Page 91 of Ember's Claim

I snort.

The last time Ember’s wolf chased him out of the nest in the house, she bit him right on the backside to get him moving. He ran out the door shouting hisarsewas bleeding while Veryn and I laughed harder than I have in a long time.

“If neither of you walks in there in the next fifteen seconds—” Veryn laughs when I roll my shoulders back and stomp toward the small trail that leads to the mouth of the cave.

Who knew pregnant ladies could be so terrifying?

I didn’t.

I love Ember with my whole damn heart, and her wolf still intimidates me sometimes.

I slide around the edge of the mouth of the cave, noting how much cooler it is. The constant flowing water from the waterfall seems to lock in the frigid temperature.

Ember has built quite an incredible nest for herself. There are tree branches lining the sides of the small enclosure, and she picked a spot where the cave naturally juts out a bit, which makes a built-in roof.

Her head lazily rolls to look out the small entrance, but she doesn't growl, so that seems like a decent sign.

I have to crouch and eventually end up crawling in on my hands and knees. She’s got a nice bed of leaves and foliage just outside the entrance, making it easier, since the rock floor isn’t very forgiving.

“Hey, beautiful, can I crawl in here?” I ask, scratching her jaw.

She pulls her head down inside the nest, giving me the room necessary to climb through the opening. There’s a thick comforter lining the floor, but the inside is free of any other foliage. It’s so strange to see her belly protrude so far when she’s in shifted form, but truthfully, it’s just as visible when she’s in human form.

I kneel, ducking my head. It’s a seriously tight fit for the two of us.

My palm slides over her stomach and Ember’s wolf tilts her head, resting it against my arm. She’s panting a little, and I try to determine if I’m caressing the part of her abdomen carrying Veryn’s egg, because it’s hard to the touch.

Sometimes we can feel the other two pups move, but it’s complicated by the fact dragons lay eggs. It’s just the one, and even that seems to be stretching the limits of what her system can handle.

Omegas’ systems are wild in how they work. We collectively agreed to let Veryn plant his egg during her last heat, but what we weren’t counting on was her body also conceivingoutsideof the egg. We were trying to start with just one kid, but it’s like her omega genetics refused to let that happen.

“Nadia is at the house for your appointment,” I say soothingly as I bend down to nuzzle my face to hers.

She chuffs her displeasure.

“You really should tell us if you're going to leave. We got worried.” That might be an understatement. I straight-up panic searched the house. “We need to head back, so Nadia can check on the babies.”

Ember’s wolf growls, but it’s more of a mildly annoyed sound and nowhere close to an angry growl.

“Come on, lovely,” Lorcan calls out from somewhere in the cave. “I’ll give you ear scratches if you come out now.”

Ember’s wolf is so expressive. She rolls her eyes, like she can’t believe she’s stuck with that goober for eternity. It makes me chuckle. She’s definitely moodier than she’s ever been.

“Last chance, baby,” Veryn says, approaching the opening of the nest. “Don’t make me climb in there and carry you out.”

Ember’s wolf grunts but begins the slow process of trying to get to her feet. I honestly can’t fathom how omegas used to carry babies for five or six mates all at once.

Three—at least, when a dragonling is in the mix—seems like it’s pushing her past her breaking point.

Epilogue

Veryn

My stress is officially higher than it’s ever been. My boots stomp across the floor as Nadia checks Ember out. At least she’s back in human form after the trip to the cave nest. It boggles my mind that she can still shift when she’s so full of babies, but I also know her wolf would never put them in danger. Being in wolf form probably makes her feel safer, like she’s capable of defending against anyone who might mean them harm.

Shaking out my hands, I pace back in the opposite direction.

Lorcan steps into my path, quirking an eyebrow. “Calm yourself. Your anxiety is filtering straight through the bond and into our mate.”