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I sit up straighter, wondering if she’s going to finally announce her pregnancy. She told me while the trial was going on, and I’m sure Damian knows. He’s her mate—there is no way she’s kept it from him.
Damian reaches his hand over and grabs Monica’s. The two of them share a grin. Seeing them so happy together makes me long for a time when Devin and I are mated. Until then, I’m trying to tell myself to be patient and enjoy the moments leading up to our forever.
“Sometime around July, Grant is going to have a little brother or sister,” Monica says.
Because Devin and I are holding hands, I can feel his excitement. But he’s not surprised by the news.
Each of us give Damian and Monica hugs. And Damian asks Grant if he’s excited about having a baby brother or sister. Grant grins, kicking his legs, but I doubt he has any clue what’s going on.
“Maybe this time it’ll be a girl,” Monica says, rubbing her still flat stomach.
Since wolf shifter pregnancies are so short, I doubt she’ll stay small for long. She’ll be very pregnant at the wedding.
“That’s what my mom said about Dawson and Devin,” Damian teases, hips lips turning up in one corner.
“I have all brothers,” I tell Monica, trying to make her feel better. What I don’t say is the reason I only have brothers is because my father has killed all my sisters. Just like he tried to kill me.
“At least I have you.” Monica turns to Dawson. “And you future mate, too. I may have all sons and all nephews, but at least I won’t be alone anymore.”
Dawson frowns at the mention of his future mate. His feelings pretty much burst from him—longing, desire, loneliness, and jealousy. He wants to meet her so bad. Bringing it up doesn’t help anything. It just reminds him that he’s all alone. I want to tell him that we’re here for him, but I know it’s not the same as having his own mate. Nothing will satisfy that empty void except for his mate. I don’t doubt that he’ll meet her soon, but I know it kills him to wait.
Dawson looks up, his green eyes meeting mine from across the table. A look of understanding passes on his face. He clears his throat and stands up. “I better be heading back.”
“Already?” Monica glances at a clock on the wall. “It’s so early and we haven’t had dessert.”
“Not tonight,” he says.
He doesn’t wait to give anybody a chance to say anything. He turns and briskly walks from the room and out the front door. The screen door slams shut behind him.
My heart hurts for him.
I’m part of the reason he left early. He knew that I could feel his emotions and he didn’t want me to read him. My stomach aches with guilt. It’s not my fault—feeling strong emotions is just part of being dark fae. But I did it without his permission. It almost feels like I was reading his diary or something.
Devin squeezes my hand. “Are you okay?”
I nod to let him know I am. I won’t discuss it in front of everybody, and I can’t tell Devin the full extent of it. It wouldn’t be fair. I’m certain Dawson doesn’t want his younger brother to know everything. He is allowed to have privacy.
After dessert, Devin and I offer to do the dishes while Monica and Damian head to bed early. Grant is teething, so the two of them were up late with him last night. I couldn’t hear it from my room, but Devin told me he had to put earplugs in to sleep with his shifter hearing.
Being a parent seems like a lot of work, but the two of them make it look easy.
Devin and I head outside to sit on the back deck. The waves gently crash on the shore and there is a gentle, cool breeze. I’m glad Devin told me to put on a hoodie before we came out. It’s almost cold.
“Are you going to miss the island when we go home?” Devin pulls me toward the hammock, which happens to be my favorite spot where we hang out.
“Yes and no,” I answer, as I climb on. Devin helps steady me so it doesn’t tip over, then he climbs on beside me. I rest my head on his chest, listening to my favorite sound in the world—his heartbeat.
“You can only pick one answer. Yesorno,” Devin says.
“Then, no,” I answer. “Because we’ll be married and we’ll be at home. Nothing beats that.”
He gently pushes my hair out of my face. “What will you miss?”
“Being outside in February without freezing,” I answer.
He chuckles. “Yes, but we’ll enjoy our summers more. Winter is long and cold, but the snow is pretty too. Maybe not Caribbean blue water pretty, but still wonderful.”
“We can always come on vacation when we need a break.” I lift my head up so that I can look him in the eyes. “I don’t care where I am, as long as it’s with you. My place is by your side.”
