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"Twins," I said again, like saying it enough times might make it feel real instead of just terrifying.

Bayer shifted beside me, his weight making the mattress dip. "How are you feeling about it?"

I let out a hysterical laugh. "How am I feeling? I'm feeling like I'm trapped in some kind of alternate universe. Yesterday I was worried about one baby. Now there are two heartbeats in there, doing god knows what to my internal organs."

"Danny—"

"And the Gathering is in a few days," I continued, my voice getting higher. "I'm supposed to be the picture of pack prosperity while I'm on bed rest and bleeding from places that shouldn't exist!"

Bayer carefully maneuvered himself so he was lying beside me, propped up on one elbow. "We'll figure it out."

"Will we?" I turned to face him, seeing my own fear reflected in his amber eyes. "Because I'm starting to think I'm in way over my head here. Two bear cubs, Bayer. What if I can't do this? What if my body just...gives up?"

His jaw tightened. "That's not going to happen."

"You don't know that," I whispered.

Bayer was quiet for a moment, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my arm. "Do you remember what you told Ben yesterday? About being different not making you less?"

I frowned. "That was different, and how do you know?"

"He told me." His eyes searched mine. "You told him that being different made him adaptable. That he could walk in both worlds in a way others couldn't."

"That's not the same as—"

"Isn't it?" Bayer interrupted gently. "You're carrying bear cubs as a human-born omega. Your body is doing something that shouldn't be possible, and yet here we are. Maybe instead of seeing it as wrong, we should see it as...miraculous."

I stared at him, feeling some of the panic ease. "When did you become the wise one in this relationship?"

"About five minutes ago," he admitted with a small smile. "I'm terrified too, Danny. But I'm also...amazed. You're growing our cubs. Two of them."

"Our cubs," I repeated, the possessive warmth in his voice making something settle in my chest. "They're going to be a handful, aren't they? If they're anything like you—"

"Or you," Bayer countered. "Two stubborn, sarcastic bear cubs with your attitude and my size."

"Terrifying," I muttered, but I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips.

A soft knock interrupted us, and Phoenix's voice came through. “Dr Coughran can be here tomorrow. He says please stay in bed until he gets here.” Then he paused. “Well, stay off your feet except bathroom trips.” He paused again. “And Em just took a call from Gemma. She’s already on her way.”

I squealed so loudly Bayer jumped. Gemma was the reading specialist at our school, and up to when she went on tour over the holidays with her rock-band boyfriend, she, Em, and I were the three musketeers. She’d been on loan to Minton High since the start of term, and I’d missed her. I knew Em would be making cocktails the second he had heard she was on her way.

Hmm. I’d have to have virgin ones.

“Can you take me into the living room?”

Bayer blinked. “The doc said—”

“I should stay off my feet, and there’s a perfectly comfy couch. Don’t worry, Gemma is more of a mother hen than you are.”

Bayer chuckled. He’d met Gemma and knew she was a fierce friend, but more importantly, she was a trusted one who knew all about shifters and had been here when Em gave birth. I grabbed Bayer’s hand. “Please.”

Bayer hesitated, clearly torn between following the doctor's orders and giving me what I needed. I watched the internal struggle play out on his face.

"Fine," he finally conceded, "but only if you promise to stay on the couch. No getting up except for bathroom breaks, and I'll carry you for those too."

"Yes, sir." I mock-saluted, relief flooding through me. "I'll be a perfect patient."

"Somehow I doubt that," Bayer muttered, but his lips twitched with affection as he carefully scooped me up.