Ricky’s only chance of earning his Alpha’s forgiveness was going back to Golden Valley and talking to him in person. But he couldn’t do that in his current condition. He had enough cards stacked against him as it was; no way could he successfully seduce his Alpha while also looking unattractive. Maybe after he gave birth and he got back in shape, he could make a trip to see Morgan, test the waters, and then…
That was always as far as he got in his planning before he hit a wall.
“You messed up?” Simon repeated each word slowly. “Well.” He cleared his throat. “It’s good to know that we can do things better to protect ourselves, but even if we don’t do everything perfectly, that doesn’t mean we were bad. Do you want to tell me about it and maybe I can help figure out how to help you fix whatever it is you think you did wrong?”
Hiding his shameful behavior had saved his pride, but it hadn’t brought him any closer to a solution to his problems. If admitting what he had done could help him face his mate again, Ricky was willing to do it. Even if the prospect made him feel itchy. Sitting up against the headboard, he scratched at his neck and said, “I’m not sure what Alpha Berger told you guys when he asked if I could stay here.”
“He didn’t say much. Just that you needed help, that it wasn’t safe for you in Purple Sky, and that you were…” Simon looked meaningfully at Ricky’s distended belly. “I’d never heard of Psi shifters before so I didn’t know men could pregnant.”
“I didn’t know either until I met Alpha Berger. He’s the one who explained it to me.” Learning that the crinkly skin on his belly wasn’t a defect had thrilled Ricky. He had immediately started fantasizing about meeting a handsome man and raising a family together. Or, if he were really honest, the fantasies had focused more on what the man would be doing while getting him pregnant than the actual raising of children, but Ricky had been excited about that too. Then he met his mate and quickly ruined everything.
“It’s amazing,” Simon said.
“Uh huh. Amazing.” An amazing way to turn a moment’s mistake into a lifetime of consequences. Ricky cleared his throat and pushed his hand under his shirt to scratch the itch that had spread over his entire torso. “Right before I came here, I went with Alpha Berger on a visit to Golden Valley. When we were there I met—” He jerked his gaze down and yanked his shirt up with his free hand. “What is that?”
“What is what?” Simon followed his gaze and then he jumped up from the bed, eyes wide. “Oh. Uh.”
He had intended to scratch his stomach, but instead of his fingernails making contact with skin, they had dipped beneath it. Or maybe it was into it. Whatever the right description, Ricky’s fingertips were now piercing his birthing skin, which meant they were essentially inside his body. And the feeling was not pleasant.
“Is your stomach always that, uh, shimmery?”
“It’s been getting more and more stretched, and the last few days it’s been almost translucent but not like this.” Ricky put his fingers on his belly, pushed a little, and again dipped into his body.
“Is that supposed to happen?” Simon said breathlessly. “Does it mean the baby is coming?”
“I don’t know.” Ricky shook his head and pulled his hand back, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from his now achy belly. “I mean I think it’s supposed to happen.” Wesley Stone, the Alpha who had left Purple Sky to join the Red River pack, was also a Psi and he had filled Ricky in on what to expect for the birth of his child, but the conversation made his situation too real so he had ended it as soon as possible. In retrospect, he should have asked some questions. “But I didn’t realize it would be like this.” He put his palm over the hot, damp skin and his heart rate increased. “I don’t know if that’s what it means.”
“I’ll go get help,” Simon said as he turned toward the door.
Ricky reached out and clutched his wrist. “I’m scared,” he said as he choked back tears.
“Hey, don’t cry.” Simon stepped closer and cupped his cheek. “We’ll take care of you.”
“I know.”
Simon was kind. His mate Mitchell was…well, the massive Alpha was too gruff and intimidating to be described as kind, but he was definitely protective. His twin brother Frederick was the pack Alpha and he had his own pregnant mate so the two of them had been understanding of Ricky’s situation. If he couldn’t have Morgan by his side, being in Blue Mountain was the next best option. That wasn’t enough to make Ricky happy exactly, but he was grateful.