Page 19 of Destined Bear

“Is it…” I paused, “morning sickness? Is that what you’re thinking?”

He smiled slowly, like it took an effort for him to do so. “Yes. I don’t want to jinx us, but it probably is. When we get ahold of Rissa later, we’ll have her bring us a test. For now, why don’t you go to work?”

My bear nearly broke out of my skin. Leaving Patrick, until I knew for sure he was okay, wasn’t in my beast’s plans.

“I don’t want to leave you like this.” Not that I ever wanted to leave him, but today the pull was exponentially stronger. “What if you need me?”

“Please. I’m just going to lie here in my misery. I’ll drink the tea and have some toast. You don’t need to hang out with me while I’m miserable.”

“I want to hang out with you always. I could care less what state you’re in; pretty sure we took vows ‘in sickness and in health.’”

He chuckled at that. “I think you have those mixed up with human wedding vows. We didn’t have a ceremony.”

“I can fix that,” I said, brushing his hair off his forehead, my body freezing as I did. “You do seem rather warm. Are you sure we shouldn’t call Rissa?”

Fevers weren’t part of pregnancy, were they? Crap. I should’ve paid better attention in sex ed or at least to the pregnant omegas I’d know over the years.

“Trust me, Patrick, I’m fine.”

I didn’t sense any dishonesty from him, yet still, I hesitated. Of course, I trusted my mate, and he would tell me if he needed more than just rest. But that didn’t mean I wanted to leave his side. What if he got worse and needed me?

“All right, I can go to work. Then you’ll call me if anything changes?”

“Of course.”

I pressed my lips to his forehead. His eyes fluttered closed. “Get some rest, baby.” He burrowed into the blankets a little more.

I went to the linen closet and grabbed an extra blanket. Then, while I was thinking of it, I grabbed him a bucket in case he couldn’t make it to the bathroom. He hadn’t touched more than a bite of the toast and just a few sips of tea. I set a water on the counter in case he needed it. I made sure he had his cell phone and the remote to the television. I wished there was more I could do, but I couldn’t think of anything.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, I’m fine. I promise.”

“All right, I’m gonna call you every hour.”

He chuckled. “Please don’t. Call me at noon, but not a minute before. I don’t want to be woken up a few minutes after I fall asleep… every single hour.” He made a fair point.

“All right. Maybe I’ll send someone to check on you.”

“If it would make you feel better, alpha, you can send someone to check on me.” I wasn’t sure how that was better for him, but it sure was better for me because it meant someone would be able to see him, see his coloring and his eyes. I’d rather it be me, but I was trying hard to honor his wishes. It wasn’t like I wanted someone hovering over me when I was sick.

“All right.”

I fought with my bear the entire way to work. It felt wrong to leave my mate when he was in such distress. Thankfully, we had a busy day at the diner; the local schoolteachers were getting together to plan something, and they pretty much took over any open space I had.

The entire day was a flurry of activity.

I sent a quick text to my mate at lunch, and he assured me that he was fine. I went back to work, determined that I would getthrough this day and make it back to him quickly. I hated being apart, and I found it difficult to keep my bear under control.

And because I was me, I snapped at Archer and Stacy more than usual. They gave it right back. I deserved it. I was being an asshole to them and a shitty mate to Finn.

I should’ve listened to my instincts. I should have gone home or sent someone over there. I wasn’t prepared for what I found when I returned home, and it could’ve been avoided if my father hadn’t been right: I wasn’t worthy of a mate.

Chapter 13

Finn

I remembered lying back down to go to sleep after Patrick had texted me. He was worried, and try as I did, I hadn’t managed to take that feeling from him. And truth be told, I was worried too. I wanted this to me being pregnant more than anything. But pregnancy pukes were not like this, at least I didn’t think they were.