Page 4 of The Brave (Black Arrowhead #6)

F ollowing dinner, Hope led me to her bedroom for a heartfelt conversation. She didn’t inquire about the baby’s father but admitted to noticing how Salem and I were never affectionate. Others had accepted it as part of who we were, but it still raised a few eyebrows since we were even less affectionate than Cecilia and Archer. It was obvious those two were in love, so I could only imagine what they must have thought about us. I talked about hiding my morning sickness and all the times I’d gotten indigestion after a meal. She asked about the changes I’d been experiencing, curious of what her own pregnancy might have in store.

When she laid her hand on my stomach, hoping to feel the baby kick, I smiled wistfully. No good would come from making her worry, especially with her anxiety, so I didn’t reveal that the baby had never moved inside me.

The real shock came after dinner. When I headed to my bedroom to change, Salem had already cleared his things out. It was the first time since our arrival that I’d slept alone in our bed.

To be honest, it was heavenly. Having spent most of my adult life alone, I’d developed a certain nocturnal routine. Now I had the freedom to choose either side of the bed, and I didn’t have to endure the awful curtain of silence whenever he came in at night. Though Salem and I had built an imaginary relationship on a foundation of lies, he’d remained a gentleman throughout it all. It was a relief to no longer have to pretend.

It was also nice to have the covers and pillows all to myself.

The next morning, I dressed in privacy while listening to Virgil singing in the other bathroom down the hall. When I passed by, I spotted Krys hanging out by the door.

“My bathroom’s free now,” I informed him.

“I’m good.”

As soon as I reached the landing on the stairs, I spotted Catcher waiting at the bottom. He snorted at me as if to say I’d slept in too late.

“Are we really doing this?” I passed by him. “I’ve already got a shadow.”

The scent of sausages, biscuits, and fresh fruit filled the kitchen.

“Hey,” Bear said, catching my attention as I walked past the kitchen fireplace. “Hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of making this drink for you.”

I accepted the glass he offered me. “What is it?”

Bear untied his apron in the back. “It has all the nutrients you need, but it’s delicious. I’ve been making one for Hope every morning. Taste it.”

“Will it make me sick?”

“No, ma’am. It’s sweeter than it looks.”

When his chest puffed out, I smiled with amusement. Bear was adorable—a giant who loved making people happy through food.

When I tasted the fruity beverage, I said, “Mmm. This really is delicious.”

“It’s got veggies in there, but you’d never know. I made you avocado toast, sausages, an omelet, and a glass of milk.”

I wrinkled my nose. “That’s quite a food combination.”

His eyebrows gathered together. “You have to eat it. Tak doesn’t like the processed stuff they sell in the store, so the sausages are fresh from a local butcher. After he found out how much I paid a local for the eggs, he brought up raising chickens again.”

When I entered into the spacious dining room, which was darkest in the morning because of the west-facing windows, I was taken aback. Instead of the usual chatter and smiling faces, the only two seated at the table were Tak and Salem, and Salem wasn’t sitting in his usual spot. He sat on Tak’s left, his arms crossed on the table.

“Is this a private meeting?” I asked.

Tak gestured to the chair on his right.

Carrying my juice, I walked apprehensively and sat across from Salem.

“I asked for a private breakfast this morning,” Tak began. “Everyone else will eat outside. Or in Virgil’s case, on the roof.”

I suppressed a smile. The last time we had eaten on the deck, Virgil had climbed onto the roof. He and Tak got into a heated argument that the pack must eat together, with Virgil arguing he could hear everyone just fine.

Bear set the rest of the food on the table.

“Thanks, chef.” Tak nodded at Bear.

“You bet.” After setting down the last plate, Bear made himself scarce.

I scooped an omelet onto my plate while it was still hot. Salem sat motionless, which didn’t go unnoticed by the Packmaster.

“You’re more honorable than I am,” Tak said to him before stuffing a sausage link into his mouth. “My appetite is like a boulder rolling down a mountain; there’s no stopping it.” He gave a boisterous laugh and then gestured at Salem’s plate. “There’s plenty of food at this table. Eat.”

