Groomed For Love

“You really are great with them,” he says. “We both will be great for them.”

“Just like we are with these two… and all of those after them,” I add, holding my belly before he draws me closer and presses his lips to mine again.

“I love you, Naomi. Today and every other day,” he whispers to me.

“And I love you, Parker. Michael,” I whisper back.

Moose settles, and his newest friend right next to him.

Bella.

I hear myself say her name and her ears prick up before she nuzzles next to her man and I nuzzle into mine.

It’s the perfect ending to a long couple of days.

“You need to go to the office or something?” I ask him. “Make it all official?”

I don’t wanna rush him, but the sooner Parker is less of a target, the better. I don’t want him changing his mind and going back to work.

“It’s done, Naomi. I promise,” he says firmly, kissing me hard enough to know he means it.

We all huddle, four of us now. Moose and Bella, Parker and me.

The only real family I’ve ever known and I swear, the only one I want from today forward.

“What do we do now?” I ask after a long pause, the chasm of our future suddenly opening up before me.

“We take it one day at a time, and we enjoy every second of it, together,” he assures me, gripping my shoulder with one hand as he tousles Moose’s fur.

“We’ve come a long way in a short time and there’s no telling how far we’ll all get from now on.”

Moose gives a low howl and Bella joins him.

Parker starts too and before long, we’re all howling. With a tear in my eye I know I’ve found my tribe.

My pack.

My alpha male.

My only.

Michael Parker.

Mine.

Epilogue

Three Months Later

Parker

“You can sleep in baby, I don’t mind,” I tell her. “Are you sure you’re not getting sick again?” I ask her in a gentle whisper.

Naomi groans softly, rolling over and showing me some more of what I already had last night as the sheets roll off her.

Damn.

If she doesn’t make me hard every time I see her body, but today it’s been going on too long. No matter how hot she looks.

I know girls have their time and all that, but this has been different. Bella’s not herself either and Moose is just acting plain weird.

Come to think of it, Naomi hasn’t had her time for a while now.

Moose is worried about something, I can tell and so am I.

About all of them.

About both my girls.

“We’re going to the doctor, and then the vet,” I announce, pulling my pants on at the same hour I’m used to.

Five a.m. wake up’s are a bad habit still, or maybe a good one I reason to myself.

We’ve had three months of bliss and I’m not taking any chances. Nothing is going to jeopardize our life, Naomi and me.

“I’m fine, Parker,” she growls. “Just let me sleep will ya?” she protests.

I lean over and press my lips to her forehead and I can feel what might be a temperature.

Twenty years of service comes with plenty of training and I know when someone needs a doctor.

Dogs too. That swelling in Bella’s abdomen is beyond something I can just glance over anymore.

Today’s the day.

I forget my usual morning rituals and try to call the doctor first, then the vet.

I leave a message to arrange for an appointment for Bella at the emergency vet clinic, scheduling a doctor’s appointment online seeing as they aren’t open yet.

“I don’t need a doctor, Parker,” Naomi complains to me between calls, narrowing her eyes and giving me that vibe she gets when we’re about to have an argument, but she suddenly slumps back into the bed, exhausted.

“Take Bella to the vet, fine but I seriously don’t think I need a doctor.” She groans again, making me frown with frustration.

She’s been putting it off for so long, I want her to go get a check-up anyway.

“I’ll get us breakfast on the way,” I try and coax her, but today more than ever she’s not interested.

“I don’t need a doctor Parker,” she says again firmly, pulling the covers over herself and pretending to go back to sleep.

I want to press my point, but I don’t want to make her any grouchier either.

Naomi’s had some mood swings lately, and try as I might, I can’t figure out if it’s anything I’ve done or if it’s just getting used to being with someone twenty-four seven.

We’ve never been happier, but there’s something on her mind. I just wish I knew what it was.

I put it out of my mind, for now, letting Moose and Bella outside for their morning ramble.

“You okay boy?” I ask Moose, noting him fretting a little as we both watch Bella trot around the yard.

He gives a low growl and then barks, wagging his tail suddenly and giving me the sign he uses when he’s found something once she comes back closer to us.