Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

R ory was a little tired of Fen treating him like glass.

He knew he shouldn’t have tried to run up the mountain when someone had been shooting at Loyal’s compound, but his brain hadn’t been engaged. Just his heart. That was his mate and his brothers up there, and he’d wanted to help.

But Fen seemed to think that was a reason to not let Rory out of his sight. He’d been keeping Rory busy when he was not at work, and when he was, he got John or Lucien to keep Rory busy with the kids and other omegas.

He was starting to chafe under the constraints. Maybe he would go down and visit Dean and see how he was healing up.

“Hello, love.”

He jumped about a mile. Oh, his thoughts had conjured Fen right up.

“Hello.” He smiled when Fen walked into their kitchen, raising his face for a kiss. “You’re home early.”

“I decided to just do a half day.” Fen could keep whatever hours he wanted. It wasn’t like he had a 9-5 job. So that was nice. He guessed.

Fen’s smile slipped a little. “Are you mad at me, love?”

He thought about just brushing it off, but then he decided that wasn’t fair. And wasn’t he always bitching if stuff wasn’t fair. So he blew out a breath.

“I’m frustrated, Fen.”

Fen frowned. “What about?”

“Ever since you went up to Loyal’s, you’ve been very protective. That’s lovely. I know you worry. But I’m not an idiot. I can look after myself.”

Fen was still frowning. “Your brother got shot. So did I.”

“I know. And that’s awful. But just taking food to some of the poor or elderly families isn’t going to put me in harm’s way. And every time I try to go farther than the alpha’s house, someone stops me.” He sighed softly. “I feel like you think I’m not very strong, and I used to go up and deal with the dragons all alone, you know?”

He was useful and smart and…basically happy. He resented having to live like he was in a glass bubble.

“I’m sorry, love.” Fen sighed, taking his hand and leading him to the kitchen table, where they sat, Fen still holding his hand over the table. “It’s—” Fen stopped, taking a deep breath.

“You can tell me, Fen. Talk to me.”

“I just worry so damn much.” Fen shrugged. “My whole extended family was killed off, and as soon as I got here, I got shot. It’s not you I don’t believe in. It’s me. I think I must be cursed.”

He pursed his lips. “What did Niall tell you?”

“Not to question the goddess. But it’s hard not to, Rory.”

“I think the good things are supposed to be hard.” And even if that was just a platitude, if it worked on Fen and his…worry, then Rory would take it. “You can’t keep taking responsibility for every shitty thing that happens. You’re not that powerful. You had a spate of crappy luck, but you’ve had some good luck too. You found your mate, we’re having a baby, you have a home, you have a job you like, you’ve really good friends. You have a new pack. You have good things in your life. Maybe if you focused on enjoying them rather than losing them, you’d feel better. Or you could just continue to be a grump about the whole thing and be terrified that something bad was going to happen again. It’s up to you.”

Fen arched his brow. “I see.”

“Do you? Good? It’s good for you to see. We’re never going to have our first baby again ever. This is it. This is our only first pregnancy ever. It would be better if you enjoyed it with me.”

Fen rolled his eyes, but he did grin, so Rory would take that as a win. “I made the baby its first toy.”

“You did. What is it?”

Fen held out a beautiful set of large wooden chains, everyone smooth as glass and stained in rainbow colors. Large enough for a baby to hold, but still so very light, it was amazing—toy and art all at once.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It was made out of a single log. I thought it would be like a puzzle, something fun. They can’t hurt themselves with it. It’s not long enough to do anything dangerous. I just thought it would be a neat thing for the baby to shake and hold. Next, I’m going to make him a carved mouse.”

Him.

Rory wondered if Fen had heard himself. “Mouse? Are you part cat that you’re making your son a pet mouse?”

“I thought I’d make him a whole little menagerie of them, you know? Whatever the—” Fen stopped and tilted his head. “My son.”

Rory nodded. “I think so. That’s what my heart says. Your son.”

The soft hiccup inside him grew stronger. He’d been feeling tiny motions for days now, but this? This wasn’t a flutter.

He grabbed Fen’s hand and placed it on his belly. “Your son.”

Then the baby kicked hard, right in the center of Fen’s palm.

Fen’s eyes widened, his lips parting with shock. Those blue eyes were so beautiful. And Fen pressed that hand to Rory’s belly, clearly feeling what he was feeling.

“Rory. That baby.”

“He’s moving. I know. Amazing, huh?”

“More than amazing.” Fen laughed, the sound young, free, and so happy. Then he grabbed Rory and hugged him with fierce strength. “Our baby is moving.”

“See? Good things, babe.” Rory chuckled. “Now, am I allowed to leave the house?”

“Of course you are. I’m sorry if I’ve been an overprotective ass. I just—I need you safe. You’re everything good.” Fen stroked his hair, still holding him so close.

“Sure.”

Fen offered him a warm smile. “Can we have lunch before we go out of the cabin and do things? Uh. Maybe I could feel the baby kick some more?”

“I think that sounds amazing. You know what I want?”

Fen’s eyes lit up. “No, Tell me.”

“I want a milkshake. There are no milkshakes here and…” He’d been craving for days.

Fen’s head tilted. “What is a milkshake?”

“You don’t know what a milkshake is?” Rory blinked. That was a travesty. “Oh my God. It’s milk and ice cream whipped together into a thick drink and then there’s whipped cream and a cherry on top.” He licked his lips. “There’s chocolate ones and strawberry ones and vanilla ones and pineapple ones, and banana ones and caramel ones and peanut butter ones and…”

Fen stopped him right there. “There’s peanut butter ice cream?”

“Yes.” Of course there is.

“I would try peanut butter ice cream with milk and a drink.”

Okay, that was it. Rory was getting an ice cream maker and a blender delivered today.

He might not have Amazon, but he had brothers.

And he wasn’t asking for the world, right? These were basics.

Maybe he should get them to bring milk and peanut butter ice cream and an ice cream maker.

Oh, and blenders.

Of course, when these got really popular in the pack, it would be necessary to have more than a single little ice cream maker. They’d have to have a big ice cream maker, and the freezer to keep the ice cream in because?—

“Mate, are you still here?”

He blinked at his lover. His belly rumbled. “I’m…yes. Can you make hamburgers? Do you know how? I’ve got to make an order with my brothers. Can you make hamburgers now? Like right now?”

Fen offered him a fond, amused little smile that might have aggravated him if he weren’t so damn busy. “Yes, mate, whatever you ask.”

He beamed and nodded. “Oh, you’re very good at that. Keep it up. I totally approve.”

He grabbed the SAT phone, dialing his brothers’ house. “Hey, Liam. Okay, so let’s talk freezers.”