Salem sipped his coffee. “I prefer to wait, if you don’t mind.”

“Suit yourself, but eggs taste better warm.”

After swallowing a bite, I felt the need to explain Salem’s behavior. “Before we arrived here, there were days when there wasn’t enough food.”

“I had to be careful about moving my money,” Salem tacked on. “So for a time, we were living out of pocket.”

“Salem always made sure I had enough to eat even if that meant him skipping meals or eating less.”

Assessing Tak’s demeanor, I found him impossible to read. He could switch between jovial and serious in a snap.

He licked his thumb and then washed down his sausage. “I’ve learned in these past months that taking in strangers comes with more trouble than I anticipated. I’ve always believed that everyone deserves a clean slate, but some of you are testing me.” Tak ate a strawberry and slanted his eyes toward me, then Salem. “Do both of you wish to live here?”

I nodded, speaking for myself.

Salem appeared to be mulling it over. “Yes,” he finally replied. “I’ll admit this wasn’t where I imagined myself, but high aspirations never led to anything good.”

Tak’s sonorous laugh startled me. He slammed his hand on the table and sat back, the laughter slowly dying in his chest. “If you think living here is lowering the bar, I’d love to hear more about your previous life, Salem Lockwood.”

Salem stroked his lower lip. “I didn’t mean that as an insult. Let’s just say that my life was once… demanding. Nothing was ever enough for me.”

“You worked in human medicine, did you not?”

Salem nodded. “One of many careers I had.”

Tak slurped his orange juice. After he set the glass aside, he brushed his fingers against the striking turquoise necklace adorning his neck, a piece reserved for impressing others, and it was certainly working now. “Can you two live under the same roof without trouble?”

I shared a quiet look with Salem, ambivalent about his existence in my life. His deciding to stay here permanently had never crossed my mind. I’d always imagined that one day I’d wake up and he wouldn’t be there anymore.

Salem stroked his short beard. “I’m all right with it.”

Tak waited for my answer. “In case you were wondering, I would never cast you out for doing what’s best for your child.”

I threaded a loose hair away from my eyelashes. “How can I be sure you’ll protect this child if I keep it? I have no mate, and… what if the baby isn’t…?”

Tak put his hand on mine. “Your little one doesn’t have to be a wolf to be part of the pack.”

Catcher groaned from beneath the table.

Tak let go of my hand and then dropped a sausage to the floor for Catcher. “Have you seen a Relic?”

“I’ve been monitoring her pregnancy since the first trimester,” Salem informed him. “She’s progressing as expected. I reduced her sodium intake, so make sure she doesn’t have the saltshaker near her plate.”

I flashed him a peevish look. “There’s nothing wrong with a few potato chips.”

“Then buy the unsalted .” He cut into his sausage and took a bite.

“That’s as tasty as eating cardboard.”

Tak chuckled. “I would have never guessed you two weren’t a couple. But I have one question.”

I set down my fork.

“Will the father be visiting? If you reconcile, he still has to meet my approval if he’s to join the pack. Unless you want to leave.”

“I’m not leaving—not unless you cast me out. And… there’s no father.”

He nodded pensively. “Before I allow my pack to get excited over the prospect of another child, I first need to know if you plan to keep it. This is entirely your decision, but it’s not fair to raise everyone’s expectations if you’re considering adoption.”

I wrung my hands beneath the table. The procrastinator in me had been stalling on a final decision, hoping that time would make things more clear. I had no maternal instincts, and it was surreal to think I was even carrying. “That’s something I can’t answer right now. Maybe I should know, but…”

Tak curled his fingers around his glass. “If you decide to surrender the child to another couple, would you consider someone in the house?”

I adamantly shook my head. “Being around the baby would be too difficult. If I changed my mind, it would break the hearts of whomever took them.”

