Page 42 of Jared

“The doc says the accounts mention a flap opening up and then resealing. But umm... it's apparently dependent on you being on our ancestral packlands or the magic doesn't...it doesn't...”

“Work?”

“Yeah. For the magic to be strong enough for that to go well, you have to be there, where the magic originates.”

“And if not?”

Steve crossed over to him and enfolded him into his arms. “Then you and the baby die,” he whispered.

“But, how will we know it's time? Do I just go into labor and we run for it?”

“No, apparently it's preceded by a dark line appearing, indicating that the flap is fully formed and will unseal within days. So there's time to get there. Then when it's time, you, uh, go into labor and the flap unseals itself, and the baby is able to come out.” I sound like an idiot, not someone who knows what's going on. Way to reassure him, Steve, you moron.

“That, that doesn't sound too bad,” Jared said, trying to control the wobble in his voice as he spoke. “So, um, how long before we know and umm, how would I hide a big bump. Nine months is along time to hide.”

“We'll know in three or four more days because he'll be able to verify all this by seeing an embryo on the scan, and ummm, yeah, you'll probably need to quit your job or something. And, well, wolf shifter babies come at ninety to a hundred and four days and he said there was no indication this'd be any different just because you're a man.”

“Three months? We only have three months to get things ready? We have the wedding and all that and we need to set up a nursery!”

Steve felt some of the tension leave his body.

“Yeah, But Mom's handling the wedding stuff, remember? Just, let her do her thing, and if there's a baby, we'll go baby shopping, okay?”

“If? Be serious. You don't think my body would grow bits for a baby if there wasn't one, do you? Oh my God. There's diapers, and cradles, and cribs, clothes, all sorts of stuff we need to decide on.” Jared pushed away from Steve to stare him in the face. “And what are we going to feed the baby? Will I make milk?Am I going to grow...” his voice dropped to a whisper, “boobs?”

“I...I don't know. He never mentioned any of that. Want me to call him and ask? I have his number.”

“Is it too late in the day? What time is it?”

“It's not too late and we should know about that.”

“Yeah, call him.”

17

“And there it is,” Dr. Roberts said as he used his pen to point at a small jelly bean object on the screen.

“Just the one?” Jared asked anxiously.

“Yes, just the one.”

Steve felt both elated and slightly ill. This is happening. It's really happening. We're going to be dads. Jared is having my baby.It's going to be okay, right? Steve's wolf chuffed in response. Yeah, I wish all of me were that confident.

“I-I've decided to bottle feed. Umm, do I use human baby formula or puppy formula?” Jared asked uncertainly.

Dr. Roberts gave a gentle laugh. “Human formula is fine. I advise putting to the breast right after birth to facilitate bonding especially as just like wolves, shifters are very scent driven. Just the first few days should be fine. After that, I can prescribe you some tablets that will dry up your milk but you must not breastfeed at all once you begin taking them.”

“Okay. Thanks. And it's only going to be three months before he's here, right? How soon before I get, uh, big?”

“Yes, three months. I estimate your due date to be around November 3rd. You'll probably start showing around four to five weeks.”

Jared's face fell. “I should probably give notice later this week then, to give them time to replace me.”

“Can't you take leave? We could tell them we are adopting...”

“No, I don't want to do that to them. Plus, I want to be there for our kid. I remember following Dad around,'helping' him work on his car, and making cakes with my mom from the time I could toddle. I want our kid to have that too. I know the daycare here is great, and sometimes I might wanna use it for drop in, but...”

Steve put a hand up. “It's okay with me. I just didn't want you to think your whole life was being taken away or anything. I think it's great. We'll both be around, and you'll have time to do pack stuff too.”