Page 27 of Forbidden Pregnant Mate

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No. That’s not my style. I was just trying to figure out what to do. And I didn’t really know.”

I snorted. “I don’t blame you.”

“How do you, um, feel?”

“Honestly? Like I got hit in the head with a sledgehammer and struck by a speeding train at the same time.” I walked over and sat next to her. “Guess we should have been more careful.”

She snorted. “You think? But that’s not what I mean. You’re not…angry?”

“Why would I be angry?” I paused, considering. “Well, no, I am angry. But not because you’re pregnant. Because you were stupid enough to run off on your own.”

Inside, my head was spinning. It wasn’t that I didn’t want kids; I’d always wanted them, actually. But in five years. Or ten. But the more I thought about it, the more the shock wore off and the realization sank in, the happier I was. In fact, I started grinning like an idiot. My wolf was just as happy, wanting to come out and rub against the wolf bearing his cub.

“Don’t get me wrong, the timing is absolute shit,” I said. “But it is what it is. And if this is the hand we’re being dealt, then we’ve got to go with it.”

“There’s one problem, though,” Jenn said softly.

I knew what she was about to say. I’d realized it almost immediately but had pushed it to the back of my mind.

“Yeah,” I said, sighing and running a hand through my hair. “Your dad.”

My old promise moved to the front of my mind, and guilt began creeping in. This wasn’t just bending the rules. This was about as blatant a breaking of a promise could get.

“He’s going to flip,” she said. “It was fine when we could keep it a secret. But now…”

“We can’t,” I finished. “Not forever, anyway.” And I wasn’t just referring to keeping this from Malcolm. Jenn being pregnant changed everything. I knew I would need to come clean to her, and sooner rather than later. “What do you want to do?”

“Honestly?” she sighed. “I don’t know. I want the baby, but I don’t know how to explain any of this to Dad. And with all the Isaac stuff happening, I don’t want to add to all that by mentioning that I’m pregnant.”

Isaac. I’d forgotten about him amid the revelation that I was going to be a dad in five months, thanks to the fact that shifters had shorter gestation periods.

“We’ll find him,” I promised, my voice low and nearly a growl. “I’m not letting him get anywhere near you.”

She raised an eyebrow and looked at me. “Please tell me you’re not about to ramp up my security to an absurd amount.”

I snorted. “Are you kidding? I’m not letting you out of my sight until this is all taken care of.”

She made a face but didn’t protest.

“As for your dad, we’ll work it out. He’s busy at the moment, so we have time to figure out what to do. Until then, Freya will figure it out.”

“She’ll keep it a secret if I ask,” Jenn said. “But anyone who comes to the house will know once my scent changes.”

“We can keep it to ourselves, at least for a bit,” I reassured her.

When she didn’t say anything, I turned to her, my hand going to her chin and turning it so she was looking at me instead of the ground, which she’d been talking to for the majority of our conversation.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “You’re stuck with me, and we’ll figure this out together. And I mean all of it.”

I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers, trying to put everything I felt into that single gesture. We stayed like that for a long time before I finally pulled away. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

“You believe me yet?” I asked. "Because I am prepared to kiss you as many times as needed until you get the point.”

She gave a tired smile. “I believe you.”

“Mmm, I don’t know if you sound sincere enough.” I tapped my finger against my lips in consideration. “I think I need to be more convincing.”

I pulled her on top of me, letting my fingers run along the smooth skin of her bare waist. I brought her face to mine and kissed her again. She made a soft moan as the kiss deepened, her fingers pressing hard into my back.

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