Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

R eed woke up to a snowstorm, a fire in the fireplace, and this magical cabin that smelled like heaven.

He couldn't believe this was where he was going to live. This cabin was huge and homey, perfectly placed for a bear. The furniture was large, the windows looked out into the forest, and he was stunned.

How had he managed this?

Maybe he was dreaming. This was a fever dream while he was stuck at the little apartment and he'd had some bad fish at a work thing.

"You're not dreaming, little bear. You're home. Are you hungry?"

"I could eat." All of a sudden, he was ravenous, in fact. "Sorry I dozed off."

"Why? It was a long morning. You needed it. We'll eat and then explore, okay?"

He nodded, because it was okay. He wanted to see.

"Now, chicken and mash?"

"Sounds amazing. Your dads were so nice to bring it."

"They're great guys. Justin and I are really lucky, and we both know it."

The table was set, and Tyler had cobalt blue stoneware, the deep color gleaming in the light. It felt like home, already, and he had a vision of a little salt and pepper grinder set and oil cruet in a deep green to complement it. He would have to find a pottery shop.

"It looks amazing. The snow is really coming down, hmm?" He sat, chuckling as he found milk in the wineglasses.

"It is. Dad and Pop and Justin went back down at a good time, though they have chains." Tyler kissed the top of his head. "Bathroom is right through there, if you need to go."

He found the powder room, which was decorated in plaid and bears, easily. He felt a little grimy from traveling.

He peeked into the kitchen—the huge, bright space meant for people that liked to cook and eat. It was warm and yellow, with more cobalt accents. And it was the size of his old apartment.

Tyler was—Well, Tyler was out of his league. Reed put a hand on his belly. It didn't matter. He didn't doubt for one moment that Tyler loved him.

"Come and eat, little bear. It's a home. It's our home. It's going to be our cub's home." Tyler came to him, rubbing his belly, nice and easy. "You'll feel better after you eat. I promise."

"I believe you. I think I'm just tired." And wigged out, but happy too. He thought he could live here in the mountains. "And you're right. I need some supper and to see everything." He grabbed Tyler and hugged him tight, refusing to let himself be blue when his goddamn dream was coming true. "Let's eat!"

"Good man." Tyler laughed, and they plowed through the food like they always did.

Reed moaned, patting his belly. "I'll have to work it off, but that was so good."

"Honey, you're carrying a grizzly in there. Eat." Tyler cleaned up quickly. "But we can walk some off with a tour."

"I want to see everything. I love the kitchen and the table is amazing. Show me around." He helped rinse off the dishes and then hooked his arm in Tyler's.

"My Dad told me when I bought it to decorate it for the mate I hoped to have someday. I knew I was looking for someone who would love it, who would help me make it grow and become a family home."

"Oh…" That was the most romantic thing ever. "So there's a front room, down here. What else?"

"The powder room, kitchen, and dining, and then in the back there's a family room and sunroom, plus the media room and our office." Tyler led him through the kitchen into a decadent den with pillows and blankets and big couches, then to a light-filled, double-pane windowed sunroom.

"Look at the snow! I could totally watch for hours."

"I'll put a rocking chair in for when our baby comes."

"That would be amazing." If his heart squeezed anymore, he'd fall right over.

"Maybe we should get two. I'd love to sit with you. Hold your hand."

"Yes please." Tears stung his eyes. "Lead on, Tyler. I want to see the bed. Room. The bedroom."

Tyler chuffed, leading him up a flight of stairs. "We have three stories—the third story is the reading nook. It's perfect to nap and laze in. The second story is all bedrooms—the master, plus four bedrooms for our family."

"Wow." Their family. Their babies. God. "Yes, please."

"I love you so much." Tyler kissed his cheek. "This is the master, then that hall leads to the other bedrooms."

Reed gasped when he saw the master. It really was a suite, with a sitting room, an en suite, and a huge room that held a bed, two dressers, two nightstands, and a wood stove.

He could hibernate here.

"We can buy new bedding, furniture, anything you want." Tyler was vibrating beside him, waiting for him to say something. Anything.

"I love it. It's like a fantasy. This is our bed."

"It will hold two full-grown bears. The floor will too. All reinforced." Tyler beamed at him, then waltzed him around the open area of the floor. "Home."

