Page 26 of Claimed By the Bookstore Alpha
Alpha busied himself with the tea service. This was what pack life looked like. It provided a sense of belonging and multiple generations of shifters had made this place home. Perhaps by keeping myself apart, I’d been missing out on something important: that sense of belonging.
"So," Alpha handed us steaming mugs. "Flynn tells me you're both interested in establishing a relationship with our pack."
"We wanted to show respect to you and the pack and to ask permission to mate,” I said carefully. “While I have avoided pack life and many of its traditions, I want our child to understand their heritage and we both want to be part of the pack family.”
"The old ways exist for a reason, even if some of us choose to walk different paths." He looked at me. "How are you feeling about being more involved with us?"
"Cautious," I admitted. "But ready. Things are different now."
"Because of Clark."
"Because of our family," I corrected. "If the baby is a shifter, they'll need guidance that I can't provide alone."
"And if they're human?"
Clark spoke up. “They'll still be part of this world, won't they?"
Tiberius smiled. "Exactly. Human children of shifters and humans who mate shifters often become some of our most valued pack members. They understand both worlds and serve as bridges between our communities."
"Like Mrs. Lewis,” Clark said. “She comes into the bookstore sometimes. She's your mother, isn't she?"
"She is. And completely human, though she's been part of our pack for forty years. My father was her mate."
Clark looked at me. "So inter-species relationships are no biggie?"
That brought a smile to Alpha’s face. “Not sure about it being a biggie, but it’s not uncommon, though it can create unique challenges."
Clark tensed beside me. “Such as?"
“It can be hard for the human partner to witness their children shifting with their mate and not be able to participate.”
I couldn’t imagine how Clark would react if our offspring and I took our fur and ran off to hunt for days or a week.
“Yesh that would suck but I’d deal with it.” My mate giggled. “But I have a vivid imagination so it’d be cool.”
“And you must consult a shifter doctor. Human medical professionals might get agitated if Flynn can’t control his wolf and gets furry during the birth.”
"Flynn already arranged for us to see Dr. Bauer next week," Clark said.
We all laughed and I told my wolf no way would he witness the birth except inside me.
Alpha pointed out other shifters would pick up on the pregnancy. “Your scent is changing, and it will only become more pronounced."
"Is that a problem?" My mate gripped my hand.
"Not on pack land. But if you encounter other shifters, lone wolves especially, they may react to an unclaimed pregnant omega."
My wolf bristled. "Clark isn't unclaimed." That brought back memories of the alpha attacking me but then, I’d been single and was responsible for only myself. I’d never heard that an unmated pregnant human omega could be in danger. Was that really a thing?
"Not to you, no. But without a formal mating bond..." Tiberius shrugged. "Other shifters won't necessarily recognize your claim and they will scent you on him."
My mate looked between us. "So what do we do?”
“If you're serious about building a life together, it might be wise to formalize the bond before the baby arrives.
I explained that we’d discussed it and would do it after the baby’s birth. But Tiberius emphasized again that other shifters may see Clark as... unmated, especially with the pregnancy hormones making his scent more appealing.
My wolf snapped his teeth. Damn, he’d been trying to tell me we had to mate and I’d ignored his warnings. The thought ofanother shifter approaching Clark and not recognizing our bond had a ball of fury churning in my belly. But it was his decision as much as mine.