“Agreed.” He tapped his finger against the side of the glass. “Then if adoption becomes your decision, I’ll make sure this baby has the best home. No orphanages, no black markets, no wondering if they’re safe. At least two couples in the Iwa tribe have been wanting a child, so you won’t have to worry about their future. I’ll see to that. But if you keep it, they’ll be a blessing in this house. You won’t be alone in this; it takes a pack to raise a child.”

“Thank you.”

“We’ll support you no matter which path you choose. I’ll have to make the pack aware of the situation so they don’t give you gifts before you’ve made up your mind. Does that sound reasonable? Fair?”

“More than fair.”

He shoveled an omelet onto his plate. “You should see Milly. I don’t doubt your skills,” Tak said to Salem, “but Joy needs professional care. You worked in human medicine for years, but how many Shifter babies have you delivered?”

“Zero,” Salem admitted. “But Joy doesn’t need a Relic.” He gave me a pointed stare.

“As your alpha, I command it. End of story.” Tak swallowed his bite of egg. “Last night when I learned she’s been under your care this whole time, I contacted the higher authority to retrieve your records.”

Salem’s countenance transformed to one of sheer terror. He scratched the top of his head, which loosened a chunk of hair from the knot. Staring at his empty plate, he said, “Calling them was unnecessary, don’t you think? You said our past doesn’t matter.”

“Your personal lives don’t matter, but your experience is relevant, Doc. If you want to care for a pregnant woman, I need to know your history and qualifications.”

“You could have asked me.”

“You already lied to me once. Perhaps I wasn’t certain you would be forthcoming with factual information.” Tak narrowed his eyes at him. “I don’t play games when it comes to women and children. You haven’t worked for the higher authority in years, and they lost track of you. But since your previous experience was exclusively with humans, Joy will be seeing Milly from now on. Needn’t worry,” he said to me. “She’s an experienced midwife and the closest one available. Most packs have a Relic working with them, and I’m still weighing my options. We’ll use her for now, but she’s stretched thin with it being a small town.”

I nodded at Salem to convey that I was fine with Tak’s decision. As noble as his intentions were, maybe he wasn’t doing enough. Yet his unspoken fears about another Relic treating me were also my own.

Tak grabbed a large spoon and added fruit to my plate. “Good. Now that we have that squared away, I scheduled an appointment for you this afternoon. Mercy will take you.”

I blinked with surprise. “On her scooter?”

Tak threw back his head and laughed. Then he wagged his finger at me. “You’re funny.”

“Who uninvited me to the party?” Virgil swaggered in, his damp hair dripping down his bare chest.

Despite Catcher barking at him, Virgil nonchalantly took a seat next to me.

“This is cozy,” he remarked. “Where’s my plate?”

Tak gave him a thorny look. “The pack’s eating outside this morning. We’re having a private meeting.”

Virgil grabbed a sausage with his bare fingers. “I didn’t get the memo.”

“If you’re not out of here in three seconds, I’ll give Bear a vacation and put you on cooking duty for a week.”

“If you do that, you’ll have to ask yourself who’s the one being punished. I could eat cereal every day of my life. Do you like Lucky Charms, or are you a Cheerios kind of guy? I bet you like all that whole-grain stuff with fiber.”

When Tak scooted his chair back, Virgil shoved two sausages into his mouth and jogged out of the room.

“Someone needs to take him to the bar,” Tak grumbled.

Everyone knew that when Virgil didn’t go out enough, his behavior became mischievous and argumentative. He was a city boy adjusting to being cooped up in a country home.

As were we all.

“It must be nice not having to keep that secret anymore,” Mercy said. Her country accent was simply endearing. “You shouldn’t have been doing all that manual labor or painting. Just thinking about it gives me the shivers. Something coulda happened.” She rotated the steering wheel of Hope’s sedan and sped down a long driveway surrounded by a thicket of trees. “You need to keep your feet up, mama.”

I chuckled softly. “Gee whiz. Everyone’s been treating me like an invalid this morning. I’m perfectly fine and don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be?—”

“Climbing up that library ladder?” she finished. After turning off the engine, Mercy unbuckled her seat belt. “You’re too far along to be doing all that. No more lifting heavy boxes or climbing up ladders. If you need someone to shelve books, I’m your backup.”

