Shapeshifter

Chapter Thirty-Three: Surprise

"You're doing the right thing, Cj." Elise said, and Becky agreed from the back seat. I still frowned. "He deserves to know. The father should be the first to know."

"I know. But we weren't talking, It had been months since we last spoke. I didn't know if he wanted to hear from me again." I said quietly.

"Hey, he's missed you like crazy. He's been dealing with some stuff. One kid remembered when you shifted, the spell broke for him somehow. Sam was dealing with that kid threatening to reveal your secret." Becky said.

"So he killed the kid." Elise added, earning Becky's chiding.

"What?" I asked, looking at Elise, who gave me a strained smile. "Sam killed someone?"

"Yes, but to protect you. Think of it that way. We could have just done another spell, a stronger one, but Sam just reacted on primal instinct and did what he knew would be a sure way to protect you." Elise said and I remained silent. "Don't hate him for it."

"No, I can't hate him when I did the same thing. Killed to protect." I said and through the rear view mirror, they shared a look mixed between confusion and shock, obviously unaware of the change I'd undergone those few months ago. "How is Sam anyway?"

Elise and Becky frowned before Becky spoke. "Not good. He hasn't been handling your absence very well. Like I said, he's missed you like crazy. He's not himself." I frowned and looked out the window. Was he okay in his mind?

The car ride to the school was completed in silence, no one knowing what to say. Elise parked and the three of us got out, walking through the building to Courtney's room. As I passed students making their way to the cafeteria, they looked at my stomach and broke out in whispers, but I ignored them. I didn't care.

It was silent near Courtney's room, my old English room, and I saw her sitting at her desk, her head in her hands, obviously stressed and tired. "Courtney?" I asked quietly and she looked up, eyes meeting mine.

"Cj? You're back!" She stood up and gasped, looking at my stomach. "And you're pregnant! Oh, my god." She hugged me, her spirits instantly lifting. "It's so good to see you again." She began crying and put her hands on my stomach. "I honestly can't believe this."

"Aunty Courtney." I said, laughing quietly at a face she pulled. She joined me and wiped away tears.

"Wait until you call Mum, Grandma. She'll be delighted one of her kids are finally having a pup, but then it'll hit her that she's a grandmother, which will make her feel old."

"How is Marley?"

"She's doing alright. She's back to her old self. She wasn't very happy when the boys returned without you and neither was I. Boy did they cop it." Courtney said and rubbed my bump, which brought her back to that topic. "Wow. You're pregnant. Sam's a father. Woah." She said and the smile slipped off my face.

"I heard he's not doing so well?"

She frowned and her hands fell to her side. "No, he isn't. He's moody now but mostly, when he's not with pack, he sulks around. He doesn't go to school anymore, he dropped. He slacks with Alpha duties sometimes and is just a plain old grump. Gives Grumpy the dwarf a run for his money."

I frowned. This time, it wasn't my fault. He chose to walk away. He chose to leave me behind. But I couldn't help but feel guilty. "I want to go see him now." Courtney nodded.

"I'm coming too. I have no more classes today." I smiled and we all walked out of the building, back to our cars. "I'll see you there."

"Okay." I said as we all got in the car. Elise started the engine and pulled out of the car park, driving to the pack. Courtney got there a minute after us and parked beside Elise, walking us inside. I felt a rush of nerves but inhaled and exhaled deeply, proceeding. Courtney led us to the kitchen, where Marley, her mate, Zac and his mate were all talking. They all quietened down and looked at me, surprised. Everyone looked at my belly and I put a hand on it. "Hi. Yes, I'm pregnant."

"Oh, my god!" Marley screamed excitedly. "I can't believe it! I'm going to be a grandmother!" She ran over and pulled me in a hug. "It's good to see you, dear."

"Welcome back, stranger." Zac said.

"Congrats." His mate said, smiling then looking at Zac, kissing him.

My heart leaped when I heard his voice, coming form another room. "What's all the commotion? And Grandmother? Is Courtney pregnant?"

"The hell I am!" Courtney yelled and I almost fell over when Sam walked into the kitchen, Sebastian and Leo following. Together, they froze. Sam's eyes locked onto mine while Sebastian and Leo's dropped to my stomach.

"Holy Jesus!" Leo said.

"You're pregnant!" Sebastian said, sounding like he was finishing his sentence.

"Well spotted geniuses." Elise sassed. Sam remained silent, our eyes still locked.

"Sam?" I asked. He seemed to snap out of his trance and he studied my stomach, but still didn't move. "Say something." He turned and walked upstairs.

Elise dumped my bags on the floor and threw her hands in the air. "Wonderful." Everyone looked at the floor and I felt my eyes burning with tears. Was he going to reject me now? And our baby? "Does he need some sense knocked into him?"

"Yeah, he does." Courtney agreed.

"Girls." Marley said, her solemn voice indication enough to drop it. "Go on, Cj. You two need to talk." I nodded, sniffled, and wiped my eyes, following him upstairs. His scent trail led me to Mark's old room, which was now Sam's. He was Alpha now, so he owned the Alpha's quarters. It was the same set up as it was when it was Mark's; the same bed and furnishings too. Only, it was Sam's scent that dominated in here and his belongings.

I walked in and sat on the bed, feeling tired and weak. "Sam," he stood by the balcony door, staring outside, his mind active. He didn't look at me. "Please, talk to me."

"Why didn't you tell me when you first found out? Why didn't you come sooner?" He never turned to look at me as he spoke.

"I was afraid, Sam. I didn't know you had a problem here. You never came, never called until recently. I thought... I thought you'd moved on from me. I thought, maybe, you would turn away if you knew I was pregnant." He finally turned to look at me, his eyes shining with tears.

"I'd never reject you, especially if you were pregnant. I wish you'd told me sooner, I would have ditched the situation and came straight over to make it right. But I thought the same, Cj. I thought, after how I left, you'd never forgive me."

"I wasn't mad you left. I was just upset. I was numb for so long and then I found out I was pregnant and I came back. I've been normal ever since then. I forgave you months ago, Sam." He smiled and came over, kneeling in front of me. He grabbed my hand and kissed it.

"Are you staying here for good?" I nodded. "Then we can make this vow: we'll never leave each other again, not by choice. From now on, we'll stick by each other, no matter how hard it is. No matter how many disagreements. No matter what."

"No matter what." I put my hands on his cheeks and leaned down, my eyes slipping closed at I kissed him for the first time in ages. It pieced me back together; my spirit, my soul and my heart. It all mended the instant my lips connected with his. I pulled back and he hugged me, pulling me off the bed so I sat on his lap, straddling him. I felt the baby move and grabbed Sam's hand, placing it on one side of my stomach, where I could feel the movement. "You feel that?"

"Wow," he whispered, keeping his hand in the same place. "Hello, little baby." I smiled, blinking back my tears.

"I love you." I said and Sam looked up at me, his eyes beaming with joy.

"I love you too." I kissed him again, then he embraced me in another hug, holding me tight. I longed for his warmth many times, to be in his arms again while I was spending those months at the herd, and now I was. "I'm not letting you go again. That was a mistake. I never should have left without you." I rested my forehead on his and looked into his beautiful blue eyes. I opened the mate bond and found his side was open too. I could feel his emotions towards me and I had an insight into his mind. He was sharing it all with me.

I pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, certain that for now, everything was going to be alright. I could sense that Sam and I were going to work things out, prepare for this baby, and rule the pack together. We needed each other, and our baby needed us too. There was no immediate threat anymore. We were safe. We were okay. For once, everything was how it should be.