Page 12 of A Bunny for the Bear (Beartastic Summer of Love)

Chapter Twelve

Hutton

I realize there are not enough hours in the day as I get ready for bed each night, and there's still a million more things left on my to-do list.

I could admit that finding out my mate was a bunny shifter took me by surprise. Of all the animals I had imagined him being, that was not one of them.

Of course my mate is perfect just the way he is. I had zero complaints.

If it weren't a shock enough of what he was, then I definitely felt the blow the moment he told me he was pregnant. And to add fuel to the fire, his pregnancy would only last a month.

We were already at the halfway point. I spent most days wondering if we would be ready in time. Even with the help of my aunt and uncle and some of the people in town, I still didn't see how we would have everything.

There were clothes to buy and diapers to purchase. We had to decide if we wanted to do cloth or disposable. We were unsure whether or not the babies would be born as bunnies or bears.

They could have even been both, according to Dr. Hepbuck. He was the same doctor who explained to me what a heat cycle was.

I almost told the guy off for not explaining to me that my mate would be super fertile. Then I remembered that he had no clue that my mate was a bunny shifter either.

My aunt had known though, and I made sure to tell her that it was not fair to keep that part of the information from me. She shrugged and told me, "It's not my business."

I gave a bitter laugh because everything in this town was that woman's business.

Today was an especially busy day. I had gotten everything moved into the other side of the duplex that I was using it as storage. We’d also put baby items we couldn't fit in the place we had now over there.

Due to all the space issues, I had quickly begun the project of surveying the land my aunt and uncle had set aside for me.

For us.

I hadn't told Ross what we were going to look at when we left the house this morning. Instead, I placed the newly delivered packages in the other side of the house and then ushered him out of the door.

As we drove, he noticed the direction we were headed and said, "We're going to see your aunt and uncle."

I stuck my hand out and wobbled it side to side. “In a sense, yes. There's more to it though.”

His brows dipped as he thought over my words. It was adorable to watch him try to dissect what I was not saying. He knew me well already, considering how much time we spent together.

In the moments we weren’t knotted and making love, we were learning everything we could about one another. All the years we'd been apart were explored through stories and shared experiences.

I felt closer to him than ever.

As we drove onto the land that my aunt and uncle owned, he scoffed. "We are going to see them. You can’t tell me we're not. Look at where we are."

His hand extended towards the front of the vehicle where we could see my aunt and uncle's home. I pulled right up to it and parked. As I went around to open his door, he shook his head, though he had a giant smile on his face.

“You spoil me, Alpha.”

“And I will for as long as there is breath in my lungs.”

As soon as he was out of the car, a chuckle came from the porch. I turned to find Uncle Champ there. He tossed a set of keys my way and then saluted me before going back inside.

I led my mate to the side of the house where the ATV I had asked Uncle Champ to pull out was sitting.

"We're going on another drive?" he asked, voice unsure.

"We are."

"So technically I was right, mate."

He didn't say anything as he climbed into the seat. I came around the vehicle, then we took off, moving away from the house and towards the space that I had chosen for our new home.

It faced one of the bodies of water that was far enough away to not be dangerous to the children, but close enough for us to enjoy. It was also a little bit past a hill. There wouldn't be any issues with privacy, just as they had told me. There were trees surrounding it, too, giving it a cozy feel.

I hoped we could build a cabin here, one that could house all our children, both the ones currently growing in my mate's stomach and the ones I was sure to come. Now that I knew how he could produce multiples at a time, I knew I had to create a space that would withstand those types of numbers.

When I plotted it all out, it meant multiple levels to the home, as well as it covering a large space. The land had been cleared to accommodate my plans. Posts had been set up to mark where the house would go.

As we pulled up, my mate's features changed. I wasn't sure if he picked up on what was happening or if he felt my excitement. His eyes practically sparkled as he turned to me.

"What are we doing out here?" he said softly.

After parking the ATV, I helped him out. Next, I walked us up to where the front path would be, then through where I had marked for the front door. When we were in the area that was going to be a foyer, I stood behind him and pressed my chin to his shoulder.

"This is where we're going to build our home," I told him.

He quickly spun in my arms, his hands moving to my chest as he gave me a wide-eyed look. "Our home?"

"Yes, our home, mate. My aunt and uncle secured land for us.

They didn't know it would be me and you, but they knew, or rather they hoped, that I would return home at some point. Thanks to their generosity, we have enough space for everything we could ever need. As many children as we want to have.”

His jaw dropped as his hands moved from my chest to his stomach. "As many as we want? How many do you think we'll have?"

I smirked. “Considering how much I love being knotted in that tight ass of yours, as many as you'll give me.

I'm up for preventative measures as well if you feel that it's too much.

But know this, we will always have help from my family.

And the friends that you've made in town seem very smitten with the idea of trading babysitting services.”

My mate giggled. “They do, don't they?”

Everyone was ecstatic when they heard the news that we were expecting. They were frazzled, though, when they found out that my mate would have his baby quicker.

