Page 105 of The Pregnant Wolf Omega Next Door

“It’s almost... beautiful,” Emre said hesitantly. “A dangerous kind of beauty.”

“So are you,” Zenith said fondly. “You’re dangerous in your wolf form too. And just as beautiful.”

Emre blushed. Maybe one day, when he was equipped with a spelled robe, Emre would be able to enjoy the bonfires that Zenith and his flight liked to burn. Or maybe not, but that was okay too.

For now, Zenith had to prove that he could protect his mate.

He removed the bag of cereal from its box, setting one corner of the cardboard on fire. As more of the box began to burn, Zenith leaned in, inhaling through his mouth. The fire lengthened into thin ribbons and disappeared between his lips. It tickled his mouth and throat, then joined the heat in his core.

Emre gaped. “What does that feel like?”

Zenith waited until all the flames had been sucked down, leaving glowing embers on the charred edges of the box. “This doesn’t feel like much. Just a tickle in my body. It’ll take a bonfire for me to really feel its effects.”

“Would a bonfire hurt you?”

“Naw. Just makes my core hotter. It depends on how much fire I absorb.”

Zenith didn’t say aloud that a forest fire would be his limit. He couldn’t inhale enough fire to slow down something of that magnitude, but that was why a firefighting team would need several dragons, or some non-dragon folk with plenty of water.

He dropped the half-burned box into the trash can. “That’s enough for today. I don’t want to push you too hard all at once. What do you think?”

Emre nodded shakily. “I think... this might be helping. It makes me feel better that the tiny fires don’t scare me as much.”

“Yeah? That’s great.” Zenith allowed the tension in his shoulders to drain away.

“Can we do this again tomorrow? With slightly bigger fires, for slightly longer.” Emre’s breath hitched, but he was staring at Zenith fiercely, daring him to deny his request.

“We’ll do that,” Zenith said. “Always remember that you can stop me anytime, if it’s too much for you.”

“Okay. It’s just—I don’t want to freak out during an emergency. I can’t afford to freeze and lose my mind if the pups need me. And that means getting used to fire now, even if it scares me like hell.”

Pride roared in Zenith’s chest. He closed the distance between them, gently taking the cushion away and folding Emre into his embrace. “You did so well, sweetheart. You should be proud of yourself.”

“Yeah?” Emre stood taller, a smile playing on his lips.

“Yes. Also, you should avoid spicy food for now. I don’t know if you knew—hot peppers will make you breathe fire during a dragon pregnancy. That would probably really suck for you, even if you’re immune to fire while you’re pregnant.”

Emre wrinkled his brow. “That’s assuming that I reallyampregnant. Are there... other signs?”

“Omegas sometimes burp smoke, or sparks,” Zenith said hopefully.

Emre looked down at his belly, then back up at Zenith. “It might be a while. I don’t have many symptoms—”

He hiccupped. And a tiny thread of smoke curled from his lips.

Both of them stared, eyes wide.

“Holy crap,” Zenith whispered, his heart leaping. “You’re really carrying my baby!”

“Holy crap,” Emre said.

Zenith hugged him again. They did a little dance together. Maybe it looked silly to everyone else, but Zenith didn’t care.

Emre was carrying his baby!

Zenith grinned giddily. Emre smiled back, just as pleased.

Then Emre rubbed his belly and looked thoughtful. “This means I’m... really fireproof right now?”