Page 76 of Stray Cat

“What did he tell you?” Lindsay asked in sudden curiosity. “Tiger’s always full of surprises.”

“He said we’re having a cub.” Xav began carrying the crate to the outer doors. “Who will apparently live with us in your parent’s basement.”

He heard Lindsay’s sharp intake of breath and then the quick pattering of her bare feet to catch up with him. “Are you serious?”

“Yep,” Xav said without stopping. “I bet Leah is talking to Martin about the construction details even now.”

“No, you aggravating male. About the cub.”

Xav halted and set down the crate to face her. Diego could wait a minute. “Tiger seems to think it’s true.”

Lindsay’s eyes were wide. “Carly says he always knows. Shit, Xav. A cub. That’s wonderful. And terrifying.”

Xav stepped to her. “Like you said, we can do anything together.”

Lindsay regarded him in almost pure fear. “Can we?”

“Yes.” Xav’s uncertainty fled as love for this untamed and beautiful woman surged through him. He cupped her shoulders and pulled her close. “We can. The mate bond knows so.”

Lindsay leaned into him, her warmth like an embrace. “Our cub will be awesome.”

“And a serious handful. But we can do this.”

Lindsay’s smile trembled. “Yeah. We can. Try and let anyone stop us.”

Xav grinned at her. “They can try.”

“But they never will.” Lindsay pulled him down to her for a brief, hot kiss.

Xav gathered her in before she could let go, what he now knew was the mate bond flowing through them. With it came the mating frenzy that had been building in him for some time, the need to constantly be with his mate, their bodies entwined, no matter what.

The rapid beating of a horn outside was accompanied by two wolf cubs racing around them, yipping at the tops of their voices.

Lindsay and Xav broke apart, laughing, but the yearning hadn’t receded.

Xav took Lindsay by the hand and led his mate out after the careening cubs to the waiting Shifters and his loving family.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

The mating ceremony, held that weekend, was blessed with a warm day and a cool and clear night. Eric performed the sun ceremony in the afternoon, which initiated the link between mated Shifters.

Lindsay fought her mating frenzy as she stood next to Xav in the little grove of olive trees, because if she didn’t, she’d seize him and run away with him to his house, where they could lose themselves in each other. She’d never want to leave his bed for days, and by Xav’s hot glances at her, he wouldn’t either.

But then, they’d miss the full moon for the ceremony tonight and have to wait nearly another month for it. The moon ceremony was the most important one, and so Lindsay repressed her burning needs.

As she politely listened to Eric, a crown of flowers in her hair, she pressed her hand to her abdomen, thinking she could already feel the flutter of the cub inside.

Xav’s cub. He or she would have Xav’s warm smile and dark eyes, she was certain of it. And it would turn into a pure lynx with mischievous tendencies.

Lindsay was torn between elation and terror about their coming cub. She consoled herself by recalling that her mom and dad, who’d had so much experience with her, would live upstairs. With them, plus Cassidy and Diego nearby, she couldn’t lose.

Xav, who had a kind and caring heart behind his fun-loving facade, would be a great dad. Lindsay knew this without doubt.

She’d told Xav how she’d done a sort-of striptease for Dean’s guard in the warehouse so she could disrobe to shift without rousing his suspicions. Instead of being enraged, as a possessive male might be, Xav had laughed soundly and praised her inventiveness.

His understanding of her floored her, and then spiked Lindsay’s ever-present mating need. They’d had to spend a long time alone in his house working that off.

Once Eric finally pronounced the mate blessing, and Shifters began to party, complete with afternoon cookout, Lindsay made herself, after one burning kiss with Xav, stay apart from him the rest of the day.

---