Page 83 of Small-Town Secrets

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Once the childrenwere in bed that night, I led Aaron downstairs into the living room with me. The new puppy was sleeping in his arms again. The boys had asked for the dog to stay in their room, but Aaron told them it wasn't a good idea as long as he wasn't house-broken. Tyler and Chris had quickly agreed with Aaron's suggestions after he explained to them what their room would look like in the morning if the puppy stayed with them.

"It's too bad they don't make diapers for dogs, huh?" I asked Aaron as I sat on the couch with him.

"It really is. But then we'd be changing diapers all the time."

"Is that worse than cleaning puppy accidents from the floor?"

Aaron considered this for a moment. "I haven't changed too many diapers in my lifetimes, so I can't say for sure."

I grinned at him, even as knots tightened in my stomach. How was he going to take my news? I had no idea. Ihopedhe would take it well, but there was really no telling. "You might get some more experience with diapers in the near future," I said, deciding to just come out with it.

If there was anything I'd learned, it was that I didn't want to keep another kid secret from Aaron for any amount of time ever again.

Aaron looked at me. "Wait," he said. "Do you mean...?" His brows furrowed and his gaze traveled to my stomach. "Are you...? Arewe...?"

"Yes," I agreed, my nerves stretching my grin even wider. "I took a test last night. And then two more, just to make sure."

"Really?"

"Really."

Aaron's mouth hung open. For a moment, he only stared at me. Then, he stared at my belly, and then, he gently set the dog down on the couch beside us and drew me into a tight hug. "You make me the happiest alpha alive."

"That's easy to do when you're making me the happiest omega alive," I gave back, relief washing through me as Aaron's embrace warmed me from the inside out, like a sip of hot cocoa on a chilly evening.

"I can't wait to meet the little guy. Or girl," Aaron said, kissing the top of my head.

"Me neither." I smiled with my lips against his neck. I cuddled into his side, knowing that as long as he was around, I was never going to be cold again. I might have become a phoenix, but he was the fire that gave me life. The fire that let megivelife to Chris and Tyler and this new person growing inside of me, underneath my heart. I didn't know who they were yet, but I knew that they were mine and Aaron's, and that was enough.

I knew that my family was finally going to be exactly what it was always meant to be—happy, and healthy, and together.