Page 53 of As The Shifter World Turns

53

COMING HOME

Ivor

Everyone at Sunshine Manor had lined up to welcome me home. I half expected them to bow as though I was royalty. Even Seb muttered, “Glad you and the baby are okay,” as he got in his car and drove off. The tension rippling off Ryder diminished once Seb left. I could smell Kellan on the guy. Not that they were a couple—at least I didn’t think so, that wasn’t the vibe I got—but he’d been around that asswipe, and if I scented Kellan on his jacket, so did Ryder.

Daire took my papers and medication and helped me onto the porch. I wasn’t broken, at least not on the outside, but he was being a good friend so I took his arm. Even Patch was pleased to see me as Archer must have brought him over when he came, but there was no sign of Micah and Elune. I’d probably burst into tears if I saw the baby thinking of the little one I carried inside me.

“What’s your decision?” Daire asked. “Do I take you to your room in 1A or up to 2A?”

I glanced at Ryder. We’d been having this will I or won’t I discussion since I’d been in the hospital. “2A, please.”

Neil had a gooey expression on his face and he was silently squeeing, I could tell. “We’re doing this for the baby. But we’re not together,” I said for everyone’s benefit.

“Not yet,” Ryder mumbled under his breath.

“Daire, about the rent?—“

But he cut me off. “Don’t worry about it. Once, it would have been a problem, but now with the income from our company, plus the advertising money I’m getting on the gardening videos, it’s fine.”

He was a good friend. The best. And he charged me so little for my room, that whether I was paying rent or not, it probably made little difference.

“I’ve got plenty of time before we head to the university, so Neil and I can help you pack,” Archer told me.

“Nope,” Ryder got between me and Archer. “I’m not letting Ivor do anything except rest today. I’ll help you and Neil once I get him upstairs.”

“Ryder,” I protested. “It’s not as though we’ve moving furniture. It’s clothes and books and that’s about it.”

He gave me a look. One that said, “Let me do this for you.”

“Okay. If anyone wants me, I’ll be on the couch eating corn chips, chocolates and watching daytime TV,” I announced.

“Wait, I’ll need to run to the store.” Ryder raked his fingers through his hair. “I have corn chips but no chocolates.”

Gods how I loved this man and it broke my heart not to be with him, not to be mated. “I was kidding. I don’t need any chocolate.” I outstretched my hand and withdrew it. Before finding out I was pregnant, I was learning how to be around Ryder without us being a couple. Hard as it was and with more steps back than forward.

But with a baby on the way and us sharing an apartment, I didn’t know how to negotiate our relationship. There was no rule book and it'd take time to work out us being together and yet not.

I didn’t watch any TV but got on the sofa and napped and when I woke up, there was a yummy aroma coming from the kitchen. Neil and Archer must have left.

“Enjoy your nap?”

“Yeah. I don’t normally sleep during the day. Weird.”

He handed me a plate. “Grilled chicken wrap.”

“Smells delicious.” I took a bite and moaned. “So good. But why aren’t you at the office?”

“The new guy’s looking after things.” He glanced toward the window. “The one I hired after…” His voice trailed away.

I took another bite of my wrap to avoid having to say anything.

“Can we talk?” he asked as he sipped a soda.

I hated that expression. It usually preceded a breakup but we’d been there and done that, and we were more together than we’d been since the day Kellan announced he was pregnant.

“Mmmm.” I concentrated on my food, avoiding his gaze.

“I understand we’re doing this for the baby.”

“You need to date, Ryder,” I blurted out. “Someone not me.”

“What?” he shrieked and then he slapped a hand over his mouth. “Shit, the baby, sorry.”

“The baby’s fine.” I put a protective hand on my flat belly and the memory of Kellan doing the same thing had me realize he and I shared more than just being Ryder’s partner. For the first and probably the only time, I felt a little sorry for him. He didn’t have a supportive ex-partner to help him through the pregnancy though Seb was doing his best to fill that role.

“Where did that come from?” Ryder asked. “I thought we were getting along great.”

“We are.”

He rubbed my feet and I gave him a look. That was something mates did. Not co-parents. “I don’t want to date anyone. I love you.”

“It’ll be hard at first and I know this is your place, but please don’t bring anyone here.” I paused and held in the tears that threatened to spill. “I couldn’t deal with that.”

“The only deal I’m agreeing to is looking after you and our baby. I’m not dating anyone when the love of my life and omega father of my child, is right here in front of me.”

Archer

“It’s okay, babe,” I tried to reassure my mate. Micah refused to let me hold Elune as we walked the long university corridor toward Professor Hudson’s door. He’d run through so many what ifs since he got the call on the Sunshine Manor roof, there was nothing else either of us could say. And as I raised my fist to knock, the door opened and Professor Hudson stood there grinning. That had to be a good sign and would make Micah feel better. But based on his furrowed brow, it didn’t appear to have made an impact.

Elune cooed and gave the professor a big smile. She wasn’t concerned there was something wrong with her.

“Come on in.”

“Just tell us, Professor. “What is it? Ever since your phone call, I’ve been worried sick.”

“Micah, I’m so sorry. If I’d realized, I would have told you over the phone, but I wanted Elune to be here when I gave you the results of the study.”

“Is it bad?” he blurted out, and his raised voice had Elune stroke his cheek and burble in her adorable baby babble.

“Look at that,” Professor Hudson noted.

“What? What am I looking at?”

“This is why I asked you here. She’s talking to you.”

“She does that a lot,” I explained. “More than the baby books say she should at this stage.”

Micah kissed our daughter. “That’s because she’s such a clever girl and very advanced for her age. ”

“I’m sure all parents say that,” I clarified.

Professor Hudson sat behind his desk. “They do, but in Elune’s case you’re right.”

“Huh?” Micah caught my eye and I shrugged.

“Her baby babble isn’t just the normal progression from that to fully formed words and sentences. She’s talking to your unicorn, Micah. And telling him not to worry. To be precise, she’s telling her beast to pass the message to yours.”

“She is?” Micah locked gazes with Elune. “But why didn’t he tell me. I’ve been freaking out that she’s not like other kids.”

“She isn’t and never will be,” the professor added. “You couldn't hear your beast most of your life, but Elune is in touch with hers already.”

“But he talks to me all the time and hasn’t mentioned anything. What’s going on?” Micah jumped up. “Can the two unicorns not talk to one another?”

“Let’s take a breath,” the professor suggested.

I took Elune from my mate because he was so agitated. He’d gone from thinking Elune had a problem to believing it was him.

“I’m not a scientist, but could it be that you’re not listening, Micah.” I looked to the professor for confirmation and he gave a slight nod. “Your head has been full of worry for our daughter and I love you for that. But if you quiet your mind, perhaps you’ll hear more.”

“Really?” He closed his eyes for a few seconds and when they snapped open, he held up his hands and announced, “Nothing.”

I was tempted to tell him to take a chill pill but that wouldn’t help the situation.

The professor got up. “Go home, stop worrying your daughter is not okay because she’s more than okay. Spend time with your family, do whatever you enjoy doing and I suspect you’ll hear what your beast has been trying to tell you.

“I’m jealous,” I said as we left the office. “You and Elune have a secret communication channel.”

“I hope so,” Micah harrumphed.