Ebony shakes her head, a wry smile crossing her face. “Oh, it’s far from it. You have to see the land for what it is and not look at it like a fantasy. These supernaturals have gone centuries without a mate. They’re learning how to love again, build families. And us humans—that history of their existence had been stripped from us. So we essentially don’t know how to handle them the way our ancestors were taught.”
Our conversation is interrupted as Jewel waddles in, a bag of chips clutched in her hand. Ebony starts to stand, offering her seat, but Jewel waves her off, munching contentedly.
“What are you two going on about?” Jewel asks between bites, but before we can answer, she notices Ebony’s hair. “You did it! Ah! And it looks so good on you!”
Ebony runs her fingers through her curls again, beaming as they bounce right back into place. “Yes, I needed something where I could get up and go. You know life at the academy gets busy and overwhelming.” She tosses her head slightly. “It will grow back. And I already know Tristian won’t mind it. I could shave my hair bald and he wouldn’t give a damn. As long as he still gets to hover.”
Jewel and I burst out laughing at the truth of it. These bear shifters and their hovering—a constant in our lives now.
Jewel’s laughter subsides, and she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. “I need to stand. This boy in my belly has been kicking me all day. When I started moving around he finally went to sleep.”
I notice a sadness flash across Ebony’s face, and Jewel seems to catch it too.
“You get like this whenever you’re around a pregnant bear shifter mate,” Jewel observes gently.
Ebony slumps in her seat, a pout forming on her lips. “Yes, because I want that honor. I didn’t at first. After I had Elena, I was over it. It really is hard being pregnant with bear shifter cubs. But the honor it brings families... The fact that Tristian’s mother had four.”
“Jabari said it’s dangerous to have a lot of bear cubs,” I say, thinking about our conversations on the topic.
“Yes,” Ebony nods solemnly. “Tristian’s mother almost died after giving birth to their youngest brother. She stopped having cubs after that.”
I lean forward, curious. “I wish I knew what happened to them, why they had to wait so long to find us.”
“There’s some lore at the academy,” Jewel begins.
“I’ll fill you in when you stop by next week for our lunch date,” she promises with a smile.
“Thank you,” I say, grateful for the offer.
Ebony stands and turns back to the mirror, admiring my work one last time. “Wow, you really do know how to make a woman shine.”
I smile proudly, straightening my shoulders a bit. “It’s a gift. I just really like uplifting others.”
Her eyes meet mine in the mirror, and I know my attempt to hide my sadness isn’t working. Not with her.
“You know,” she says softly, “it’s going to happen soon. You’ll feel the urge to claim Jabari, and the rest will follow.”
I sigh, voicing the fear that’s been gnawing at me. “I wonder if Mother Fate is punishing me because I long for a career outside of the clan. Everyone else falls in line. Even Jewel likes being a homemaker.”
Jewel continues munching her chips, seeming unbothered by my comment. Ebony rolls her eyes good-naturedly and bends down to open the small fridge under the styling station, pulling out a gallon of water. She hands it to Jewel, who pops the top off and chugs it down without stopping for air.
I stare at her, my eyes widening at the display. “Damn.”
“When we get pregnant with shifter babies, we take on shifter traits,” Ebony explains. “Our senses heighten, and we can only drink water. It’s temporary though—it fades right after giving birth.”
I frown, processing that. “No coffee for nine months?”
Ebony clears her throat. “Sometimes pregnancies for a bear cub last a full year.”
“I almost hit that mark with Elena,” she adds.
“Oh hell no—a year? And no wine?” I shake my head in disbelief. “That sucks so bad.”
“Yeah, it has its downsides sometimes,” Ebony agrees. “But let’s stay on topic here.” She leans forward, her expression serious. “Just because you long for a career doesn’t make you any less of a woman than a homemaker.”
Her voice softens as she continues, “There are women who are career-driven, who find fulfillment in their professional achievements, in helping others through their skills. And there are women who find their calling in creating a loving home, in nurturing their families directly. Neither is better than the other—they’re just different paths to the same goal of living a meaningful life.”
She reaches across and places her hand on mine. “You’re just as valuable to your clan with your skills and ambitions as the homemakers are with theirs. It’s all about finding balance with the things you want in life.”
