Page 30 of A Luna's Revenge

I nod. "The nurse said the pup had problems, and your presence revived him. Stay. It's not anything you've never seen before."

"Okay." He jerks his head and turns away as I struggle weakly to bring the pup to my breast.

"I'm sorry. I need a little help." I admit.

"Oh, sure." He whips around and gently helps me move the pup to my breast. After a few seconds of rooting around, he latches on and settles contently, and I pull the sheet up over us.

"I've missed you, Charlie," Jenson whispers. "I know you are tired and weak, but we need to talk at some point. I know we have had a huge misunderstanding, and I would like theopportunity totalk and put your mind to rest. There has only ever been you."

His face is so earnest, but I am thoroughly confused. "That wasn't my impression when I left." I accuse. "I am not going anywhere, so talk."

There's a knock on the door. The nurse enters carrying a couple of trays. She places them on the overbed table. "Here's some food for you guys." She looks at Jenson. "Being a shifter, she has a strong body and is recovering well from the c-section, so make sure she eats as much as possible to regain her strength quickly. I'll come back and check on you all later. If you need anything, let me know." She turns and leaves, closing the door softly.

Jenson pulls his chair close and adjusts the overbed table so that he can reach it and it doesn't interfere with my feeding the pup. He removes the cover. "Looks like you have chicken broth with mashed potatoes on the side, Jello, a cup of vanilla ice cream, soda, and milk."

He scoops up a spoon of mashed potatoes, and after blowing on it, he holds it to my lips. I eye him, remembering how he fed 'that pregnant female.'"Let me feed you, Charlie." He pleads. "While you feed our son."

"That's rich! Not too long ago, you asked me who the father is. Now he's ours?" I spit. "You're giving me whiplash! Besides, it only reminds me how you pandered to the other female who carried your pup! I want no part of you."

"That's fair." He sighs, placing the fork on the plate and sitting back. "You have every right to be angry. I am sorry for what I said. I was jealous. Also, I was tested and told that there was only a .05% chance that I could even father a pup. All this pressure that was put on you because we couldn't get pregnant, well, it's obviously always been my fault.” I admit. “I know he's mine, Charlie. Asher let me know. I feel our father/son bondthat ties me to him. I am sorry, my sweet Char, for all the pain." His aura resonates with truth. "And as far as Ms. Vincent, if you allow me to assist in caring for you so you can get stronger, I can explain everything."

I contemplate what he is saying, but I would probably choke on it if I tried to take a bite from his hands. The inside of my eyelids burn as the pain I thought I had put behind me rears its ugly head. Tears I can no longer hold back begin to stream down my face.

"Oh, baby! Please don't cry." Jenson groans, reaching for me. I jerk my head away. He lowers his arms. "I am so sorry for all the pain you have been through alone. Please let me explain."

"I said talk." I snap.

"Will you eat? You have been through a lot, and you are feeding our son. You need your strength."

I nod. "I will try to eat, but I feed myself." His shoulders droop in defeat, but he opens the milk and places a straw in the tiny can of soda. Then he pushes the table closer so I can reach it. It’s awkward, but I place a few bites in my mouth. Swallowing, I am so nauseous at this pointthatI don't know if I can continue. I drop the spoon and sip on the cold soda. It eases the knot in my stomach. "I'm listening." I breathe out.

"First, what are you naming him?" He indicates his head toward our pup.

"Xyran."

He nods. "Good, strong name."

I force another bite of mashed potatoes into my mouth and chew.

"Where to start?" He hesitates.

"Why don't you start with the cheating!" I cut to the chase, nearly choking on the last bite I put in my mouth. Maybe trying to eat and listen to him is not a good idea.

Xyran’s belly must be full as he has stopped nursing and has settled in my arms.

Jenson gently takes Xyran from my breast to place him in the bassinet. "I had just changed his diaper when the nurse came and got me. He should be good for a while."

He sits back down in the chair and sighs. "I didn't cheat."

"She was pregnant, and you didn't deny it could be yours." I scoff. "Try again." I feel my throat tighten with tears, so I lay down my spoon again. I’ve given up trying to eat because it’s just sticking in my throat. I sip on the soda instead, desperately trying not to hurl up the few bites I did manage to choke down.

He hands me a pamphlet and turns on the overhead light above my bed. I cringe at the brightness. "What's this? Cheating Mate Syndrome?"

"Read it, please, Charlie." He requests softly. It takes me only a couple of minutes. I look back at him, questioning. "When I was away at that Alpha's Conference, did you experience any of the listed symptoms?"

I look back at the pamphlet. Nausea, vomiting, lesions, wounds and bruises on the torso, seizures, convulsions, unconsciousness, catatonia, and death. I fixed my gaze back on Jenson. "No," I whispered.

He nodded. "I didn't think so. Charlie, my love, I didn't cheat on you." He explains. "More is coming out about Cheating Mate Syndrome, and I’ve learned that when mates cheat, there are physical repercussions to the cheated-on mate."

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