Page 59 of Tempting Frey
“Nothing serious,” Teddy hurried to explain. “He’s okay. But we can’t get hold of him.”
My pa tilted his head to the side, looking confused. “He’s working today, but he was going to stop by your place, Frey, because you didn’t show up…”
“I’m so sorry for that, Phil, really. I honestly forgot.”
“We were worried about you. Did he come by?”
“He did. About an hour ago. That’s why we came here.”
Pa frowned. “I don’t understand.”
I squeezed Teddy’s hand, and my pa’s gaze zeroed in on where we were touching. His mouth fell open.
“Dad came to bang on Teddy’s door this morning and found my shoes in the hallway,” I said. “He jumped to conclusions and got mad.”
My pa stared at us, his face blank with surprise.
“We’re mates, Phil. I tried to fight it, but now that Oliver has come back to Beauville, we…” Teddy trailed off and gulped.
I figured it was just as well to get everything out in the open. “I went into heat for Teddy on Friday.”
I felt my alpha shudder next to me. My pa looked like a frozen video call. Then he lifted his hand to his mouth, and his eyes flooded with wetness. He must have done the math in his head. Bear shifter omega, fated mate, first heat…
“Oh my goodness. Are you…?”
“Yes, I’m pregnant. I’m recovering, but I feel great.”
A few seconds went by, during which I could hear my mate’s pounding heartbeat.
“How long have you known?” my pa asked shakily, his glistening eyes pinned on my face.
“Since forever,” I admitted. “I spent my teenage years pining after Teddy. Then I went away for college, and I wasn’t sure. I thought maybe it had been just a childish infatuation. Except I’ve never been interested in anyone else. I came back home, and everything clicked into place.”
A smile spread on my pa’s face, and the tears spilled over. “Ollie…” he choked out, and hugged me.
As I was crushed in my pa’s embrace, Teddy let out a mammoth sigh of relief. Pa turned to him and opened his arms. Teddy had to bend over to hug him back.
“This is wonderful,” Pa managed. “I’m… oh Lord, I’m slobbering all over you. I’m sorry.”
He patted my alpha’s arm and sniffled.
“This is great, Frey. You have no idea how happy I am it’s you. I don’t know if I would have ever trusted anyone else with our Oliver.”
Teddy gave a brisk nod. The expression on his face stole my breath. The most gorgeous, thankful smile adorned his lips while his eyes shone with pride.
“Thank you, Phil.” He cleared his throat and blinked rapidly. “Your blessing means a lot to me.”
“Oh, hush. You’re part of the family. We’re only making it official. So that’s why you didn’t come for dinner! Otherwise occupied.” Pa chuckled at his own joke, and Teddy’s face flooded with red. “But we’re standing in the doorway as if you were here to sell me bug spray. Come on in!”
“You might have to help us with Dad,” I said as we piled into our tiny old kitchen.
My pa paused on his way to the coffee maker and put his hands on his hips. “Why is he acting out? He should be over the moon.”
“I didn’t tell him we’re mated,” Teddy said. “He might have come to the wrong conclusion.”
“Why on earth didn’t you tell him?”
My scary alpha bear looked somehow smaller facing my five-foot nothing omega father. “He recognized Oliver’s shoes in the hallway and heard his voice, and before I could say something, he reached for his holster. I panicked.”
