Page 36 of Having the Bear's Baby

Just then, a couple came around the corner. “Could you help me?” Liam asked the woman.

She looked at the pregnancy tests clutched in his hand. “Ugh,” she said. “My worst nightmare. I hope I never have to do one. Sorry, I can’t help you.”

The guy laughed. “Yeah, let’s keep it that way, princess,” he said, slapping her on the ass. “I’d get one of each. Best to be on the safe side. If you get it wrong, you could be stuck with her for life.”

“Hey,” screeched the woman, slapping him playfully. “What’s that mean?”

“Nothing, sweetheart,” said the partner.

“You’d better look after your woman,” said the woman. “Don’t you leave her in the lurch.” She leaned forward and poked him in the shoulder as she said it, and he half wanted to laugh at her, thinking she could shame a big bear shifter.

“Sure,” he said agreeably.

“Come on, princess,” said the man, dragging her away around the corner. “Good luck,” he called as he disappeared down a different aisle.

Liam shook his head. Right, one of each it was.

He gathered all twenty and threw them in the cart. He was anxious to get back to Emma. He didn’t like leaving her alone.

The checkout girl didn’t even raise an eyebrow at his bulk buy of pregnancy tests. She scanned them through in a stupor. Maybe she’d just seen it all before.

He sat in the SUV for a moment. The entire encounter had felt utterly surreal, like something out of a dream. He started the car and made his way back to his mate as fast as he dared.

When he presented her with a plethora of tests, she laughed. “Hopefully, we’ll only need one,” she said, plucking one at random from the pile and heading for the bathroom.

It was so good to be back with Emma and their own version of reality. While he waited for her to return, he got himself a fresh coffee.

There was a shout of delight from the bathroom. Emma came rushing out, brandishing a white stick. “We’re pregnant!” she declared joyfully. “That bear nose of yours was right.”

She launched herself into his arms, and he spun her around the room. They were both laughing and whooping for five minutes before they calmed down enough to talk.

“I’m so pleased…”

“I’m so happy…” they both said at once, which elicited more laughter.

She drew back and showed him the stick she was still holding. “Look,” she said. “It’s so blue. There is no denying this one.”

His heart was filled to bursting. Even though he already knew, it was nice to get confirmation.

Then the shock hit him. “I’m going to be a dad,” he said, sitting down, stunned. “That’s terrifying,” he went on. “I’ve faced down other alphas and not felt as scared as I am right now,” he admitted.

She sat next to him, still clutching the precious stick. “Me too,” she said. “But I’m sure we’ll work it out together. Plus, we have a whole clan to support us and guide us.”

Her words were true, but he still felt overwhelmed. The responsibility of it hit him like a brick. “Wow,” he said for the hundredth time. “What have we done, Emma?” He looked at her with awe in his eyes and love in his heart. “Thank you so much,” he added before she thought he wasn’t thrilled at the prospect.

Emma laughed a nervous laugh. “You’re welcome, I think.” She was obviously as terrified as he was. “I know we can do this,” she went on. “When I’m with you, I feel like I can do anything.”

It warmed his heart to hear her say those words. “You know what?” he said. “I feel exactly the same way. Together, we can accomplish anything.”

She smiled, and his world lit up. “Come on, let’s make a fresh coffee and take it outside,” she said, indicating his now cold coffee on the table. “We can show our baby the view.”

Our baby, she had said. It had such a ring to it. He hummed as he fixed them both a fresh coffee to take out into the morning sunshine. Would it be a boy or a girl? he wondered. Did it matter? He decided it didn’t. If a girl had her mother’s spirit, he would be quite content with that.

They sat together in their favorite spot at the end of the yard, cradling their coffee. He’d let two go cold already today. Not that it mattered. Life had plenty of spice in it without coffee today.

Emma half turned so she could make eye contact with him. “I love you so much,” she said, her soft brown eyes aglow. “I’m so glad I’m having this baby with you.”

He could no longer hold onto it. He had to express his true feelings to this awesome woman. “Emma, you mean the world to me,” he said. “And not just because you’re carrying my baby. I have loved you from the moment I met you. That very first night, I knew we were destined to be together.”

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