I opened the door and got out. “What is that delectable smell?”

“Gingerbread,” Milly called out from the porch of her quaint house, her grey bob swaying gently. “I bake when I’m pissed off.”

A pang of guilt sliced through me as I approached the short woman with a grey bob. “I’m so sorry if I’m putting you out.”

Her laugh sounded more like a wheeze. “You’re fine. It’s those damn blackbirds that keep gathering all over my car. If they know what’s good for them, they’ll keep migrating before I get out my pistol. Come, come. I’ve got warm gingerbread if you’re hungry.”

We walked through a narrow hall just as the cuckoo clock started chiming. While I didn’t understand her aesthetic of mismatched furniture and an old TV set, the attached greenhouse in the back caught my eye.

“That’s beautiful.” I approached the sliding glass doors and admired the rows of plants.

“Here. Eat up.” She handed Mercy and me a slice of warm gingerbread on napkins. “That’s where I grow all my medicine, and I’ll be damned if those birds figure out how to pick the lock.” She pulled the drapes and then adjusted her glasses. “They might look like dumb feather dusters, but they’re intelligent assholes. They work things out.” She briefly picked up a box of cigarettes before setting them back down by the TV. “Damn. I should’ve smoked before you two showed up.”

“I don’t mind waiting,” I told her.

She pushed a button to an elevator on the right-hand wall in her living room. “I have a rule about smoking around pregnant women. Right this way.”

I followed her into the elevator, and my stomach dropped when the door closed. My shawl slipped off one shoulder, but I couldn’t adjust it with the warm cake in my hands. Since Mercy had already devoured hers, I offered her mine.

“You take it. I can’t eat a thing right now. Nerves.”

Milly smoothed her hand over her hair. “You don’t strike me as a nervous Nellie. Babies pick up on our emotions, so the calmer you are, the better. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

After removing my shawl, I folded it up in a tidy square. This was the first time I had dared to wear a fitted blouse, and the material revealed more of my full breasts and rounded stomach than anyone had seen. Mercy gobbled up the cake while staring at my belly.

Milly noticed the direction of her gaze. “How far along are you?”

“Almost eight months.”

“Lucky. When I carried, I looked like I was smuggling a beach ball.”

I smiled politely. When the doors opened and revealed a sterile hallway, I froze in place. Mercy and Milly took off ahead of me, but I didn’t like that it stank of rubbing alcohol and bleach.

Milly glanced over her shoulder and then did a double take. “Come on, girl. It’s just us down here. Nothing to be scared of. Nothing at all. It’s not the prettiest place to look at, but it has everything I need. Tell you what, I’ll give you the rest of that cake to take home with you. How does that sound?”

Clutching the shawl, I followed behind them.

“You can wait out here,” the Relic instructed Mercy. “This won’t take long.” She disappeared into a room and flipped on an overhead light.

Once inside the quaint room, I stared at the exam table and metal stirrups.

“Have a seat. I’ll draw your blood first.”

“Is that really necessary?” I sat in the corner chair. “Salem’s been taking excellent care of me.”

Milly tied an elastic band around my arm, which painfully bit into my skin. After taking a few deep breaths, I averted my gaze while she slapped my arm and then drew blood.

“What symptoms have you experienced?” she asked. “Tell me everything.”

“In the early months, nausea and vomiting. Sometimes after eating, my stomach burns. Lying down doesn’t help, and I get sick from it. Salem said to stop eating greasy foods, but it also happens eating salad.”

“Acid reflux. Your hormones are out of sync, so it’s perfectly normal. Uncomfortable as hell, but nothing to worry about. Eat smaller and more frequent meals, and don’t drink with food if you can help it. Tiny sips are fine, but get your fluids between meals. And don’t lie down and nap after eating.” She set the vial on a metal tray near her. “What about sleeping patterns?”

