I didn’t recognize you earlier.”
Arianna shook her head. “No need to apologize.”
“Come in.” Devin stepped aside. “I can’t begin to imagine what brings you here this late in the evening, Jayson.”
They stepped inside the cozy cottage and Devin took their jackets.
“News,” Jayson said, placing his hand on the small of her back.
“Doesn’t sound like good news,” Devin said.
“There is really no such thing as good news anymore. I’m sorry to bother. This couldn’t wait.”
Devin led them to a large family room with a massive sectional. He turned on several lamps to lighten up the darkened interior.
At that moment, a tall woman entered the room. Her dark brown hair was piled up on top her head in a bun. She wore a men’s flannel shirt and pants. When she saw them, her hands went to her mouth in surprise. “I didn’t know there were guests.”
Jayson stood, and nodded. “Tamara.”
“Jayson, is that you?” The woman smiled. “It’s been so long.” She came out to greet them.
Tamara was beautiful, from head to toe, even in her choice of attire. Compared to Devin, she was as delicate as a fairy.
“It’s me,” Jayson said, holding out his arms to offer Tamara a hug. “I’d like you to—”
In the blink of an eye Devin had crossed the room. He moved Tamara out of Jayson’s grasp, and growled deeply.
The hairs stood on the back of Arianna’s neck and her palms grew hot in alarm.
Jayson’s body grew tense beside her, and she could literally feel the wolf spirit responding on instinct to Devin’s warning.
“Devin.” Tamara placed a hand on Devin’s chest in an attempt to calm him. “I’m fine. He meant no harm.”
“Excuse me.” Devin’s frown faded. “I shouldn’t have acted that way.”
Jayson took a deep breath in, then whispered, “She’s pregnant.”
Arianna’s eyes widened and her gaze dropped to Tamara’s belly. If Devin’s mate was pregnant, she certainly showed no signs of it. Then again, the oversized shirt she wore could have hidden just about anything.
Devin’s wolf had taken charge and its protective instincts kicked in upon seeing its pregnant mate touched by another. Pheromone levels were high in the room. Why hadn’t she sensed it before? Arianna could now feel it down in her very bones. Devin would remain extremely protective—and dangerous—until Tamara delivered. Keeping his offspring alive and his mate healthy was the Alpha’s main priority right now. Even the slightest threat could push his wolf over the edge.
“We confirmed that she was carrying just last week,” Devin said. “It hasn’t been announced yet.”
“I was wrong. There is good news.” Jayson smiled. “Congratulations.”
“I’m Arianna.” Arianna held out her hand to Devin’s mate.
“Call me Tamara.” She took her hand and squeezed lightly.
Although, Arianna had been out of town on business at the time of Devin and Tamara’s wedding, she heard great things about her. Not only was she mate and wife to their leader, she was also a valued citizen in the Caedmon village. It was rumored that she now volunteered at the village school as a teacher. As a human, she’d earned a coveted position in the community, which said a lot about her character.
“We won’t stay long. Arianna and I have had a long day,” Jayson said as they sat down on the sectional, both couples facing each other.
“I understand.” Devin nodded. “You may spend the night here, if you like. It’s a long way back into town.”
“Thanks for the offer, but we plan to head back to the city.” Jayson ran his fingers nervously through his hair. “I finally did it, Devin. I’ve cashed out. Klein and Truman, LP is no more.”
There was a long silence before Devin spoke. “This outcome has been a long time coming, but you don’t seem happy about it.”
“I had selfish reasons for delaying…” Jayson stole a sideways glance at Arianna. “What I did not expect was that Mr. Klein
Arianna shook her head. “No need to apologize.”
“Come in.” Devin stepped aside. “I can’t begin to imagine what brings you here this late in the evening, Jayson.”
They stepped inside the cozy cottage and Devin took their jackets.
“News,” Jayson said, placing his hand on the small of her back.
“Doesn’t sound like good news,” Devin said.
“There is really no such thing as good news anymore. I’m sorry to bother. This couldn’t wait.”
Devin led them to a large family room with a massive sectional. He turned on several lamps to lighten up the darkened interior.
At that moment, a tall woman entered the room. Her dark brown hair was piled up on top her head in a bun. She wore a men’s flannel shirt and pants. When she saw them, her hands went to her mouth in surprise. “I didn’t know there were guests.”
Jayson stood, and nodded. “Tamara.”
“Jayson, is that you?” The woman smiled. “It’s been so long.” She came out to greet them.
Tamara was beautiful, from head to toe, even in her choice of attire. Compared to Devin, she was as delicate as a fairy.
“It’s me,” Jayson said, holding out his arms to offer Tamara a hug. “I’d like you to—”
In the blink of an eye Devin had crossed the room. He moved Tamara out of Jayson’s grasp, and growled deeply.
The hairs stood on the back of Arianna’s neck and her palms grew hot in alarm.
Jayson’s body grew tense beside her, and she could literally feel the wolf spirit responding on instinct to Devin’s warning.
“Devin.” Tamara placed a hand on Devin’s chest in an attempt to calm him. “I’m fine. He meant no harm.”
“Excuse me.” Devin’s frown faded. “I shouldn’t have acted that way.”
Jayson took a deep breath in, then whispered, “She’s pregnant.”
Arianna’s eyes widened and her gaze dropped to Tamara’s belly. If Devin’s mate was pregnant, she certainly showed no signs of it. Then again, the oversized shirt she wore could have hidden just about anything.
Devin’s wolf had taken charge and its protective instincts kicked in upon seeing its pregnant mate touched by another. Pheromone levels were high in the room. Why hadn’t she sensed it before? Arianna could now feel it down in her very bones. Devin would remain extremely protective—and dangerous—until Tamara delivered. Keeping his offspring alive and his mate healthy was the Alpha’s main priority right now. Even the slightest threat could push his wolf over the edge.
“We confirmed that she was carrying just last week,” Devin said. “It hasn’t been announced yet.”
“I was wrong. There is good news.” Jayson smiled. “Congratulations.”
“I’m Arianna.” Arianna held out her hand to Devin’s mate.
“Call me Tamara.” She took her hand and squeezed lightly.
Although, Arianna had been out of town on business at the time of Devin and Tamara’s wedding, she heard great things about her. Not only was she mate and wife to their leader, she was also a valued citizen in the Caedmon village. It was rumored that she now volunteered at the village school as a teacher. As a human, she’d earned a coveted position in the community, which said a lot about her character.
“We won’t stay long. Arianna and I have had a long day,” Jayson said as they sat down on the sectional, both couples facing each other.
“I understand.” Devin nodded. “You may spend the night here, if you like. It’s a long way back into town.”
“Thanks for the offer, but we plan to head back to the city.” Jayson ran his fingers nervously through his hair. “I finally did it, Devin. I’ve cashed out. Klein and Truman, LP is no more.”
There was a long silence before Devin spoke. “This outcome has been a long time coming, but you don’t seem happy about it.”
“I had selfish reasons for delaying…” Jayson stole a sideways glance at Arianna. “What I did not expect was that Mr. Klein
Similar Books
