Kano's War

Chapter 40

Dinner at the long oak table felt... normal. Or as normal as it could get with a witch, a Beta, both Gammas, and the Alpha's sister all sitting together while I tried to hide how clingy I was being with Kano. It was definitely the recent marking that had me this way, and not the pregnancy.

In fact, my nausea hadn't even bothered me as much today.

I'd ended up right next to him—our chairs touching—his arm draped lazily along the back of mine. Every time he shifted, my body leaned in before I could stop it. He didn't seem to mind, but Bali's raised brows made my face heat.

"So," I started, stabbing my fork into a roasted potato just to have something to do with my hands. "I, uh... have news."

Kano and I had talked earlier about telling them. It seemed that they would be the most important people to know. We also agreed that we would tell Lily this later since we didn't know how she would react.

Hati, sitting across from me, perked up. "Good news, I hope?"

I grinned before I could help it, resting my palm instinctively against my stomach. "The best news. I'm pregnant."

Hati froze mid-bite, fork hovering halfway to his mouth. "What?!"

Bali, on the other hand, didn't even blink. She just gave me a little smirk and a shrug. "Yeah, I figured."

My head snapped toward her. "You... figured?"

She tipped her wine glass toward me. "You're the only one here without a wine glass, and even if Kano said you can't drink anymore after that incident, I know you. I know you would anyway." She chuckled, "And, you've been all over the place, especially before you left."

Kano chuckled beside me and pressed a kiss to my temple, which did nothing to help my already red cheeks.

I wasn't too moody. Was I? I didn't think I was. Maybe I was in denial.

Hati was still staring at me like I'd dropped a live grenade on the table. "You're human now. Is that even—"

"It's possible... I should be able to have this baby just fine, Right?" I spared Rory a glance and she nodded slowly. It was kinda convincing, and kind of not. I hadn't even thought about the fact that me being human now could affect the baby. But based off of Rory's explanation earlier, my cells still had some abilities I had before, and the mate bond should still help. "It's happening, Hati. And I'm... happy." I couldn't help but smile.

That seemed to settle him, "So this is why we went to the pack doctor yesterday?" Imala smiled.

"Yes." I sighed, forgetting that I had lied to them, "Sorry." I squeaked.

"No it's okay." She smiled, "I totally understand. We would've had to tell Kano and then he would've stopped whatever he was doing to come see you."

I was so glad she understood. I took another bite of the roast on my plate and soon the conversation shifted—pack business, some hunting trip Bali wanted to go on, Rory telling everyone she would stay here for the Summit so she could go back to her coven with information.

I was halfway through my second helping of roast when Rory suddenly set down her cup of wine and leaned forward.

"Hati. Bali." Her voice was calm, but it sliced right through the chatter.

Both of them looked up at her.

"Stop," Rory said simply.

They exchanged a glance that I couldn't read. "Stop... what?" Bali asked slowly.

"Messing with each other."

The air around the table shifted. My eyes bounced between them, my mouth falling open. "Wait. Messing with each other as in—"