Page 57 of Sincerely, Pack Pucked
Jasper
I will cry many tears until you decide to talk to me again.
Biting back a laugh, so I didn’t disturb the class, I put my phone down and looked back at the front where the lecturer was still droning on about grass.
I was in the middle of a darn good nap when the incessant ringing of my phone woke me. After class, I had been exhausted, so I grabbed a chalky protein bar and crawled straight into my nest, unwilling to even think about homework. Not when the weight of my eyelids was impossible to ignore.
“Hello?” I answered groggily, not bothering to see who was calling. The prospect of staring at a bright phone screen when I was napping in the dark of my nest was not appealing.
A familiar, gruff voice rang out. “Mable, are you okay? You haven’t been answering.”
Devin. Shit.
Trying to focus, I rolled over onto my back, glad I still could at this point, and forced myself to keep my eyes open. “Oh, uh, sorry. I kind of fell asleep. The baby is tiring me out so badly…”
It wasn’t a lie in the slightest, but something about who I was talking to made it seem like maybe it wasn’t the best excuse for napping in the middle of the day.
“Are you taking all your prenatal vitamins?” Devin asked, and even though I couldn’t see his face, I could imagine the scowl darkening his expression.
Still, I hummed in agreement, even though as I did, I glanced at my table and realized I had yet to take today’s dose. “Yes, I have been. I will be taking today’s dose momentarily,” I said sweetly, rolling out of my nest and toward the table and grabbing the bottle.
“Shouldn’t you be taking those things in the morning?” The confusion in Devin’s voice was actually kind of adorable. It was clear he wanted to help, to be sure everything was getting done when it should, but that didn’t mean he actually knew anything about being pregnant.
“I mean, technically, but I had to rush out because I was late for class this morning. It won’t hurt anything to take them now.”
“You need to take care of yourself,” he chided, probably glaring at the phone as he did.
“I am!” I insisted. “You know, I’m only one person, and I’m doing the best I can. I was actually getting my rest. You should be thrilled with me.”
“I am not disagreeing with that, Mable. I…dammit.” Devin groaned, the line hanging quiet for a moment, and then I heard him sigh. “I was thinking…how would you feel about going to our doctor for one of your prenatal appointments? The campus’s doctors are fine, but you’re probably going to need some more advanced care later in your pregnancy. We have amazing insurance through our jobs.”
I blinked, my mouth dropping open. I hadn’t really thought about that, but I could hardly deny that it was a good idea. It was a little strange for Devin to offer, only because I figured he was busy with a million other things. And it struck me that he’d been thinking about this, about getting me care from a better doctor.
“I… areyouokay with me doing that? Using your resources for myself?”
“I’ll get you added to the insurance tomorrow morning,” Devin said in a firm but friendly tone.
My heart warmed, and I smiled, putting the vitamin into my mouth and swallowing it with a chug of water. “Thank you,” I mumbled.
He snorted, and I could picture the eye roll that went along with it. “Don’t go thanking us yet. This is the bare minimum we could do.”
“You’re aware that a lot of people don’t offer what you consider the bare minimum, right?”
There was a pause, only a brief second, and then Devin’s voice came through the line, with a hint of a growl. “Anyone who wouldn’t do as much for their pregnant omega is a piece of shit. I would never neglect anyone in my pack.”
A tiny gasp escaped me. I believed every word Devin said, not only because his tone brooked no argument but also because, even through the phone, I could sense the way his alpha instincts were roaring. There was something about it, about the way he swiftly and decisively took action on my behalf, that was endearing.
Hell, it was hot as fuck too.
“You’re something, Mr. Grump.” I smiled to myself, imagining Devin’s intense stare, the way his dark hair looked against his skin. “I appreciate it. You’re pretty damn good at making sure things go off without a hitch.”
“Is that all you think I’m good at?”
My heart stumbled, hearing what I believed to be a rather obvious dose of innuendo in that question. Still, I had a hard time believing that Devin was flirting with me after everything that had happened. We’d been pen pals forever, of course, but this felt different.
We’d actually met now, and…
“No. I’m sure there are…otherthings you do very well.” What the hell was I doing? “Like hockey, for example.”
