33. Celina

THIRTY-THREE

CELINA

The frigid February weather outside was warm compared to the iciness in my gut. My eyes probably looked like saucers as I stared down at the thing in my hands. Turning, I sat on the edge of Tate and Harley's bathtub, shock running through my body. In my hands, the pregnancy test was showing, in bright unmistakable color, that I was pregnant.

Out in the living room, I heard everyone laughing. It was good to hear them all having a good time, especially when we all knew what the next few months would bring. So much uncertainty, so much danger. That's why this news didn't fill me with as much joy as it should have. I loved Miles, and the thought of starting a family with him should have filled me with happiness. The idea of having a child and giving them the life I never had––comfort, love, acceptance, and happiness. I'd dreamed of that for years, but the timing couldn't have been worse. There was no guarantee any of us would survive whatever Antonio was planning.

I took the test and wrapped it in toilet paper so no one would see it, then dumped it in the trash. There was another in the box. Harley had given it to me a week before. I'd let her know that ever since New Year's, I'd been having bouts of nausea and vomiting. I'd assumed I was developing IBS or a gluten allergy. Harley had eyed me skeptically and asked if I'd considered the possibility of pregnancy. I hadn't. Miles and I had…well…been having a lot of fun. But I think we were both still in that mindset of a human/shifter relationship. Miles said what had happened with Tate and Harley was a one-in-ten-million chance, and more than likely exacerbated by the curse. Neither of us had really been worried about getting pregnant, hence the lack of protection, even though it was now a shifter/shifter relationship.

She'd given me the box of tests the next day. "Just to rule anything out," she'd said. It was only then that I started to think about it and realized I'd missed at least one period.

Now, standing there in her bathroom, trying to work up the courage to go out to the living room, I knew her hunch had been correct. I took a deep, steadying breath and stepped out of the bathroom. I walked to the couch and saw Miles, a beer in his hand, laughing at a joke Jordyn had told. Tate had the girl in a playful chokehold, so it must have been at his expense. I sat next to Miles and put a hand on his leg.

He glanced over at me, and must have seen something on my face. "Are you okay?"

I tried my best to smile, but even without seeing it, I knew it must have looked fake. "I'm good, yeah."

I looked across the room at Harley. The woman caught my eye and raised a questioning eyebrow. I gave her a slight nod. Harley smiled at me—it was a real smile, but filled with anxiety. Like me, she knew things were going to get crazy over the next few months. The last thing I wanted was for Miles to go into battle against the hunters with one more thing on his mind. He'd already be worried about coming home to me. How much worse would he be distracted by the idea of leaving his child fatherless? I saw the pain he was in by not being able to be with his own parents. That would weigh on him. I did my best to relax into the sofa and sink into the background. I was good at that, and for once, it was a blessing.

Jared was there as well. He was in the kitchen joking with Blayne and Steff. He was still coming to terms with everything that had happened to him, but Tate was a fantastic mentor. He was nothing like the brainwashed and abused man who'd tried to strangle the life out of me. It had taken Miles longer to warm up to him than the others—based solely on his attempt to murder me—but even he had realized that wasn't who Jared really was. Antonio and his team of scientists had warped and twisted Jared. He was a gentle and calm person once he'd gotten away from the hunters and came under the influence of an alpha dragon. It was another reason to fear Antonio. That monster was capable of anything.

Later on, after dinner, I went outside and sat on the swing on their back porch. The cold cut through my coat and chilled me, but it exhilarated me. I'd been so hot inside. It had only been an hour, and I already was feeling the stress of the secret. A minute after I got out there, Miles joined me.

He sat and put an arm around me. "Remember, a couple months ago, when you said for me not to hide anything from you?"

My stomach dropped. "Uh…yeah."

He turned his head and raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

"It's nothing, really. I only?—"

"Please don't try to lie to me, Celina. Remember, we can get flashes of each other's emotions. I know something is bothering you."

I sighed and twisted my hands together. "Okay, something is, but it's not important. Seriously, it can wait."

"Anything that upsets you is important. You're feelings matter. If I can help with whatever it is, then I'm going to. No matter what's going on, you'll always be my first priority."

Hearing his words and the love in his voice broke me. The tears started and didn't stop even as the words tumbled out of my mouth.

"I missed my period." Miles's eyes went wide in surprise, but I couldn't stop. Now that I'd started, I had to get it out. "I've been sick off and on. Puking my guts out. Harley had a hunch I might be pregnant. She gave me a test. I went to pee tonight, and I decided to go ahead and do it. I've been putting it off for days. I…well…I took it. I really thought it was a false alarm, but it's positive. Miles, the test was positive." I sucked in a lungful of air. I was out of breath from talking so fast. Miles's face was a blank slate as he stared at me.

"I didn't want to distract you from the hunters," I finished, wiping snot from my nose with my sleeve.

Miles nodded. "You're pregnant?"

"Seriously? Did I not explain it right? Yes. Yes, we're pregnant."

He chuckled. "I just wanted to be sure." He nodded to himself. "That explains a lot. My wolf has been whining and super anxious the last few weeks. He probably already knew."

We stared at each other for several seconds. I was waiting for the worst, but Miles's face broke out into a huge grin, and he pulled me close, hugging me tightly. "I know this isn't the ideal time for a baby, but…" he pulled away and put a hand on my stomach, "…I promise I'll love this child as much as I love you. I'll do anything I have to for our family to stay whole. I'll protect you and this baby. No matter what."

"I'm scared, Miles," I admitted.

"So am I. I'd be lying if I said otherwise. I'm not worried, though. We've come too far to fail now." He nodded toward the house. "And those three guys in there? I'd trust them with not only my life, but the life of anyone I loved. We may only be four men, four shifters, but we'll damn sure show Antonio he fucked- up by ever darkening our doors. We are going to win this war and get the peace we all deserve. I love you, Celina." His smile reappeared. "And even in the darkest times, people need hope and joy. This baby is a blessing. In fact, I think this baby signals the fact that fate is on our side. Let's celebrate. Come on."

I grinned, my tears drying as he took me by the hand and led me inside. As soon as we were through the door, Miles lifted his hands. "I'm gonna be a dad."

His shout echoed through the living room. Everyone froze for one instant as the news sunk in, then the entire house roared with screams and cheers. I felt myself getting picked up in a massive, literal, bear hug by Steff. Harley found me and gave me a hug. The evening dinner with friends quickly turned into a celebration the likes of which I'd never experienced. My tears and anxiety vanished under a tidal wave of love and friendship. As I tried to catch my breath, I realized, in that moment, I had the one thing I'd always dreamed of. I had a family.