Chloe's pursed lips slowly dropped into a horrified frown. She let her arms fall and had to blink back humiliated tears. "I don't have anything!"

He grabbed her upper arms, "Of course you don't Chloe. I know that. It's not what I'm saying."

She jerked out of his grip and bent to angrily force her feet into her glittery silver flats before she stood, "Don't worry!" she ground out through clenched teeth. "If I do swell with child I won't chase you down for support." She turned and stomped toward the parking lot.

"Chloe!" the word was a practically snarled.

Ignoring him, she was halfway across the parking lot when he stopped in front of her, bent, and threw her over his shoulder and strode toward his truck.

She wiggled and pushed at his back, "Put me down!"

Now it was his turn to ignore her.

"Dell! G.o.dd.a.m.n it put me down!"

"We're going to the compound."

She struggled in his hold, "I can't leave my mother here! Put me down before I scream."

He jerked his pa.s.senger side door open and swung her down until she was cradled in his arms before he lifted her to the seat. "Mama will take her home." Then he slammed the door in her face. She reached for the handle, but before she could even jerk on it, he was already climbing in the driver's seat. One large hand snaked out and fisted in her shirt. "Stay," he ordered.

"I'm not a dog," she slapped at his fist, "and take your hands off me!"

He ignored her demand as he started the truck, shifted it into gear and pulled from the restaurant parking lot.

Chapter 23.

They rode in silence to the compound. Chloe kept her face toward the window and when Dell scented her tears guilt threatened to eat a hole right through him. "Chloe, I'm sorry if I offended you, it wasn't my intention."

She didn't respond, but he saw her brush at her cheek.

"Chloe?"

"I don't want to talk about it!" Her stuffy nose made her voice sound off.

"Look that was the most amazing experience of my life and I..."

She turned from the window and buried her head in her hands, "Oh G.o.d, please shut up! You're just making it worse."

f.u.c.k! He could scent her humiliation and he didn't know how to fix it. Claiming her truly had been the most amazing experience of his life, but saying so now sounded cheesy even to him. Of course she doesn't believe me!

He was eyeing the road, nearly home when he saw her clamp a hand to her belly. Oh s.h.i.t! "You alright?"

"Fine!" she bit out sarcastically.

Dell focused searching for Mama through the pack ties until he picked her out and centered on her and the message he wanted to convey. I need you home now. I've claimed Chloe and I didn't use protection. She's taken my seed. I don't know how I'm going to explain to her what I've just done!

Mama's voice carried to him telepathically, affirming that she'd gotten his message. Be home soon. Then as an aside, Congratulations son!

When he pulled the truck to a stop in front of Blackbird compound, Dell exited and strode to the pa.s.senger door pulling it wide. Emotions roiled within nearly overwhelming him. His wolf was soaring on a cloud of pure bliss. He'd claimed his mate. She was his now whether she realized it or not. The problem was that he hadn't spoken to her first, hadn't informed her of what would happen, hadn't garnered her acceptance, her approval, her permission.

Chloe didn't move.

"You can come in, or I can carry you in."

She frowned at him before climbing out of the truck and shoving off the hand that he placed pa.s.sively on her hip. She followed him into the kitchen once he unlocked the door and he turned to look at her. "Something to drink?"

"Beer," she bit out.

He shook his head, "Not tonight, you'll need a clear head."

Chloe rolled her eyes, "Well of course!" She brushed past him as she stomped her way down the hall and into his office. He heard her slam the door behind her and while he was upset that he'd offended her, he was relieved that she was willing to stay and let him have his say.

Twenty minutes later, Cindy flew through the back door. Her eyes were wide and she couldn't hide her grin as she raced forward and clutched the kitchen island dramatically before mouthing, "Oh my G.o.d!" Then she whispered, "I can't believe you actually did it!"

Dell groaned and shifted his eyes to the empty doorway. "Where's Mama?"

"Taking Bea home," Cindy waved her hand dismissively at the door. "So tell me what happened," she was practically bubbling with excitement. "When you told her did she just say 'okay' or did you have to coax her into it?"

