Chapter 48: Emma's Surprise

Emma woke with a start. Her stomach was queasy and she wasn’t sure that she was going to make it to the bathroom. She’d never felt this way before. Wolf shifters didn’t get sick and they healed from wounds quickly.
She scooted out of bed and ran. Dex murmured something behind her, but she was too busy getting into the bathroom.
What was going on, she asked herself as she hovered over the toilet. Dex appeared in the doorway, sleep still in his eyes. His hair was sticking out at odd angles. “You okay?”
“I don’t know.”
She emptied her stomach then sat back against the opposite wall. Her mouth was dry and her stomach was cramping up. “I guess I ate something that didn’t agree with me.”
She wasn’t so sure, but she had no other explanation. Dex settled beside her. She moved away. “I’m gross, Dex.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m concerned.”
“I’ll be okay. I’m sure.”
Her stomach had settled, but now she was a little lightheaded. She closed her eyes.
“I don’t like how you look. You’re pale. Let me make a call.”
He rose and wandered out of the bathroom. She stood and used mouthwash to rid herself of the taste. Her stomach was okay now, but she was tired. She’d been sleeping a little more than usual lately, but she’d figured it was the wedding plans making her that way. She was excited, but there was a lot to do.
She crawled back into bed and pulled the covers over her.
“Emma?”
“Yeah?”
“You going back to sleep?” Dex asked.
“I think so.”
“I have Mabel coming over.”
Mabel was the oldest wolf in teh pack and had seen many things. Her son had been banished from thier pack and she followed him to Wolf Woods. She was a font of information and when Emma had questions about almost anything she’d asked Mabel.
“Okay.” Emma yawned. “You might want to get dressed unless you don’t mind Mabel seeing you in bright yellow pajama bottoms.”
“I’ll put on some clothing,” he said and she could hear the chuckle in his voice.
When he’d dressed, he sat on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired. My stomach is fine. I’m sure it’s nothing, Dex. You can go to work when Mabel gets here.”
“No. I think I’ll stay until you sleep.”
She flashed him a weak smile. She’d never felt this tired in her life. She curled up and waited.
“Someone on the porch,” she said.
“How did you hear that before I did?” Dex asked, but rose when someone knocked.
Mabel appeared at the bedroom door with a tote bag in her hand. “Good morning, Emma. Dex if you could leave us alone.”
Dex eyed me. “I want to stay.”
“Leave. Just don’t go far. I’ve got this.”
Mabel settled on the edge of the bed, her meaty hands settling on Emma. “Oh, honey.”
Emma looked up into Mabel’s smile. “What?”
“You’re with child, honey.”
“I’m pregnant?”
“Yes. You’re going to have a cub. Oh my goodness. You have just managed to bring joy after joy to this pack. Honey this is great news. Dex will have an heir.”
Emma blinked. Pregnant? They’d been careful, most of the time. “You’re sure?”
“Have you been tired? More than usual?”
“Yes, but I’m planning a wedding.”
“Eating more than usual?”
She thought back to her meals. “Well, yes. I thought it was stress.”
Mabel shook her head. “No, honey. You are with cub.”
Emma hadn’t thought about children yet, but since she was marrying Dex she was filled with happiness. “I’m not sick?”
“No, you’re not sick.”
“Let me tell Dex, please.”
“Okay.” She rifled through her tote bag and pulled out a bottle of powder. “That'll help you. It’s got vitamins you’ll need and something to settle your stomach.”
“Thank you, Mabel.”
“No, thank you for coming to this pack, Emma. You’ve made Dex happy and all of us happy, too.”
Mabel left and Emma pondered what she’d said. Would the pack be happy about this? Right now she had to tell Dex. He stopped in the doorway to look at her. “Mabel wouldn’t tell me anything.”
He strode over to the bed and scooped up her hand. “Tell me, Emma. I can handle it.”
She laughed and Dex’s brow creased. “It isn’t anything bad. At least I hope you don’t think it’s bad.”
“Tell me, Emma. Just say it.”
“I’m pregnant.”
His mouth dropped open and then a grin appeared. “Really? We’re going to have a cub?”
“Yes, Dex. We’re going to have a cub.”
He leaned in and sniffed her. “How did I miss that?”
“What?”
““I’d noticed something a week ago but didn’t think about it. Wow. What an Alpha I am. I missed that my own mate was pregnant.”
She laughed again. “I’m tired and going to take a nap. I have to call Leyton.”
“Did you want to move up the wedding?”
“Well, yeah. I don’t know how far along I am, but I’ll talk to Mabel. I don’t want to be showing for our wedding.”
He stroked her face. “You’ll be beautiful no matter what.”
“Hopefully the dress will fit.”
She didn’t want to think about the complications. She just wanted to bask at this moment. She was pregnant, with Dex’s cub and she couldn’t be any happier.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah. Just tired. I think I’ll take a nap after I call Leyton.”
“Can I tell Brutus?”
“Of course,” Emma said. “It could be obvious in a matter of weeks. I don’t really know. I’ve never been pregnant before.”
Dex laughed and then hugged Emma. He put a hand on her abdomen. “A cub. I don’t even care if it's’ a boy or a girl.”
“Me neither,” Emma said.
She couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m hungry now.”
“I’ll make you breakfast. what are you in the mood for?”
“Eggs. Lots of them,” she said.
She threw off her covers and followed him out to the kitchen. The grin hadn’t left his face and he whistled as he put eggs in a pan. He moved to her and hugged her. “This is so cool.”
“It is. Scary.”
He rested a hand on her stomach. “We’re in this together, Emma. Scary, fun, whatever it is.”
The idea that he was as happy as she was warmed her. She hadn’t doubted that Dex wanted children, it just wasn’t great timing. They weren’t even married yet.
“I can hear you thinking. Stop, Emma. We can do this.”
She sniffed. “Dex. The eggs.”
He strode to the stove. “Oh fudge. I burned them. I’m sorry Emma. I’ll make more.”
“You can make some toast if you want. “
“No, my wife pregnant Luna is getting the breakfast she wants.”
He dumped the eggs into the trash then started again. “I’ll do better this time.”
“It isn’t a test, Dex. I can make my breakfast.”
“No. You sit and enjoy the pampering.”
She sat back and decided to just go with it. She wouldn’t steal Dex’s joy because it was hers also.