He looked up with a grin. “That was the baby, wasn’t it?”
“Yes!” Parker replied, a breathtaking smile on her face. “I never thought you would feel it this soon. Everything I’ve read says it’s still too early yet. This baby has his Daddy’s strength.”
The feelings coursing through Ty were indescribable. Tenderness, affection, awe. For both the pup and its mother. He frowned as he realized what she’d said. He shouldn’t be feeling it yet? Strong like him? Shit. This obviously wasn’t normal, and what if the baby was too strong and hurt Parker?
Would the fucking worries ever stop piling up? He’d need to call Jared again tomorrow. See if he had any answers. He couldn’t stand the thought of anything hurting Parker.
“Ty? What’s wrong?” Parker asked, putting a hand on his cheek.
He forced a grin and shook his head. “Nothing’s wrong. I just can’t believe I felt the baby, is all.”
He surged up and kissed her hard, hoping to distract her. He ended up distracting them both. He always lost all train of thought when his lips met hers, and all he could do was drown in sensations. He swiped his tongue over her lips, groaning when she let him and tangled her tongue with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in closer as they both threatened to go up in flames.
Parker pulled back and looked at him, full lips swollen and glistening from his kiss. “We’ve had an appetizer and a main course. Is it time for dessert yet?”
Ty chuckled as his dick thumped. He swooped back in and let his kiss be his answer.
Chapter Twelve
Ty kissed Parker on the lips before heading out of the house the next morning. He’d come back to the house to sit down with her for breakfast. He normally ate much earlier, but he’d held off today, wanting to eat with her when she woke up. He just couldn’t go all morning without seeing her, and he knew Parker was planning on having lunch with her sister today.
He’d gotten up that morning and crept out of the room to shower and dress. After going back in to put his boots on, he’d stood by the bed, just watching her sleep, chest tight with emotion that he wasn’t sure he understood. She’d been breathtaking, her face relaxed and mouth slightly open as she breathed deeply in her sleep. He hadn’t wanted to leave her, but farm work waited for no one.
And Chase was right. The need for money was even more pressing with a baby on the way. He’d seen all the stuff Jared and Adara had for their babies, and although he and Parker wouldn’t need as much, they still needed a lot.
Speaking of Jared, it was time to make that phone call. Ty walked over by the barn, where he could get good service and still keep an eye on the house. He didn’t want Parker overhearing this conversation. He pulled out his phone and dialed Jared’s cell, impatiently waiting as it rang.
“Jared Montgomery.”
“Jared, it’s Tyler. Listen, I have some news, and I need to ask you some questions if you have a minute.”
“Hey, Ty. What’s up?”
“I was out for a run last night as a wolf and I ran across a scent. It was a shifter, a female wolf. She was all over our woods and had gone in a circle around the house and the barns, but she never left the tree line. I tracked the scent but she cut through the river. Do you know of any wolf shifters in the area?”
“A female wolf? No. I only know one other wolf in the area right now, besides you and Chase. Carter Evans, one of Ian Barrister’s fighters. He’s a male, though, not a female.”
Ty huffed an exasperated breath. “Don’t tell me you go to those damn shifter fights, too.”
Jared laughed. “Don’t be a stick in the mud, Ty. Chase told me you were uptight about the fights, but I didn’t believe him. I don’t go to all of them, but I’ve been to a few. They’re entertaining, and probably not at all what you’re imagining them to be.”
“Whatever, man. There aren’t any females on that crew, or any of the other crews?”
“Just one, in Ian’s, but she’s not a wolf.”
Ty rubbed a hand over his face. “Shit. I didn’t think it would be that easy, though. Do me a favor and have everyone on Bear Claw be on the lookout, alright? She didn’t cross over the river on your land, but it can’t hurt to check around.”
“Absolutely. I don’t like the idea of an unknown shifter hanging around so close, either. You said you had some questions, too?”
“Yeah, about Parker’s pregnancy. Or rather, Adara’s. Parker has a doctor’s appointment this week. Should I be worried? About bloodwork and shit? She said she’s been to one, back in California, and I figure it was okay since she hasn’t been snatched by the government or some shit. But it’s still got me worried.”
“I think you’re good to go there. Adara didn’t see an O.B., though. We went to Oregon a few times for ultrasounds and stuff, at a shifter friendly facility, and then had a midwife deliver the baby. Parker isn’t a shifter, though, so I don’t think going to Oregon will be necessary. I have a buddy whose mate is a human, and nothing ever showed in her blood work, so you’re good there. I’ll give you the name of the midwife, though. That might be a good idea, because the baby will be different, and it would be best if a hospital isn’t testing its blood, just to be safe.”
Ty sighed, half relieved and half still worried. Hiring a midwife would take some explaining, although he supposed he needed to tell Parker the truth soon, anyway. He’d put it off forever if he could, but her having his pup put a time limit on telling her what he was. What the baby she carried was.
“Thanks, man. One more question. I felt the pup move last night. Parker said it was early for me to feel it moving. Is the baby going to be too strong for her? Hurt her because of it?”
“Shifter babies do tend to be a bit stronger than a normal human baby, and movement is felt early. Adara was around that far along when we felt the twins move. Remember I said I had that friend with a human mate? She’s gone through three successful pregnancies. She felt the babies move early with all three, and they never hurt her. Toward the end, some of the kicks and stuff can be pretty powerful, but that’s true for human pregnancies too, from what I understand. And my friend’s mate is just fine. She wouldn’t have gone through three pregnancies if they’d hurt her too much, and her mate never would have let her.”