Page 24 of Saving Nevin
Nevin’s eyes were big and bright as he gazed down at Ofelia Rose, starstruck. She gurgled and cooed in that charming way that only babies could, and I watched as my mate turned into a puddle of goo. He stroked his thumb against her cheek, his expression so soft and sweet.
“Hi, kitten,” he breathed, then giggled when Ofelia Rose grabbed his finger. “You’re so precious.”
Klei cleared his throat. “Well, now that I’ve got both hands free—pizza? I’m starving!” He cocked his head, glancing at Nevin. “You don’t mind holding her for awhile, right?”
“Go right ahead. I’m just fine.”
We all sat down at the kitchen table and I busied myself with opening pizza boxes and doling out paper plates that I had stashed up in my cabinet. With gooey, cheesy slices of pepperoni pizza piled up in front of us, we began to chat between bites and hums of approval. Every so often, I’d look over at Nevin, but my mate was starstruck by Ofelia Rose.
He wanted to be a daddy so badly, it was clear as day. It made me ache.
“So,” Sevren drawled as we finished eating. “The news.”
I glanced up. “Yeah, the news. What’s up?” I wiped pizza grease off my face with a napkin and settled back in my seat.
Klei and Sevren exchanged a look. They both smiled. It didn’t take a genius to put two plus two together. They were expecting.
I gaped at them. “You’re not!”
“We are,” Klei said around a laugh. “Was a complete accident, but a happy one.”
“This one might just look like me,” Sevren joked. “I’m gonna be a dad—again.”
“But Ofelia Rose is so young!”
“That’s okay. We’re hoping that maybe they’ll grow up being best friends, being so close together in age,” Sev said. “I’m really excited, K. I missed out on so much with Ofelia Rose. Klei had to go through so much alone, but not this time.” He reached over and threaded his fingers through Klei’s atop the table where his mate’s hand sat. “This time, he’s got an Alpha at his side.”
“I’m happy for you both,” I told them, and I meant it.
“Congratulations,” Nevin added, though his voice was faint. Pained. God, I didn’t think about how much this conversation might hurt him. He stood and handed Ofelia Rose back to Klei, then ducked his head. “E-Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” He spun on his heel and hurried off down the hall. A few moments later, the bathroom door clicked shut and I heard the exhaust fan flip on.
When I turned back to my friends, they both looked confused. I sighed. “Sorry about that. Nevin wants children so badly, but he’s barren. It’s the reason his old pack chased him off and left him for dead.” I rubbed a hand over my face, torn between giving Nevin space and going after my mate to make sure he was okay. “I’ll be right back,” I told them, then followed Nevin’s scent down the hall.
I knocked on the bathroom door, my knuckles rapping gentle. “Nev? Honey?”
“I-I’m fine.” He sniffled. “Just… Need a moment.”
“Sure you don’t need a hug?”
Silence greeted me, but I didn’t press him. A moment later, the fan turned off and Nevin opened the door. His cheeks were red, his eyes sad and a little teary. He looked up at me, then dropped his gaze. “I’m sorry for ruining the moment,” he mumbled.
“You didn’t ruin anything,” I promised him, holding out my arms. “Come here, baby. Let me love you.”
Tears slipped down his cheeks as he collided with my chest, and I wrapped him up in a hug so tight, I feared I might break him. His arms slung around me just as fiercely, and we stood there in the hallway, holding onto each other, gently swaying from side to side. I loved him so damn much. It hurt to see him so sad.
“We’re gonna get you a baby, Nev,” I promised him. “When the time comes, I promise, you’ll get to be a daddy—and you’ll be the best daddy ever.”
I gave him a squeeze and he let out a soft whimper, holding on tightly. I kissed the top of his head, over and over again, burying my face in his curls and breathing him in. He smelled sweet, like the shampoo he used this morning.
After a little while, he pulled away and took a deep breath, composed once more. “Okay,” he murmured. “I think I’m ready for pizza now.”
I smiled down at him, then took his chin between my thumb and forefinger. I tipped it up and placed a sweet kiss on his waiting lips, and watched as the sadness in his eyes was replaced by love. He leaned up on his tiptoes to kiss me again, then took me by the hand and led me back into the kitchen, where our friends were waiting.
One day, we’d adopt a baby and Nevin would be so damn happy. I’d make sure of that.
18
NEVIN
