Chapter Eight

Kurt

I accompanied the omega back to the cabin in wolf form, listening to him speak to me along the way. He seemed more at ease with my wolf, even resting his hand on our head for a second, which the wolf adored. My beast was all in with this omega, and the moment we got back to him, anything the hunt did to take the edge off his anger melted away. He wanted the omega to be comfortable and happy, wanted to protect the baby, but he also wanted to find the evildoers.

There was not a whole lot I could do to convince him of the impracticality of that right at this moment.

Once back at the cabin, I shifted on the porch and dressed in the clothes I’d left there, before following Wade inside. He was setting a bag on the counter and turned to watch me carefully. My wolf took an annoying amount of pleasure in this, sure he liked him better.

“I’m a little tired,” he said. “Are you sure you won’t let me sleep in the laundry room or the living room?”

“You’re going to take the bed, and I will sleep by the fire in wolf form. I’m trying to let him out more while I’m here. He doesn’t get enough time otherwise.”

He protested a bit more, but while I tried to convince him I would be perfectly comfortable there, his yawns grew wider and deeper. “It’s not fair. You booked the room, and you should get the bed. I’m just so tired for some reason.”

“Could be the fact that you’re extremely pregnant?”

His cheeks flushed and one hand went to his swollen belly. It was the only part of him that had any substance, making me wonder how long he’d gone without regular meals. Again…wolf anger, but since I felt the same, it was hard to control us both. “I guess.”

“And what kind of alpha would allow any omega, much less a pregnant one, to sleep on the floor…” Damn. I already knew what kind and it was the one who impregnated this very good omega. “Not this kind.”

Taking him by the arm, I steered him toward the bedroom right off the main area. “I’ll have no more talk about it. My wolf is looking forward to sleeping by the fire, and I’m looking forward to knowing you are comfortable. Deal?” I paused by the bed and pulled the covers back.

“It does look nice.” The longing in his eyes… “Thank you, alpha.”

“Get some sleep, and we can talk more in the morning if you’re up for it. Now, before I leave you to get undressed and into this nice warm bed, can I bring you anything? Tea? Cocoa? Water?”

He shook his head. “No, I’ll just make a quick stop at the bathroom and then crawl between the sheets.”

“Good night, Wade.”

“Night, Kurt. I appreciate this.”

“Shhh, sleep time.”

Leaving him to get ready for bed, I stirred up the fire and went into the kitchenette to make a cup of tea for myself. By the time I heard him emerge from the bathroom and the mattress creak under him, I’d finished my drink and hesitated. I wanted to go in and make sure he was settled, but would he find that intrusive? Would he prefer to just settle in privately?

I decided to split the difference and moved to the doorway. “All set?”

He pulled the covers over his shoulders and snuggled down. “Yes. Thanks. It’s so nice and warm in here.”

“Sure is. I’ll be by the fire if you need me.”

In your fur, right?”

“Exactly. Night again.”

“Good night.” He looked so cozy and comfy in the big bed, one with plenty of room for both of us, but it was not my place to join him. I didn’t close the door though. The fire’s heat would be cut off from him. Returning to the fireside, I divested myself of clothing and shifted. We curled up near the fire, but every time I fell asleep, slight sounds from the next room woke us. The omega was restless, and he shifted, turning and moving, probably having trouble finding comfort this late in his pregnancy.

My wolf wanted to go in there, get closer to him, and after a while, I stopped telling him no. After all, I wanted the same thing. We padded in and circled a few times on the rug next to the bed before curling up and laying our head on our paws. Wade never indicated he was awake, but he settled down and we all passed the rest of the night in peace.

Morning came, and I opened my eyes in time to shift and shower before Wade woke. He looked so relaxed under the covers, and I saw no reason to disturb him, but my stomach rumbled, so I went to the kitchenette to see if there was anything I could use to make breakfast. The night before, I’d noticed there were several teas and a single-serve coffee maker. Also, Wade had returned from the main house with cookies and the makings of cocoa. But none of that was enough for a nutritious meal for him. And the snacks left from my picnic weren’t much better.

An exploration revealed that the owners had left more in the refrigerator than I realized and there was a pantry cupboard semi-stocked as well. Among the goodies, I found a quart of eggnog, a loaf of bread, butter, syrup, and orange juice. I could work with that.

As a single alpha, people were always trying to feed me, dropping off casseroles and inviting me to dinner, but, when time permitted, I enjoyed cooking simple meals for myself. Breakfast for dinner, for example. And French toast was a favorite from childhood. Since it was made with eggs and milk and vanilla and spices, it stood to reason that I could substitute store-bought eggnog for the homemade mixture.

At least I hoped so.

I was dipping thick slices of sourdough bread in a pie pan filled with the substitute custard when I heard him rise from bed with a groan. I tensed, wondering if I should rush to see how he was doing but opted to remain in place, listening for any crisis. Instead, the bathroom door closed with a click and the old pipes rumbled bringing hot water to the shower.

The pregnant omega arrived in the kitchen in time to pour the orange juice and select his tea from the varieties available. “Lemon Zinger, I think,” he said. “I really want coffee, but I haven’t been able to do a lot right for this baby, the least I can do is avoid caffeine.”

From what I’d heard, most shifters could tolerate caffeine even while pregnant, but I ached that he had so little control over himself until now that he was searching for any he could get. He wanted to take care of his babe. “Then good choice!” I opened the bags and put them in mugs then poured hot water from the electric kettle over them. “Breakfast is all ready.

We took our plates to the table and sat down. I’d already set out the butter and syrup as well as the sugar for tea, and for a few minutes, we were too busy eating to do anything else.

“This is so good,” Wade said, finally. “Thank you for making it for me.”

“You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.” I was so polite, the courtesy glossing over the feeling churning underneath. “Would you like more?”

He helped himself to two more pieces, pouring syrup while he said, “You slept by my bed last night.”

“I did.” I reached for my juice. “My wolf insisted.”

“Thank you. I can’t remember when I felt so safe.”