack furniture, hang pictures, and arrange baby supplies in the nursery. Once everything was in place, Lincoln’s nesting instinct took over, and he enlisted Scooter’s help to rearrange and personalize the space to his liking.
In their own bedroom, Lincoln chose a corner and selected a number of blankets and pillows to make a birthing nest. The plan was to deliver the pup here at home with Donna’s help, along with the presence of Jonah, Evie, and Melva. While there was some mystery about Jonah’s pregnancy, Evan had confirmed that Lincoln carried a single little one. He’d even made contact with the pup, though the couple didn’t want to know the gender and wolf type until birth.
After supper that night, Lincoln sprawled across Scooter’s lap as he prepared to start a new book entitled “Lady Liddington’s Lover.” The book opened, then closed, followed by a heavy sigh. Lincoln detected worry in his mate’s scent and lifted his head to see Scooter’s face. He used a now-familiar huffing sound to get the man to say whatever was on his mind. Scooter reached over to scratch Lincoln’s ears as he spoke.
“Sorry, Linc. With all the talk about pups today, it’s got me kind of worried. What do I know about raising kids? I mean, it’s a big responsibility, and I didn’t have any good examples of parenting when I was little. I know you didn’t either, which means we’re going to need a lot of help. Does it make you nervous, too?”
Lincoln had to be honest with his mate, and nodded his head. His parents had abandoned him when he was barely old enough to care for himself and disappeared. Rosalee and Melva had no children of their own, but he’d overheard them asking other parents in the pack for advice from time to time. What they may have lacked in experience, however, was counterbalanced by an abundance of love and a good sense of humor.
Scooter continued to fret until Lincoln got down off the couch and went over to the flashcards laid out on the floor. He spelled it out for Scooter, one letter at a time.
L-O-V-E.
L-A-U-G-H-T-E-R.
