A Mate's Bite(9)

Her heart froze. “Oh, God.”

Jordan rushed forward to grab her by her arm. “Look, you know I’m new at this whole shifter thing. Let’s just take the tests and see what’s up, okay?”

They entered her house in silence. She handed Jordan the shopping bag with the tests.

“You do know there are only two of us taking these, right?” She smiled, dumping the packages on the dining room table.

“Yeah, but I didn’t know which was the best. I figured I’d bring them all.” She dropped on a chair, covering her face with her hands. It had to be a false alarm.

Jordan picked up two boxes and handed her one. “How about we start with the ones that say the words on the screen instead of us trying to make out results from lines and equations?”

“Okay. That works.” She started to feel calmer with Jordan there. Besides, what were the chances she was pregnant? She was on birth control. Yeah. The more she thought about it, the more she realized it had to be plain old exhaustion.

“We’ll bring both back here and check the results together, okay?”

Karla nodded and went to pee in a cup. Thankfully, she kept disposable cups at home for parties and gatherings. Jordan went to the guest bathroom while Karla went to the one next to her bedroom. A few moments later, they met up at the kitchen with both tests in hand. They set them down on some paper towels and waited the dreaded two minutes.

Unable to sit still, she opened the fridge and sighed at the cool that kissed her heated skin when she grabbed two water bottles. Instinct told her to look, but fear for what the results would be kept her from glancing at the tests.

“So, don’t you want to have kids?” She finally asked Jordan.

“Of course I do. I love kids or I wouldn’t be a teacher.” Jordan smiled from the kitchen table. “But Aric and I…we need some time to be together just us first. I mean, if the test is positive, then I’ll be happy, but I’d like to wait a little bit more before we go there.” She placed her elbow on the table, cupping her cheek with her hand. “What about you? How are things with Nate?”

“He’s been with Caleb, so I haven’t seen much of him.” Or any of him. One night stand.

“They have been strategizing,” Jordan said. “But I’m sure he’s dying to see you.”

Right. If he wanted to see her, he’d show up. Or he’d call. He’d done neither, which told her he’d seen the scenting ceremony as more of a casual night than anything serious.

“They really have been busy,” Jordan said as if reading her mind. “I hardly see Aric lately. Apparently Caleb’s uncle is hiring more rogues to watch his land, and that means things are harder for Caleb.”

“Ready?” Karla glanced at the tests on the paper towels with trepidation.

“We’ll do it together.” Jordan gripped her hand tight, and they stood to look at their results.

“Oh, thank God!” Jordan sighed.

“Oh…shit!” Karla inhaled sharply. It couldn’t be. Tension locked her muscles into place as the shock weaving its way through her body took over. Spots danced before her eyes. She was going to pass out. “Tell me that’s not saying what I think I’m reading.”

“Um…I could tell you that, but then we’d both be lying to you.”

She sank down on a chair again. “What am I going to do?”

“Don’t panic.” Jordan squatted down in front of her, holding Karla’s hands between her own. “You’re going to be a great mom.”

“This is crazy, Jordan.” Fear built at the speed of a derailed train. A child. She was going to be a mother, and Nate hadn’t even spoken to her in the longest. That wasn’t the way things were supposed to work. “I can’t even remember to take my vitamins. How can I be responsible for another human being?”

“Look at me, honey,” Jordan ordered, pulling Karla out of the dark hole she was quickly crawling toward. “You’ll be fine. You’re a fantastic teacher. The kids love you, and I bet once Nate finds out, he’ll be over the moon.”

“I have no plants.” She swallowed hard. “They die on me. I forget to water them. I forget…”

“Karla, stop. I know you’re scared, but you’ll do a great job. Trust your instincts. I hate to ask, but I think this is the biggest question: Do you want this child?”

Did she? A new life she and Nate created? Without a doubt. But was she scared shitless? Abso-freaking-lutely.

Karla nodded.

“Okay then. You’re not alone. I’m here. We’re all here, and you won’t be doing it by yourself. Just remember that. Whenever you’re overwhelmed. You aren’t alone. You have us. You have me,” Jordan promised. “And I’m not going anywhere. None of us are.”