“Go on and get to your meeting.” Grace didn’t speak of what Lex might be off doing. “I’m going to sleep for another few hours and then I’m going to the lab.”

He sighed, seeking patience from the universe. “Fine. Sleep at least four more hours. Eat another full meal and I’ll accompany you to the lab and let you stay for two hours. This isn’t negotiable and yes, I’m being heavy-handed. I love you, I get to be.”

Rolling off the bed, he held the blankets back for her to slide under and he tucked her in. “I’m glad you’re here with me. I don’t think I could survive without you.”

Her serious brown eyes looked up into his. “We can survive all sorts of things.”

“I wouldn’t want to.”

Her beautiful lips turned up into a smile. “Oh, well, okay then. I’m glad I’m here with you too.”

Chapter Thirteen

Grace woke up and took a shower, working out the soreness in her muscles. After dressing and dealing with minimal hair and make-up, she headed out and saw Dave just outside the door to her room.

“Hey there. You okay?”

He got to his knees. “You could have died and it would have been my fault.”

She sighed. No one did guilt better than male wolves. It was stunning really, their God complex made doctors look tame by comparison.

“Dave, stand up. This is silly. Don’t take so much on. You’re not Superman and you can’t dodge bullets. I don’t hold you responsible for anything but doing your best to guard me and you did, so stop. I’m going to get a cup of coffee, you can come with me.” She ran a hand over his jawline before moving down the hallway, him on her heels.

Nina grinned as Grace entered the kitchen. “Hey there, teeny. How are you feeling?”

“In dire need of caffeine. Any coffee?”

“I’m making some now. Well, for Lex and the council folks in the other room. This pushy doctor told me no caffeine for the next nearly six months.” One of Nina’s eyebrows rose and Grace laughed.

“You have high blood pressure, Nina. The caffeine will only make it worse and then you risk having to go on bed rest for the whole pregnancy. And while seven months isn’t nine months, it’s still a long time to sit in bed. Chances are after you have the baby, you’ll be back to normal.” She poured herself a cup. “In the meantime, you can have decaf. The caffeine is very minimal.”

“I’m glad you’re okay.” Nina ran a hand over her stomach as she spoke. Grace realized the subtle change in the woman she’d only known a few weeks. The standoffishness Nina had shown had disappeared and she treated Grace with the same snarky love that she did everyone else. That sort of acceptance made her feel a lot more comfortable living in the house.

“Me too. Listen, I’ll schedule your prenatal exams this week and get the info your way. I’ve been thinking of putting a small health clinic down where the lab is. The equipment is there and I don’t know why we shouldn’t use it. I can see you here most of the time but occasionally, you’ll want to come down there so we can do an ultrasound and that sort of thing.”

“Oh an ultrasound? I can see the baby and know the sex and stuff?”

“If you like, I can try and determine the gender. No guarantees the baby will cooperate. Sometimes they just turn and show you their little butts instead of whatever they’re packing—or not, as it were. You hungry?” Grace grabbed a bagel and popped it in the toaster as she rummaged through the fridge.

“No, I just ate. Lex shows up every hour to shove food at me. He’s already a good dad. I just hope I can be a good mom.”

Grace put the food on the counter and took Nina’s hands. “You will be.”

“I didn’t have a very good example.”

The mantle of being an Alpha was heavy. She wondered how Cade handled it, feeling the emotions of all his wolves this way for so long. Nina’s worry sat on her tongue like bitter fruit.

“I don’t know the whole story. Just what you’ve shared. But I know you gave your all to your brother, even when you were just a kid and despite his bad choices, he still came to you when he was in trouble. He knew you’d be there for him. And in the end, what I hear about him was that he’d become a decent member of the Pack. A good man.” She shrugged. “Seems to me, a kid growing up on the streets the way he did along with you, that’s down to you. The good man part. It’s going to be all right. You’ll learn, Lex will learn and the kid will own you.” Grace grinned. “Anyway, Beth will be over here every day and you can always call Layla.”

“What about you?”

“Me? My parents gave birth to two children and only one was ever important to them. I don’t think I had much of an example either.”

“You’re a doctor. You’re compassionate and giving. I think you’ll be a great mother when the time comes. And Cade will dote and dote because that’s his way.” Nina snorted and Grace piled stuff on her bagel.

“You have something to tell me, honey?” Cade said as he strolled into the room.

“Hmpf. That was a hypothetical discussion.” Although they hadn’t taken a bit of precaution against pregnancy, it wasn’t that easy for wolves to get pregnant anyway. “It’s time to go to the lab. Did the samples arrive yet?”

He put his arms around her and hugged her, kissing the side of her face and neck. She didn’t even pretend to be annoyed, it felt so good.