Cornelia returned to the table, unable to suppress the smile on her face.
James was passionate and caring and intense, and she cried his name breathlessly as she came apart in that dark room. She never did anything like that, sneaking around, but it seemed to give her a kink because she had never had such a strong orgasm. She needed a few minutes to catch her breath because she was on the verge of passing out. Literally.
"Did I miss the cake?" Cornelia asked.
Talia leaned closer and responded in a gleeful whisper, "I'm sure you didn't miss the birthday boy."
Cornelia's eyes flashed in surprise. She didn't expect that Talia would tease her like that. But more importantly… "Can you smell me, or…?"
Talia waved, indicating that was not the case. "Don't worry about the scents. With so many people packed in this small space, everyone smells like everyone. But that smile tells me why you took so long in the restroom." And there was also the fact that James was missing from the dining hall.
'She is not a she-wolf, and her healing is average at best,' Liseli spoke in Talia's mind. 'Should she allow that vigorous boy to pound her when she is expecting?'
Talia paused. 'What?'
'Are you surprised that Cornelia doesn't have good healing? She is just a witch, and…'
'No, no!' Talia exclaimed. 'The other part. Did you say she is pregnant?'
'Yes.'
Cornelia noticed that Talia was staring at her, and she shifted uncomfortably. "What?"
"Did you know that you are…" Talia leaned closer and whispered the last word into Cornelia's ear.
Cornelia's eyes were open wide to the point of hurting, and her hand moved instinctively to her belly.
"Are you sure?" Cornelia asked breathily.
Talia smiled. "I guess you didn't know. Congratulations."
Talia spoke softly, but this last part was heard by Damon, Keith, and Arya.
'Let's not make a big deal of it here,' Talia spoke to the curious trio at the table. 'We don't want to attract attention.'
James returned to his table a minute after Cornelia.
"Where have you been?" Luna Layla asked with disapproval in her voice. "We are waiting for you to cut the cake." She waved at the Omegas, who were on the side to start wheeling in the massive cake.
James didn't bother to answer his mother. He had his moment of bliss with Cornelia, and he wanted to savor it, hopefully until the end of this party when he could reunite with Cornelia again.
Alpha Edward took a sniff, and he didn't miss the scent of a female wafting off James.
"Leave the boy alone," Alpha Edward said. "He had some business to take care of."
James didn't want to comment. His eyes fell on Cornelia just in time to see Talia leaning in to say something, and then Cornelia's expression changed, and her hand landed on her stomach.
James could clearly pick up Cornelia's emotions. Excitement, anxiousness, happiness, and he knew. He just knew.
Holy shit! He is going to be a father!
His wolf howled, and James struggled not to shift right there. His urge was to snatch the chocolate-colored Goddess and to run until no one could find them.
Luna Layla nudged James, and he realized where he was. Dining room. Birthday. Guests. His father. He couldn't expose this, or he would endanger his mate and his child.
But she didn't have her heat! Oh, boy! Cornelia is a witch, and they don't have heat and… HOLY SHIT!
James had plans to last for the next two years. He had several exit strategies before that deadline, but this… He never thought of this.
A pup of his own! Will it be a boy or a girl? What if there were two or three? He could see himself holding Cornelia in the middle of a meadow with a bunch of kids running around them. Their pups. And he will love them all. No one will be forced into training or hardships, but he will encourage them to explore possibilities and follow their interests. Maybe they will follow their mother and be witches who talk to nature and cast spells?
James was vaguely aware that there was a cake and that he blew the candles. It took him three tries to get all sixteen of them. His mother held his hand as he cut into the cake, and he was unsure how he managed to stay in his seat until Omegas took the cake to cut the rest and distribute it among guests.
James bolted to his feet. "I need some air."
He told himself to stay away from Cornelia, but his legs took him there.
James stood next to Cornelia and extended his hand, palm up, and she put her hand into his without a word.
James led the way outside, and Cornelia followed.
"Jay, is this OK?" Cornelia asked when they emerged on the terrace.
James wrapped his arms around Cornelia and kissed her until she got dizzy. "I am happy, and right now, I don't care about anything else. Hop on." He wanted to talk to her about so many things, but not where they could be overheard.
Cornelia sucked in a sharp breath when James transformed into a majestic light brown wolf, and his expensive-looking clothes exploded into taters. He nudged her side with his head, and she mounted him. Cornelia gripped his fur as he dashed into the forest.
In the event hall, Alpha Edward was busy talking with Alpha Richard and Alpha William, like James didn't just leave the party with Cornelia.
'Is this OK?' Talia asked Damon through their mind-link.
'It seems James reached the point where he decided on his priorities.' Damon grinned. 'Our pack got a fantastic Gamma.'
'You think he will come over?'
'Alpha Edward seems cool about this, but he will demand an explanation. What will James tell him? That he is mated to a witch?'
Talia realized that Damon's words made sense. When Alpha Edward finds out how close James is to Damon, the hostility will reach the boiling point. Was the war going to start in minutes?
'Kitten…' Damon called, and Talia turned to see him look at her seriously. 'About Penelope…'
'Don't,' Talia cut him off. 'I know it all. Whatever happened, you can't take it back, and it's not fair, but here we are. If you want me not to think about it, I suggest you don't bring it up.' With Cornelia's pregnancy, Talia forgot about the wretched hookup Damon had in the past, but now that he mentioned Penelope, it was back in Talia's mind, and she was angry again.
'I don't want to talk about her.'
'Why did you bring it up then?' Talia snapped.
'Ignoring the problem won't make it go away. No matter which woman stands in front of you, and regardless of if I had something with her or not, I want you to keep in your mind that you are my only one now and in the future.'
Talia hugged him and fisted his shirt. 'I know, Damon. I know. But I am insecure and pregnant, and I need you to assure me that you won't betray our bond.'
Damon shook his head at the silly woman. They were in the middle of a party, but his kitten needed comforting, and he didn't give a damn about who was watching.
Damon pulled her onto him. 'I will never betray our bond, kitten.'
