Chapter 11
Victoria stretched out on the chaise outside, enjoying watching her new clanmates and former packmates—though they’d always be her family—interact. Because no matter what dragons said, they were just as nutty as wolves.
“Well, looks like Dagen is officially off the market,” Greer said as she sat down. The tall, gorgeous dragon shifter who Victoria had gotten to know in the last few years had a glass of champagne in one hand and a cupcake in the other. At six feet tall, she was about standard height for a dragon female. And like most of the dragons, she looked like a freaking supermodel.
“Honey, I don’t think he was ever on the market.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Greer murmured. “I’m glad he found someone, and I like the little human.” Greer was a healer and the term “little” wasn’t meant to be insulting.
Victoria had learned that after coming to live here. Her mate’s parents called her little sometimes and she was five feet ten. And now two new ancient aunts of her husband also called her little—and tried to baby her. “Me too.” Victoria kept her voice as low as Greer’s, which wasn’t hard considering the level of noise happening right now. Pretty much everyone in the clan was here, and a lot of her former pack. As the healers of the clan, she and Greer were also the acting sounding boards/therapists for their clanmates. And though Dagen hadn’t confided much in her, he’d made it clear that he sometimes struggled with social interactions.
“He seems different somehow, and I can’t put my finger on it.” Greer tapped a colorful nail against her mouth as she watched Dagen and Keva talking and laughing together.
“He’s not as aloof.” Because he’d never been cold, even if it could have been construed that way. “And he’s in über-protective mode. I saw him growl at Dragos when he got too close to her. Freaking Dragos.” Her long-mated—with three grown-ass children—father-in-law, who was so beyond smitten with his mate. But mates-to-be could act completely nuts before they locked down their significant other. Especially males.
“Aww man, I missed it! Hey, you need anything?” Greer asked.
“Nah, I’m gonna get up and stretch my legs, make the rounds for a bit. And I don’t need help standing, so I swear to God, if you try to help, I’ll be the one punching dicks.”
“I don’t have a dick.”
“Fine. I’ll punch your…boob.” She shoved up from the seat, laughing at the absurdity of what she’d said. “Or your ovary. Whatever.”
Greer howled as she stood back, letting Victoria get up on her own. She was close to popping this baby out and she was all belly. Which meant her back ached pretty much nonstop. It didn’t matter that she was a shifter, being pregnant was still uncomfortable. The only saving grace she could think of was that shifter pregnancies were shorter than humans, and of course that soon she’d be a mother. That was the most exciting thing of all.
By the time she’d stood fully, Arya, Mira and Prima were in front of her. Dang it, she was going to kill her mate. He was supposed to be here to run interference. “What’s up, ladies?” she asked dryly.
“What do you need?” Arya asked, standing at attention as if she was in the military, a general ready to lead her army into battle.
“Ah, nothing. Just going to walk around and say hello to everyone.” And probably pee for the fiftieth time so far today. “They are here for my shower, after all.”
“Well—”
“If you suggest something stupid, like you’ll carry me around or whatever insanity you can come up with, I will lose my mind. Straight up, lose it. What is wrong with the three of you? I know for a fact you were still battling when you were pregnant—with all your kids.”
Arya lifted a shoulder, looking completely unapologetic. “This is true, but after losing my Drake for so long I can’t help my overprotectiveness. I simply want to make sure you’re okay.”
Victoria’s gaze narrowed even as guilt sliced through her. Arya had lost her son—Victoria’s mate—for over fifteen hundred years, believing him dead, when he’d been sent to Hell by a traitorous male who was now dead. She couldn’t tell if Arya was being serious or playing her—the female was a brilliant tactician. “Fine, you get a pass. But you two,” she said, looking at the tall, beautiful twins, “don’t.”
The two females looked affronted, both sniffing haughtily. But Victoria was having none of it. She was tired, super pregnant and cranky. She’d always thought she’d be serene and chill during pregnancy. She was a healer, after all. And maybe she would have been if it wasn’t for all these overbearing nut jobs surrounding her.
“We have done nothing wrong,” Mira said.
“Hmm. Okay. By the way, I heard that some big bear shifter was looking for you,” Victoria murmured, not bothering to hide her smugness.
Mira went completely still in a way that gave away she was a supernatural as her dragon peered out at Victoria. “How do you know that?”
“A little birdie told me. I heard it through the grapevine. And you can figure out on your own who I heard it from.”
“Oh, Vega or Gabriel, yes?” she asked.
Victoria shrugged, but then pointed toward where a group of wolf shifters, including Vega and Gabriel, were playing volleyball—in animal form.
It was definitely going to be one of those kinds of parties—and Victoria wouldn’t have it any other way.