Page 30 of Chased Bear

I’d already heard talk of people planning their gardens around their pumpkin patch and how they would grow the biggest pumpkin—or one that would go the farthest. How one grew a pumpkin to be aerodynamic, I didn’t know, but I was glad to see my den excited about something. We also had pumpkins from other packs, so for all they knew, it would be one of those. At the end of the day, it was pretty much all luck anyway.

“Alpha, we’re ready to get started on the festivities. We just need you to launch the first pumpkin.” Patrick indicated the device. It looked like something out of an old history book. It was fabulous.

I smiled to myself. Launch the first pumpkin—that was not something I had anticipated I would have to do for a den gathering, but here we were. Weirdest of all? I was excited about it.

“Okay, I’m just looking for Jayce.” If he wasn’t here to see it happen, did it?

“We’re already a few minutes behind. If we don’t launch the pumpkins now, it’s going to be dark.” Patrick was right, but also a pain. I wanted to do this with my mate by my side. Could I have called rank? Sure. But I’d been actively trying not to be a dick, which was apparently something I’d been really good at being in the past.

No, not apparently. I was.

“Right, okay.” I grabbed a pumpkin and went to the little platform they had set up next to the catapult.

My Betas were there, ready to launch their pumpkins. They weren’t the only ones, either. The entire place seemed to be filled with pumpkin-holding people ready to fling them into the air to watch them plummet to the earth only a few seconds later.

Cider and donuts were being served to everyone, and I’d already had at least half a dozen. They were delicious. Thankfully, shifting and running would burn off those calories. Even if they didn’t, I didn’t care. Some things were worth it, and these donuts were on that short list.

The crowd quieted and gathered around, all of them ready to watch my little orange projectile launch. Once I stood on the platform, there was a buzz of excitement in the air. They were ready.

“Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for coming to yet another moon gathering, our first Harvest Moon gathering as a den.”

There were cheers all around. I scanned the crowd for Jayce, but I couldn’t locate him.

“I should have a flowery speech for you all about how far we’ve come, and the amazing things we’ve accomplished, and now we have yet another tradition to uphold.” There was more clapping. “But I think there’s someone here who could speak to that better than I can, and I’d really like to introduce him to you all, officially. I hope he is around here somewhere and can join me. I’d like you all to meet the Alpha Mate, Jayce.”

The crowd was quiet for a moment, all looking around to see where Jayce was. It was the first time they’d officially heard about our mating, but I’d be a fool to assume they didn’t already know. It still felt magnificent to say the words out loud to them all for the first time.

“I’m here! I’m here!” Jayce came running from over by the pavilion. “I’m here. There was a bit of a catastrophe—almost—we mixed up the hard cider with the regular cider, and we had to fix that.”

Oh goodness, I was afraid to ask the details. Now wasn’t the time. Jayce leapt onto the stage and wrapped his arms around me. That’s when the crowd cheered.

“Good for you, Alpha!”

“Welcome, Alpha Mate Jayce!”

I put my arm around Jayce’s shoulders. “I did not expect, when this bundle of chaos arrived at my door reeking of skunk, that I’d discover the man of my dreams—the omega of my heart. But here we are. I couldn’t imagine a better person to build this den with. He has accepted my mating. I ask that you all accept him as your Alpha Mate.”

The crowd let out cheers. Some threw flowers onto the stage, proving my theory that the rumor mill had been churning full force. My brother Corey, in the front row, was yelling the loudest cheers of all. I kissed Jayce deeply. That only increased the cheering.

“Now, since this was his plan and the catapult was designed by him, I think it only makes sense that he tosses the first pumpkin.”

“Were you going to tell them the other news?” Jayce asked.

A hush went over the crowd, as if they were anticipating some juicy gossip. I grinned. At least there was one secret.

“Den, in three months’ time, we’ll be welcoming the first heir of the Windridge Den pack. My mate is expecting our first cub.”

I wasn’t sure how it was possible, but the cheers got even louder. Jayce grabbed one of the smallest pumpkins, placed it onto the catapult, then looked around at the crowd and pulled the lever.

I didn’t bother looking where it went. I was too busy watching my mate be amazing.

Chapter 19

Jayce

“What if there are lasting effects of the skunk spray, and we don’t even know it?” I didn’t know that pregnancy could cause so much worry, but it did, and I had a feeling once our cub arrived, that would only grow. There were so many things to consider, and our sweet one was counting on us to get everything right.

My mate rolled his eyes and let out a long sigh. “You already asked Rissa that at our last appointment, and they assured you that there were no such effects, right?”