Page 293 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha

“Just in time to get too big to see your feet.”

I laughed with her. “Yeah, yeah. Night and I are shocked that my baby bump is so huge now. It really snuck up on me.” I had the impulse to touch my stomach but stopped myself before I smeared soil over my shirt.

“I’ve heard it can be like that.” She nodded. “What about your appointments? You haven’t mentioned them in a while.”

“My last appointment with Dr. Stan was a month ago. I’m probably overdue for another one, but things have been so hectic lately, I’ll have to make time for one.”

“Aren’t times always hectic?”

I snorted. “Ha, true. Now that the pregnancy has gotten easier, I can’t wait for the little one to get here. Both packs are making so much progress toward accepting this merger, it feels like we’ve created a safe place for our baby. I just hope that by the time I give birth, things have calmed down completely.”

“What do you mean?”

“Some of the kids aren’t getting along well. I think they’re acting out because they sense the tension in their parents. There have been fights, which put the parents even more on edge.” I sighed. “And to be honest, it stresses me out. I hate hearing that they’ve been mistreating each other.”

“I imagine it reminds you of the environment you grew up in.”

It hadn’t occurred to me that hearing about the kids fighting would remind me of being bullied, but my mother was right. “Yes,” I said. “I don’t want my child to have a hard time growing up. I’m sure having parents who are the alpha and den mother will help, but I just don’t know.”

“Oh, sweetheart. It makes sense that you would be concerned about these things. There will be times when your pup acts in ways you don’t expect, and it’s possible that behavior might be negative or disappoint you. There’s no such thing as a perfectly behaved child.”

Her words irked me, making me feel scolded. I shook my head. “I’m not talking about sneaking candy before dinner. I’m worried about my baby absorbing the prejudices of the adults in the pack. What if it makes them become a loner like I was, or…or…what if they become a bully?” I shuddered at the thought.

Mom reached over and squeezed my hand. “Honey, don’t let these thoughts spiral out of control. Your little one isn’t even born, and even if they were, they wouldn’t start school for a few years. It makes sense for you to worry about all this, but you have to remember that you are not powerless. If there are problems, the teachers will let you know, and then you, Night, and your child will work on that behavior.”

“Oh.” Her words sunk in further as the seconds ticked by. “I…I guess that’s true.”

She nodded. “Bryn, raising a child will present its own set of issues. And some of those issues will be unpredictable. But you and Night will overcome them, just like you’ve overcome other obstacles.”

I squeezed her hand. “Thanks, Mom. I needed to hear that.” I paused. “Sorry I snapped at you.”

“It’s okay, honey. I didn’t take offense.”

We scooped the fresh soil into planters, then my mother spoke again. “Have you and Night started getting baby necessities yet? I bet your cabin is overrun with things for the baby.”

“Um…” I hesitated. “Not yet.”

“What?” Mom burst out. “But you only have two, maybe three months left! What’s holding you up?”

“You sound like Night,” I groaned. “We still have some time. Besides, we still need to move into our new cabin, and I don’t want piles of baby stuff collecting dust in one of the huge rooms in the alpha cabin.”

“Honey.” Her tone was gently reproachful, making me duck my head. “Violet and I will take the lead on getting prep stuff done. If you’re worried about keeping your baby’s things in that place, we can store most of them. We’ll take care of getting everything you need while you focus on your work.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. Something in her tone told me she and Violet had already started. “I guess I can talk to Night about it?—”

“Wonderful!” she cut me off with a beaming smile. “Don’t worry about anything, honey. Violet and I have got this covered.”

“Right…” I’d have to accept that it was out of my hands for now, but I hoped they weren’t planning on filling every space in our home with baby things.

When we were done planting the new herbs, I left my mother to clean up. We’d talked so much that I hadn’t noticed how much time had passed. If I stayed to help clean up, I’d be late for my meeting with the elders.

Months ago, I’d done a memory walk ritual to learn more about my birth mother, Blossom. Now, I was finally going to hear what the elders had found out. I knocked on the door of the white cabin, and Elder Sage answered the door.

“You’re late,” he pointed out.

“Am I?” I raised a brow. “I think I’m right on time.”

He turned away from me, quiet disapproval evident in his stiff shoulders. I didn’t take it personally. Elder Sage tended to be pretty blunt, but he cared about his pack.