Page 30 of Guarding the Runaway Omega

Hawk drew back so he could look into Jasper’s eyes when he answered. “As unexpected as it is, I’m thrilled. I hope it’s the same for you?”

He had to ask, even though he could already tell how excited Jasper was.

“It is the same for me, Hawk. Isn’t it crazy, though? That whole time I was acting like a slut, it was because I was in heat!”

Hawk choke-snorted. “Uh, yes. Now we know.”

“And not only that, Asha said it was even more intense because we just came off a full moon.”

“Intensely wonderful.” Hawk smiled. “But I’ll be more careful of you in the future.”

“That’s okay. How many more do you think we should have? No matter how many we decide on, we should make it an even number.”

And make sure their other dad isn’t in jail. “There’s plenty of time to figure everything out yet. I want to make sure I have a nice home ready for you and the baby first.”

A cloud passed over Jasper’s features. “Are you in trouble? You know, because of the Charger?”

Hawk sighed. “Well, I won’t be winning any medals of honor, that’s for sure.”

Jasper’s bottom lip trembled. “It’s all my fault. You were only trying to help me, you never would’ve broken any pack laws otherwise. I’ll explain everything.”

“Nah. I was probably waiting for an excuse to fuck with David.” Hawk gave Jasper a quick kiss. “And anyway, none of this is either of our faults. We can thank those bastards who kidnapped and imprisoned you for that.”

Jasper pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes. “I don’t want to be a Yukon Delta anymore. I quit! I’ll be a…” He drew his eyebrows together. “Hmm. Since you can’t be a Guardian anymore either, are you going to go back to your dad’s pack instead?”

“Uh…” Hawk glanced over his shoulder at Nic. They’d had quite a long talk about his potential future before the council meeting had begun. “We should discuss that after the mission to free the rest of the omegas is completed.”

Jasper peered around Hawk then gazed up at him again. “Will you be going with Nic and everyone? To the prison?”

“Tomorrow night.” Hawk stroked Jasper’s cheek to soothe him. Already he could smell his fear. “Every Alliance pack, with the obvious exception of the Deltas, will be sending their best fighters. Those who are very far north above the Arctic Circle will rendezvous with us to save on travel time.” Hawk framed Jasper’s face with his palms. “We’ll do everything we can to get your friend and the rest of the omegas out safely, and to capture the monsters who did this so they can never hurt anyone again.”

Jasper yanked Hawk to him, his worry palpable. “I’m so scared, but I wish I could go with you. I’d gladly fight them for what they’ve done.” He gazed up at Hawk. “Maybe I could go anyway. You know, I might be able to help by telling you guys what the layout is like and so on.”

Hawk sighed. “First of all, you’re not well enough to go anywhere. Besides that, the two shifters who were caught gave up a lot of info to save their next-to-worthless lives.”

“But what if they’re lying and made stuff up?”

“Then they’ve signed their own death warrants. The only way they survive is if what they told Nic and the rest of the Alliance turns out to be true.” Hawk grunted. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

Jaspers face fell and Hawk hoped the stress of what lay ahead wouldn’t harm him or the baby somehow. He didn’t know anything about pregnancies. Being an only child, he hadn’t experienced what it was like when someone was carrying a baby, what sort of precautions were needed. And it was even more concerning because of the drugs and treatments Jasper had been subjected to.

Hawk rubbed Jasper’s back. “Hey, do you remember what you told me in the truck right before we got here? What I said to you?”

Jasper stared up at him, tears streaking down his cheeks, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “That I love you and you love me? I didn’t imagine that?”

“No, baby.” Hawk pressed a kiss to Jasper’s forehead. “That was very real. Whether we were fated or not, I’d want to be with you, would want to have our baby.”

“Me too.” He drew his eyebrows together. “Please be careful tomorrow. We both need you.”

“I will, I promise.”

“You won’t be driving, will you?”

Hawk furrowed his brow. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Jasper gave a one-shouldered shrug. “You can get extra enthusiastic behind the wheel, that’s all.”

Hawk smirked. “Funny. I got us this far, didn’t I?”