No. That couldn't be.
But the sound was unmistakable. It was a faint second heartbeat coming from Julian's body. Gods it was our baby. I gasped as something coiled around me and squeezed my heart. Julian was pregnant with our child. We were going to have a baby.
I blinked rapidly, trying to process the surge of emotions washing over me. Terror and wonder and overwhelming love.
Julian has a pup inside him.My wolf was already protective of the tiny life we'd created.
"Renard?" Julian rested his chin on me. "Your heart just started racing. Are you okay?"
"I'm—" My voice was croaky and I tried again. "I'm fine."
He sat up and studied my face. "You don't look it. If I had to guess I’d say you’re about to cry."
Was I? I touched my face and my fingers came away wet. "Sorry. I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Us." I pulled him closer, needing the contact. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, why?" He looked confused. "Should I not be?"
How did I ask this? "Have you been tired lately? Or feeling off?"
"I'm always tired. It’s an occupational hazard of walking dogs all day." He was watching me carefully now. "What's going on?"
I needed to know where his head was at. Was this something he wanted or would it send him running again?
"Do you ever think about having kids?"
Julian tilted his head to the side, clearly not expecting that topic.
"Kids? Like, in general?"
"Yeah. Is that something you want someday?"
"I don't know." He settled back against my chest. "I mean, the dogs I walk are enough for now. They're basically children with fur."
I experienced pain in my chest as though something was clawing it.Enough for now.That sounded like he wasn't interested in children yet.
Tell him anyway,my wolf urged.He needs to know.
But what if he wasn't ready and this destroyed what we'd been building?
"What about you?" Julian asked. "Do you want kids?"
I struggled to find words. "I never really thought about it before. My career has taken up so much space." I tightened my arms around him. "Lately I've been thinking maybe I do with the right person." I paused. "With you."
Julian faced me, and there was uncertainty in his eyes. "That's a big thing to think about. We've only been together a few weeks and you're already considering having kids with me?"
I couldn't tell if he was pleased or terrified or somewhere in between.
"Shifters mate for life," I said carefully. "When we find our person, we know. I knew you were mine from the first day and if that includes children someday, I'd be honored."
"Stop." He pressed his finger to my lips. "You're twisting yourself in knots.”
"I just need to know if you're open to the possibility. Because—" But I couldn’t stall any more. "Because I can hear a second heartbeat." The words tumbled out. "And it’s coming from you. It's faint, but it's there."
Julian went very still and put his hands over his ears. "What are you talking about?"