"Home." He laughed, his entire body lighter now, more focused. "I love you, bear."

Tyler led him to the bed, then started stripping off his clothes. Not sexually. More gentle care. "I love you too. Can we take another nap? All stretched out and comfy?"

"Yes. I'd love that. I can't believe this is my real life." His home. His mate. His cub. His love.

"Ours." Tyler stripped off and pulled him down into a cloud that was also firm enough to hold them. The blankets were so soft, and he cuddled into Tyler, feeling like he was the luckiest bear in the world.

"I love you, bear. Thank you."

"Thank you for coming with me."

He settled in, breathing in Tyler's scent, and boom.

He slept.

Tyler watched Reed blossom. In more ways than one.

Over the next few weeks, Reed started to show, his baby bump so amazing and cute, his skin glowed, and he was smiling all the time. He also bloomed in confidence, his virtual PA job with Justin starting a few days after they got home, and now Reed was doing a lot of the company's social media.

Tyler had been right—Justin was over the moon. His little bear had slipped right in, and he'd never been happier.

Things slowly began to change—there was a new salt dish on the table, the comforters were greens and blues, there was a pair of recliners in the sunroom. The house was filled with music. It had been a great house, an idealized place for his someday mate.

Now it was a home.

Hell, Reed had started to get to know all the local shop owners, and they had all these samples to try, things they might use as ingredients or carry at the coffee shops.

His phone rang, Pop's face popping up. "Hey, Pop!"

"Hello, son. I am in Denver having a shop. Would it be forward to buy Reed some comfortable winter paternity clothes? I found a bunch of layette things on sale—all soft and lovely with little bears on them."

"Aw, that would be awesome. He'd love that."

"Excellent. Soft and cushy and fuzzy, yes? Any special colors?" Pop was having a ball. He could tell.

"He's amazing in green. Goes so well with his dark hair." And Reed loved it, felt confident in it.

"How's he doing?"

"He's in the office right now, brainstorming with Justin."

"Oh, excellent. What do you need from the city? Anything? I'm going to stop at Whole Foods and I'm going to get a few things."

Dad better buy another freezer.

"Whatever looks good in the fish? We're craving."

"I can do that." Pop was so happy when he got to buy shit. Not just for no reason, but to make other people happy. "I'll bring some honeybuns from the store too. Justin told me your origin story with Reed."

Pop was hopeless.

"Thanks, Pop. He loves those. Luckily, he got over the morning sickness pretty quick."

"You said he had so much stress at work. Poor baby. I had lunch with his mom."

"What?" He almost dropped the phone.

"She had to be in Denver for some kind of charity thing. So we met for lunch." Pop loved to drop a bomb.

"You—What?"

"She's apparently incredibly active in pro-omega shifter support. They asked her to speak at a charity event. She's amazing. She's going to be an amazing co-grandparent."

Co. Grandparent.

"How did you even?—"

"Justin employs your mate now. He had all the phone numbers for family members, so I called her."

"Pop!"

"What? She was so tickled. We all want to give you your space. You haven't had much time to be mates, and a baby will take so much time away. Bond. Do mate things. We'll do the family gathering thing."

He did not protest. He did roll his eyes since his pop couldn't see. "Did Dad come?"

"He dropped me off, so he got to say hi. Then he had to work a bit. Now he's sitting on a bench and reading a book on his phone."

"Did you meet his father?"

"No, he was fishing. I'm going to get back to it, son. Hug your mate. Can you two come for supper Sunday?"

"We can. I think Reed would love to see your place." In fact, he would bet Reed would be fascinated by how some of his choices were informed by his parents.

"Excellent. Can you bring dessert, please?"

"We can do that. A berry pie, maybe?" He and Reed had decided to try baking, and pie was on their list. And if they failed, they would order from You Need Pie.

"Sounds perfect. Okay, I'm going to have fun buying things for our son-in-law. Love you!"

"Love you, too, Pop."

He hung up, then texted Dad. Really? Lunch with Reed's mom?

Your Pop is incorrigible. He is planning a huge baby shower and a company-wide 1st grandbaby marketing promotion.

Oh, God

He would have to warn Reed. A little at a time. Not spoil it, but prepare his mate, who could still be uncertain, that he was going to be meeting lots of people at some point.

Lots.

