Page 32 of Briggs (Paranormal Council Enforcers #16)

Briggs leaned in and kissed my forehead.

“If you want to return to work, you are more than welcome to do so. If you wish to stay home, I’m fully behind that as well.

I could have taken more time off if you wanted or needed, but like you said, you seem to be doing better.

If you need me though, I can extend my leave. ”

I shook my head. “I’m doing better. I just…cry.” I looked over at Dr. Swift. “I’ve never been this emotional. We weren’t that type of family. And then when you showed emotion while I was held captive, you paid for it.”

“I remember you mentioned that before. Perhaps you are finally in a place that you feel you can let everything out. You’re in a safe, stable relationship, and you have your mate and are pregnant.

Do you feel as if that might be part if not all of it?

It is true that pregnancy can and does affect the emotions because your hormones fluctuate so much.

But maybe it’s because of your mate and how he makes you feel? ”

Briggs was staring down at me with a smile on his face.

When I looked at him, I saw no judgment, only someone who cared.

He’d been there for me so much in such a short time.

And he had tried to stay home longer, but I’d pushed him to go back because he was supposed to.

But now? If I didn’t know better, I’d say that my mate, my alpha, was looking at me with love in his gaze.

I cleared my throat and looked back at Dr. Swift. “Yeah, probably. Briggs makes me feel safe and cared for. He’s always doing things for me, even without me having to ask. I’ve never had anything like what I do with him. And I’ve never felt like this.”

Dr. Swift looked as if he was going to say something but instead stopped. His eyes moved to Briggs before they returned to me.

“I understand that you’ve stated that meditation doesn’t seem to be for you, and that’s fine. It’s truly not for everyone. I would like for you to, at a minimum, try the daily walks. Drink the tea that Dr. King has given you.”

“Which one?”

“The one that makes you a bit sleepy.”

I scowled. I knew the tea was to help me relax, and it did. But it also made me sleepy. “If I drink it, how will I go back to work? I’ll do no good if Dr. King has to do my job for me while I’m sleeping in the break room or one of the exam rooms.”

“Does it make you that sleepy though? Or is it that you simply don’t have anything else to occupy your time or mind because your mate is at work and you simply lie down and fall asleep because your mind is finally relaxed?”

I opened my mouth to deny all of that, but I couldn’t.

I thought about what he’d just said and realized that was exactly what it was.

Sure, when I was having a complete meltdown about a stupid shirt color and how it fit, I was given the tea that completely knocked me out.

I was sure that Dr. King gave me tea that had something extra in it.

But as far as I knew, there wasn’t a tea that mellowed pregnant omegas out.

“Todd?”

I blinked. “Yeah?”

Dr. Swift raised both eyebrows. “Are you all right?”

I nodded absently. “I think you’re right,” I said quietly.

“I’ve never really known the ability to just be.

When I was younger and lived in my pride, I was busy with homeschooling, and when that was over, there were chores.

” Dr. King nodded. “Then Robert sold me. My life became chaos. Then I was rescued, and I was afraid of everything for so long.” I looked up at Briggs and blinked a few times when he became blurry.

He reached up and wiped away the tears as they started to fall.

“You make me feel safe. You’ve given me something even my parents never have.

And I think my cheetah realized it before I did. It’s your turn to take care of things.”

Briggs smiled. “I’ll always take care of you.

” He shook his head. “If you want to leave here tomorrow, we’ll pack up and move wherever you want to go.

We can go back to my pack, or we can go somewhere completely new.

I don’t care as long as we’re together. We can take your siblings too.

I just want you to be happy and have everything I can give you. ”

I shook my head. “I like it here. You like being an enforcer.” Briggs nodded at me. I looked back at Dr. Swift. “Can we go now?” I asked. “I have some things to think about, and there’s some things I need to talk to Briggs about.”

“Absolutely. I want to see you again in a week.”

I nodded before I stood, taking Briggs’s hand and tugging. He stood, giving me a confused look.

“Thanks, Dr. Swift. I’ll make an appointment for a week,” I said as I left the office.

I had something important to talk to my mate about, and it couldn’t wait.

I tugged Briggs down the hallway, and when we got to the front room, I waved at Henry.

“Bye, Henry. I’ll call for my appointment. I have to check work schedules.”

“Bye,” Henry called out as I continued to pull my mate out the door.

It was October already, although just barely, and the front porch was decorated with hay bales, massive mums, and several pumpkins.

It looked perfect for the front porch, and it fit in perfectly with the other houses on the street.

It wasn’t until we were standing beside Briggs’s vehicle that he stopped me. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. Can we get in?” I asked. “I really want to talk to you, but not in there.”

“Should I be concerned? You’re not planning on deciding you want to move tomorrow, are you?” he asked. I could tell he wasn’t serious though. I shook my head. “Good.” Briggs opened the door for me, and after he was behind the wheel, he started the truck and backed out of the driveway.

“Can I talk and you not freak out?”

“Possibly. I’m getting a bit worried already though.”

I bit my lower lip. “All right. Can we head straight back to Treasure Ridge?”

Briggs glanced at me before nodding. I smiled back and then waited.

I wanted to talk to him so much, but I really didn’t want to upset my mate while he was driving.

It seemed like forever before he finally pulled into the parking area at the cabin that was at the base of the mountain.

When he put the vehicle in park and shut it off, he angled himself toward me and tilted his head. “Are you all right?”

I smiled and nodded. “I love you,” I blurted out.

Briggs’s eyebrows rose, and I could feel the shock through our bond.

“You give me so much, and it isn’t because of that.

At least, not completely. That just makes loving you easier.

But I realized in that meeting that I love you, and I haven’t told you because I’m afraid that you don’t love me back. ”

“Oh, sweetheart. You never have to fear saying anything to me.” Briggs reached out for me, and when I took his hand, he brought mine to his mouth and kissed it.

“I love you too. I have for a while, and even Dr. King picked up on it.” Briggs sighed.

“He told me to tell you, and I should have then. I should have told you two weeks ago, but every time I started, either something happened and we got busy, or you were stressing about everything going on. I didn’t want to add more stress to you and make you feel like you had to say it back. You don’t. You never do.”

“But I love you. And I wanted to tell you. I should know better than to keep anything from someone you love. Everything can be taken in a blink.”

Briggs took off his seat belt and leaned closer. When he gently tugged me closer, I met him in the middle and smiled as he kissed me.

“I love you too,” he whispered. When Briggs pulled away, he smiled. “Since we’re admitting our secrets now, I think there’s something you should know.”

My eyes widened. “What? Does it involve me? Us?”

Briggs nodded. “That day, when you were so upset about the shirt and it was just a lot for you to take in?”

I nodded slowly. “When Dr. King came to the house and helped me?”

Briggs bit his lower lip before he squeezed my hand. “Dr. King told me then that you were carrying twins. I wanted to tell you sooner, but you’ve been so stressed about everything.”

I saw Briggs’s mouth moving, but all I heard in my ears was my heartbeat pounding. Twins? Two? I started breathing heavier, but when I suddenly heard Briggs in my mind, I listened.

“Breathe in deeply and out slowly. I’m here. Everything will be all right. We’re going to be just fine. You and I have this. And if you need to lean on me more, I’m going to be there, no matter what.”

I did exactly what he said, and when I focused on my mate, he looked a bit worried but offered a forced smile.

“We’re having twins,” I whispered. Briggs nodded. My eyes widened when something suddenly occurred to me. “We’re going to need two of everything!”

Briggs’s smile grew until his eyes were twinkling.