Page 27 of Broken Pregnant Mate
“You’re ninety-four,” I gasp, bringing my hand to my mouth in surprise. While she definitely doesn’t look twenty, she doesn’t lookthatold.
Beth’s eyebrows shoot up, and she laughs. “That I am—your gift is a strong one, it seems.”
“Gods.” I blush as some of the other women in the room turn to look at us, clearly surprised by that information. Ash—the woman who was introduced to me as being Dorian’s sister—turns, her mouth dropped open.
“Ninety-four?” she breathes, her eyes darting between me and Beth. “There’s no way—you’re not that…”
“Are you just now realizing how time passes by us all?” Beth asks, putting her hand on Ash’s shoulder. “Think about your gramps—if he were still here, still kicking, he’d only be a few years behind me in age. He had an impressive number of years under his belt for an alpha leader.”
“True,” Ash sighs, and I think about Aidan—about his plan to fight Jerrod Blacklock and take over the Grayhides.
“Alpha leaders don’t live as long?” I ask, eyes darting between them. Ash reaches out, putting her hand on my arm.
“Don’t worry about it,” she says, shaking her head. “That was with the old system of fighting it out to take over power. Hopefully, after Aidan takes over the Grayhides, that system will be completely phased out. He’ll have a lot to deal with over there, cleaning up Blacklock’s mess, but I’m sure he can manage it.”
I think about Aidan, always so light on his feet despite everything, and picture him buried under the responsibility of reorienting that pack, cleaning up all the messes. All the kids in homes, all the destroyed families, are trying to regain trust.
It’s exhausting, and I’m sure I’m only thinking of half the work it would actually be.
When the meeting is over, and people are filing out of the old house, someone catches me by the arm.
“Hey,” Veva says, stopping me, her eyes serious. “The girls and I are going over to have margaritas. Why don’t you come with us?”
I get the sense that she’s not really the kind of person who asks questions, but rather makes strong suggestions. Also, I don’t particularly want to go back to Aidan’s apartment, alone, until I have to.
I’m going to be in there by myself for the duration of my heat, so I might as well have one free night with other people before I’m alone for an extended period of time.
“Sure,” I finally say, realizing Veva is staring at me, waiting for me to say something in response.
She nods, and in the next moment, I’m shuffling outside and back into Kira’s car. The three of them chat happily on the way through town, talking about some party they went to. Kira mentions the boys’ second birthday coming up and how the theme is going to be dinosaurs and te-roar-able twos.
When we get to the restaurant, a hostess leads us to the back, placing out menus on the table and grinning at us.
“Can I get you girls started with any margaritas today? They are half off right now!”
“Yes,” Ash says, spinning her finger. “For the table!”
“But I’ll do non-alcoholic, please,” Veva says, holding up her hand as she slides into the booth. I glance at her, realizing I hadn’t seen it before, but there’s a little bump just showing under her shirt.
“Oh,” I say, eyes widening at the realization; then, something else hits me. I turn, looking at Kira with wide eyes. “You’re pregnant.”
Kira laughs, glancing to the side. “Veva is, yeah.”
“No, sorry,” I laugh, rubbing my hand over the side of my face. “I—I just have this—you’re pregnant, too. I don’t know how to explain it, but I just know. You are.”
Kira blinks again, pulls her head back, and Veva stares at her, eyes wide, her mouth falling open slightly. “Yeah,” she says, voice breathy. “I’m getting that, too.”
“No way,” Kira laughs, shaking her head, her copper curls rolling over her shoulders. “My last…”
Then she goes quiet, brow wrinkling as she thinks, as though remembering something. Finally, after ten full seconds, she says, “Oh, Gods. I’m pregnant.”
We’re all quiet for a moment, absorbing this news. I glance around at the other women, hoping to get a hint as to how Kira might feel about this news, then her face breaks into a smile and she puts a hand on the table, leaning forward. “Oh, Gods! I’m pregnant! I’m finally going to get my baby girl!”
Veva laughs, and Ash chortles. “Everyone has a damn gift except me.”
“It’s a burden,” Veva murmurs, gesturing toward Kira. “See?”
“Not a burden,” Kira laughs. “Just a…surprise.”
