bChapter /bb298 /b

    Cyra

    Pregnant?

    “You said I’m pregnant?” I ask. I was confident that I wasn’t pregnant because of my two negative pregnancy tests.

    “Yes, you are,” Luna Yara says, smiling at me.

    I look at Yorick, huffing out a smallugh. “We’re going to have a baby?”

    I watch that beautiful, sexy smile spread across his face.

    b.94/b%D

    “We’re going to have a baby,” he growls, then he leans over my belly. “Do you hear that baby? We know you’re in there nowi,/i” he says, making meugh. I slide my fingers through his hair as he leans his face against my stomach. Thad begins purring loudly as if calling our baby to him.

    Luna Yara chuckles. “You’re going to have to give me some space, Thad. I want to see if Cyra is following the Hill tradition of having multiples on the first go.”

    My mind immediately begins spinning with everything that this means. Yes, things are more settled, but Yorick and I have so much that we still need to aplish in the next year. A pregnancy is going to add to that already. A pregnancy of multiples would make it even more difficult.

    “We’ll make it work. And now, more than ever, I know the C–Squad is for me. I want toe home to you and our pup every night,” he says, stepping back and giving Luna Yara the space she needs.

    She exins what she’s going to do with the ultrasound machine, then she squirts some gel on my stomach and begins rubbing a wand over my stomach. We hear the heart beat almost instantly.

    “Is that my baby’s heartbeat?” I ask, as Yorick reaches out to squeeze my hand. Both of us are glued to the monitor that Luna Yara is looking at.

    “There it is right there. See that?” she asks.

    “Yes,” I whisper, feeling overwhelmed with excitement.

    “That’s your baby’s heart. He or she has a strong heartbeat.”

    She studies the image, clicking buttons. “You’re bigger than I would have expected. But Cyra was probably close to having a positive pregnancy testst week,” she murmurs to herself.

    “This is your baby’s head,i” /ishe says louder, obviously speaking to us this time as she rolls the wand over my stomach. “Looks like there’s just one baby in there.”

    She continues rolling the wand over my stomach, clicking buttons and taking measurements. “Probably a good thing since Kennedy is pregnant again, too,” she murmurs.

    “Kennedy’s pregnant again?” Yorick asks.

    Luna Yara turns and looks at us. “Oh, did I say that out loud?”

    “Yesb,” /bYorick says, chuckling at his mother. She always seems so surprised that she mumbles out loud.

    “Yes, she is. She’s having triplets this time,” she says, shaking her head andughing. “She calls it the ‘Christer beffect/b: I just think her mate is bvery /bpassionate.”

    ‘bI’m /bthankful that we’re not having triplets, I say in the mind link to Yorick. But he’s frowning.

    b“/bI’m bpassionate/b,” he grumbles.

    b1/4 /b

    b09:18 /bbMon/b, b18 /bbAug /b

    “I’m sure you are. You are your father’s son. But you’ve been very busy, Yorick. You and Cyra, both. One pup is probably good for now.”

    He turns and looks at me, determination burning in his eyes.

    “Next time, we’re having multiples.”

    Iugh. “It’s not apetition.”

    “It’s starting to feel like it,” he grumbles. “If passion is rated by how many pups you give your mate, I’m damn sure filling iyou /iwith pups next time.”

    “I’ll just be happy if our baby is healthy,” I say, taking his hand.

    “Fine. Happy, healthy baby this time. After we graduate, multiples,” he insists.

    ugh, cupping his face in my hand. “I’ll give you as many pups as you want.”

    He growls possessively. “You’ve seen my family. Mom and Dad had seven of us, Connor and Madison have five, and now Quirin and Kennedy are going to have ten. If we’re going to keep up, we’ll need to have several multiples.”

    “Madison is pregnant again, too. Just one this time,” Luna Yara says. “Did you want to know the gender of this pup?”

    I’m still reeling from Yorick’s promation that we’re going to have multiple pregnancies with multiple pups. While the thought is a bit terrifying, the idea of how he’s going to put those pups in me is very exciting.

    “Do you want to know?” he asks. I can feel his excitement. He’s dying to know.

    “Yes,” I say. It doesn’t matter to me if we know, but I can tell Yorick wants to announce it to everyone as soon as possible.

    “You’re having a little boyi,” /ishe says, smiling at us.

    I didn’t care either way. I just wanted to have a healthy baby. But for some reason, knowing that I’m going to have a little Yorick running around makes everything more real and more special.

    “I’m having a little Yorick,” I say, my voice tight and my eyes burning with tears of joy.

    “Yes, you are,” he growls, leaning in to kiss me.

    Yorick is always open about his love for me. He always pushes his love through our bond, but it feels even more powerful in this moment, as if I’ve just made him the happiest man in the world.

    ‘You have,’ he growls in the mind link. ‘I am so fucking happy that you’re carrying my pup. My son,‘ he says, not releasing my

    mouth.

    When he finally pulls back, I realize that Luna Yara left to give us some privacy. There’s ba /btowel on my

    stomach so I can

    wipe off the gel.

    “You know this is going to make everything harder this year, right?” I ask him,

    “You know we’re going to make it work, right?” he counters. “Nothing is too much for the two of us to ovee. Look at how much we’ve already worked through. Look at how much is happening in our lives. Is it a lot? Yes. Will I be crazy protective and overbearing? Absolutely. Will we make it work? You’re damn right we will. Why? Because I promised you a beautiful life and I intend to give it to you. And do you know what’s going to make that life even more beautiful?”

