There was another pause. "Do you love him?"
Julian glanced at me and I grinned. I hoped he was going to say yes. "Absolutely."
"Then congratulations, sweetheart. When can we meet him?"
"Maybe we’ll come up this weekend."
They said their goodbyes and Renard and I kissed.
"Teach me about shifters, mates, and being a parent to a shifter child. I want to know everything."
THIRTEEN
JULIAN
"Tell me more about the mating ceremony." I rested a hand in my belly because I was so protective of our baby and I needed that contact.
"Alpha will mark you and then me and we’ll be bonded for life." He explained that while we wouldn’t be able to sense one another’s emotions any more than two humans would, we would feel more secure and complete. "And it’s permanent, there’s no going back. But you’re aware of that." He grinned.
"Oh, no and here’s me thinking it was temporary."
"You’re hilarious." He side-eyed me. "But you’re stuck with me forever."
We shared a glance and he blew me a kiss.
Stop fidgeting." Renard reached over and squeezed my thigh as he drove. "They're going to love you."
"You don't know that." I stared out the window at the trees flying past. "What if they think you should be with another shifter? Someone who understands this world better?"
"Then they'd be wrong." He brought my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. "You're my mate. That's all that matters."
The certainty in his voice settled my nerves a little. We'd been together for such a short time, and every day I fell for Renard harder. He'd started sleeping with one hand on my stomach, protecting our baby even in sleep. When he thought I wasn't paying attention, I caught the loving looks he gave me.
I was completely, helplessly in love with him.
"What if I embarrass you?" I asked.
"Impossible."
"I could trip during the ceremony." Renard’s Alpha would be performing the short ceremony.
"Then I'll catch you."
"I might throw up from morning sickness in front of your entire pack."
He smiled, that rare unguarded one and I dragged in a deep breath. "Then someone will get you water and everyone will tell you pregnancy stories. You're worrying about nothing."
That was easy for him to say. He wasn't about to meet his mate's entire shifter family while carrying said mate's baby.
The pack land was beautiful with hills in the background covered in dense forest, and a large lodge that belonged in a nature magazine. Several cars were parked outside.
"Ready?" Renard squeezed my hand.
"No. But let's do it anyway."
The door opened before we reached it. A woman who had to be Renard's mother greeted us, and I saw where he got his looks. He had the same dark hair and striking features. But where Renard was serious and controlled, she was beaming.
"Julian!" She pulled me into a hug before I could react. "I'm so happy to finally meet you. Renard's been talking about you nonstop."
