Page 91 of The Reluctant Alpha

"How many kids are we expecting initially?" I asked, mentally cataloging the supplies we'd need.

"Four definitely," Emery replied. "Rhys. Tia and Callie, plus Raven and Kasim's baby or babies when they arrive. And then obviously—"

"Twins?" I squeaked.

"Shifter pregnancies often produce multiples," Bayer explained from his post by the door.

"Nobody thought to mention this to me?" I placed a protective hand over my stomach. "Am I going to have a litter?"

Emery laughed. "I have no idea."

"Let's assume one cub at a time for now," Bayer placated me, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "For now? Let's focus on surviving this one before we start planning siblings."

We spent the next hour measuring spaces, sketching layouts, and compiling a supply list that grew longer by the minute. Bayer, to his credit, didn't even flinch when I mentioned the approximate budget. "We're going to need a separate quiet space for teens."

"Whatever you need," he said simply. "We can easily extend."

"Dangerous words," I warned. "I once spent three hundred dollars on picture books in a single afternoon."

"Money we raised that was well spent," Emery declared. "Those kids loved those books."

Our planning session was interrupted by the arrival of Phoenix, his expression serious despite his attempt at a casual entrance. "How's it going?" he asked, scooping up Tia when she lifted her arms up demandingly.

"We've made good progress," Emery replied, crossing to kiss his mate's cheek. "But you're not here to talk about classroom layouts, are you?"

Phoenix shook his head and glanced at Bayer. "The bears want to see you.”

I saw Bayer stiffen, before he bent and brushed a kiss on me. “I’ll be back soon.”

Em took Tia, and we watched them leave. I wanted to go and be supportive, but I had an awful feeling this was something he had to do on his own.

“You look worried,” Em said quietly.

"I am worried," I admitted, sinking into one of the adult-sized chairs we'd brought in. "What if these bears want to challenge Bayer?"

Emery sat beside me, his expression thoughtful. "Phoenix won't let Bayer face them alone, especially if he thinks they are dangerous."

"Not physically dangerous, maybe," I said, fidgeting with a marker I'd picked up. "But politically? Bayer's position is already complicated. He's a bear alpha living among wolves, with most of his pack scattered or gone."

"And now he has a human mate who's carrying his cub," Emery added, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Which makes him both stronger and more vulnerable."

"Exactly." I tapped the marker against my palm. "These bears showing up now, don’t you think that’s weird? It can't be coincidence." Or maybe I was overthinking it.

Tia offered me another block. I accepted it with a smile, but my mind was racing with possibilities, none of them reassuring.

"Should we go check on them?" I asked, taking a mental step back.

Emery placed a gentle hand on my arm. "Let's give them some time. Phoenix will call if they need us."

I reluctantly waited, though every instinct screamed to find Bayer, to stand beside him. "When did I become this person?" I muttered. "A week ago, I was perfectly happy being independent."

"No, you weren't," Emery said with surprising firmness. "You were lonely and frustrated and stuck in a job where you weren't valued."

His blunt assessment startled a laugh out of me. "Tell me how you really feel, Em."

"I'm serious," he insisted. "I watched you shrink a little more every day under Anderson's criticism. You put on a brave face, but I could see it wearing you down, and I hated not being there for you."