SAMANTHA POV It's been two days, and I still don't feel any better. I don't know if I want to pursue learning more about this untouched side of myself. I have always had a powerful sense of who I am. Now, all that confidence has been shaken, and I am questioning who Samantha Layne is exactly. I stretch my arms and sigh before climbing to my feet. Spending more than an hour on the floor is too rough for my growing belly. "Geez, why couldn't she hide the keys under her pillow," I mumble as a muscle in my back pulls from the strain of getting up.I have searched every nook and cranny of this massive house for the keys to my grandmother's diaries. But I have only managed to find dust bunnies and some old financial documents. My latest search was underneath the old antique bed in my grandparent's bedroom, which was really my last hope. I stand up straight a little too quickly, and my head spins a bit. I place my hand on the side table to steady myself, and as I do, I feel a cr

SAMANTHA POV "I really will be fine, Dan," I say again as he follows me to the car after feeding me to the brim. "I need to do a run around your land, Sam. I want to make sure no one is getting close to my mate or her unborn cub," Dan tells while shooting me a crooked smile that makes me want to blush. "Okay fine," I reply, a little breathlessly, and Dan's smile grows. He knows what he is doing to me when he does that; I know it. I climb into the passenger seat of my car, and he drops into the drivers' seat immediately after. My nerves grow higher and higher as the silence seems to become a thick fog within my small car. He pulls out of his drive and I slide my hands under my legs to keep them from fidgeting. During dinner the conversation was light and smooth between all of us, but now that I am alone with Dan, I'm nervous. I don't know how to go about bringing up our "mate" relationship. I had told him I was ready when I arrived this evening, but I honestly don't know wh

SAMANTHA POV I rub my stomach calmly as I wait for Lauren to ask whatever question is on her mind. After two months of knowing Lauren, I quickly learned she is only quiet when something is on her mind. And considering the fact, she hasn't spoken for seven minutes; it must be pretty big. I sigh as I watch her eyes glance towards my phone yet again. "What," I finally ask, and Lauren's beautiful deep brown eyes meet mine. She looks surprised for only a second before she realizes I know she is curious about something. "Nothing...I... I mean, it's none of business," she sputters before blushing and lifting her coffee mug to her lips. "Lauren, you are killing me here. I came over to relax for a few hours and get Daniel off my back about spending so much time alone. You could at least talk to me," I say, only half kidding. "Okay. Okay, I know I am being weird. I was just wondering if your ex has contacted you about your approaching due date. I know you are taking things

DANIEL POV "So you meant that? Like an actual wedding? Do shifters even get married? I thought they do the whole biting mate thing," Sam asks with wide eyes, and I chuckle. "For legal purposes, we normally go to the courthouse and get married. But for human mates, we have weddings. You are a little bit of both," I explain as I place her phone on the desk and move back in between her legs. She blushes and fidgets as she watches me get closer and closer to her juicy lips. "So you want to have a wedding with me instead of the whole courthouse thing? I mean, I've been married before. I have done the whole white dress walk down the hall thing. We don't have to do that again...I mean, if I agree," Samantha says as I stop a millimeter from her lips. "I don't care what we do. I just want you next to me for the rest of my life, Sam. I know we haven't been together long, but that's not something that stops shifters. I'm moving at your pace. So you just tell me when," I whisper b

DANIEL POV Her enchanting emerald green eyes are glowing in the dark, urging me to mark her as our lips break apart, but I hold back. I have to be sure. I have to know this is her decision. I have to make sure she knows the full extent of what she is asking. I don't want there to be any regrets between us. I know the pack has commented here and there over the past month. They have even asked her when she thinks she might allow me to claim her as my own. Her responses have always been vague, and she always rubs her stomach. I don't want her rushing this to please them or me. If she wants to wait until she has her cub, then we need to wait. No matter what the pack thinks. I lick her remaining essence off my lips as I refocus my brain. I try to control my instinctual urge as much as I can before asking her what could potentially be the most serious question I ever ask my mate. "Sam, do you realize what you are asking for? You are asking me to claim you. With or without a