Page 25 of Jordan

The baby?

She stilled.

He sighed. “Shit, I thought you’d have figured it out by now.”

She twisted in his arms. “A baby?”

He nodded.

Her mind raced and it took a moment for her to fully realize what it meant. She gasped. “We’re true mates?”

“Yeah, at least that’s what people keep telling me,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry I forced you to accept my claim and that—”

Nina tossed her body against him, her arms going around his neck. She held him tight. “Don’t leave me, Jordan. Please.”

“Leave you?” he questioned, returning the embrace. “Baby, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been tracking you all damn day, and if you think I’m letting you out of my sight again, you’re wrong. I don’t care if you’re more than capable of handling yourself or not. I needed to clear my head this morning and when I got back, you were gone.”

“They told me you left the village.”

He sighed. “To shift forms and run in the forest. I didn’t leave you, Nina. I just needed to think. To let my animal side be free. I came right back.”

She tensed and then eased her hold on him. “Jordan, something is wrong. I can’t shift forms. My cat side isn’t working at all.”

He glanced towards the dead enemy. “Stars above, you could have been… Nina…you and the baby could have… I should have been here sooner. I should have never left you to start with.”

She pressed her mouth to his, shutting him up. The kiss was passionate yet tender. “You’re here now. You came when I needed you and that’s all that matters. Now, can we maybe leave here? The smell of it all is going to make me sick.”

He held her hand in his and dipped his head, kissing her quickly. “Let’s go.”

They started on their way and she had to tug lightly on his hand. “Jordan, honey, you’re going too fast for me.”

He paused, his brows meeting.

She blushed, realizing she’d just called him honey.

“Nina, you’re usually fast—scarily fast. What’s wrong?”

She exhaled slowly. “I don’t know.”

He closed his eyes a moment. “The baby. Your body is adjusting to the baby.”

“Oh gods, that’s why I can’t shift forms,” she said. “I won’t be able to again until after he’s born.” Her eyes widened. “Jordan, I can’t protect him. I can’t keep him safe if I can’t shift and if I’m not at full strength.”

“Shh,” he whispered, pulling her to him and kissing her forehead. “What do you think I’m for, huh? You’re my mate, Nina. My wife. I’ll protect you.” His hand found her stomach. “Both.”

She clung to him. “But, I’ve always protected myself. I’m head of the bloody guards. I’m—”

Nodding, he cut her off. “Very stubborn and headstrong. Yeah, I know. Can you keep going if I slow the pace? Tell me if you can’t. I’ll watch over you while you sleep.”

“We’re too close to where we were attacked,” she said. While her ability to shift might be gone, the warrior in her wasn’t. She knew it wasn’t safe to remain in the area. That they had to keep moving. “I’m good if you slow the pace.”

“Nina, swear to me that you’ll tell me if you need to rest,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it gently. “I won’t see it as weakness, baby.”

“I will.” She went to her tiptoes and he dipped his head, kissing her lips.

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