Dell t.i.tled his head back and pain lanced across his features as he breathed in slowly before dropping his head to eye his sister. "I haven't told her."

Cindy's contagious grin faltered, then slowly slipped from place altogether. "You?" She blanched, her tone accusatory, "You haven't told her?"

"It happened too fast. I couldn't control myself," Dell punched the fridge leaving a huge indentation, "f.u.c.k! I didn't want to control myself."

Cindy's cheeks puffed when she expelled a pent up breath, "Maybe she'll be okay with it. I mean if she's here, that's something right?" She knew it was bad when Dell dropped to his haunches.

"I threw her over my shoulder and forced her to come." He didn't look up. "She's upset. She thinks I freaked out afterward because I thought she'd given me and STD or because I'd gotten her pregnant."

His sister's eyes saucered, "And you let her believe that?"

"No," he snapped rising to his full height to pace the kitchen, "I told her it was great."

Cindy slapped a hand to her forehead, "Are you a f.u.c.king idiot?"

Dell stopped pacing to growl at her.

"I'm humiliated for her and I wasn't even there! Jesus Dell, do you have any idea how s.h.i.tty that sounds?" She dropped her voice in a mimicking baritone, "Yeah, baby thanks for the s.e.x, it was great."

"I know," Dell rumbled, "but I couldn't tell her the truth."

Cindy's brows shot up, "Well, you're going to have to tell her now!"

He began pacing again and frowned at the door, "Where in the h.e.l.l is Mama?"

"We can't wait," Cindy eyed the hallway. "You can't leave her in there thinking the worst."

"I'm not telling her without Mama."

"Well we can do some damage control while we wait."

Dell nodded reluctantly and followed his sister down the hall to his office.

Inside the office, Chloe sat in one of the leather back chairs and wrapped her arms around her waist. She wished the earth would open up and swallow her. I'm so f.u.c.king stupid! Tears flooded her eyes and she knew if she held onto them that they'd breach when Dell confronted her and she didn't want to cry in front of him, so alone in his office she wept quietly as she rocked back and forth. She'd betrayed her family and her own sense of honor by practically begging him to f.u.c.k her. Now, he was insulted by the tryst, and that was more shaming to her than if he'd have simply left her naked in the woods.

She drew in a deep breath trying to control her emotions, even as another pang of humiliation squeezed her belly. She sat straight and dropped a hand to her flat abdomen and rubbed, hoping to alleviate some of the tension that had bundled there on the ride over.

She stood and walked to the window watching as a car pulled up and Cindy bounded out, all smiles. She watched Dell's sister race toward the back door and let her head fall forward to rest on the cool gla.s.s. Well, if he's going to treat me like some common diseased wh.o.r.e who is undeserving of his mighty s.e.m.e.n, I'm certainly not going to give him the pleasure of seeing how much it hurts.

Sawing in a breath of steely resolve she pushed off the window and straightened her clothes before smoothing a hand over her hair. She'd had it pulled back in a tight ponytail but somewhere between f.u.c.king Dell in the middle of the forest and being thrown over his shoulder, she'd lost the hair tie and her hair now tumbled loosely around her shoulders.

She straightened her shoulders and wiped at her cheeks when she heard the door click open. She watched as Cindy poked her head in searching the room until her eyes locked on Chloe.

"Hey Chlo," she stepped into the room and when Dell entered on her heels, Chloe steeled herself, pulling on a mask of cool reserve.

"Cindy, nice to see you again. Would you mind giving me a ride home?"

Cindy actually winced and shook her head, "Sorry, we gotta talk first."

"That's right," Chloe lifted her chin, "the great and powerful Blackbird clan. Do as they say or don't do at all right?" She didn't blink when Cindy's expression darkened.

"Watch it Chloe."

"You watch it!" Chloe's brows drew together, "You've been nothing but a b.i.t.c.h to me since the first time we met." Her eyes shifted to pin Dell with an angry gaze, "You must be soooo delighted that he thinks I'm nothing but a common street wh.o.r.e."

"Chloe stop!" Dell bit out angrily.

Cindy shook her head, her expression softening, "He doesn't think that."

