Page 56 of A Surprise Baby for the Wolf Shifter

“I’m happy for you and I wish you and Gemma the best,” he said, clapping me over the shoulder. “How did she come to terms with the wolfy thing?”

I shrugged. “I answered all her questions and offered to shift in front of her so she could get used to seeing me.”

“And?” he asked, leaning against the drywall of our latest project.

“She took it better than the first time,” I said. “She said I was beautiful.”

He chuckled. “No ‘what big shiny teeth you have?’”

I laughed. “No. But she did say she had always wanted a puppy.”

Guy roared with laughter. “She’s my new best friend.”

I punched him in the arm. “All right, all right. Settle down. It wasn’t that funny.”

Actually, it really was. I would just never let him know it.

And he reminded me of that every time I had seen him since.

All in all, I had high hopes of how things were going to be for Gemma, the baby, and I. Especially, my child. He was going to grow up with a much better, brighter, loving future because Gemma gave me another chance. And I had spent every single day doing whatever I could to keep a smile on her face and make sure she wanted nothing.

Two weeks before she was due, she moved in with me. I promised her she could focus on her photography business and leave the rest up to me. I don’t think I had ever seen her so happy.

Except for now. I had taken her out to lunch and to do some last-minute shopping for the baby in town. We really didn’t need anything. We were pretty much covered in terms of things needed for the baby. I had just used that reason as an excuse for one last date together before the baby came. We spent most of the afternoon holding hands, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.

When we were on the way back to the cabin, I thought about just how perfect everything had been. How peaceful things were. But as I pulled into the driveway, I found Tabitha standing on my doorstep. She turned around as my tires crunched the gravel of my driveway. She smiled expectantly at me. Then her eyes flitted to Gemma. Her gaze hardened into a glare.

“I thought she was gone,” Gemma said, practically spitting out the words.

“You’re not the only one,” I muttered and glared at the woman.

“I’m not staying in the truck,” she said.

I turned my attention to her and noted the seriousness in her expression. I wasn’t going to argue her out of getting out of the truck. Nor did I want to. But Tabitha had a short fuse, and I didn’t want to see anything happen to Gemma or the baby.

“I’m not asking you to. But we need to be very careful and get you inside before she escalates,” I said.

“You think she would try something after all this time?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Let me help you inside. Then I’ll handle whatever this is.”

“Okay,” she said then stared at Tabitha. “Be careful with her.”

“I will.” I climbed out of the truck and went to the passenger’s side to help Gemma out while Tabitha stormed the truck.

“Who is she?” she asked with a shrill voice as I escorted Gemma to the door, keeping myself in between. “It’s her, isn’t it? She’s the one that stole you from me!”

I ignored her as I continued guiding Gemma to the door. I kept an eye out for every single move Tabitha made. If she was going to attack my mate, I wanted to be prepared for it before it was too late.

Tabitha’s eyes dropped to Gemma’s large belly. I urged Gemma to move a little quicker. Tabitha’s breaths came quicker. Her shoulders exaggerated the movements as she loudly sucked in air, sounding close to hyperventilating. I knew exactly what was about to happen next. That meant Gemma needed to be inside.

“She’s pregnant!” Tabitha shouted, shaking as she started to shift. Her hands slowly turned into paws.

I urged Gemma even faster to the door. Once I did, I held out the keys to Gemma. “Get inside and lock the door. Hide in the bathroom. She can’t get to you there.”

“But—” she said.

I pushed the keys into her hand and then turned around to face Tabitha. I glared at her as I approached her. Once I reached her, I took her forcibly by the arm and practically dragging her down the driveway.

---