Chapter 57: Theo

Ayla and I were trying desperately to hide n"r excitement throughout the entire din-

er. As I looked around the table at my par-ents and Briggs and Mina, it was getting harder and harder not to just blurt it out. The fact that Mina had been eyeing Ayla suspiciously all evening didn’t help. Thank-fully, it was the end of the meal. I didn’t have to wait any longer.

‘Are you sure you don’t want to wait forJimmy,'Ayla linked me.

‘No, he said he likely wasn’t going to makeit,’I said, disappointed. ‘But he insisted there was something important he had to do.'

'Okay,' she replied.'You ready?'

‘Are you kidding?’ I teased, throwing myarm around her shoulder.

She elbowed me subtly before clearing her throat to get everyone's attention.“So, Grace,” she said.“I’m afraid I havesome bad news."

“Oh?” Mom replied, the atmosphere drop-ping slightly.

“You know the dress we had picked out forthe ceremony?”Ayla stated.“Well, I think we're going to have to return it. I don't think the style is going to be appropriate anymore.”

“Honey, what are you talking about?” Momsaid, not catching on that she was trying to tell her something else.“The dress looks stunning on you. It's perfect."

“Now, perhaps,” Ayla continued. “But Ithink I need something that will be a bit more... accommodating.” She looked at me with a wry grin and I kissed her temple. “My figure isn’t going to be the same bythe solstice. I’ll probably be a bit... rounder.”

The room went silent for a moment as ev-eryone let her words sink in. A huge smile slowly spread across Mina's face.

“I knew something was up,” she exclaimed.“You’re pregnant!”

My mate and I looked at each other again, pure happiness flowing between us.

“Yes,”Ayla replied.

Mina jumped up from her seat and was around the table in a nanosecond, hugging Ayla tightly. My mother was covering her mouth as tears of joy began to well in her eyes. Briggs and my father were up and clapping my back in congratulations. Over the next five to ten minutes, more smiles and embraces were exchanged than I had experienced since I didn’t know when.

“Okay, Dad,” I said as he squeezed Aylahappily.“Let’ s not crush my mate and pup.”

“I think the pup will be just fine, babe,” Aylalaughed.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her to me. Mom came up and grabbed her hands.

“We’ll go back to the dress shop as soonfirst thing...”

Suddenly, our door slammed open. We all turned to see Jimmy standing in the door-way, panting and looking disheveled.

“We’ve got a problem,” he burst out.

He looked back into the hall behind him, checking in all directions before shutting and locking the bolt before coming in and collapsing on the couch. He was wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt but no shoes. He must have shifted to get here. Ayla rushed to get him a glass of water, handing it to him as he caught his breath.

“What happened?” I insisted, feeling hisanxiety.“I found a meeting,”he said.“I suspected alocal group of having ties to the Waar Pak. Caught wind of a get-together happening tonight. So I showed up."

“And?”

“Oh, it’s Waar Pak, alright,” he said.“Theydon’t come out and claim the name. At least not yet. Right now they are referring to themselves as Purists, but what they're spouting is pure Waar Pak rhetoric.”

“Did you get names?’ I asked.

Jimmy looked at me gravely. “Yeah,” he replied with a nod.“A few actually. Sarah Walport' s man, John, was there. I know you were worried about him. But... the real problem is the sheriff.”

“What?” I hissed, my fists clenching inrage.

Jimmy nodded in confirmation.“I got a good look before someone recognized me. I didn’t raise any flags at first. But some-one voiced my loyalty to Luna and that

caused some issues. Theo, they weren't just trying to run me out of the meeting. If I hadn’t gotten away... well, I’m not sure ex-actly what they would have done with me, but it wouldn’t have been to just let me walk away. They' re planning something they want to keep secret. We need to move fast before they scatter."

I cursed as Briggs started mind-linking those we knew were lo yal to us. I pulled my phone out of my pocket.

“We need Randy here,” I said, dialing hiscontact.

“Yeah?” he answered.

“You somewhere private?”I asked.

“Hey, man,” he replied casually.“I’m notsure if I can but what's the plan?"

He must have been in the field and couldn't talk freely.“Just get here as soon as you can,” I said,keeping it vague.

“Right, I’ll see you in the morning,” hereplied before hanging up.

By the time I hung up, Maggie was knock-ing at our door.

“Maggie, you’re with us tonight.”I held Ay-la’s face in my hands.“I need you to stay here with my parents, babe. I don’t think they’re going to try anything tonight, but I’m not about to risk anything. Don't leave the apartment.”

“I’m not going anywhere,”she said, reach-ing up to kiss me.“Just be careful, please. You’re just as much a target as I am now.”

“Don’t worry,”I said gently.“Nothing willkeep me from coming home to you both.”

“The warriors are gathering outside thepackhouse,” Briggs said, holding Mina to his chest.“They should all be there within the next fifteen minutes. We should get moving.”I nodded before turning back to Jimmy.

“You still got some energy left in you?”

“There’s no way in hell I’m sitting this oneout if that's what you' re asking," he said, rising from the couch.

“Good,”I said. I kissed Ayla one more time,firmly and thoroughly.“I love you. Both of you.”

She smiled gently.“I love you, too.”