Page 29 of Saving Nevin
“It means you’re about two months along,” Dr. Rinehold said. “You’re pregnant, Nevin.”
I stared at her. No. No, this wasn’t real. This was a cruel joke. “No,” I barked out. “It’s not possible. You don’t understand—I tried! I tried so many times, with different men, and…and…I’mbarren. The doctors I saw told me my womb was disfigured!” Tears burned my eyes. I furiously swiped at them, hating myself for being so weak. “Look at my records! I’ll never carry a child! Th-This is some cruel trick!”
“Nevin, hey, honey. It’s okay.” Kace pressed himself up against my side, his strong arm wrapping around me. Holding me close. To the doctor, he asked, “Is there any explanation for this?”
She paused, tapping the end of her pen against her lips, then rolled her chair back over to the computer. After tapping away at the keyboard for a few moments, she looked back at us. “This might seem a bit farfetched, but have you had any transfusions lately?”
“Of course not—” I snapped, but Kace cut me off.
“Yes.”
“What?” I looked up at him. “What do you mean?”
“When you were hurt, I gave you blood. My blood. It was the only way to save you.” His expression darkened, like he was remembering that day in vivid detail. I hated the look on his face, so I reached up and touched his cheek. He swallowed and nodded, opening his mouth to speak, but Dr. Rinehold chose that moment to say something instead.
“That actually makes a lot of sense,” she said, matter-of-fact. “As you know, shifters have magic in their blood; it’s what makes it possible for us to shift into our animal forms—andfor us to heal after we’ve been wounded. It’s been theorized that an Alpha shifter’s magic is stronger than an Omega’s. It is quite possible that Kace’s Alpha magic fixed your disfigured womb, and that as you healed, so did it.”
My hands began to tremble. “W-What are you saying?” I didn’t dare believe it…
She smiled and reached out to squeeze my hand. “You’re pregnant, Nevin. Congratulations.”
I was pregnant? I was pregnant… Oh god, I was pregnant.
I went home in a daze, too shocked to really believe it. The drive home was silent, but I clung to Kace’s hand for dear life as my mind lobbed thoughts and fears and what-ifs at me like a pitcher at a baseball game.Strike! You’re out!
As the truck bounced down the drive and came to a stop on the cement pad in front of Kace’s cottage, we sat there for several long minutes, just sitting in the vehicle.
Then… “What does this mean for us?” I whispered finally, half-afraid of the answer.
Kace frowned, his brows furrowing. “What do you mean? It doesn’t mean anything,” he said, then amended with, “It means we’re gonna have a baby, Nev. That’s what it means. I thought you wanted a child?”
My eyes welled with tears and Kace’s handsome face blurred in front of me. “I do, but… It’s just… It’s such a shock. If I would’ve known…” My hands fisted over my knees. “God, we should’ve used protection.”
“Nevin.” The sharp bite to Kace’s tone shut me up. I jerked to attention, looking up at him, half-expecting to see anger on his face, but instead, all I saw was love. “No. No second guessing. You’re pregnant and we are gonna love this baby and raise him or her in a home filled with happiness. No more crying, Nev. I love you.”
My bottom lip wobbled. “I love you, too,” I whispered, then touched my slightly-rounded stomach. I was going to be a daddy.
21
KACE
I could tellNevin was still in a daze, even days later.
“Still can’t believe it, huh?” I teased.
Nevin smiled, and it was a smile that beamed from ear to ear. His blue eyes sparkled with happiness, and in that moment, he was so damn beautiful to me.
“I never thought it was possible,” he said. “We tried so many times, and when Rex couldn’t get me pregnant, I was shuffled off to other Alphas…” He trailed off, as if realizing what he’d just said. Suddenly, that glimmer in his eyes dimmed.
I frowned. “Against your will?”
He dropped his head, hunching his shoulders up around his ears, like a wolf raising its hackles. “It happened. That was how it worked. I existed to give them strong Alpha progeny, and when I failed at that, well…” When he smiled this time, it was forced and looked all sorts of wrong on his angelic face. I could tell it still hurt, those memories, that pain, and the last thing I wanted was for my Omega to be sad.
“Well, fuck them,” I said, a growl to my voice. “They didn’t deserve you. Not then, and definitely not now. You’re mine, and I promise to treat you right, the way an Alpha should treat his Omega. With love and respect. You have my word.”
Nevin’s frown-lines softened. “Thank you, Kace. I know you will. You’re one of the good ones,” he murmured. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
“It’s simple—you were dealt a bad hand, and the universe decided that it was due time to make amends. I told you, we’re soulmates, Nev. Fated. Hand-picked by the stars and the gods themselves to be together. I know it sounds a little corny, like something out of a romance novel, but I’ve believed my other half was out there my entire life, and now you’re here and I couldn’t be happier.”
