"Mom." His ears went red. "Can you let him breathe?"
"I'm just excited." She pulled back, studying my face. "You're even more handsome than in the photos."
"Photos?"
"Renard sent us approximately thirty pictures of you over the past month," a voice said from behind her. A younger guy grinned at us. "Hi, I'm Theo, the favorite sibling."
"The only sibling," Renard corrected.
"Still the favorite."
Renard's father appeared. He was quieter than his wife and son. He shook my hand. "Welcome, Julian. We're glad you're here."
Inside, the lodge was filled with people. Renard introduced me to aunts, uncles, cousins and pack members. Everyone was welcoming, and several congratulated us on the baby.
"Can I touch your belly?” An older woman nodded at my stomach.
"Oh, um. Sure?" I was barely showing, but she placed her hand on my tiny bump.
"Your little one has a strong heartbeat," she said with a smile. "This one's going to be a fighter."
I leaned into Renard, and he pressed a kiss to my temple.
"Your family is really nice."
"They better be," Theo said, appearing at my elbow with a plate of food. "Here. Mom said you need to eat. Apparently pregnant omegas get hungry."
I took the plate. "Thanks."
"So." Theo grinned at Renard. "Ask me about my brother’s childhood." He tapped his head. "I have all the embarrassing stories stored here."
"Tell me everything."
"When Renard was in third grade, the teacher made everyone sing 'Three Blind Mice."
"Theo, no." Renard tried to shush his brother.
"He got so annoyed at how off-key everyone was singing that he growled. Like, actually growled."
I tried not to laugh and failed.
"It's not funny." Renard’s lips were twitching.
"The teacher thought he was being disruptive," his mother added, joining us. "Called me in for a conference about his 'unusual vocalizations.' I had to explain that he had a throat condition."
He looked so uncomfortable that I had to kiss him. "Still adorable," I whispered against his mouth.
He kissed me back but without tongue, thank gods. "You're trouble."
"You love it."
"I love you."
The words were meant just for me. He'd said it many times before, but hearing it surrounded by his family, with his hand on me and our baby between us, made it real in a way nothing else had.
"I love you too." I pulled away from Renard. "Wait, you told me shifters don’t meet their beast until adolescence. How did you growl in the third grade?"
He wrapped an arm around me. "That was an oops moment. My beast wanted out early but my parents’ wolves convinced him to stay where he was for a few more years."
