Chapter Twenty

Zhang

So I did stay home, but I insisted that a simple stomach upset should not make Shane upset his training schedule. He argued, but I held my ground, and he finally left but insisted he would be home in a few hours and that I was to call him immediately if I felt any worse or needed or wanted anything.

In a way, it was a relief to see the door close behind him. Not because I didn't want him with me. I for sure did, but I also couldn't stand to see the distress in his face when he came into the bathroom and held a cool cloth to my forehead while I made disgusting noises. He'd never want to see me naked again if he had to watch me dry heave for another two hours.

But what really had me worried and needing to regroup was what I thought the reason for all this gagging and exhaustion were, and about ten minutes after Shane pulled out of the driveway, the delivery person pulled in with a single smallish box. I wiped my mouth and went to the door to accept delivery.

"Are you okay, dude?" the young delivery driver asked. "You look bad."

He probably wanted to turn and run and cover himself in sanitizing gel, but I reassured him. "Nothing contagious. You don't have to worry about plague or anything."

"Sure?" He handed me the box. "Because you're very pale."

"Yeah, I'm sure." More sure by the minute. "Thanks." I went back inside, and the driver returned to his car. I had almost told him what I was pretty sure was wrong with me but then realized I needed to tell my mate before any random delivery dude.

I opened the box in the bathroom because that's where I would need to use the contents. Lining up the contents in a row on the sink, I almost stuffed them back in because I was so nervous about the whole thing. We hadn't really talked much about babies, beyond the fact that we eventually did want a family.

Of course, we hadn't done a thing to prevent pregnancy, either, and we did what caused it an awful lot. That happened when you had the sexiest alpha in the world. Steeling my nerves, I knew I had to take advantage of the break in nausea and do this thing. I'd bought no fewer than five different tests because I wanted to be sure. Looking at them now, I felt a little silly about the whole thing. One or two at most would have been enough, surely.

But…since they were here, I prepared to try each and every one. And so I did.

"Zhang, are you here?"

I stared at the five different sticks on the counter. Shane had come home about thirty seconds after I peed on them, so I didn't know anything yet.

"Zhang?"

"Be right out." I hurried to wash my hands and exited the bathroom, closing the door behind me. "Here I am. Why are you home so soon?"

He kissed me then frowned. "Aren't you glad to see me?"

"Of course. Why don't you go in the kitchen and make a snack and I'll join you in a moment." Two minutes to go.

"I'm not hungry." He reached for me again, but I was too twitchy with waiting to let him hold me. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing. But I am hungry. Will you make me a snack?"

He eyed me with suspicion. "You were just getting sick a little bit ago. Are you sure your stomach is up for food?"

"Maybe not. Will you make me tea?"

He nodded. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to get rid of me."

"You're so silly." I backed up. "You make the tea and I will, ummm, be right there, okay?"

"All right." Shane turned and left me in the hallway, mumbling under his breath about omegas having odd notions, but I didn't stop him to argue. Not now. Not with less than a minute to go.

I slipped back into the bathroom and closed the door. Five tests were waiting to give me their answers. If they didn't show pregnancy and I didn't feel better soon, I'd know I had a problem. What else could it be though? Shifters had few illnesses, and all the symptoms seemed to point to a baby on the way.

Would Shane be happy? Upset? Would he say we should have waited? I just didn't know, but I was about to find out.

"What kind of tea do you— What are you doing?" Shane's voice came from right behind me and not outside in the hallway. We were never all that concerned about bathroom privacy, and if I had been, I should have locked the door. "What are all those?"

I swallowed hard. "Alpha, there's something I might have to tell you as soon as I check those sticks."

"Are those pregnancy tests?" His voice fell to a whisper. "Omega, are you pregnant?"

"Maybe?" I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant when I was anything but. "Would that be all right?"

"That would be incredible, but if you're not, it's okay. As long as you feel better." He peered past me. "Is it time to check the sticks?"

"Yes. I'm nervous. You sure it's all right with you if I'm pregnant?"

Shane chuckled. "Let's see whether you are and then we'll know whether to celebrate."

For a second, I wondered what he meant. Celebrate yes or no.

He just said it would be incredible. Sometimes I needed my panda to help me be a better listener.

"You look at them, alpha. Please?"

"All right." He moved me aside and peered at the row of sticks. "I don't know what I'm looking for but assuming pluses are yeses?"

"Yes."

He whooped and spun me in the air then set me down gently. "I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt the baby."

"I don't think you can. It's very tiny at this stage and snuggled right in there. But I'm glad you're happy."

"Are you too?" He studied my expression. "I never thought to ask."

A warm glow filled me. "So happy I can barely hold it. Oh no!" I clapped a hand over my mouth and lunged for the toilet. I was happy but nauseated. Something I'd better get used to.

"Mate," Shane asked. "I wanted to talk to you about quitting the insurance company and coming to work with me. If you want to, of course."

I had been allowed to go remote, on a temporary basis that kept extending, but it was getting harder all the time, and more and more stressful. Now we had a baby on the way, and the stress had to stop.

Are you sure your employees won't think it's nepotism?"

"You've been coming in to the office nearly every day, and don't think I haven't noticed how much of the paperwork burden you've already taken off me. And efficiently. They all adore you. It's all good."

"Then let's discuss my very high salary."

He roared with laughter. "I've already made you half owner of everything. Isn't that good enough?"

Tears filled my eyes at my very considerate alpha's action. "It will have to do." But then I ruined my serious businesslike statement by launching myself at him and covering his face with kisses.