"Sure he does," Chloe crossed to sit on the edge of his desk crossing her arms over her chest, "did he tell you how appalled he was at having unprotected s.e.x with me? Like I'm some filthy..." She turned her head feeling her cheeks flame in indignation before she looked back and saw that Cindy was not startled by the revelation. Her eyes shot to Dell as understanding dawned, "So he did tell you." She jumped up from the desk, "Nice!" She turned her back on the duo and clamped a hand to her cramping belly.

"It's not like that Chloe," Cindy spoke softly. "He told me it was the most incredible night of his life, but he's not concerned with what you could have given him or any child he could have given you, he's worried about something else."

With her back still turned she heard Dell growl quietly, "Don't."

Cindy continued anyway. "He's a shifter Chloe. The Alpha."

Concentrating on the pain in her abdomen, she nearly missed the words. Her head slowly lifted and she stared at the window as they registered. She spun slowly her eyes huge. Oh G.o.d, how could I have forgotten? "What does that mean?"

Cindy looked down and Chloe's eyes found Dell, her voice rising, "Dell! What does that mean?"

He opened his mouth but nothing came out as he shook his head. A pained expression on his features. "You asked me once if shifters could create other shifters. I told you it was forbidden in most cases. A mate claiming is the lone exception."

Chloe fought to keep upright as the knots in her belly tightened. The room was suddenly too hot. "Stop f.u.c.king around and tell me what's happening."

"When a male shifter claims his mate, she...changes."

"Changes?" She looked to Cindy, but the other woman kept her eyes down.

"My seed begins the process."

"You're what? Your seed?" Chloe's frown faltered as realization dawned. "Your s.e.m.e.n?" Her voice rose as her body began to tremble. "What process Dell?" There was genuine fear in her tone, "Is something going to happen to me?" One hand flattened protectively over her belly.

Dell stepped closer and pulled her small hand into his, "It's already begun Chloe. You're changing."

There was a slight tremble in her tone, "Changing how?"

Dell pulled her closer, looping an arm around her waist and dipping his head until his forehead rested on hers. "You're becoming one of us. A shifter."

At first she didn't move as she absorbed the words, then she jerked her hand free and shoved at his chest. "No!" The word escaped her on a shriek of disbelief.

Dell broke his hold and stepped back, allowing her some s.p.a.ce.

Chloe was near hysterical, "How do you stop it? Can you stop it?"

He shook his head.

Tears flooded her eyes and she didn't even bother attempting to restrain them, "Did you know?" Her voice was a whisper, "Did you know this would happen to me?"

"Chloe please."

"DID YOU KNOW?" She screamed.

He kept his eyes focused on her. "Yes."

"Oh G.o.d!" Chloe turned her back to him, one hand still clamped at her belly while the other covered her mouth as a sob broke loose. She tried to take a step but her knees gave out and before she hit the floor Dell was there. He had her by the arms and eased her to the floor, kneeling beside her as she curled her legs under her to sit on them. One small hand snaked out and clutched at his shirt, "You didn't even ask me." Sobs wracked her slight frame as she lifted hurt eyes to his, "Dell, you didn't even. You just..."

Wrapping her in his arms he kissed the top of her head and held her tightly, "I know baby, I'm sorry. I should have told you. I should have asked."

She simply cried against his chest for long moments, letting the weight of the situation settle onto her. "Will it hurt?"

Dell rubbed her back, "I'm not sure. It hasn't been done within our pack during my lifetime."

She bent her head to her hands and her body wracked with her sobs.

"It's not that bad," Dell continued to rub her back soothingly. "You'll be impervious to illness, the aging rate will slow. You'll be faster and stronger than you ever could have imagined. Your senses will heighten. You'll be better than you were."

When she looked up at him, an angry sneer twisted her features. "Better?" She pulled free and got to her feet as she scowled at him accusatorily, "BETTER?" She turned and stalked to the window. "You did this to me so I'd be better? Be," she spun to scowl at him, "more suitable for you?"

"It's not like that Chloe." Dell took a step toward her, but Cindy's hand on his arm prevented him from going to her.