He's very excited

I love you guys. We're coming Sunday Well, he should ask Reed. He headed for the office. He'd just needed to walk and think and look out the front windows over choosing a manager for Seattle. Dan's assistant had quit.

Kind of immediately.

He didn't want to head out of town right now. He wasn't interested. They needed to have this time together and…

Mindy Gallup.

She was the assistant manager at the store in Princeton and her folks lived in Seattle. She'd asked for a transfer two months ago.

That was it.

He headed back to the office, stepping in behind Reed at the Zoom meeting. "Mindy."

Justin paused. "Genius."

"Elephant." Reed looked like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

"What?" Justin's head tilted, and Reed waggled his eyebrows.

"I thought we were playing word association games."

"Ha. No, Mindy Gallup wants to go to Seattle. I think it's time to give her a promotion." He rubbed Reed's shoulders, which were tight. Justin was overworking his mate. "Pop wants us to come to eat Sunday. Are you coming, Just?"

"I am. I'm bringing the chips and dip and a board game."

"What are we bringing?" Reed asked, leaning into his touch.

"Dessert. I thought we'd try berry pie."

"Oh, that will be fun. We can practice tonight after work."

Tyler met Justin's eyes. "Aren't you done for the day, mate?"

Justin leaned back and grinned at them. "We got a lot done. Go ahead and kick off for the day, Reed. Tyler, I need a proposal for Mindy in the morning, but I'll feel her out on it today."

"You got it."

"Are you sure?" Reed was already beginning to close his planner and turn off the desk lamp.

"Yep. I'll need that social media content plan by Monday, but that's not too bad."

"No, it's awesome. Thank you."

"I'll see you both Sunday. Prepare to get your ass kicked at Sequence."

"Oh, we'll slaughter you." He'd have to look up Sequence.

"Bye, guys." The video call ended, and Reed turned and pushed up into his arms.

"Hey, bear. Love you."

"Love you too." He took the kiss he was craving. He gathered Reed up, humming deep in his chest. He loved how Reed cuddled in, how his world was in his arms.

There was never any hesitation now. Reed was well and truly with him all the way.

"So, how goes world coffee domination?" Tyler asked.

"We now have a TikTok account, and we're up to fifty thousand Instagram followers. Life is good."

"Wow. Kicking and screaming into social media. Good for you, baby." He nibbled Reed's neck. "It's okay to go to my folks' place on Sunday?"

"Mmm…sounds good. We'll try to make a pie tonight." Reed hummed softly. "We'll tell them that we're having a little girl over supper, hmm? Or should we call them and tell them now, since Pop is shopping?"

"Oh, you should call him. That would tickle him to death. He wants to be buds."

"Me too." Reed took his phone and called Pop on speaker, still cuddled in his arms.

"Reed? You okay?" Pop said, and his little bear chuckled softly.

"Yes, sir. I'm fine. I wanted you to know we have news."

"News."

Tyler almost bounced and gave it all away.

"Yes, Pop. We found out we're having a little girl. In November, just in time for the holidays."

"Oh!" He could hear Pop clap his hands, which meant he was hands-free somewhere. "A girl to spoil. How exciting!"

"Yes. Yes, our little angel girl." Reed smiled, hand on his belly. "I wanted you to know first."

"Thank you, sweet boy. Oh, I wish your mother was still here."

"Did you two hook up? I know she wanted to try when she was about. They're heading to Dallas, then New Orleans; then they'll stop by here to see us."

How did Reed know everything?

He shook his head. Maybe he was the least organized one in the family after all. Tyler grinned, then tickled Reed.

"Don't make me pee!"

"Is my son being evil?" Pop asked, voice full of laughter.

"My mate is busy, Pop. Gotta go." He reached over and turned Reed's phone off.

"Hey!" Reed laughed, leaning on him. "Meanie."

"Nope. You're mine for the rest of the day. We should have a picnic in the sunroom."

"Oh! Great idea! Tuna salad sound good?" It amazed him, this happiness. This basic joy that was his mate.

"It sounds great. We can slice up a tomato."

"Goddess yes. Please. Maybe two." Reed winked at him, patted his belly.

"Mmm. And a cookie or two." Cookies they had mastered in their baking experiment.

"Sounds perfect, love."

Tyler totally agreed.