Page 357 of Alpha Mates

“No,” I insist, shaking my head. “It’s not possible.”

“Clearly, it is,” she retorts, pointing that stick again, only this time Julian snatches it and tosses it at the door. “Hey!”

“I don’t believe you,” he states with a growl. “I’m not fucking pregnant. It’s physically not possible, so this must be some stupid witchy juju you’re pulling on us, and I don’t care if that’s offensive.”

Katerina presses a hand to her chest, clutching invisible pearls, but Julian carries on.

“What did you do to me?” he asks with narrowed eyes. “Are you trying to kill me slowly, is that it?”

“Now, you’re just being stupid,” Katerina answers with a snort. “Why the fuck would I save your ass so many times, just to kill you? I’m fucked up but I’m not sadistic.”

“Witches hate werewolves,” Julian tries, but she just cackles.

“Yeah, but clearly, I don’t hate you guys,” she says, then glances at me. “You asked why I keep hanging around? Well, it’s because you’re the closest thing to friends I’ve ever had.”

We stare at Katerina, stunned by the bomb she’s just dropped.

“I don’t know how it happened,” she goes on, forcing herself to meet our eyes, but I can’t just up and leave you guys. I care about you—even if you turn into slobbering mutts at night. So, no, this isn’t some ‘witchy juju.’ I didn’t do anything to you. I’d never hurt either of you.”

Something warm swells in my chest, and I feel it flooding the bond between Julian and me too. His expression softens.

“I know that,” he whispers as his shoulders drop. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? That’d be my first guess, too,” she replies with an easy smile. “But I’m not responsible for knocking you up. He is.”

The remorse disappears from Julian’s face, replaced by irritation as heat rushes into his cheeks. “I am not knocked up!”

“UGHHH!” Katerina groans long and hard as she drags her hand down her face. “Fine. Fine, you don’t believe me? Listen.”

“What?” I choke out.

“You don’t believe me, right? So, listen for yourselves.” Her beloved stick rises to point at Julian’s stomach. He covers it, but we all can see it. “Put those mutt ears to good use, and see what you hear. You’re far enough along.”

I frown, but I can’t drag my eyes away from Julian’s stomach once I glance down.

This is bullshit. We know that, but …

My heart seizes as fear trickles through me. I glance at Julian and see the same thought flash behind his eyes.

What do we have to lose by checking for the impossible?

Closing my eyes, I focus on the sounds around us, drowning out everything outside the room. I focus on the still air, and peel the clock’s ticking away. All that’s left is our breaths, the three of us, and our heartbeats. Kat’s flitters on, all on its own. It’s distinct, unlike Julian’s and mine that beat the same tune, and I search for another like it, but there’s none.

But it’s not distinct like Katerina’s … because it drums along with ours.

Budump! Budump! Budump!

“AGHHH!” Julian screams as he jumps off the bed and scrambles away from us while his hands clutch his stomach and then his ears and then his stomach again.

“Holy shit,” I mumble as I stare at my mate—mypregnantmate.

Julian’s eyes are bulging wide while he dances on his toes like he wants to jump out of his own body next. He looks down at his stomach, which my eyes are glued to, and then up at me.

“I’m pregnant,” he whispers hoarsely with a shaky voice laced with the panic clogging our bond. “I—I’m—I’m pregnant.”

My lips part but nothing comes out to comfort him because, while he’s losing his shit, I’m right there with him.

“What are we going to do?!” he hisses hysterically as his eyes dart around like a caged animal.