Outlaw (Wolves of Royal Paynes #4) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,78

not worried about safety." He snapped at me like he'd been able to sense I'd been about to suggest something that would make him angry. "I'm just…I'm a guy? That isn't a question. I am. Being pregnant wasn't something I grew up wanting. It hadn't been a possibility, but even if it had, I don't think I'd have wanted to get pregnant back then."

"Back then?" My insides turned into ice, reimagining all of those warm, happy moments, Quinlan swollen with his hand on his belly, but this time, he was frowning.

"Back then." He nodded. "I think because I didn't have you. You weren't officially mine. And I'd always been so worried that something would take your attention from me. I know that's selfish now. You were right. I wasn't ready back then." He lifted his face to meet mine. I was glad for it since I'd been seconds from doing it for him. I needed his eyes, even if the sadness in them would hurt.

His dichromatic stare wasn't sad. He was radiant.

"I'm ready now because I have you. I have a pack. I'll miss our old pack forever, but if I had to start from scratch, I'd want to with the people in this hotel." He blew out a heavy sigh. "So, yeah, I don't know how I've got a bun, or where exactly my oven is…" He peered at his midsection. "But I do want to be pregnant. I'm happy," he added resolutely.

The soft knock on the door acted as an immediate fact checker. "Quinlan?" Sitka called through the wood. "Can I come in? I felt something—"

"I'm coming, Quinlan!" Jazz's scream sounded like it came from quite a ways down the hallway.

Not ten minutes later, the entire pack loitered inside our room, getting their stinky smells all over everything. I preferred only my mate's scent in my space. Sensing others in a space where my baby boy was often vulnerable made my jaw clench. But even a man as stubborn as I could make allowances for special occasions.

Hallie sat squeezed between Siobhan and Sitka on the bed with Quinlan. I'd felt her eyes on me and tried to catch her attention, but she was lost in her thoughts. "You're so lucky you don't have to worry about a natural human birth," she said. "A Diesel-baby is going to be huge."

"The baby could take after Quinlan. His petite frame and Diesel's shaggy hair," Storri suggested.

"Like Cousin It, short and hairy." Huntley laughed.

"Hey!" Quinlan whined when more than one person's laughter joined Huntley's. "Don't make fun of my baby! Whatever the size or hair level, my baby will be perfect!"

I'd have swooped in to comfort my pouting mate, but a puppy pile of Sitka, Siobhan, Storri, and Jazz beat me to it.

When Jamie jumped in, I barely contained my growl. It wasn't the kid's fault he was a reasonably okay-looking shifter male who was closer to Quin's age than I was.

Moments like this made our pack stronger anyway, and I wouldn't do something to stop that, even if Jamie was getting mighty close to snuggling my mate.

I wouldn't do something to stop it right away. "That's enough. Give him room. He's breathing for two."

Quinlan rolled his eyes, but they'd been filled with so much joy.

"Congrats, man." Knox clapped his hand on my shoulder. "Has the panic set in yet?"

"Fuck yes." I checked to make sure the others were occupied before continuing. "Claus said we were only safe from lesser demons while the gate is opening. We can't guess how many more demon kings crawl out or what they'll want." Quinlan's laughter brought my attention back to the bed. They'd started coming up with names. I had nothing against Sitka, but we were not naming the child Howler. "Thalasso won't be weak forever. Claus can already play-build a body at whim, and when Thalasso's strength also returns, he'll come for the nephilim."

"What's your point here, Diesel?"

Our huddled conversation had drawn the attention of the twins and Faust.

"We need to take them someplace safe. Where we aren't sitting ducks."

"I agree," Huntley grunted. "But Sitka would only leave kicking and screaming."

"What are you guys talking about?" Jazz skipped with Angus from the bed to our huddle.

Knox fit his arm over mate and son, kissing Jazz on the temple. "Diesel wants to ship you all off to an impenetrable fortress. Regular first-time dad jitters."

"Diesel—what?" Quinlan shouted at a pitch normally reserved for dolphins.

The others scattered from the bed. At least now I'd get everyone out