Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Alpha’s Pregnant Bride Chapter 16

Skye

What was he going to do now? Yell? Scream? Run off?

The guy had been wanting to rebuild his pack for months. There was no way he could be that upset about me being pregnant. Not that anybody should have been that upset since my past boyfriends had been obsessed with my ovaries. What set Troy apart was the fact that he wasn't anything like them.

Which was both relieving and alarming.

Now that I had told him my secret, would he be happy? Hesitant?

It was getting too hard to tell. Most of the time, we were connected by a thick corded rope that grew taut when one of us was experiencing emotional distress. At this very moment, my chest felt like it had knotted up, dangerously stiff and threatening to snap if either one of us made a wrong move.

I could have died waiting for something to happen.

But I didn't die. I merely melted-right into his arms.

Troy scooped me up and planted me on the kitchen counter. Gentle movements gave way to rough desperation, stirring me up from the inside out. I gripped his shoulders while yanking him between my legs-because I just couldn't get enough of him. No matter how much we argued, I didn't want to leave or ignore him. I wanted him to stay with me. I wanted him to make a family with me.

Even if it just didn't make sense.

My hope for a future unmarred by expectations seemed so far away now that I had someone like Troy in my life. Other men showered me with goals, but Troy asked me for my goals-and adjusted his life accordingly. He didn't bend to my will. That wasn't the point. He just made sure that we were in alignment.

And I had to guess that this kiss meant he was fully in alignment with my pregnancy.

Still, I had to be sure. I grabbed his face and pushed him back an inch, just enough for me to ask about it.

He nodded feverishly. "Yes, Skye. I love you."

An ache stabbed my heart, followed by the soothing balm of a winter's evening breeze. The chaffed areas of my heart healed under the softness of his lips and the firmness of his touch. Digits steeped in affection nudged beneath my t-shirt and drifted over my breasts. They were already swelling up, so tender from the changes in my body.

That made them super sensitive too.

I hissed when his thumbs dug beneath my bra. My sore nipples longed for a delicate touch, but there was another part of me that was ravenous, a part that yearned to be manhandled. Hunger swirled between us as one of his hands dropped to my yoga pants and yanked them down. I squeaked when they caught around my ankles.

He chuckled while stripping me the rest of the way. Even my bra made it to the ground with everything else. Seeing the tiny pudge of my gut made me self-conscious, but that only prompted my boyfriend to catch my chin before I could turn away. "Don't hide from me, please," he urged. "I want to see the faces you make."

Before I could argue, he slipped his fingers into my slit, shocking my system with a bolt of satisfaction and inspiring a new desire to surface with it. A few more strokes chased away whatever embarrassment I had carried from my younger years and turned me into a thirsty siren. I wanted nothing more than to drag him down to the bottom of the ocean and keep him away from the prying light of day.

There, at least, we could get away from everything, from the expectations other people had of us and whatever interference they attempted. We could hide while building each other up. Because that was what true relationships did-they provided protection. Bonds like the one Troy and I shared strengthened and solidified. He would never make me feel weak.

And he would never betray me.

Realizing that simple fact had me ripping his jogging pants off faster than he had ripped off mine. Being exposed together, naked together, was an intimate state of existence I'd never thought would make me feel so vulnerable yet so safe. With him, that was just the way of things. I could feel two opposing things at once and feel no shame as a result.

I stroked his cheek as he nestled between my legs. My hips instinctively arched toward him as I rested my shoulders against the cabinet. "You'll make a great father."

His heart skipped a beat while he clutched my thighs. Feeling those digits dig into my skin made me hot for him, tripling my yearning until it was an unbearable sting in my slit. I circled my hand to the back of his neck and pulled him close as I wrapped my legs around him.

And as he plunged into me, I whispered, "I love you."

A haze fell over my vision. Satisfaction became my motivation, our mutual goal to please each other overriding everything else. To hell with the mess we were making on the counter with the cups falling over and the clean towels spilling to the ground-I wanted my mate, and I wanted him however he wanted me.

He drilled me sweetly, directing his passion right between my thighs. Each dive dissipated the painful sting of desire, pushing me toward a place I knew I wouldn't return from too easily. Passion like this was overwhelming, almost addictive. We were so wrapped up in each other that the rest of the world simply didn't exist. Mostly because we just didn't want it to exist.

How could anything else exist during the process of creation? Even now, we were weaving new worlds into existence, a loving web of energy fueled by devotion and love. As he bent to s**k on my nipples, I cradled the back of his head, his locs tickling my sides and his free hand wandering up my back to embrace me.

We were perfectly joined in every way-and our coupling would birth a new world.

Heat swelled in my core as I arched into his thrusts. The more he pumped, the more I lost my grip until I was writhing uncontrollably. Buck after buck produced short, soft grunts as he took what was rightfully his. I rolled my hips to his rhythm up to the point where my eyes rolled into my head and my toes curled.

I came so hard that I thought I saw the heavens.

I realized then that it was real-he did love me. I recognized the state of energy in his soul. When he invited me to examine his heart, I took my time with it. An alpha like him meant what he said. Every single time.

How could I have ever doubted him?

He scooped me from the counter and carried me to the bedroom. Once he had me spread out on the bed, he joined me and wrapped his arm loosely around my stomach. His chin rested on my shoulder and his lips tickled my ear. "You see now?" "I see it all."

"You're not angry with me?"

I stroked his arm. "Troy, I can't stay mad at you to save my life."

