“Don’t feel bad about the lack of wolf teeth, Bailey,” Ivy says. “I don’t have them either, but I like to think I make up for it in enthusiasm.”
“Ooh, I’ll have to watch for love bites on Tyson next time I see him,” Audrey jokes from beside her.
Ivy’s expression goes serious. “Your eyes don’t need to be on him any longer than necessary, thank you very much.”
Aud laughs, but dramatically rolls her chair away.
“I’m teasing,” Ivy says, reaching for the arm of the office chair and rolling Aud back where she was. “But seriously, though. No excessive gawking at my husband.”
“Sorry to break it to you, sister,” Roxy points out. “But you’ve gotta know that your mate has the kind of presence that females can’t help but notice.”
Ivy smiles and sighs. “Yeah. He’s pretty dreamy.”
“I don’t think dreamy is the descriptor I’d use. More…potently raw male sexuality, but okay.” Rox shrugs.
Ivy smiles big. “Yeah, that, too. I’m taking this one for Amelia, by the way. Not being a piggie.” She takes the last bite of her whoopie pie and, reaching for another one asks, “Do you take orders, Stace?”
“Take another one for yourself for later, too. And for Tyson. But uh… right now?” Stacy tips her head from side to side. “I mean, if you want anything now, sure, but my calendar is about to be pretty full, so get your order in fast, maybe?”
“She’s gonna start baking for the bar,” Roxy declares. “How about if you all get Stacy’s Tasty Treats there?”
“And for Erica’s garden center market café once it opens,” Stacy adds. “But if you want something, don’t hesitate to ask and I’ll see what I can swing.”
“Or… just spend your money at my place,” Roxy shrugs.
We all laugh.
“Point taken. I’ll start there,” Ivy says, “Support Roxy’s restaurant without giving Stacy extra work.”
“Win-win,” Roxy agrees.
“That’s a lot of work for someone growing two babies who might also get hit with double morning sickness,” I remind my sister-in-law.
“Uh huh,” Stacy answers, “But I’ve set expectations accordingly. Not to worry.”
“She can bake when she wants. No sweat,” Roxy waves.
“I can hardly wait to meet my nephews,” I tell her. “As well as all the babies on the way.”
“Weird, though, how it could go,” Ivy muses.
“Meaning?” I ask.
“Things could change,” she says with a shrug, biting into the whoopie pie she was saving for Amie.
“What do you mean?” Leona asks.
When Ivy swallows, she says, “Well, Amie’s pregnant with a boy. You’re pregnant with two boys, Stacy. This baby…” She puts her hand on her belly and happily adds, “is a girl, so I’m told, and I believe that because I can kind of feel it, though that might sound weird.”
“Not at all,” Stacy says. “I already feel connected to my boys and you can’t even tell I’m pregnant yet either.”
“And…” she goes on, nodding, “this must mean that things will change for the next council. Ty doesn’t seem disappointed despite being from a long line of firstborn alphas who becomes the first council alpha, but we’re having a daughter first, so that must mean things are changing. And Amie might give birth before me, which would change the birth order. Things will obviously be different next time around. Amie and Mase’s baby might be first alpha.”
“Or one of Stacy’s,” Audrey suggests.
Ivy looks confused, so I explain.
“Gestation for wolf shifters averages six months but for super alphas it ranges from four to seven months. So just because Amie realized she was pregnant first doesn’t mean her son will be born first. And just because Savages have been traditionally first alphas, things are frequently mixed up with other members. There wasn’t a Quinn in the last council. There also wasn’t a Fowler or a King. Linc’s the first alpha in his family in four generations. First super alpha ever. One of the former council’s super alpha’s sons who didn’t land in this council was even an alpha, born the same year as all our existing council members, but he didn’t make the selection. Sometimes it skips a generation and it’s a longer presiding council than other times so it’s possible these guys will sit until they’re much older and it could even be all unrelated alphas that become our next gen council. Could even be some of your grandbabies instead of your kids.”