“Isn’t… isn’t that a group decision?”
He chuckled, then paused. “Oh, Sweetheart. Yes, decisions are made as a group, but it’s still your body. I can no more demand to put a baby in you, as you can demand I put a tattoo on my skin. And it’s a big decision, regardless of potential pregnancy. None, and I meannoneof us expect one good heat to erase years of trauma and fear. We all knew there was a chance that after your heat you could decide that having us inside you wasn’t something you enjoyed, and would ask to not have penetrative sex again. We’ll discuss things like we always do. But there are some decisions that you’ll have to make yourself.”
I considered his answer. It felt scary to have such a decision on my shoulders, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was part of why I’d fallen in love with them. They didn’t place expectations on me to do certain things. They expected me to consider my own needs and communicate them.
It was how they worked. They’d known each other long enough they anticipated things with each other in a way I didn’t yet. But… I’d get there.
In the meantime, my mates trusted me: trusted me to tell them what I needed; trusted me to trust them.
The sound of the curtain, then of Tony touching the water.
“Want me to add some more hot?” he asked.
“Actually…” I started. “I think I want a cuddle pile.”
I could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke. “I’ll get the towels from the dryer. They should be warm. Then we’ll have a cuddle pile.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Ok.”
I listened as Tony left.
I really did have the best mates.
∞∞∞
~July~
“I want to know as soon as you’re done celebrating with your mates,” Micah declared over the phone as I stared at the assortment of pregnancy tests on the shelf.
“And what if it’s negative?” I asked.
He snorted. “You were in flaming heat and bred by four alphas. Trust me, there’s a baby in you. Probably more than one.”
“I just don’t want to get ahead of myself,” I sighed. “Now which were your favorites again?”
“The ones with the digital readouts. No trying to guess if there’s a second line or a plus symbol. Pregnant, not pregnant. It’s worth the extra couple dollars. The brand doesn’t matter.”
“Ok,” I replied as I scanned the shelf. I found one, grabbed it, and dropped it in my basket.
“I’ve gotta go,” Micah said. “My break’s almost over. You’re still going to go pregnancy clothes shopping with me this weekend though, right?”
“Of course. You need somebody other than your alphas to tell you which pants make your ass look the best.”
Micah laughed. “Yeah, they’re biased. Everything makes my ass look good to them. But I’ve got to pick out things that make me look fabulous, while also being able to handle the fact that I’m cooking three babies.”
“You sure there’s going to be room in you for three?” I teased.
“I’ll make room,” he declared. “That’s what baby bellies are for.”
I laughed. “We might need to rig up something with wheels and a padded cushion to support it for you.”
“As long as I can make it sparkly and fabulous.”
“Small fortune in rhinestones, got it.”