A boisterous laugh exploded from him. "Thank the gods my life doesn't depend on your emotions."

I really couldn't see the humor in that. But his chuckles were infectious, and I found myself in the catharsis of tender laughter with his arms around me and his joyful spirit nourishing me. Life was taking a turn-and I didn't think I could complain anymore. "You're pregnant," he said lightly. It felt like a prayer. His hand swept over my stomach the same way my own did daily. "I wonder what we're having."

"A clump of cells for now."

He huffed with amusement. "Have you seen Dr. Windsor?" "Not yet."

"We should make an appointment!"

His energy seemed to double as he bounced from the bed and searched the room for his phone. Unknown to him, I had swiped his phone-spitefully-from the porch and hidden it in one of the rice bins.

I sank into the bed, too embarrassed to tell him what I had done.

But the way he spun around to face me with that knowing look on his face made me give in.

Minutes later, he had acquired his phone, called Dr. Windsor, and told her the triumphant news. He bounced back to me seconds later and massaged my thighs, my hips, and my arms. It was wonderful to be worshiped by his hands. If I hadn't been committed to checking on the horses, I would have fallen asleep right there.

"Troy," I protested, though it was a rather weak protest, "I have to check on Snow and Violet in a minute."

"Why don't you take the night off?"

I nudged his shoulder. "Can you get me some pants? I need to make sure the stables weren't destroyed by the teenagers again."

He perked up. "Have they been causing you any trouble?"

"No, they're just curious about the horses. They want to help out."

"Alright, well, if they give you any shit in the future..." He winked. "You just let me know, alright?"

"You said that already."

He snickered. "Said what?"

"Did you just have an energy drink or something? I've never seen you this bubbly."

"I'm motivated by the love of my mate."

That shot me up from the bed. It was one thing for him to profess his love. But it was certainly something else for him to be calling me his mate.

I didn't think there had been any point during the last month when he'd referred to me as his mate in any affectionate manner. Every time we spoke about our arrangement, it was purely in clinical terms. Now he seemed to be excited about it.

An intense warmth swarmed my face as I threw my legs over the edge of the bed and watched him dance his way to the dresser. He grabbed a pair of yoga pants, a t-shirt, socks, and panties. He dressed me carefully, taking his time over the extra tender muscles and then massaging my shoulders again. I practically had to fight him off me just to get to the bathroom to tinkle. If he kept touching me, we would never make it out the door.

Mirth carried us to the stables. By the time we got there, I felt like a thousand years had passed with us intimately intertwined. I knew him inside and out-and the opposite was true as well. He had discovered my secrets and didn't shy away from the fact that my insecurities weren't entirely appealing.

But good bonds weren't forged out of being likable or perfect. They were based on respect, care, and a commitment to change. Tiny changes had the greatest impact. And it was then I realized how silly I had been about Myrna. Regardless of her relationship with Troy, she was his pack. She was a survivor. She deserved to be housed as much as anybody else.

I had held her hands. I had touched her spirit in a way. She wasn't evil. She was just scared and lost.

I had to have faith that my mate wouldn't get lost either.

Inside the stables, Snow and Violet were quietly snoozing. I did my usual round of checks around the area to make sure predators couldn't get in and that the horses couldn't get out. I managed to get a little grooming time in while Troy studied the place, perusing the other stalls and checking out the tower of cards the teenagers had left behind.

He pointed to it. "You know, this takes incredible skill. I might hire those kids."

"They're smart. They just like to goof off more than use their brains."

"Most kids do."

I chuckled as I brushed Snow. "The teenagers love these horses. I thought about hosting classes."

"Why don't you?"

I shrugged. "I guess I just feel like I don't know enough."

"Yet Blake trusts you to lead his field workers as well as care for the animals. Strange."

"What are you saying?"

He smirked. "I'm saying you're smarter than you give yourself credit for. I respect your commitment to higher education-and I recognize that most of the time, you don't seem to need it."

"Are you saying you want me to drop out?"

"No, dear Skye. I'm in full support of what you think is best for your path. I would never ask you to drop out of school."

My heart soared. "Well, that's a relief."

"Do you want to drop out?"

Through all the excitement, I hadn't exactly considered what I wanted to do with school just yet. If I carried to term while going to school, then I could organize a semester or two off. That didn't include studying under apprenticeship, but I was sure I could manage

it.

"Dear Skye?" It was lovely when he called me that. It made me feel like everything was going to be alright. "You don't have to figure it all out right now."

My smile warmed my body as I put the grooming tools back in their respective places. I ran my fingers over Snow's side. "Thank you for saying that."

"Are you finished? We should get some sleep."

"Yeah, I'm done for the night."

He extended his hand to me, beckoning me out of the stall. After making sure the stalls were locked properly, I took Troy's hand and walked leisurely toward the exit, feeling a sense of calm wash through me. It felt like everything was in the right place. There wasn't a thing on this earth that could ruin this moment.

Except for the scent of another shifter. My nostrils flared with the familiar smell, and I turned to Troy who had the same reaction.

I gave him a curious frown. "Teenagers?"

"I have to hope so."

"I suppose we'll find out."

When we reached the door, the smell got stronger. It was feminine by nature, but far be it from me to assume who wore what scents and why. Our packs were as varied and diverse as a college campus. On the other side of the doors, I searched the shadows, locating the figure at the edge of the cornfield.

"Hey, are you alright?" I called out.

But I stopped advancing when the person turned around. Because it was none other than Myrna herself.