Crisis Upon Arrival

Crisis Upon Arrival
I drove slowly back to town while Victor followed behind me. It had taken them less than 15 minutes to get the small family of five loaded into the small sedan while I waited in my car. It hadn’t felt right to meet Raul’s family without him being there to do the introductions. Or at least that was what I told myself. It was easier than giving room for my brain to think about how much…
I parked in front of the gate and got out to open it when a loud scream pierced the air, making Carson go on high alert. I pushed the gate open and took off sprinting to our home. I barreled into the house and flew up the stairs, following her screams and Godric’s growls and snarls. I burst into the bedroom and quickly assessed the situation. Tasha was trying to restrain a very angry Godric while Ramdon tried to comfort a shaking Sebastian and a violently jerking Jamie.
“GODRIC! ENOUGH! Raul, shift back. Your family is downstairs! You guys go. I’ll handle this,” I ordered. Godric froze as did Tasha and Ramdon.
“W-what?”
“While I was in the city, I asked them to come by… I didn’t know this was happening…”
“So… it’s true…”
“Nash, can we focus? We kind of have a fucking crisis here.”
“What’s true?,” Raul asked.
“Nothing.”
She pushed Godric into my arms. “You go downstairs. I should be here when they wake up. Tell your family I am sorry for not being able to meet them. I will next time.”
“Nash, let me do it. You’re pregnant-”
She narrowed her eyes. “I did this to them. I promised him that I’d be here when he woke up. I can’t break that promise.”
I sighed. “Of course.” I kissed her forehead. “Just be safe. Come on, Raul.”
I took Godric out of the room while Tasha stripped and Raul got dressed. I waited outside the door for Raul and when he joined us, I took them downstairs where Valerie hovered in the doorway. Godric perked up and started sniffing the air. He wiggled to get down and I let my aura out.
“Stop.”
He growled but stopped struggling.
“Is everything okay? Should we leave?”
Raul hesitated at my side.
“No. It’s fine. Just Tasha passes her apologies along that she will not be able to visit with you today but this little guy is Osprey. Well, Godric.”
She smiled at us. “He’s adorable.”
Tasha cried out and Valerie looked towards the stairs. “Are you sure you want us to stay?”
“Yeah but we should move houses…,” I say as my eyes were drawn to the stairs when a thud happened.
Raul left my side to dart back upstairs. I sighed and shifted our son.
“Yes, I’m sure. I’ll take you to his house. We can visit there.”
I glanced towards the stairs again before taking her out. Two wide-eyed faces pressed against car windows made me chuckle. I couldn’t even imagine how weird it must look for me to be carrying a baby bear. I nodded my head down the road.
“It’s the third one there.”
She turned to look and sadness passed over her face. “That’s our family home…”
“Yes. Come on.”
She pointed at it and Victor reversed back before driving to it. I put Godric down and started walking toward it. She glanced at the house.
“May I ask what’s going on or is that too forward?”
“We have people transitioning into being bears.”
She nodded. “Got it. We really can come back.”
I smiled at her. “You might just get me tonight. You can come back tomorrow to visit and we’ll pray it’s better.”
“We can stay overnight if it’s alright. The kids are homeschooled.”
“Sure.”
“Well, I’m going to drop you guys off and get you settled. Then I’m going to go home. I’m needed there.”
“I understand.”
She introduced me to Jeremy and Morgan while Godric hid behind my leg, peering at them anxiously. She quickly explained the plan to them and they smiled. Victor wrapped his arm around Valerie and his hand rested over her stomach. I stared at it for a moment before leaning close to sniff her. She paled and Victor’s eyes narrowed on me.
“What in the hell are you doing to my wife?”
I sighed. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “5 months. A little girl.”
“Do you have a name picked out?”
She smiled at Victor. “Kind of. We’re debating between two. Shauna and Scarlett.”
Godric walked over to her and sat at her feet, staring up at her. I cleared my throat.
“Sorry about him. He’s curious.”
Morgan slowly approached him, watching him in awe. “You have a pet bear? That is so cool.”
“He’s not a pet. Want to see something cooler?,” Raul asked as he jogged up to us.
“YES!,” she screamed.
He grinned at her and shifted. Jeremy and Morgan stood stunned while Valerie stared at him in shock.
“Wait… he was born human. How is he shifting? Karen said he would never shift…..”
I chuckled as I ran my fingers through his fur when he leaned against my leg, watching Godric closely.
“I told you he was our mate.”
Ramdon looked up at me and I saw the questions in his eyes. Questions that I was not ready to answer… especially because I wasn’t sure of the answers. I cleared my throat.
“So, we should get you settled. Come on.”
Ramdon walked into the woods while I took his family inside. Morgan whispered to Jeremy and I smiled, pretending like I hadn’t heard her question.
“So, there’s three guest rooms and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you guys used his bed. He doesn’t stay here anymore.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Falcon, but does he really turn into a person?”
I smiled at her. “Yes. Do you want to see?”
She nodded eagerly. I grabbed one of the aprons that hung on the wall next to the stove and held it up in front of Godric.
“Godric, let Osprey have control.”
He shifted back and Morgan squealed in delight while I wrapped the apron around his waist. He immediately walked over to Valerie and climbed into her lap. She hugged him.
“Hi, Osprey.”
He eyed her curiously before curling up on her lap with his cheek pressed against her stomach.
“Sorry. He must know you’re pregnant. He sleeps on Tasha the same way.”
“It’s okay. He’s adorable,” she said as she stroked his hair.
“Do you need anything else, Mom? Or are you good for the night?,” Raul asked.
“No. Go be with your mates, son.”
I walked over to pick up our son and he growled at me. I blinked rapidly a few times.
“Let’s go, Osprey. Now!”
He bared his teeth at me and swiped at my hand when I tried to pick him up again. Raul put his hand on my shoulder.
“It’s okay, Falcon. I’ll stay with him and bring him home when he falls asleep. Go help Tasha.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “You and I are going to discuss this tomorrow,” I warned.
He ignored me to nuzzle into her again. I growled lightly before hurrying out of the house to get back to Tasha and the other guys. I made it home in record time and sprinted up the stairs. I relaxed when I entered the room to see three bears curled up in a pile in front of the bed. I walked over to them quietly and ran my hands over all three of them before opening my link with Raul, praying that he would be able to hold it for a minute.
‘Were they asleep when you left?’
‘Sebastian was. How’s Jamie?’
I sent him the image of the three of them curled up together and I felt his relief through the bond.
‘How are they?’
‘Good.’
‘Good. We’ll be home soon.’
I hesitated and I knew he was waiting for me to say something but I gently closed it. I stripped my clothes off and let Carson take over. We nosed the men’s bears before curling up a few feet away by the wall, facing them. I hated that I was lying to her again. I had told her that I wouldn’t be around when they woke up but I needed to be. It made me feel better and more sure about everything. We turned our head to look at Timothy. He didn’t seem like he had made any changes. Either way. Stable at the moment was comforting.
We yawned. Even if he wasn’t speeding through the transition, he wasn’t getting worse and that was good. We closed our eyes and I told Carson to keep an ear open for them. Tasha was such a heavy sleeper, not much would wake her up. If they had questions, I wanted to answer them before she got up. I wanted to let her have her hope for as long as she was able to.