Footsteps came shuffling into the room. A very sleepy Aunt Eliza rubbed her eyes. “What’s the commotion? Josie, are you okay?”
We turned to her, waiting for her to answer. I wasn’t sure if she was ready to share the news yet. Josie contacted Eliza after our mating and we found a way to get her out of that terrible pack. The alpha didn’t even notice for months afterward. He didn’t bother looking for her.
She’d only been with us a few weeks and was working in Josie’s old job. We’d found her a cozy apartment close by.
“I’m pregnant, Auntie,” Josie said.
“Oh, heavens! I’m so happy for you, baby! What an exciting night.” She and Josie hugged. “I’ll let you three get back to the celebrations but I can’t wait to be a grandmama.”
I leaned forward, resting my head in Josie’s lap.
“Are you really happy?” she asked. “All of you.”
We all reassured her, but I had to know. “Josie, the question is, areyouhappy? It’s your body that has to grow a pup and birth them and feed them. We will be with you every step of the way, but I can’t do those things for you.”
Her fingers ran through my hair, scraping my scalp. She did that when I came home stressed. It was our thing. “I want a little one of you more than anything. And he’ll be the best of all of us. I hope he’s big and strong like Diesel and has that commanding air like you and Carver’s sweetness.”
I raised my head. “Or a daughter that looks like the most beautiful woman in the world.”
She shrugged. “Or that.”
