~

 

“Gotcha!” Sarah said as she jumped out from her hiding place and challenged her aunt.

“Because I couldn’t smell you a mile off,” Chloe offered back, unimpressed by her niece’s lack of stealth abilities.

“I’d rather we didn’t talk about smelling me,” Sarah huffed.

“Would you not? Good, then we will. I like to touch a nerve or two — maybe three — on occasion,” Chloe smiled and then she sniffed the air. Her eyes narrowed on her kin, and then she raised just one eyebrow.

“Yes — yes, I’m pregnant. Get over it and let’s talk about what you have in your hand that you’ve obviously been so desperate to get inside the house for.”

“Nothing,” Chloe sneered.

“Liar — liar, vampire on fire,” Sarah sneered back.

“Let’s hope not,” Monty offered as he strolled into the attic room and dipped his head under a low beam.

“Sarah!” Nathan growled out as he rushed into the room.

The alpha didn’t see the beam in time and cracked his forehead against it, stumbling backward as he growled with annoyance.

“It’s an old house. Are you trying to bring the place down around our ears?” Chloe hissed.

“I’m sure you’d be just fine,” Sarah shot back.

“But what about the pup?” Chloe offered her a smug smile.

“Pup?” Monty asked. He felt like he’d missed so much.

“Pup!” Nathan growled as his head pounded.

“Don’t sound too happy about it then,” Chloe berated him.

“Huh?” Nathan didn’t understand.

“I think she means you’re growling.” Monty offered.

“Growling at the beam,” Nathan bit out in annoyance.

“Tell yourself it’s scared and shut up,” Chloe shot back. Monty could help but snigger as the alpha growled once more.

“Well, there’s a witch you need to scratch of your — must eat wish-list,” Monty teased his mate.

“You should tell yourself you’re not funny and shut up,” Chloe berated him.

“Can you to give us a moment?” Sarah shooed the men away. Nathan grunted in annoyance, but he followed Monty out of the door.

“You want something?” Chloe asked.

“I want to know why you really had to get back into the inn and I’m guessing it’s in your hand,” Sarah said.

“My aren’t you a clever witch?” Chloe sneered again.

“You’re my aunt, Chloe. I know we look around the same age…”

“I look younger,” Chloe tossed up a shoulder.

“You certainly will once I have a pup,” Sarah offered back.

“Worried?”

“Surprised.”

“I know that feeling,” Chloe said and then looked as if she’d said too much.

“How do you know that feeling?”

Chloe hesitated for a long moment and then she brought her hand around from behind her back. In the muted light of the room, Sarah could see the silver baby rattle within her hand.

“I guess I was getting pretty senile just before I died. I’m not sure how I could have forgotten this though,” Chloe admitted.

“I didn’t know you’d had a baby,” Sarah said.

“How do you think I came to be way out here? I got pregnant. I left. The pack allowed me this land. They even help to build the inn, and in return, I stayed and helped the pack. Even after she was gone.”

Chloe’s mask had slipped. For the first time, Sarah had seen the emotion on her aunt’s face, heard the break of pain in her voice, and forged more of a connection than she’d had before.

“Why didn’t you just ask me for it?” Sarah said. “I would gladly have…”

“I guess I’m still old school. We don’t talk about that kind of things,” Chloe said as she started for the door.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Me too,” Chloe said over her shoulder.

“I have — I don’t know how many months to be able to trust you,” Sarah said.

“Then we’ll both have to work on it,” Chloe tossed pack as she walked out of the room.

Sarah had only managed to breathe in once by the time Nathan shot back into the room. He stopped in place and eyed her from head to toe.

“A little late,” Sarah said as she tossed up a hand and let it drop back to her side.

“Huh?”

“She’s a vampire — she could have drained me dry already,” Sarah said without breaking a smile. Although, the confused look on Nathan’s face almost tipped her over the edge.

“You told me to leave!” Nathan said in disbelief.

“And you’re the alpha. Do you do everything somebody tells you to do?” Sarah said with mock horror.

“Huh?”

“Maybe this isn’t the right time to ask you questions,” Sarah chuckled.

“I don’t think so,” Nathan gave a small shake of his head.

“Oh, poor baby,” Sarah chuckled more.

“Speaking of babies — pups — babies — pups — I’m not sure,” Nathan shrugged and looked helpless.

“Yeah, way to tell a girl she’s pregnant!” Sarah took two steps, lifted her fist, and punched him in the bicep. It hurt her more than it hurt him.

“How was I to know that you didn’t know what you should have known?” Nathan stopped and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “I’m confused — are you confused? Because I’m really confused.”

“You look kind of confused,” Sarah grinned.

“I’m going to be a father,” Nathan considered it for a long moment. Then a big, stupid, goofy, proud grin spread across his face.

“Daddy wolf!” Sarah chuckled.

“I actually kind of like that,” Nathan said as he puffed out his chest with pride.

“Let’s have a round of applause for the big man with the good swimmers,” Sarah spluttered laughter once more.

“Congratulations boys!” Nathan reached out and patted her stomach. “It is a little more rounded than usual.”

Nathan knew the moment that his mate gasped that he’d put his big foot in his even bigger mouth. He didn’t have time to bend over and kiss his backside goodbye — Sarah had already unleashed her magic upon him.

“Oh boy, do you have a lot to learn,” Sarah growled like a she-wolf.

The end.