Page 41 of The Alpha’s Chosen Mate

She untangles herself from my arms and grabs her purse. “Think of it as a late Christmas gift, then.”

“Werewolves don’t celebrate Christmas, Em.”

“Maybe we should. I like the decorations. All of your businesses decorate for the holidays. Stephanie’s family always decorates their house. Maybe we can decorate the packhouse next year?”

“If you want to celebrate Christmas, then we’ll celebrate Christmas.” I love that she’s already making plans for our future together.

She beams at me as she hands me a small gift bag that she’d hidden in her Mary Poppins purse. “I’d love that.”

My lycan preens at how happy we’ve made her by offering to add Christmas to our Crescent Lake calendar next year. I lean forward, giving her a short but sweet kiss as I accept the gift.

The bag is light. As I lift the tissue paper from it, my nose wrinkles. There’s a distinct scent emanating from inside, but… No. I’m sure I’m mistaken. That scent can’t possibly be what I think it is unless she’s pulling some sort of prank on me, maybe something Brad put her up to.

I shove that thought aside. She’s too sweet to get involved in Brad’s shenanigans.

I reach inside the bag and pull out a plastic stick. I stare at it for several long moments, utterly confused. Emily bounces on her toes, hands clasped beneath her chin, her excitement and joy palpable, and guilt floods through me. Because I have no clue what I’m looking at or what I’m supposed to be excited about with her.

“I—”

“I’m pregnant,” she blurts.

The stick falls from my hand, landing on the floor with a soft thud. I open and close my mouth, but no words come out.

“I know we haven’t really talked about children, and I know this is unexpected,” she continues. “Trust me, I was shocked too, especially since I’ve been on the pill for a while now and—”

“You’re having my baby?” The question leaves me in an emotional whisper. “We’re having a baby?”

She nods, pressing her lips together to stop her adorable rambling.

“A baby…” Holy Goddess, a baby. A baby with Emily. A little carbon copy of her running around and wreaking havoc on the pack. She’ll have Emily’s brains and my strength, and she’ll charm everyone with her smile, wrapping them around her little finger just like Emily has me wrapped around hers.

I’ve yet to let myself imagine that part of our future. But I’ve wanted it for a long time now, since a year ago when Emily kissed me and ran away.

And now, on the eve of us confirming what our hearts and wolves already know, she tells me that we’ll also be starting our family? That we’ve already created the future of the pack without even realizing it? That the proof of our love will be in her arms in a little less than nine months?

Goddess.

My lips tip into a smile, and I take her face in my hands. “Em…”

“Are you happy?” Her eyes dart between mine, searching for an answer, for confirmation.

“This is the best gift I could ever ask for.”

I plant my lips on hers, circling my arm around her waist and pinning her to me as I kiss her with everything I have. She rises onto her toes, her arms around my neck, and I lift her, cupping her ass as she wraps her legs around me.

“So fucking happy…” I murmur against her lips between our intense kisses. “You have no idea, Em… No fucking idea how happy you’ve made me.” I trail my nose along her throat, breathing in her sweet scent, searching for the trace of the baby inside her, even though I know it’s too early for me to smell it.

“You’re wrong.” She gasps as I nip at her marking spot. “I know exactly how happy I’ve made you, because you’ve made me just as happy.”

“We should celebrate.” I set her on her feet but keep my face buried in her gorgeous neck.

Emily arches to give me better access to her throat. “I agree.”

“What do you suggest we do to celebrate?”

“I have a few ideas.” Her fingertips trace my dick through my pants, and she bats her eyelashes flirtatiously.

I growl, palming her ass in a rough grip. “Mmm… I think I like where this is heading.”

As I back us towards the couch, Emily undoes my pants and shoves them down my hips, then wraps her hand around my cock. With only steps to spare before we reach it, Emily spins us and pushes me onto the couch so she can straddle me.

I grab her ass once more, guiding her to grind along my dick. “Yes, I definitely like where this is heading.”