Page 16 of I Can't Bear It

“I wish Georgi was here with us.” Karl chewed his food and took a swig of water. “Is it too late to go get him?”

“Probably.” I yawned and shoved the rest of the food away, leaning back into the pillows and blankets. “Let’s sleep with this little one and then go get our son as soon as the morning comes.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Karl finished eating and got up to put the tray on the corner table. “I’ll take that downstairs in the morning.”

“Come cuddle with us, alpha.” I reached out for him.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Chapter Eleven

Karl

“So, how long will they be in the egg again?” Georgi ran a finger over his little sibling’s egg and kissed it. “I can’t wait to teach them how to talk with the spiders outside.”

“We don’t know if he will be able to talk to spiders yet, buddy.” I ruffled his hair and walked past him. “But you have another month to wait until he gets out of the shell.”

“And exactly how many spiders are we talking about?” Peter stretched, lying down in the nest next to our egg.

“I don’t know.” Georgi shrugged. “I think like twenty.”

“Twenty?” Peter raised his eyebrow. “They sure are liking their new home, huh?”

“Oh yeah. They wanted me to tell you thank you. They hated the last people who stayed here. They kept trying to kill them.”

“Well, we aren’t going to harm them.” Peter kissed Georgi on the nose.

“Are you sure you are all right?” I knelt next to the nest. “I could stay home a couple more days. Wolf won’t mind. He has kids and understands.”

“Go back to work. Everything is fine. Georgi will have fun at the daycare at the training center; those Survolar and Ramano kids will keep him busy. And I could easily nap all day with this guy.” Peter pulled our egg closer and kissed its shell. “I mean it. Go help Wolf and Rayne with that special project and let me rest.”

“As long as you’re sure.” I kissed my mate and rubbed my index finger lovingly along our egg. “Call me if anything happens. Or even if you miss us.”

“I will.” Peter chuckled. “Georgi, listen to everything Karl says today. Is that okay?”

“Okay, Papa. Love you.” Georgi kissed his papa.

“We’ll see you around 5 p.m.” I closed our bedroom door and led Georgi downstairs. “I was thinking of stopping for breakfast on the way to work. What sounds good?”

“Pancakes!” Georgi bounced in place as I grabbed my wallet and keys from the bowl in the foyer.

“How did I know you’d say that?” I chuckled. Let’s go get some pancakes. And I’ll even let you get the birthday cake ones with the rainbow sprinkles.”

“Yes.” Georgi fist-pumped the air before climbing into his car seat. “Thanks, Daddy Karl.”

The world stopped momentarily as I digested that my little man called me Daddy. “Anytime, buddy. I love you.”

“I love you too.” His smile lit up my day. I loved this kid with all my heart, and if he let me, I would make sure to be a good daddy.

***

“Watch out.”

A shimmering line of electric blue energy shot past me and landed on the wall to my right, leaving a slight dent in its wake.

“Sorry.” Nikolai Survolar hung his head and walked closer. “I didn’t mean to release it yet.”

“It’s okay. No harm done.” I looked at the wall. “Well, not to me or any other people, at least. Where’s Wolf? I thought he was helping you today.”