“I suppose I’ve been sleepier than usual.”

“Any dreams?”

I jerked my head back.

Milly cleared her throat. “It’s not unusual for your animal to communicate with you in dreams. That’s why I ask. Pay attention to those dreams. If they’re distraught, that’s never a good sign.”

“No dreams that I remember. I don’t sleep well, which is why I’m always sleepy.”

After the second blood draw, she pulled out the needle and covered my arm with a small Band-Aid. “What about your wolf? Any sign she’s awake or might come out?”

I shook my head. “It’s been really quiet these past months.”

“Good.” Milly rolled out a machine. “Hop up and we’ll have a look-see.”

After climbing up the steps, I sat on the exam table and felt nervous butterflies when I touched one of the stirrups.

Milly chuckled and pushed them down. “We won’t be using those today.” She pulled out the end of the table, lengthening the cushioned part so I had something to rest my legs on. “You’ll need to remove your shirt. The pants are up to you, but I’d suggest pulling them down unless you want jelly all over them.”

While she switched out the lights and turned on a monitor, I pulled off my blouse and reclined. Nothing was more humbling than having a complete stranger examine my body in a nonsexual way.

Men had sexualized me my whole life, and over time I’d come to resent my features. What was once a gift had become a curse. Now my stomach, breasts, and feet were larger, and I loved my new physique. I no longer had to watch calories to maintain a specific hourglass shape.

I squealed when Milly squirted clear jelly all over my stomach.

“Have you had one of these before?” she asked.

“Salem doesn’t have the equipment.”

While I’d helped Salem during medical emergencies, having tests done on me was entirely different. The sterile environment and medicinal smells didn’t help. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves.

It’s only a test. Milly would never hurt me. Everything’s fine.

A tolerable heat radiated from the device she placed against my belly. While staring at the screen, she moved it around.

“There you are,” she murmured.

I twisted my head to look, but the screen was out of view. “What do you see?”

“A healthy-looking baby. I thought maybe you were carrying small, but it looks the right size.”

While she moved the device around, anxiety flooded my veins.

Does she see something wrong? Why is she so quiet? Oh, please let this baby be okay. Please, please, please.

“Huh.”

My pulse jumped. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It turned its head and looked at me. Maybe it senses heat or vibrations, but I’ve never had one do that.” Milly moved the wand around again. “Is the father a Shifter?”

I worried my lip.

The Relic frowned at my reaction, the wrinkles on her face deepening. “Does it hurt?”

“No, it’s not painful. I’m just… nervous.”

“Try not to be. Like I said, babies pick up on that, and you don’t want a nervous baby. All the wrong hormones could give you a fussy little insomniac.” She resumed her examination. “This is why I like bringing kids to my clinic from a young age. They get used to all the equipment and aren’t scared of it. Taking in adults who haven’t been exposed to a medical environment is another story. I had one patient with a bullet lodged in his thigh come in to have it removed. As soon as he saw the X-ray machine, he shifted. His bear busted up my machine.” She squinted at the monitor. “Do you want to know the gender?”

Do I? Maybe it’s best if I don’t.

“No, I’d rather not. Are you positive it’s alive?”

She chuckled. “Strong heartbeat.”

Still disbelieving, I lifted my head to see. “But I haven’t felt it kicking or moving.”

“Not even a flutter?”

“Well, it’s hard to tell if it’s gas.”

“When a baby stands on your bladder, you’ll know.” She focused on the screen again. “The amniotic fluid plays a role in activity. Some babies are less active than others. All bodies are built differently, but you’ll feel it soon enough.”

A loud crash in the hallway made me jump out of my skin.

“Sorry!” Mercy called out. “Don’t you worry none. I’ll clean everything up.”

Milly shook her head. Then her small eyes widened, and her eyebrows drew together. She leaned forward to study the screen while moving the ultrasound wand across my belly. “ Impossible ,” she whispered.

A swell of terror washed over me. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Lie still, girl. Let me have a look.” She stared at the screen, her silence drowning my thoughts. “ Now I see why you haven’t felt the baby kicking.”

