stood topless in front of him. She looked at him for a second more than was comfortable before she pulled a bra around her arms. “I’m fine. We have this meeting about the Separatists and I don’t want to walk down there a mess. The bite on my neck will tell the pack all they need to know.” She hoped he’d accept her answer at face value.
After pulling a tank over her head, she saw her loving husband with his arms crossed over his chest. Okay, the bond. No more white lies. “A thought occurred to me and it upset me. Okay?” Just thinking about it felt like someone had punched her square in the stomach. “What happens if I’m challenged while pregnant? I mean, we haven’t talked about…but still.”
“That’s simple. You don’t fight. You name a proxy. It’s what packs do to protect an elder, and a pregnant Lycan female is no different.”
Of course it’s so simple for you! How could she nominate someone else to die in her place?
“No. It’s not. That would be my pup in there,” he said pointing at her stomach. “An innocent. No one would stand for it, least of all me.”
She reached in a drawer pulling out a fresh pair of socks and then pushed past him. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Wait!” He grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. When she came to a stop, he slid his palms over her cheeks. “FOSE has just been established. We’ll all have new laws to follow. There’s no way on the planet Grace hasn’t thought of this. If women are to rule, then pregnancy will be a factor in a challenge. Either the challenge will wait, or the Beta will fight. I know it seems more complicated but we have to cross that bridge when we come to it.” He slid his arms around her.
She allowed herself to lean into him, allowed his warmth to envelop her.
“I told you. You’ll never be alone again. You need to start believing me.” He kissed the top of his head. “Now I’m going to take a shower. You …take five seconds and breathe.” He left her standing there as he headed to the bathroom.
Breathe. Okay. She took a few cleansing breaths, then slid on her socks and shoes. Colin’s words had eased her nerves somewhat, but an Alpha is supposed to care for her pack and it was a duty she took to heart. She wanted it…fought for it. She was a leader . Leaders don’t lose their shit.
He stepped out of the bathroom with nothing on…not even a towel. When he crossed in front of her, he turned, shaking his butt in her face.
She burst into laughter and smacked his ass cheek. “Get dressed!”
“You’re much prettier when you smile.” He winked over his shoulder as he rubbed the red handprint on his butt.
Her heart skipped a beat every time her mate flirted with her. Secretly, she hoped it never went away. She focused on him as he stood in his closet, dressing. He was lighter. His smile seemed semi-permanent. She could feel a mixture of joy and frustration coming from him.
Still happy we mated? She pushed her thoughts to him.
“Absolutely. You?”
Indeed.
“I’m ready.” Always dressed for a business meeting, he stood in dark blue pants, a white button down and dark shoes that matched his belt. He really did make her feel like a bum most days.
“Oh dear?” She said wagging her finger up and down at him. “I’d really love to see you in a pair of jeans occasionally.”
Nearly all of his stunning white teeth showed when he smiled at her. “Yes ma’am!”
They made their way to the fire pit, where most pack meetings took place. She noticed numerous smiles from her original pack mates as they noticed her bonding mark. Nods of approval greeted them before the meeting began.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I tell you all about a new enemy. An enemy of our own kind. It appears that not everyone is entirely thrilled that we’re blending species. There have been two attacks on the school, one of which happened last night. The group call themselves Separatists, as they wish us
After pulling a tank over her head, she saw her loving husband with his arms crossed over his chest. Okay, the bond. No more white lies. “A thought occurred to me and it upset me. Okay?” Just thinking about it felt like someone had punched her square in the stomach. “What happens if I’m challenged while pregnant? I mean, we haven’t talked about…but still.”
“That’s simple. You don’t fight. You name a proxy. It’s what packs do to protect an elder, and a pregnant Lycan female is no different.”
Of course it’s so simple for you! How could she nominate someone else to die in her place?
“No. It’s not. That would be my pup in there,” he said pointing at her stomach. “An innocent. No one would stand for it, least of all me.”
She reached in a drawer pulling out a fresh pair of socks and then pushed past him. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Wait!” He grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. When she came to a stop, he slid his palms over her cheeks. “FOSE has just been established. We’ll all have new laws to follow. There’s no way on the planet Grace hasn’t thought of this. If women are to rule, then pregnancy will be a factor in a challenge. Either the challenge will wait, or the Beta will fight. I know it seems more complicated but we have to cross that bridge when we come to it.” He slid his arms around her.
She allowed herself to lean into him, allowed his warmth to envelop her.
“I told you. You’ll never be alone again. You need to start believing me.” He kissed the top of his head. “Now I’m going to take a shower. You …take five seconds and breathe.” He left her standing there as he headed to the bathroom.
Breathe. Okay. She took a few cleansing breaths, then slid on her socks and shoes. Colin’s words had eased her nerves somewhat, but an Alpha is supposed to care for her pack and it was a duty she took to heart. She wanted it…fought for it. She was a leader . Leaders don’t lose their shit.
He stepped out of the bathroom with nothing on…not even a towel. When he crossed in front of her, he turned, shaking his butt in her face.
She burst into laughter and smacked his ass cheek. “Get dressed!”
“You’re much prettier when you smile.” He winked over his shoulder as he rubbed the red handprint on his butt.
Her heart skipped a beat every time her mate flirted with her. Secretly, she hoped it never went away. She focused on him as he stood in his closet, dressing. He was lighter. His smile seemed semi-permanent. She could feel a mixture of joy and frustration coming from him.
Still happy we mated? She pushed her thoughts to him.
“Absolutely. You?”
Indeed.
“I’m ready.” Always dressed for a business meeting, he stood in dark blue pants, a white button down and dark shoes that matched his belt. He really did make her feel like a bum most days.
“Oh dear?” She said wagging her finger up and down at him. “I’d really love to see you in a pair of jeans occasionally.”
Nearly all of his stunning white teeth showed when he smiled at her. “Yes ma’am!”
They made their way to the fire pit, where most pack meetings took place. She noticed numerous smiles from her original pack mates as they noticed her bonding mark. Nods of approval greeted them before the meeting began.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I tell you all about a new enemy. An enemy of our own kind. It appears that not everyone is entirely thrilled that we’re blending species. There have been two attacks on the school, one of which happened last night. The group call themselves Separatists, as they wish us
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