“DELIA, WHAT MARK WAS Tilly talking about?” The others had all gone out to participate in the ritual. During the ritual, the females decided who they would mate with, and whether it was just for the night, or if they’d tie themselves to the males. If the male was accepted, then the female would shift and submit her neck to the male. It all sounded intimate, and Onessa would have asked to be a spectator if Cyr hadn’t walked out. She appreciated Delia staying behind to help her clean up the kitchen.

“A male panther will mark his mate when she chooses him. After her submission.”

Onessa had chosen Cyr. She’d said as much when they were in the shower earlier. But Cyr hadn’t accepted her. If he had, the upset at dinner would have turned out differently.

“Okay, so what do I need to do?” Onessa asked. She wanted things to progress with Cyr. It meant something to her; otherwise, what did the tattoo on her back mean? She wasn’t going to chalk it up to coincidence because, like her grandmother, she believed that everything happened for a reason.

“Nothing, dear. If it’s meant to happen, it will happen. Cyr knows you’ve chosen him, now he needs to accept you. He will.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“It’s his loss, and yours, too. Destiny knows her mind. She chose you for him, giving Cyriaque a second chance to find happiness. Affairs of the heart are never easy. If they were, everyone would love, chèr.”

“I understand, Delia. I didn’t realize he’d lost so much.” Onessa couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose your mate and child. She couldn’t stomach the thought of losing her parents.

“That’s Cyr, he doesn’t like to let people in. Don’t worry, he’ll come back. Once he understands you’re going to give birth to his cubs.”

Onessa dropped the plate in her hand. The sound of the dish shattering was loud in the small kitchen.

“Wait. What? Cubs? Birth? What the hell are you talking about?”

“You’re gonna have a baby girl. Two of them. I can feel it, I can smell it, too.” Delia placed her weathered hand over Onessa’s belly and smiled. “Yes, honey, two little ones. Two girls. Both shifters.

“You’re wrong. You’re dead wrong. There is no way. It’s too soon. I’m on the pill.”

“Doesn’t matter, chèr. During the breeding moon, all bets are off.”

“Breeding moon?”

“Yes, the last three days, the moon has been at her strongest. A breeding moon. It ends tonight. You’ve been having relations, and maybe Cyriaque forgot with you two being so caught up in your lust for each other that the cycle of three always cancels out anything that could stop procreation between two compatible partners. But what’s done is done. It can’t be undone.”

Onessa lowered her head and stared down at her feet. She didn’t know what she was going to do. She wasn’t married. Her parents wouldn’t know how to handle this. How would she tell her mother and father that she was pregnant?  How would she explain that she was going to have twin girls who’d be able to shift into panthers? Her stomach rolled.

“I think I need to go and lie down.”

“Go on, I’ll take care of the rest of the dishes. You need your rest. Our gestation period is a lot longer than humans’. Those girls will be resting in your womb for at least thirteen months.”

Thirteen fucking months.

“Insane!” Onessa yelled.

“To you maybe. For us, it’s the norm. I’ve never been around to witness a cub that had the best of both worlds. It will be interesting to see. Our cubs are born in human form, but are unable to open their eyes for two weeks. It’s how they develop their keen hearing senses.”

“Two whole weeks they can’t open their eyes?”

“Yes, but don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of help. We all pitch in around here.”

“I haven’t been asked to stay, Delia.”

The woman gave her a Cheshire cat smile. A secretive one that held all the knowledge Onessa didn’t have on the subject. She knew you were pregnant. So maybe she does know something.

“Destiny has a plan for you, sweet Onessa. If you stop to look, you’ll see it. Now, go on and rest. I got this.”

With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Onessa walked back to the guest room. She’d been in Cyr’s room on the second floor earlier, but she wasn’t sure if she should sleep there after the dinner mishap. He was going through something he didn’t want her to be a part of. Onessa decided their conversation would be better left till tomorrow. After she’d slept on it. 

Onessa took a quick shower and pulled herself into bed. Tomorrow was a new day.

IT WAS LATE WHEN CYR returned home. His mind made up, he went straight to bed. He didn’t have to worry about whether Onessa was there. She wasn’t. But his sheets were soaked with her scent. Groaning, he collapsed in bed, exhausted.

“Wake up, asshole.”

Cyr thought he was dreaming until his shoulder was jostled.

“The fuck is your problem, Alaric?” Cyr grumped.

“Nessa’s outside, she wants to talk to you.”

Shit.

He wasn’t ready to face her yet. He needed more time.

“Tell her I’m sleeping.”

“Tell me yourself.” Her voice carried over to him. Cyr turned, spotting her at the open door. She was pissed, but he didn’t understand why. She wasn’t the one who should be upset.

“Onessa, can we not do this now?”

“Why? So, you can hide. You smell like shit, Cyr. What did you do, rob a liquor store?”

He had hit the local bar, but he hadn’t drunk everything. Had he?

“Later,” he grumped, pulling the comforter over his head.

She stomped over to his side of the bed and pulled the blanket and pillow away from his head. “No. We’re talking now. I need you to listen to me, Delia said some shit that has me worried, and I need to know I’m not alone in this.”

Alone?

“Whatever Delia said wasn’t true.”

“Then you’re saying there is no way I could be pregnant because we were fucking during a breeding moon?”

It was like cold water had been thrown in his face. Cyr sat up, wide-eyed and trying his hardest to make the room stop spinning.

“Fuck. She’s right. She’s ripe with your offspring. I can smell her. It’s strong.” Alaric turned to Onessa and gave her his biggest grin. “Congrats, Nessa. Way to hit it out of the ballpark.”

“Alaric, can we please have some privacy?” Onessa huffed. She was in a pair of yoga pants and a tank top that showcased her tattoo. 

Cyr’s friend looked sheepish as he backed out of the room, leaving them alone.

“We’re going to talk, Cyriaque.”

The way she said his name was telling. He’d forgotten all about the breeding moon. He’d been too wrapped up in the idea of them. He hadn’t thought things through. Fuck. He was in deep shit now. There was no way he was ready to start a family. Hell, maybe it wasn’t his. Keep telling yourself that.