Page 225 of Broken Bonds

Well, I want my mommy.

There. I fucking said it.

Fricking. I fricking said it.

I glance at the swear jar Todd gave me, sitting on the table with the other gifts. It’ll be a couple’s thing, but I do need help remembering not to swear. I’ve asked him to help me remember to watch my mouth. I don’t want our baby’s first word to be “fuck.”

Mom doesn’t have to decide about joining the pack yet. Jax has deferred it until a year after my baby is born. If she doesn’t live in the compound, it won’t be required. If she decides she wants to live in the compound—not just an overnight visit with us here or there—she’ll have to go through initiation.

And despite my ravenous libido as BT insistently presses on my prostate, that’s a subject I stay away from, both in my head and talking about it.

“Once we’re all cleaned up here tonight,” Mom says, “I’m going to go hang out with Alizée and spend the night down there, okay?”

I feel a serious pout coming on. “Why?”

Shawn snorts but takes another bite of cake.

“Honey, it’s your wedding night,” she says.

“Not really,” I remind her. “That was almost four months ago. I don’t baby shower-wedding reception nights are a thing.”

She nearly rolls her eyes at me. “I think you two should have privacy.”

“You being in the apartment gives us privacy!”

“Sweetie, I’ll just be down at the barn. It’s not like I’ll be miles away.” Alizée now lives in her RV on the ranch. Because she’s not a wolf, and because she’s midwife to me and to Shawn—and will be for Pavin, too—and because of her position as one of the witches’ representatives on the fledgling council being formed, Jax is letting her presence slide. If she wants to build a house here, in the compound, she’ll have to go through initiation.

Todd installed a small septic tank, water connection, and electrical hookup for her RV. With her five horses here, it feels like maybe she won’t leave.

I hope.

She helps out with cattle, riding Costco for roundups, as well as helps out with the vampires’ herd we’re still boarding.

And she’s going to be the midwife for me and Shawn when our babies are born.

Oh, fuck yes—I mean frick, yes, I’m having it at the clinic, not at home. But knowing I’ll have her calming presence at my side makes me freak out a little less as my delivery date draws closer.

After a lot of talking, and Jax doing an extremely rare thing and putting it to a full pack vote, the Memphis vampires purchased one hundred acres about five miles away, with the pack’s blessing. Once it’s completely fenced in and they get their operation going, they’ll move their herd. Meanwhile, they quickly erected a huge, enclosed pole barn and moved enough RVs there that their people can comfortably live there until they construct new buildings.

Meaning the pack has the rec center back.

I know from Jax’s talks with Todd that he’s thrilled many of our pack have volunteered their time and expertise to the vampires, including proposing we expand the pack school and allow the vampire children and fledglings to attend as well.

It’s a new day, to sound a little melodramatic in the best way possible.

“You are kinda loud,” Shawn teases. “And you know as well as I do what y’all will be doing tonight.”

“Fu—frick you.”

He grins. “You say that now, but wait until initiation.”

Mom gets up, smiling, and walks around to kiss me on top of the head. “I want you and Todd to have fun tonight, sweetie. I just didn’t want to drop it on you at the last minute for you to pout.”

“I’m not pouting, dam-angit!” I pout while Shawn bursts out laughing.

“Keep that up,” he teases, “and Todd’s going to own your ass even more with IOUs for the swear jar.”

Mom pats the top of my head. “I know you’re not pouting.” But she smiles as she walks away.