Chapter 84
Ashlynn POV
"So you remember Shawna and Michael?" I ask Dawson as we sit at the dinner table. Dawson nods before taking a sip of his beer. "Well Alpha James called and asked if he could come for a visit and he wanted to bring his Protector Michael with him."
"Really?" Dawson looks curiously at me. "Why? What's his reasoning for the visit?"
I shrug because I only have a speculation based on what Luna Jenna told my mother and I over lunch the day before. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I have a good guess though," I wink at him. "What's coming up?"
Dawson crinkles his forehead in thought, tapping his fork on the top of his steak as he thinks it over. "Oh, the full moon run. Why would they want to come here though? They could do it at their own pack."
"True, they could. However, I've been talking to Shawna on the phone a bit here and there. She's extremely grateful to us for not just rescuing her but for being the reason her and Michael met. She asked if we do the full moon run on every full moon and I told her yes. Our pack is to big not to, or I think so anyway. Everyone wants to try and find their mate or take a chosen mate." I slice into my steak and then stab a piece onto my fork before I continue. "Seems logical that she wants to do the run here for her possible mating with Michael. You know women are sentimental like that. She met him here so maybe that is why?"
As Dawson contemplates my words, I continue to eat. I'd been abnormally hungry all the time and I craved red meat. I went out in wolf form several times a week to hunt, which was so unlike me. Dawson of course always came along, commenting on how sexy it was that my wolf wanted to shake her tail at his wolf. That would then turn into a chase through the trees after our hunt, that always landed us back at our favorite swimming hole. We'd have a midnight swim, then have sex on the bank and jump back in to wash it off. We'd race back and run up the steps to the apartment, shifting back to human form as we reached the top steps. We didn't even bother to dress, we just went straight to our bed and passed out. I'd inevitably wake up sometime during the night, slickness between my legs. I'd wake Dawson up in all sorts of creative ways and we'd end up making love again. I was insatiable for some reason.
"Maybe I should go talk to Alpha," Dawson says.
"For what?" I ask.
"Just to see what's going on. I want to make sure there isn't trouble brewing and that's the reason for Alpha James visiting. Maybe Cody knows," he says.
"I'm sure he does, he is the Beta after all," I remind him.
"Yes true. Also, my sister is coming for the full moon run. Did I tell you?" Dawson asks.
"No you didn't. I can't say I'm surprised though, with Max home now. Do you think your sister will move here permanently? She could take your old apartment you know," I remind him. Dawson's apartment has been empty since before we officially mated. He's hardly spent a night away from me since we discovered we were mates.
"True. She could also stay at my parents little cottage in town if she wanted," Dawson rises to clear his dishes from the table. "You plan on hunting again tonight?" he asks as he watches me eat my last bite of steak.
"No. I think I'm good after that. However, do you want to take a walk. I want to show you something," I tell him with a smile.
"Sure babe, let me just handle these dishes and we can go." Whenever I cook, Dawson insists on cleaning up. He's such a good man, always considerate and making sure we share the load in everything. He's so unlike my father that I'm in total awe. At that moment I realize I haven't thought of that man in a very long time and I sincerely don't feel anything. I don't miss him, I don't feel guilt or remorse about turning him in. Not one iota.
I take Dawson's hand and lead him out the door and down the steps of our apartment. I think he's surprised when I pull him around to the front side of the horse stalls and start walking past the walkway to Cody's and Mom's. "Where are we going?" he asks.
"Down to the Southwest pasture," I tell him. I'm not going to give away my surprise, so that's the only response he gets from me. We walk quietly, hand in hand towards the tree line that runs along the driveway and then I make a quick left, slipping through an opening. We walk about a hundred yards and I stop. Before us is a clearing just beyond the fence line. A creek runs through the land in one corner and disappears into the trees. "Well?" I ask.
"Well what?" Dawson replies. "It's pretty, it's part of the old man lands, why are we staring at it like this?"
"Because I bought it," I tell him with a smile.
"You what?" he says in shock
"I bought this piece. It's about five acres and the Alpha already started on the cinder block fencing to separate it from the old man's land. We are going to build our house here Dawson." I turn to look at him, waiting for his reaction. He looks surprised and then he looks upset. My smile drops. "What's wrong?"
"Why wouldn't you talk to me about this? We should have bought this together, I can't have you spending just your money on this place Ashlynn, it doesn't feel right," he tells me.
"Well, about that. I bought the land but I'd like you to build the house and if it's more than the land, I can help with the cost. I just....." I trail off suddenly nervous. "I wanted to surprise you."
Dawson looks at me and his eyes soften. "I am surprised babe. Beyond surprised. This land is perfect and beautiful."
"You're not mad then?" I ask nervously. Dawson pulls me close, his nose next to my neck as he inhales my scent.
"Not mad. But is there something else you wanted to tell me?" he asks pulling back just slightly.
I scrunch up my nose, "Like what?"
"Ummm, are you pregnant?"
"What?" I screech. "Why would you think that?" I start doing the math in my head and realize that shit, I am late. I don't understand though how he knows that, I hadn't even thought of it myself.
"Your scent is different, I think we are having a baby," Dawson smiles at me softly and leans down and kisses my lips. "It all makes sense," he says as he pulls back. "The constant hunts, your insatiable sexual appetite, and I am NOT complaining, let's be clear, but it's all rather unusual for you."
I think about everything he's said and realize he's right. We were already frequently having sex but it was rarely every night or multiple times a night, and I didn't typically like to hunt so much because I have an intense love of all animals in general. Maybe I was pregnant. "Oh my god, we are going back right now." I grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards home.
"It's kind of to late to run into town for a test Ashlynn," Dawson says with a chuckle as I march us back.
"Who said anything about town? I'm a veterinarian. I have tests at the clinic,"I reply as I rush us back home, my heart rate sky high with anxiety. I might be having a pup, way sooner than anticipated.