“I’m terrified, what if they notice I’m different, that you are and that our child will be too?”
“They won’t know unless we tell them.” A single tear escapes and trails along her cheek. I catch it with my thumb before applying a small fracture of pressure beneath her chin to gain her focus. Her eyes lock with mine and I rest my forehead against hers. “I love you Taryn, and everything is going to be okay.”
Taryn
I lay on my back as Marissa places her hands on my head. The buzzing ebbs and I’m able to close my eyes, relaxing into my pillows. A warmth spreads through my body and my eyes begin to grow heavy.
The room is dark when I open my eyes. I grab my phone off the nightstand and see it’s a little after nine. With a groan, I sit up and stretch my sore muscles. Twisting slightly I welcome the pull at my waist, my body is tense. Crawling out of bed I look around the master bedroom and out into the hall to find I am alone. Hurrying to the master bath I take care of business and then brush my teeth.
In front of the mirror, I pull up my shirt and rub my hand over my lower stomach, knowing what lies beneath my palm puts me in an awed trance. I’m having a baby, Merick and I made a baby. My smile quickly dies when I remember what happened earlier today. All the voices, I can hear people’s thoughts...how in the hell is that possible? Our baby triggered this gift. At the moment, it feels more like a curse.
My stomach growls, reminding me I didn’t have dinner earlier. Practically tiptoeing down the long hall I reach the top of the stairs and pause. One deep breath in before slowly exhaling and descending the beautiful staircase. Reaching the landing I find the living room is empty and I instantly feel disappointed. The kitchen, the dining room and still no Merick. That’s when I hear voices coming from down the hall. I stop at the mouth of the hallway and wait.
“I should’ve let her be. My love for her, be damned. She’s going to resent me for doing this to her.”
A male voice responds. “Man, don’t say that. She’s overwhelmed, that’s all.”
There’s silence and then Merick’s words break my heart. “Maybe I should let her go.” His words are so quiet they’re almost a whisper. “If she leaves she’ll be taking my heart and soul with her, but maybe it's for the best.”
I can feel the sadness in his words. On quick feet I move down the hall and into his office, no longer feeling the urge to give them privacy. Both men jerk their heads toward me, but my focus is only on Merick.
“Taryn?” He moves to stand up, but I stop him by climbing onto his lap.
“I would never leave you and I don’t want you to leave me either.” I whisper against his lips. “I’m freaking out, okay. It’s a little overwhelming to learn you’re pregnant and can now hear people’s thoughts all in one sitting. I am not going to abandon you. I need you, I think more than you need me.” I understood what he meant by desperation, and strong pull, because I had it. I feel it.
I kiss him, forcing his mouth open with mine forgetting once again that we are not alone.
“I...uh...I'll talk to you guys later.” Oh god, I forgot he wasn’t alone. The sound of Jonathon’s voice triggers a reminder and I feel my cheeks heat.
Between him and his mother doing the head rubbing thing every few hours it seems to quiet the voices. Marissa says that she can teach me how to control it. It’ll take time to be able to block them out. I need to block them out, there are somethings a person should never be able to hear another person think. I need those to stop.
In the distance I hear a door shutting and giggle against Merick’s lips. He pulls back and looks at me. “You’re not going to leave?”
I shake my head. “God, no. I don’t scare that easily. Plus my mates here and I kind of love him. I’m also carrying his baby and he’s got to help me protect this little one.”
My hands tremble as I place them on my lower stomach. He watches my hands, smiling softly. With quick hands he repositions me and I’m straddling him.
The reason we have to protect our child hits me, making me sad. Merick brushes my hair out of my face, looking over my features with care. “I can see the worry on your face. I promise you that I’d die protecting you and our baby.”
“I believe you.” I lay my head on his shoulder, pressing my forehead into his neck. “We’re having a baby. D-Do you know what we’re having?” Crazy questions maybe but the entire half shifter, half human child thing is way off my normal realm of reality.
Merick shakes his head. “No, I don’t. That part is a mystery.” He touches my forehead. “How’s your head?”
“Fine for right now. I wish it didn’t make me sleepy when they do whatever it is to stop me from hearing everyone’s thoughts.” I yawn so big my jaw cracks and Merick immediately stands up with me in his arms. He heads toward the stairs but I stop him. “I’m hungry.” My stomach growls, causing us both to laugh.
Merick sets me down on one of the high-back chairs. “How about grilled cheese and tomato soup?”
“That sounds delicious. Can I
