This could go one of two ways. Either Luke would be over the moon about being an unexpected father, or— Gabby shook her head. The second half of that thought didn’t bare imagining.
“Shit! Shit! SHIT!
“Well, you’re in the right place, but definitely the wrong spot for that particular call of nature.” Tanya stood in the doorway, her arms folded at her chest.
“Funny.” Gabby leaned her head back against the clawfoot’s cool cast iron and sniffed, wiping one eye with the back of her hand.
“Gabs, are you crying?”
Tanya moved to snap on the light, but Gabrielle’s hand shot up. “Leave it off, T…please.”
“What’s wrong?” Tanya stepped closer to the window for better light. “Jesus, Gabby. You look terrible. Do you want me to get Raven?”
“There’s no reason to wake the entire house. I’m fine. I just want to sit in the dark, okay?”
“Are you sick?”
Gabby shook her head. “No. Though that may change come morning.”
“All righty, then. You’re not making much sense, but it’s the middle of the night, so—” Tanya didn’t finish her thought. Instead, she stepped over Gabrielle’s legs to unlock the old-fashioned casement window, cranking the lever to let in some fresh air.
“Thanks for understanding.”
“Understanding?” Tanya hmphed. “Forget it, sister. If you think I’m leaving you sitting in the dark without knowing why, you’ve got another think coming. You forget what we blood witches do. So unless you want me to get Raven, you need to spill.”
“Raven’s not a witch.”
“Then I’ll get Laura,” Tanya continued, ignoring her deflect. “The dark web can’t compete with my mother when she wants info. She’ll take one look at you on the floor, and then promptly take a walk around your head. She’ll want to know why you’re halfway to catatonic.”
“You’re not playing fair.”
“Too bad. We’ve got too much riding on the six of us working like a well-oiled machine. We’re not a full coven, and like you said, Raven isn’t a witch, though she fits hand-in-glove with what’s going down. Still, we’re not at full strength, and that leaves us vulnerable. Raven knows you best, so maybe—”
“Fine.” Gabby cut her off mid-rant. “You’ll all know soon enough, so I might as well tell you.”
“Tell me what? You haven’t said boo.”
“Look on the vanity.” The full moon brightened the bathroom enough for Tanya to see the pregnancy test without squinting.
Her eyes widened as she lifted the white stick. “Holy Bottle Warmer.” Stunned, she looked at Gabby. “Luke?”
“No, dummy. Santa Claus.”
“Gabby!”
“Of course, Luke.” Gabrielle’s forehead tensed. “Why would you question that?”
“I’m not. I’m just making sure.”
“Well, I’m sure I’m pregnant, and I’m sure Luke is the father of my baby.”
Tanya hesitated. “Does he know?”
“Not yet. I don’t have that telepathy thing Raven has with Aiden. Even if I did, it’s better I tell him face-to-face.”
White stick in one hand, Tanya reached for the empty test box on the other side of the sink. “Jared and I don’t have that ability, either. I hoped it was a mate thing, but I guess not.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Takes virtual sex to a whole new level.”
“Sex is what got me sitting in the dark, so no thanks.”
“Oh, please.” Tanya snorted. “If Luke is anything like Jared, then you got more than you asked for, in more ways than you can count, and twice on Sunday. Boneless, body shivering, slippery when wet, mind-shattering more.”
“TMI, babe.”
“Methinks the witch doth protest too much. I’ve seen the way Luke looks at you. Hell, steam rises if you brush past each other.”
Gabrielle’s cheeks warmed. Not from embarrassment, but because Tanya was right. Her body reacted to his just holding hands.
“Luke is definitely cut from the same cloth as Jared and Aiden,” Gabby admitted. “The man is insatiable. Not that I’m complaining.”
“I should say not.” Tanya grinned. “Honey, you’ve got it so bad for the boy, it’s written all over your face, and those headlights poking through your pajama top speak X-rated volumes.”
“Totally pregnancy related.”
“Nice try, Gabs. I’m betting your body aches for Luke when he’s not around. I know because I ache for Jared. It’s what happens when a shifter’s inner animal identifies a mate.”
“Oh, please.”
“Too bad. I said it. Mate. Luke may not have gotten to it yet, but I’m betting dollars to donuts, his inner wolf is gnawing at his insides for him to do so. Like a subway rat on a dirty water dog.”
“First off, your New York is way loud. Dirty water dog? What the hell is that? Secondly, no way.”
“A dirty water dog is a hot dog from a sidewalk umbrella cart. They’re inedible, but iconic. Secondly, get real, Gabs. Sex with Luke may send your body up in flames, but you wouldn’t follow him 1,600 miles into a war with demons just to get your toes curled. Fate brought you here for a reason, and that reason is Luke.” Tanya tapped the white stick on the test box. “—and the little witchy bun in your oven.”
Gabby inhaled, letting her breath out in a controlled rush. “You sound like Raven. She’s the one who’s all about fate. I’m more a manifest destiny type. Jared’s family accepted you as his mate, just like they accepted Raven as Aiden’s mate and future alpha female. Luke’s father is, well, let’s just say I’m up against it with him. Going to be hard to manifest any kind of destiny with him playing offensive line.”
Tanya rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry about Gregory. He was the model for Oscar the Grouch. Did you know he told Jared to finesse me so I would agree to help in their fight?”
“Finesse. You mean seduce you?”
She nodded.
“Ew. I know he’s a miserable SOB, eternally sucking on lemons, but a pimp?”
“Not quite, but close enough for Jared
