Pregnant With His Liger Baby

That was, of course, until they heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was likely to be Dr. O’Dell, Micah cheerfully headed right over and opened the door. A fist landed right in his face, laying him flat on the ground.

“Damon!” Rose exclaimed, running to Micah’s side to make sure he was all right. “What the heck is the matter with you?”

I take it you heard the news, Father? Sylvie asked, still lying on the bed in her tiger form. I’ll thank you never to harm my mate again.

Your—mate! he fumed. You actually call that—lion—your mate?

Yes, I do, she insisted. And you’d better apologize, too.

I’ll do nothing of the sort! Now get up off of that bed. I’m taking you home where you belong, and that’s all there is to it.

Oh yes, there’s a brilliant idea, Sylvie scoffed. And then I’ll birth my daughter and all hell will break loose as soon as they see what she is. No, thank you. I’m perfectly content to remain here with Micah, and go to the other facility as soon as may be. Birthing Ilana here is simply not an option.

Wait, I didn’t know you were pregnant, he replied. I just followed your mother here to find out where you were, and saw that—that lion. You mean to tell me that’s what this is all about? You should simply get rid of it, you know.

You are talking about my child, whom I already happen to love dearly because I love her father, Sylvie replied, sitting up on the bed to stare him down. Have some respect, sir, I’m not a cub any longer and my decision has already been made.

So far, the conversation had been only between the two of them while mother and mate watched nervously from the floor, where Micah had finally gotten to a seated position and was trying to stop his nose from bleeding. Rose looked ready to punch her husband in the nose at the moment.

“Enough of this!” she finally growled. “I don’t know what you two are saying to each other, but what’s done is done. Micah’s a part of our family now, whether you like it or not, Damon. And Sylvie is going with her mate to a safe place. It’s all right, Damon. She’ll be with her brother. It’ll be safe there.”

“You were going to let them send her away without even telling me,” he said, his tone accusatory. “I may not like what she’s done, Rose, but she’s still my little cub. I wish she wasn’t going anywhere. I wish she could remain a cub forever. But I know she can’t, and I’m going to have to let her go.”

Rose got to her feet and took the weeping man into her arms. “It’ll be all right,” she consoled him. “Besides, all our late-night antics seem to have paid off. My own cub isn’t much farther along than Sylvie’s. Our nest won’t be empty for long.”

“Mother, you’re having a cub as well?” gasped Sylvie, now in human form, as she stepped over to turn off the television. She couldn’t work the knobs using paws.

“I am,” she said proudly. “And this one is going to mate with a tiger, guaranteed.”

“Of course it is,” Sylvie smirked, though in her heart she had a seed of doubt.

Damon extended a hand to help Micah to his feet, and the younger male took it reluctantly.

“Sorry, son, I had no idea you two were in love,” he said gruffly. “I thought maybe it was just some sort of one-night thing, and Rose just wasn’t telling me about it. But when a male answered the door—well, I suppose any father would do the same.”

“I know I would,” Micah grinned, but grimaced with pain because of it.

“Maybe you should go show your nose to the doctor,” Damon suggested ruefully.

“Yes, I think so too,” he agreed. “At the very least, she’ll have some ice for it. And maybe a bit of pain root.”

“I’ll take you there, then,” he said. “Give these two females time to get all gushy about their babies without us.”

“Good idea,” he smirked, wincing again.

“You sure like to smile a lot for a lion, don’t you?” asked Damon as the two men headed for the door.

“Well, that went surprisingly well,” Rose commented dryly.

“I think my father just kidnapped my mate,” said Sylvie worriedly. “You don’t think he’s taken him off to finish the job, do you?”

“Of course not,” Rose protested. “Don’t be silly. I don’t doubt he’s going to have a talk with him, mind you, but I don’t think he intends to rough him up any more.”

“I wish we could go to the commissary for some ice cream,” Sylvie sighed. “But the less people see of me, the better it will be. I don’t want any trouble before Micah and I manage to make our escape.”

“Maybe I could buy some and bring it back here,” Rose suggested. “Remember, you’re not the only one who is having cravings.”

“No, I guess I’m not,” she agreed, giving her mother a hug.

“I’ll be back in a flash,” said Rose happily, and she, too, went out the door.

“I never did finish reading that novel,” Sylvie said with a sigh, and remained in her human form so she could curl up with the book and wait for somebody to return.

*****

It took about four more days to make all the arrangements to have Micah and Sylvie moved. On the day the trucks came, there were several shifters gathered who stood gaping at the couple as they walked out together, side by side, in their feline forms.

“Look at that!” shouted a young male tiger. “A tiger with a lion! And, isn’t she the king’s daughter? Some princess she’s turned out to be!”

Leona stepped to the front, marching boldly up to Sylvie with a scowl on her face. “You ignorant kitten, Micah was meant for one of us to mate, and now you’ve stolen him away. All that leaves us with is that imbecile Harold and his equally stupid brother Harvey. I simply can’t abide either one of them. I may even have to move to a different pride!”

The catty female next moved as if to kick Sylvie, but Micah roared and moved between the foot and his mate, glaring at her. Gasping in surprise, she quickly stepped away.

“You always were too impulsive anyway, Micah,” she called after him as the pair continued on their way toward the transport truck. “It’s probably a good thing I didn’t become you mate, if she’s your type. You absolutely disgust me!”