Ross assured them all that he still got all the unfortunate benefits that came with pregnancy, including nausea, early contraction pain, having to deliver the baby, and a host of other things. All his medical knowledge really helped sell the point.

I just smiled and nodded as needed. The other Alphas gave me silly looks because I had a feeling they knew I wasn't aware of how deep the Omegas were going into the subject. I was happy enough being beside my mate.

“This is amazing, Alpha. I didn't expect any of it, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it all.”

“There's nothing you need to make of it.

You get to help me plan our home. The home where we will have our babies and be mated forever.

We can make it as big as you want, have a giant porch or a big backyard space.

We can put in a pool or just let them go play in the pond.

I'll build play equipment for them, and we can even house as many animals as they want to have.”

“Animals? You want to add chaos to this?"

"I'm not sure that there's a way to avoid it. We're having four kids. One of them is going to want a dog.”

My mate snorted and buried his face in my chest.

"How are you even real?" he asked softly.

"I'm real because Fate knew you needed me. It knew that I needed you. My life was a lonely existence before I found you, Ross. Now you've given me the beauty of having a mate as well as granting me the blessing of children. How could I not give you the world back?"

When he pulled away that time, there were tears in his eyes. I knew they weren't from being sad, yet they frustrated me nonetheless.

He saw my look and chuckled.

"It's okay, Alpha. I'll be fine. Right now, I want you to show me what you have already planned."

I raised my brow. "What I have planned?"

He grinned. "Yes, I know you. I know this wasn't just some random visit. You've had something planned already, and me being here is just so you can show it off. Am I right?”

I chuckled. "You've got me. I do have some plans. Most of it is just sizing because I wanted to get that right before I brought you here for anything design related."

As I walked him through the different spaces, I pointed out where I thought the kitchen should be, as well as the laundry room and the bedrooms. I walked us into the largest space and waved my hands.

"This would be our bedroom, the main one. I put us on the bottom floor, however, we can be upstairs if you would prefer that.”

He quickly shook his head. "No, I think having all the kids together upstairs will probably be better. Besides, I like the idea of having a large space for just you and me, something that's sacred and ours."

I smiled, tucking him into my side as I looked out onto the land. It was nothing but dirt and trees and grass at the moment.

Yet, if I took a deep breath in and closed my eyes, I could feel the reality of the space.

I could see the future room we would have and how beautifully it would be decorated.

I could see kids running in and out telling us it's time for Christmas morning or that they were hungry and needed pancakes.

I looked forward to every second of it. Every moment to come was wonderful. Even the exhausted moments trying to balance multiple children were going to be exciting.

“I can't believe you did all this, Alpha. It really is more than I could have dreamed up.”

Eventually we made it back to the ATV to go back to the house. This time we were going to visit my aunt and uncle. They had prepared lunch for us knowing we would be hungry by the time we got through looking at everything.

When we pulled up and went inside, my aunt called back from the kitchen. "Are those my boys and my babies?"

My uncle groaned loudly. "Woman, we cannot take in every single person as ours."

"You hush, Champ. You know that boy is ours as much as he was ever my sister’s. And those are my grandbabies growing in Ross."

We followed the sound of their bickering into the kitchen.

Uncle Champ was sneaking pieces of fruit off a tray as my aunt chopped vegetables. Ross's eyes lit up at the feast. There was plenty of meat, too, for the rest of us, but you could tell she catered mostly to him.

His stomach growled loudly, and my aunt froze.

"Well, don't wait. Come here, sweetie. We need to get that baby fed. Correction, those babies," she quickly said as she gently reached out to pass her hand across stomach. She paused before touching him, her gaze moving to him. "May I?"

He smiled widely. "Yes, please go ahead. You have free range to do so."

She shook her head as she gently laid her hand on his stomach.

"I understand that you keep telling me that, but I have knowledge that most pregnant people do not desire to be touched consistently all the time.

Your mood could change from day to day. Sometimes you like it and sometimes you don't. I don't ever want to do anything that might upset you.

Besides, consent is very important. Isn't that right? " She looked at me.

I held my hands up. "I am the king of consent. I made sure my mate was cognizant before anything ever happened. It just so happened we made four babies that day."

Uncle Champ held his hand up.

"That's what I'm talking about. Good job, nephew." He gave me a high five, then went back to sneaking food.

My aunt snapped her dish towel at him, and we all broke into laughter at the way he jumped out of her line of reach while still managing to grab another blueberry.

The man was obsessed with the things.

I felt renewed watching everyone enjoy themselves. Something about having my mate and knowing our future was secured gave me peace too.

I walked up and wrapped my arm around him as I leaned over for one of the blueberries. When I popped it in my mouth, my mate sighed contentedly against me. He held his hand over his full mouth as he chowed down on his own stolen berries.

My aunt eyed us both, her own smile beaming.

"I can't wait to have you as my neighbor," she said. "This is going to be perfect…”