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“My parents, well, they wouldn’t be supportive. Theywon’tbe supportive of us choosing to raise the baby together. They’resuperreligious. Myfather is a pastor, and this…” She placed both her hands on her stomach, on the baby, their baby. “This is a sin. They’d want us to get married, or they’d want to hide my pregnancy,and then they’d push adoption.” She swallowed thickly, and his heart broke a little. He hadn’t met her parents yet, but he hated them. “Jasper suggested we come here for a couple months, give ourselves some time to figure it all out.”
“And you have? You’ve decided to parent together?” Baze had been quiet, allowing everyone else to react. Jasper knew their alpha, knew how he worked. Hewaitedtohear and assimilatethe actions andchatterof the pack. Heneeded to assess the situation and draw his own conclusions. He needed to gauge how this would affect their dynamic, how this would alter their future. “Boyorgirl.”
“Yes.” Baze was asking if Jasper’s desire to keep the baby was because he thought it was a boy, a shifter-to-be. He didn’t care though, girl or boy, shifter or not. He was going to be a dad. “Again. We’rekeeping the baby.”
“Okay. Well then, congratulations?” Baze raised an eyebrow.
Jasper couldn’t help but smile. Baze was the first one to say that, to acknowledge that maybe this was something worth celebrating. It wasn’t going to be easy, and it wasn’t ideal. ButJasperwas having a baby. Hewas going to be a dad. And fuck, that was actually incredibly cool. “Thank you.”
The rest of the pack followed Baze’s lead. They passed out hugs and kind words,andthey surrounded Callie in warmth and support.
They offered to help with doctor’s appointments and baby showers.
They were everythinghetold Callie they would be.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jasper
Wednesday. Hump day. Although he wasn’t going to be humping anytime soon,he supposed. With his wolf being back in full force, he expected it to want him to go out on the prowl. Not in a creepy rapey sort of way. His wolf liked the hunt, the game. He supposed that was why he’d been down to work so hard to get Callahan to notice him.
Interestingly, theshifter living under his skin seemed pretty content at the moment. The only time he pushed his authority was when Callie was around. He wanted her safe because he wanted the baby safe and happy. It was instinctual.
Jasper didn’t mind. For the most part, he felt the same way.
Callie was at the clinic with Maddi. Shehad her firstdoctor’sappointment later that afternoon. He was going to pick her up and take her there himself. He found he was actually excited to see the baby for the first time. He knew it was healthy and growing. He could feel its presence, hear itsflutteringheartbeat.
“Get in here.” Baze reached his hand out of Jace’s office, dragging Jasper inside by the sleeve of his shirt. He’d been on his way to the basement for a workout. Guess that would have to wait.
Baze, Jace,and Riley werein the office.Jacewasbehind his desk,andRileywasleaning under the window with his hands in his pockets, while their pack alpha shovedJasperinto a chair with half strength.
“Is this an intervention of some sort?”
Baze ignoredJasper’sattempt at a joke. “Last night was one thing, but today is another. I have questions, and you’re going to sit your little ass down and answer every single one of them.” His alpha tone wiped all rapidly forming thoughts of resistance out of Jasper’s brain. There was no fighting the pack dynamic, especially when the alpha and the beta were teaming up against him.
“Let’s hear it then.” Jasper gestured forBazeto continue. He had shit to do, and he hadn’t planned on this ass chewing when he’d mapped out his day.
“You leave here for one damn semester and you get someone pregnant? Are you fucking kidding me? How did this happen?” Jasper was irritated at Baze’s mood, at his demanding questions. He was also pissed as hell Baze had basically lured him into a false sense of security last night. Sneaky prick with his congratulations and kind smiles. “Answer me.”
He didn’t bother making any jokes about the how of creating a baby. He didn’t think Baze would appreciate that, and he wasn’t ready for a pop to the back of his head at the moment.
“We met in class, and when I hit on her, she turned me down. A few times.” He didn’t need to note he didn’t typically get turned down, ever. They all knew that about him. “So, I changed my game plan and I asked her to tutor me instead. She’s brilliant and she didn’t want to give me the time of day. I was into the chase. Youknow how it goes. I, uh, wore her down. We went out, we hooked up. It was one night and I was careful. I wrapped it up, several times.” He threwuphis hands, letting themfall tosmack down into his lap. “I didn’t intentionally knock her up, obviously.”
“You sure you’re the father?” Baze. Again. Asshole. He didn’t like Baze’s accusation; neither did his wolf. He had to work hard to keep a growl from forming in his chest.
He glanced past his alpha, to Jace, histwin, and the pack beta.Jacedidn’t offer a way out, he simply crossed his arms over his chest.Jasperswallowed the snarl still threatening to break free.
“Riley ran into Callahan on campusa couple of weeksafter we hooked up, he sensed the baby. He came home and told me, so I called her and invited her over to the house for dinner. She didn’t know she was pregnant’tilthat night. I took her to get a test,andI sat with her after she took it. I was there for her initial reaction. I asked if it was mine, she said yes. I believe her, one hundred percent, no doubt.”
“I’ve spent the better part of a month with her.Callahan isn’t lying. She doesn’t have it in her.” Jace finally spoke up, and it was to defend Callie.
Jasper and his wolf liked that, a lot.
Riley shoved off from his spot against the wall. With all the alpha and beta energy clogging the room, Jasper had almost forgotten he was here. “Jasper stepped up the moment I told him about the baby. Hestepped up.” Jasper ignored the emotion making his throat swell. “He’s done everything right. Everythinghe can to help Callahan.”
“She didn’t want me, not at first. I worked my ass off to get her into my bed, seems only fair I work my ass off to be a good guy for her. And the baby.”
Baze studied him, his hands on his hips. “You sure she isn’t your mate?”