I reached out and pulled the cart, but Milly helped by tilting the screen toward me. While staring at the grainy black-and-grey image moving around, I blinked away tears. It was difficult to make out exactly what I was seeing. “It’s smaller than I thought it would be.”

Milly moved the wand. “Look closer.”

When I saw the misshapen face and legs, I burst into tears. “What’s wrong with it?”

With an unwavering gaze, she watched the infant with rapt interest. “ That , my dear, is a healthy young wolf.”

My blood ran cold. “That’s… that’s impossible!”

“Exactly. And yet… here we are. A few seconds ago, I was looking at a healthy fetus. But when your friend knocked something over, it scared your baby into shifting. Right inside you, it shifted. I’ve never seen anything like this. Not one case of a child Shifter, let alone a baby in utero. It’s not to say it’s never happened.” She set the wand aside. “The animal’s smaller than its human counterpart. If you’ve been stressed out lately, it might have been staying in animal form out of instinct. That’s why you haven’t felt anything but maybe a few flutters that could be mistaken for gas.”

I forced myself up and stared at my glistening belly. When my fingers glided over the surface, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over me.

“ You’re alive ,” I whispered.

Milly handed me a towel. Then she rolled a stool over and sat down. “Mind telling me more about the father?”

I wiped my stomach in silence.

“Everything you say is confidential,” she assured me. “This is what my family’s been doing for generations. If you want me to help you through this pregnancy, the more information I have, the better. Otherwise, you’re setting me up for the unexpected. You can trust me. If I couldn’t hold a secret, I wouldn’t be this old.”

After setting the towel aside, I put my black shirt on. “My wolf was the one impregnated.”

Milly stared at my stomach. “Believe it or not, I’ve heard of that happening. Usually the wolf will shift and go into immediate hibernation so the mother can carry, but the fetus is always human. Generally speaking, most women can’t get pregnant in animal form.”

“What will happen when it’s born?”

“Hard to say, but you’ll be the first to find out!”

That was hardly comforting.

“Everything looks hunky-dory. I’ll run the blood work and check if you’re mineral or vitamin deficient. You’re a wolf, so make sure to eat plenty of protein. In the meantime, avoid stress. I don’t know if shifting in the womb is good or bad for the baby, but your priority needs to be relaxation. Whatever you feel, that baby and its wolf feels.”

The baby had undoubtedly sensed my anxiety since conception. I’d been stressing over the birth, when to tell Tak, whether to keep it, and how my packmates would react. Maybe now that everyone knew, I could finally enjoy the pregnancy—get used to the idea. Decide if I was able to mother a child with obvious special needs.

Milly patted my knee. “Are you sure you don’t want to know the gender?”

I shook my head.

“Suit yourself. In the meantime, I don’t have any advice out of the ordinary. Eat healthy, avoid stress, don’t shift, and most importantly, don’t tell a damn soul about this.”

I cradled my belly. “I didn’t plan to.”

“Good. You won’t be able to hide the truth once the baby’s born, but by then everyone will know about it, including the Council, who can give your baby protection. You can never be too careful when it comes to anomalies in the Breed world. People are awful. Just awful.” She switched off her machine. “I’ll call you with the test results and schedule another appointment. I want to see you once a week until the delivery.”

“Which one will I give birth to?”

“I suppose that’s up to the fates. But I’ll be honest—I’ve never delivered a pup before.”

We chuckled nervously at the joke, but in the back of my mind, a whole new box of fear opened up.

Milly removed her rubber gloves and pitched them into the trash. “Avoid manual labor, alcohol, cigarettes, and sensory magic. The usual. Stay active and sleep whenever you feel like it. Go out and have fun. You won’t have much of that after the baby’s born. My guess is sitting around that house is stressing you out for some reason. If you’re not happy, your inner wolf’s not happy. And believe me, you don’t want an unhappy wolf. Find a way to unwind. Doctor’s orders. Now, how about that gingerbread cake?”