I smiled and took his hand, lacing our fingers together. "Well, shifters need to shift regularly, especially around the full moon."
I was explaining the basics of shifter biology like how often we needed to shift, what the full moon felt like, and why we had better senses even in human form when Parker grabbed my arm.
One second he was fine and the next, the blood drained from his cheeks and he grabbed me for support.
"Dawson?" His voice was panicking. "I'm not okay."
His legs were unable to hold his weight and I steadied him before he crashed headlong into a tree.
"Parker!"
TWELVE
PARKER
The nausea hit at the worst possible times.
Mornings, afternoons, evenings and the middle of the night. I'd thrown up twice already today, and we still had the evening broadcast to get through.
"You okay?" Dawson appeared in my dressing room doorway, concern etched across his face. "That's the third time this week you've looked green."
"I'm fine." I managed a smile. "Just a bug or something."
That was a lie. It wasn't a bug. I knew exactly what it was and had known since the doctor confirmed it three days ago. Four and a half weeks pregnant. I was an omega who'd bonded with his alpha mate, and apparently the universe had wasted no time making sure everyone knew it.
Well, everyone except Dawson.
I'd tried to tell him. Twice yesterday and once this morning. But every time I opened my mouth, the words stuck in my throat. We'd only been together a month. Well, a month since he'd revealed he was a shifter so almost two months. It was too soon. Would he think I'd trapped him somehow?
And shoot, I was doing what I'd told him never to do. I was keeping a huge secret that would affect our lives and I hadn't told him. Now I really understood why he hadn't opened up about being a shifter.
"Parker." Dawson moved into the room, his hand coming up to feel my forehead. "You're warm. Maybe you should go home."
"I'm fine," I said again. "It's just that…" My stomach turned over and I barely made it to the bathroom before I was sick again.
Dawson's hand pressed against my back. When I finally stopped heaving, he wet a towel and pressed it to the back of my neck.
"That's not just a bug. You need to see a doctor."
"I already did." The words came out before I could stop them.
He went still. "When?"
"Three days ago."
"And?" He didn't raise his voice and he deserved a medal for that. "What did they say?"
This was it. The moment I should just tell him. But Zara knocked on the door, calling that we had ten minutes to air, and the moment was gone.
"I'll tell you after the show," I promised.
Dawson didn't look satisfied, but he nodded. "Okay as soon as we're done."
The broadcast started normally enough. I did my usual cheerful host routine, Dawson provided his weather updates, and I tried very hard not to throw up on camera. Everything was fine until Dawson pulled up the latest tropical models.
"We're tracking a system that's beginning to form off the coast of Africa," he said, pointing to the screen. "It's still in early development stages, but conditions are favorable for strengthening over the next few days."
I don't know what came over me but I muttered under my breath, "It's not the only thing forming."
