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He glanced around, his cheeks on fire. “Well…yes…”

John glanced at the kids. “And do you get wet for him?”

“Um. Yes.”

“You’re probably pregnant. I’ll have the midwife come talk to you.”

“I—”

“It’s no shame. We all know how babies are made.”

His cheeks heated painfully. “I just never expected to have any. Like personally cook them.”

“Um, hello. I was a macho PI.” John snorted.

“Are you sure? Macho?” he teased.

“Well, I was damn manly.” John winked. “Beau was really the big alpha one.”

“Yes. Beau was a hoot. He gave Zeke a run for his money.” Could he be pregnant? Surely not.

“Well, like I said, I’ll send one of the midwives. It will make you feel better to know.” John snorted. “Hormones can make you feel like you’re nuts.”

“Yeah? I guess… I guess that would be okay. I won’t worry Fen, though.”

“Okay, cool?” John looked at his face, then set his coffee aside. “Sorry. I’ll just not have the rest of that.”

“Oh. No. No, sorry. I’m just…” Going to toss cookies if he wasn’t careful. “I need a glass of water.”

“You got it.” John brought him a cold glass of water two seconds later. “Bess? Can you sub in here? Let’s go outside and get you some air.”

“Oh, goddess…please. I’m sorry, I just…” He was going to hurl.

“It’s okay. You’re okay. Sip your water, it’s totally cool.” John led him outside and into the crisp autumn air.

Rory held his glass like it was a lifeline, as if when he let go of it the world would fall apart. It may well be the only thing holding him together.

“Listen, I know this has to be scary. I mean, I was in your shoes, and I didn’t even know werewolves existed, right? Much less omegas and alphas and men getting pregnant. I thought everybody was crazy. Women being able to get people pregnant? Hello there, I thought it was like some mass hallucination. And then of course, you know. I lived it twice.”

“Did you hate it?”

John shrugged for him. “I admit, I wasn’t the best pregnant person on earth. I love the kids. That part is cool. I wasn’t happy being pregnant. I wasn’t glowing, but everybody’s different. I would do it again to get my babies. They’re worth it. Nine months of bullshit, but it’s nothing when you hold them. Okay, it’s still something.” John rolled his eyes, so dramatic. “It, yeah, okay, it’s still something, but worth it. And regardless, there’s nothing to freak out about.”

“I think I’m going to freak out a little bit anyway.”

“Oh, I think you’re already freaking out a little bit. But what I’m saying is breathe. It’s gonna be okay.”

“Okay. Right. What if Fen doesn’t want babies? How am I even doing this?”

John shook his head. “Man, I don’t know. I… We just don’t know. I mean, maybe this is the universe’s way of making sure that guys get mates. Maybe it’s magic. Maybe it’s genetics. All I know is it is what it is.”

“Yeah.” And he didn’t hate it. He didn’t hate being a wolf. It was kind of cool actually, and he adored Fen. It was just all very new and moving very, very fast.

And what did that mean for his brothers? If he knew one thing, it was that they all had the same mom and dad. His folks had been in love. Like super-duper, for real in love. So they all had the same genetics.

Did that mean his brothers were going to end up finding mates and getting preggers? That thought was hilarious. Dean? Pregnant?

Or maybe Dean was more an alpha, and that was why he was holding the whole family together.