    “Whatb?/bb” /bI ask grinning as I watch my mate bing more and more excited.

    b“/bPups. Lots and lots of pups,” he growls before taking my mouth in another dominant, bpossessive /bkiss filled bwith /blove band /bbthe /bbpromise /bbof /bba /bbperfect /blife btogether/b.

    Wendy bPOV /b

    bI’m /bbso /bbexcited /bbfor /bbmy /bdate btonight/b, bI’ve /bchanged binto /bband /bbout of /bbevery /bboutfit /bbthat /bI bhave /bbin /bbYorick’s /bbpack/bb. /bI bwish /bI had bthe /bbdress /bbthat /bbI /bbknow /bbis /bbcurrently /bi

    b2/4 /b

    b09.18 /b

    bMon/b, b18 /bbAug /b

    Connor’s pack, but oh well.

    b5 /b

    I hear the chat ping on myputer. I rush to it, hoping it’s Jude. Instead, it’s Hijack.

    Hijack: Hey Sphinx. I have a project I’m working on. I wanted to know if you’d like to sit in and watch tonight.

    Shit. He must not know about my date. I’ve felt the tension between him and Hacker when ites to me. I also know that we’re all going to be part of the same team next year, so I don’t want to cause any problems between them.

    Me: I can’t tonight. But if you’re still working on it tomorrow, I’d love to watch.

    It takes a moment before he responds.

    Hijack: Got a hot date?

    Shit, shit, shit! What do I say?

    Me: Just some things going on around here. Cyra and Yorick found out they’re having a baby boy, so the pack is celebrating.

    It’s not a lie. I just won’t be here for most of the celebration.

    Hijack: Ahh, tell them I said congrattions.

    Me: I will. Have a good night.

    Hijack: You toob. /b

    I close theptop, knowing that sometimes the guys turn on the camera when we’re talking. I’ve learned that cameras are dangerous when you aren’t monitoring them. Anyone with enough skill can hack into yourputer and see you. As exciting as the work we’re doing is, it’s also made me aware of how creepy some people can be.

    ‘Hacker is here, Wendyi,’ /imy father’s voice says in the mind link.

    ‘Thanks, Dad.’

    I take one more look in the mirror before walking to the top of the stairs. My eyes lock with his. He’s wearing a blue button–down shirt that brings out the color if his eyes and khaki dress pants. I didn’t know it was possible for him to look better than he usually does, but wow! He looks great.

    “Hey beautiful,” he says as I walk up to him.

    “Hi,” I say shyly.

    “Your dad tells me that the pack is celebrating Striker and Cyra’s pregnancy. Did you want bto /bstay and celebrate with them?” he asks.

    “Jalready congratted them. They’ll probably still be celebrating when we get back,” I say. I’m excited to go on this date, my very first date. I know this bis /bba /bbig deal for my brother and Cyra, but I really want to go on this date with Jude.

    “I won’t have her out toote, Alpha,” he says to my father.

    “Byeb, /bDaddy,” I say, hugging him.

    “Byeb, /bsweetheart,” he says, hugging me then looking at Jude.

    “I’m btrusting /bbyou /bwith one of my most prized possessions. Don’t make me regret bit/bb./bb” /b

    b“/bbI’ll /bkeep her bsafe/bb, /bsir,” he says bas /bI hug my mother goodbye.

    b“/bbHe’s /bbsuch /bba /bbrespectful /bbyoung /bbman/b,b” /bbmy /bbmother /bbmurmurs/bb. /bbI /bbdon’t /bbbother /banswering bher/bb. /bbI /bknow bshe /bbwasn’t /bbtalking /bbto /bbme/b.

    b3/4 /b

    09:18 Mon, b18 /bbAug /b

    Instead, I step back and take Jude’s hand.

    b94/bb% /b

    “We’ll see youter,” he says, before we walk out to his car. He opens the door for me, and I slide inside. The car smells like him, like cedarwood and leather. It’s a rich masculine scent that makes my body feel strange and tingly.

    When he gets in the car, he takes my hand, pulling it to his lips.

    “Ready?”

    Inod excitedly. “Where are we going?”

    “There’s a restaurant about thirty minutes from here. It’s on a bigke. I thought we could have dinner and maybe walk around theke afterward.”

    “That sounds wonderful,” I say.

    He leans over and presses his lips to mine, gently teasing my lips with his.

    “Mmm, I’ve missed that all week,” he says, before putting the car in gear and heading off the packnds.

    I was worried that we’d run out of things to talk about or that Jude would get bored with me since I’ve lead a pretty sheltered life. But instead, the night flies by. Dinner was amazing. He’d requested a table that overlooked theke. The restaurant had lights that twinkled on the water, giving bit /ba magical glow. We talked about our families andughed at silly things that have happened in our family. Then we’d walked around theke, just talking and holding hands. When we’d made our way back to the restaurant, he stopped, gently caressing my cheek before kissing me again.

    He took his time, as if he was savoring the kiss and my taste. I let him lead the kiss, leaning into him and enjoying the feel of his strong arms around me, the heat of his body against mine, and his masculine scent and taste.

    When we’d pulled apart, we were both breathless.

    On the drive back to the pack, he’d stolen a kiss every time he stopped at a light, making meugh when he’d slow down, just so he’d catch the light.

    When we got back, he walked around to open the door for me, helping me out of the car.

    “I had a really good time tonight, Wendy.”

    “I did too.”

    “Maybe we could do this again next weekend?” he asks, bringing my hand to his lips and kissing my knuckles while waiting for my answer.

    “I’d love that.”

    “Excellent. It’s a date.”

    ￥b5 /b

    AD

    bComment /b