To Claim His Mate by Serena Pettus

few.”
    “Isn’t this your office?” he asked, noting the large desk, computer and stacks of paperwork.
    “Yeah, but I’m going next door to the lounge to give you two some privacy. Just call if you need anything.” She turned to leave then whirled back around. “Oh! I almost forgot.” She quickly stepped to her desk and scooped up a strip of black and white images. “Here’s your little baby,” Stephanie announced. “This is the head, arms and legs. I’ll scan her weekly to track her progress.” She stopped and studied him for a moment, but Adam couldn’t pull his gaze from the grainy pictures in her hands. “Are you all right?”
    Tears gathered in his eyes as he reached for the ultrasound pictures. He looked from Eva to the pictures and back again. He had his mate and his first child, both in the span of a month.
    A huge smile split his face as he snatched Stephanie up in a tight hug and swung her around.
    “Oh, hell, you’ve finally snapped,” she wheezed.
    “I’m just so damned happy I don’t know what to do! I’ve got a family. My mate—this beautiful, sweet woman—and she’s carrying my child… our child.” Tears streaked down his face, but he couldn’t care less. All he wanted to do right now was take Eva home and pamper her until she felt like a queen.
    He’d already been to the jewelers and ordered a ring for her, hoping to find a way to win her heart. Sarah seemed to think he already had it, but he wasn’t confident.
    “I’ve got a ring that should be in the day after tomorrow. I’d planned to ask her to marry me,” he confessed.
    “Well, have you changed your mind?”
    “Hell no! I just can’t believe I’ve neglected to tell her I love her.” Adam shook his head, utterly disgusted with himself.
    “It happens. I thought I’d have to beat the words out of Abraham.” Stephanie chuckled. “She loves you though. You can see it in the way she looks at you and how you look at her.” Stephanie gave him a warm smile. “It’s nice to see that side of you.” He watched as that smile turned into a smirk. “But I’m still not going to be nice very often. You’re too much fun to pick on.”
    “Ditto.” Adam grinned. “Thanks again for taking care of her. I felt her fear and nerves then a little later I couldn’t feel anything. I’ve never felt so scared and helpless in my life,” he sighed. “I actually thought I’d lost her for a second. Thank God, Sarah called or there’s no telling what I might have done.” Hell, his wolf had been howling and clawing to get to her, but the man had been paralyzed with fear.
    “She fainted just after the ultrasound. Too much stress, I think.” Stephanie gathered a few files from her desk and made her way to the door. “You need to assure her of your feelings, Adam. She’s scared and used to being alone when dealing with things.”
    “She’s got me now, and I’m not going anywhere.”
    Stephanie nodded in reply.
    “When can I take her home?”
    “As soon as those fluids are done, about twenty minutes or so, and then she’ll be good to go. You’ll just need to keep an eye on her and make sure she eats and drinks, a lot , to keep up with the baby.” With that said, she walked out, closing the door softly behind her.
    Adam hooked a chair with his foot and scooted it closer to the couch. Evangeline looked so peaceful, innocent and sweet it made his teeth ache.
    She deserved love, honor, devotion, security, family and happiness, and he was determined to ensure she got it all and more.
    His fiery-haired little angel had fallen into his life out of nowhere, turning it completely upside down, and Adam couldn’t be happier. She brightened his every waking moment, soothed the beast within him and satisfied his more primal needs with a lustful drive to match his own.
    Yup. He was one lucky SOB.
    And the dumbest one, too. How could he have neglected to share his feelings with her?
    “Eva, baby, can you hear me? I love you so much,