Page 90

"Let me guess. Jaguars are dramatic divas who make grand entrances?"

Bayer's lips quirked. "No. Jaguars are extremely private. Obsessively so. Which is why it will take so many days to get them here."

"So basically, I need to be on my best behavior and not tell any alpha to shove it, no matter how deserving."

"That would be ideal, yes." His thumb traced circles on my palm. "But there's something else. As my mate, and especially as..." He glanced at my stomach.

"As an incubator for baby Baloo?"

He winced at the name. "As a pregnant omega, you'll be subject to certain...attention."

"Like what kind of attention?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "The 'aww, look at the cute pregnant omega' kind or the 'potential target for supernatural politics' kind?"

"Both," Bayer admitted. "Some will see you as a symbol of hope—the first bear cub conceived since the curse was broken. Others might resent you."

"Great," I muttered, taking another sip of tea.

"But your presence is important. It demonstrates that our pack is thriving, that we have a future."

I considered this, absently placing my hand on my still-flat stomach. "This is about something more," I guessed. Then I took a stab at it. “Is this because of those new bears?”

Bayer hesitated, but it was his hesitation that gave him away. “Wait, you’re not gonna have to do a thing like Phoenix did?” I asked.

He met my gaze. “You mean an alpha challenge?”

I nodded, and he was silent for a moment. “I don’t think Torrel knows enough about our pack yet to risk it.”

“But you think he will?”

Bayer sighed. “I honestly don’t know.”

"Fine," I sighed. "I'll be on my best behavior. No sarcastic comments, no challenging alphas to duels, no throwing up on anyone important."

Bayer's expression softened as he leaned forward to press a kiss to my forehead. "Just be yourself, Danny. That's all I ask."

"Careful what you wish for," I warned, but I couldn't help smiling.

After breakfast, we met Emery at the creche area. He was already there, clipboard in hand, making notes as he surveyed the space.

"There you are!" he called as we entered. "I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind." Tia was sitting building blocks, and Callie had gone home this morning with Ben and Rhys.

"And miss the chance to boss you around while designing a classroom? Never." I moved into the center of the room, turning slowly to take it all in with fresh eyes. "This place has serious potential."

"I know, right?" Emery's enthusiasm was contagious. "I've been thinking about learning centers. Reading nook there, art station by the windows for natural light..."

"Construction area in that corner," I continued, pointing. "And maybe a science exploration table over there."

Bayer leaned against the doorframe, watching us with an indulgent smile as we bounced ideas back and forth, our teacher-brains fully engaged.

"We'll need child-sized furniture," I said, mentally calculating dimensions. "Tables, chairs, cubbies for personal belongings."

"Phoenix already ordered some," Emery admitted. "They should arrive next week."

I raised an eyebrow. "Pretty confident I'd say yes, weren't you?"

"I knew you couldn't resist a well-designed learning environment," Emery replied with a grin. "Plus, the commute is unbeatable."

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days. This felt right, familiar—planning a classroom together, bouncing ideas off each other, finishing each other's sentences. But now we were creating something entirely new, something that would help shape the next generation of shifters.