Chapter 52

The next morning Charlotte woke before Jaxson. Laying their wrapped up in his arms, she simply enjoyed looking at him, taking his features in. He grunted a little bit in his sleep and pulled her even closer.

Charlotte had never thought to have her heart so full. Her love for this incredible and wonderful man filled her heart and made her feel like a complete woman. All her life, from the time she could rationalize, she knew that something was missing. It hadn't been the spot that her parents would have filled. Her grandparents had always been there for her. Her life had been full of love and she hadn't wanted for any kind of affection. She had been comfortable in the knowledge of who she was and that she was cared for. It had been when she was older that she realized that it wasn't something missing, it had been someone.

Lately, she had been wondering about her dad. Who he was. Where he came from. She made her mind up to speak to her grandfather about him.

"What are you frowning about so hard, Sweet Mate?" A gruff voice asked her.

Tilting her head back, she looked into the brown eyes of the man she loved. They were so deep, and told so much about him and his soul. Reaching over, she kissed his stubbly chin, liking the feel of it against her lips and cheeks.

"Hmm, about my dad. After twenty-some-odd years, I realized that I knew nothing, absolutely nothing about him. Except what he looked like. I don't know where he was from, who his family is or was, where he was educated. It's really starting to bother me. Think we can ask my grandfather and maybe do some research about what we can find?"

Jaxson was beginning to realize that there were questions Charlotte had never had answered. Things most girls wanted to know about their daddy's family. He knew instinctively that the questions to her questions would only be found by asking the right people. He would start asking those questions with her and for her.

Before getting up, Jaxson leaned down and kissed his mate, deeply. Groaning he released her and got up. They had to go back down the mountain and rejoin his family and hers at the Alpha house and prepare for their wedding, Rio's wedding, their Alpha and Beta ceremonies and the accompanying receptions and banquets. Then the next step is the reveal.

The reveal. Yeah. That's something to look forward to. If Diane and Jasper's reaction were any indication of how humans would react to his kind, this was not going to go over easy. It would have to be managed down the most minute details. Ursa knew that he hated the idea. But, it was the one thing guaranteed to keep them all safe. Mostly that was an idea focused on Charlotte and his brother, Rio.

Watching his mate come out of the bathroom, he smiled. She looked good in his shirts. She was so small that the tail of his shirt almost hung to her knees. He was a big man, and his little mate only came to his heart. Which to him was perfect and brought a smile to his face.

Looking quite grumpy, Charlotte went into the kitchen where the coffee pot was just finished, thanks to Jaxson setting it to auto-brew the night before. Pouring herself a large cup, she fixed hers the way she liked it and then grabbed Jaxson's cup to fix his, while she waited on him.

Arms. Large, thick and heavily muscled arms wrapped around her and pulled her back against his chest. Sitting her coffee down, she turned and buried her nose in his chest and took a deep breath. His scent washed over her setting off tingles all over her body, calming her and raising the levels of desire in her body and causing her to moan.

Jaxson placed his hands on her shoulders, holding her still and looking down at her. She whined and tried to burrow back into his arms and chest.

"I know, my love. But you are injured and I could hurt you without meaning to. I want you, too. But, it's not a risk I am willing to take."

"I know. I understand, and I even agree. But, dang it! That doesn't mean that I have to like it!" Reaching up with her left arm, she pulled his head back down for another kiss. She even deepened the kiss briefly, before pulling away.

Jaxson growled and grunted and Charlotte knew his bear was forward.

Tapping his nose gently, she said, "I know, Bear. I want it too. But, like your human said, I am injured and this might not be the best idea."

Bear gently leaned down and sniffed at her neck and hummed. "Smell so good, little mate. Cub smell like us. He will be strong and lead well. Bear will be a good father. I wait."

Jaxson and Charlotte stumbled back away from each other in shock. Both wide eyed and looking at each other, Charlotte came to her senses first and let her hands drift down to cover her lower abdomen where the cub lay protected in her uterus. Jerking her eyes back up, she smiled and looked at Jaxson and said in a whisper; "We're going to have a baby, a cub. We're going to be parents."

Jaxson was suddenly terrified, almost paralyzed with fear. What if something goes wrong? What if Charlotte got hurt? What if....?

"Stop that right now, Jaxson. I am not your man and this isn't your last mission. I will be fine. You and everyone else around us will make sure of that."

He took a moment to look at her. The serenity on her face said it all. She had complete faith and confidence in him.

It humbled him. That faith and confidence. That absolute trust. He would make damn sure that he didn't break it either. No matter what he had to do.

"Come along, my hero. We need to leave soon. You owe me a breakfast at the diner. Brunch or lunch, anyway." She said, smiling up at him. She left the room and as she walked away, there was an exaggerated sway to her hips, causing him to pant with desire.

It didn't take them long to pack. Jaxson had only brought a few items of clothing each. Soon enough, they were headed down the mountain. Once they got into town, Jaxson pulled into the diner parking lot and got out and went around to help Charlotte get out. Placing his hand on his back, he gently guided her in and to a booth.

A waitress came over and got their order and brought back their drinks. After she left, Jaxson took out his phone and called his brother. Placing his phone down, he sighed and looked over at Charlotte. "Come sit beside me. Rio and Aber are on their way over."

Charlotte had just backed down next to her mate when she saw Rio and Amber enter the diner. Both commanded attention. Both tall. Both striking in looks. One of them armed. Charlotte had discovered in a conversation with the agent once that she never went anywhere without it. Her badge was able to supersede most laws when it came to being armed.

Sitting down across from them, Rio turned to Charlotte. "Looking much better, Charly. Feeling better, I hope."

She smiled and said, "Definitely. Especially after the news that Bear gave us this morning."

When she didn't say anything, Amber said excitedly, "Spill it, girl! What did Jaxson's bear tell you this morning?"

Looking up at her mate, he nodded and smiled at her. Smiling at Amber, Charlotte said, "It would seem that I am with cub."

Rio almost dropped his glass. Amber was grinning.

"Wow! Really? That's fantastic!"

"Bro. Mom and Dad are going to be over the moon. You do realize that we're never getting rid of them now." Rio said, smiling.