can get your butt up off that couch, without any help, waddle over here, get down on the floor with us, all without peeing on yourself, then yes, you get to join the hug, which is not actually a group hug because there’s only two of us.”
“That begs the question of what constitutes a group.” Zara pulled out her cell phone.
“A few of you are older than petrified wood. Do any of you know the answer to that?” Bethany asked.
“That was a good one.” Jen laughed. “Old as petrified wood. Love it.”
“Good point.” Sally said. “Y’all should have some knowledge that us younger, non-petrified people don’t yet possess.”
“So, because we’re older and wiser”—Peri’s eyebrow cocked, and her head tilted to the side when she looked at Sally—“we should have an intimate working knowledge of the vagaries of the English language?”
Sally nodded. “Exactly.”
The high fae ran her finger across her jaw. “How would that information help us kill bad guys and save the world?”
Bethany opened her mouth to speak, but then snapped it shut. Sally held up a finger as she pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowed in thought. Finally, she said, “I got nothing.”
Jen laughed, but then abruptly stopped when Bethany swung her legs off her mate’s lap.
“Well, if two people hugging doesn’t equal a group hug, then three certainly will,” Bethany huffed as her swollen feet finally hit the floor.
“Is this sudden, irrational need for girlfriend camaraderie related to her pregnancy?” Drake tried to keep Bethany from attempting to stand. Jacque could tell he was trying to be gentle, but Bethany kept slapping his hands away, which wasn’t helping things.
“How many times do we have to tell you not to blame anything on the pregnancy?” Decebel exhaled and shook his head. Jacque glanced at him and snorted while Thia tried to place an empty box over his head.
“She blames stuff on the pregnancy all the time.” Drake placed his hands on either side of Bethany’s hips, trying to hold her in place.
“She’s allowed,” Jacque said. “It’s one of the rules of pregnancy.”
“They need to write a book about this crap,” Bethany’s mate grumbled under his breath.
Jen laughed. “Dude, there’s no less than ten thousand books on the subject of pregnancy. It’s called the Internet. Step out of the dark ages and join the light.”
“Or you could just listen to Aunt Jen.” Titus was playing with construction blocks on the floor at Bethany’s feet. “She says all the time that she refuses to get pregnant again because her stomach and thighs look like a road map, and her girls definitely have more sag in them than before.”
The room went silent as all heads turned to look at the four-year-old. Titus continued playing, apparently oblivious to his shocked audience. Jacque turned to look at Jen. Her blonde best friend chewed on her lips, eyes narrowed as she stared at Titus. Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting to see what would happen.
Finally, Jen threw her hands in the air. “All right, I admit it. Your hunting skills have improved, Timber. I’ve only ever whined about those things when it’s been me, myself, and a mirro…” Jen paused as something appeared to dawn on her. Jacque’s eyes widened as well. “Dude, I was not fully clothed,” Jen growled.
Titus shrugged. “Yeah, you need to remember to lock your doors, Aunt Jen.” He didn’t miss a beat as he added, “You never know when there’s a big, bad wolf standing just outside.”
“Gavril!” Jen snapped at the same time that Bethany finally disengaged her mate’s hands and pushed herself up.
“Finally,” the pregnant wolf huffed.
She took one step and then froze.
Titus’s back straightened, and he went still. Then he slowly looked over his shoulder and down at something Jacque couldn’t see. “Aunt Bethany, I think you just peed on me.”
Bethany’s feet squelched in saturated carpet. She heard Titus say something about peeing, but the only thing she could process was that her water couldn’t possibly be breaking. It was much too soon, which she promptly voiced out loud. “It’s too soon!” Her head whipped around to look at Drake. His eyes were locked on her bare calves. She could still feel water running down them.
“Okay, nobody panic.” Jacque jumped to her feet. “This isn’t our first rodeo.”
“And it certainly isn’t our most dangerous birthing situation,” Jen added. “I gave birth in a—”
“Cave,” Sally, Peri, and Jacque all said at the same time.
“We know, Jen,” Peri said. “You won’t let us forget it.”
“Crina, get towels,” Jacque