Mate Bond

“Nice to see you again,” Kenzie said, wondering that she had ever been jealous of the woman. What Kenzie had with Bowman left jealousy and anger far behind. Those were surface emotions, while the real ones were deep, deep down. “Don’t tell me they called you in to work on us.”

“Afraid they did,” Dr. Pat said. “Some of your Shifters were injured so much in their animal forms that they couldn’t shift back. Gil told the hospital to call me, and here I am.” She looked pained. “That grizzly bear sure is grumpy.”

Kenzie grinned, her heart light. “Cade doesn’t like to admit when he’s hurt.” She gripped Bowman’s hand again, his warmth flowing through her. “Thank you, Dr. Pat. I mean that.”

“Don’t mention it. While they were fixing you, Kenzie, something came to light, and I asked to be the first to tell you. And you,” she added to Bowman.

Bowman half sat up, his eyes narrowing. “What? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing at all.” Dr. Pat’s smile widened. “Kenzie’s pregnant.”

Kenzie blinked a moment. “What? How can I be?” Her hand went to her abdomen. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” Dr. Pat held up a file folder. “I have the proof right here if you want to look.”

Kenzie gaped, while Bowman’s hand clamped down on hers. Kenzie knew she’d never understand a single thing on a doctor’s chart, so she didn’t reach for it.

Then worry washed through her. “But I was hurt. Shot, for the Goddess’s sake. How could . . . How could the cub survive?” She swallowed, fearing the answer.

Dr. Pat looked cheerful. “Shifters have an amazing physiology and sense of self-preservation. Even cubs inside their mamas, it seems. The bullet went nowhere near it, and even though you lost a lot of blood, your tissues healed fast, and your blood count is already back to normal. Your uncle Cristian told me that pregnant females become even more robust—they have to be, he said. The doctors checked you and the cub inside you thoroughly. So far, you’re fine.”

“But I thought I couldn’t conceive again,” Kenzie said in a rush. “I thought Bowman and I would never . . .”

Her words were choked off as tears flooded her eyes. Bowman was out of his bed, naked except for his bandages, heading for her. He never let go of Kenzie’s hand.

Dr. Pat made a squeaking noise and spun and faced the door, her face flaming. Gil stood behind her, his grin wide.

“Maybe, ah, we should leave them alone,” Dr. Pat said. “They just got life-changing news.”

Gil gallantly offered his arm. “Sure thing. How about we go grab some coffee? We can talk about them behind their backs.”

“Right.” Dr. Pat, flustered, took his arm, and the two left the room. Gil thoughtfully closed the door behind them.

Bowman yanked the IV out of his arm. He lifted Kenzie carefully, got into bed with her, and pulled her against him. The bed was narrow, Bowman taking up most of it, but Kenzie thought it a perfect fit.

“A cub,” Bowman said, voice breaking, his hand on her abdomen. “Kenz . . .” His eyes were wet.

“She and Ryan are going to drive us crazy,” Kenzie said shakily. “They’ll gang up. We’ll be outnumbered as soon as she’s born.”

Bowman kissed her forehead, the touch incredibly gentle. “How do you know it’s a she?”

Kenzie smiled at him. “I know.”

Bowman gave her a serious nod, believing her. She’d known Ryan was a boy as soon as she realized she carried him.

Bowman’s kiss soothed the rest of her hurts. Kenzie rose to it, her heart beating faster at the rough feel of his tongue, the rumble in his throat, the way his fingers bore down as he held her. The promise of things to come.

They’d been through so much, and yet, it had been just one more adventure in the lives of Kenzie and Bowman. They fought side by side, they protected Shiftertown, they argued, they made love, they came together with Ryan as a family. Now that family would be larger, and, if Kenzie had her way, would grow even more.

The way Bowman rolled her down into the mattress, his bare body all kinds of good, she thought it wouldn’t be long before they filled their entire house with cubs.

The mate bond wrapped them in its strands, humming in the silence. Kenzie twined her arms around her mate, who growled into her throat, opened herself to his kiss, and welcomed him home.

EPILOGUE

Bonfires danced all over Shiftertown. Music blared in the darkness, pulsing beats that led to dancing, or sex—usually both.

It was February, and the celebration of Imbolc. Spring was coming, winter would loosen its hold. Shifters danced in the circles to celebrate fertility, coming growth, new birth. Kenzie and Bowman’s unborn cub was being celebrated, as was Marcus and Bianca’s, the newly mated pair already expecting.

But really, Bowman reflected, Shifters loved any excuse to light fires, get drunk, dance around naked, and run off with one another into the darkness.

Not that he didn’t enjoy it himself. He sipped beer as he watched Kenzie laugh with her friends. Her female cousins and girlfriends surrounded her, chattering with her, excitedly touching her abdomen.

Every once in a while, Kenzie would shoot Bowman a glance, and then burst out laughing. Her girlfriends would giggle with her. They were making fun of him, he knew, and Bowman was fine with that.

The night deepened. It was cold, but bonfires glared heat, and Shifter frenzy was rising. Cristian was the calmest, as usual. Right now, he leaned against a tree, talking with Brigid.