Free Rutledge Werewolves 1: Scent of Passion by Elizabeth Lapthorne

this baby, they were now set at rest. She knew with that natural instinct she came to listen to more and more, this man loved their baby, was devoted to the health and well-being of this baby. In this sense, she fully trusted him.
    Unfortunately, this brought up a few tricky questions. If Artemais loved this baby, she had no right to deny him or the baby a happy, full relationship. Now she merely needed to know if Artemais could care for her apart from their child. Not an easy feat to work out. That would require trust, and probably much more time spent together.
    Sophie looked deep into Artemais’ eyes. He had taken the first steps. He had stuck by her, even when his brothers left them to head back to his precious home. That had been a step of faith and trust and commitment from him. Surely she could return the favor? Just because she would come to spend a week or two out in his natural environment didn’t mean she was caving in, surely?
    Sophie scrunched her face in thought. All relationships were two-way streets, and so far everything had gone her way. Artemais had found her —she hadn’t gone looking for him. Artemais had stayed with her —she hadn’t budged an inch for him. Artemais was here with her , holding her hand and soothing her fears about the evils of the ultrasound and promising to do battle with all sorts of nasty looking machinery to keep their baby safe.
    What exactly had she done for him? Been stupid enough to miss a pill and fall pregnant? Have the well-meaning intention of looking him up in the near future to casually inform him he would be siring a baby?
    Sophie berated herself. She was stronger than this! He had no right to insist she move house and cater to his whim—but so far he hadn’t offered her anything permanent! He had merely asked her to come back to his place to make life simpler for him so they could get to know each other.
    Sophie barely registered the nurse freezing the ultrasound screen and mumbling, “I’ll leave you two to chat to your baby,” and exited the small space.
    Sophie took another look at her child, her daughter. She was such a tiny, itsy thing sleeping and growing inside her. Sophie figured that she deserved to get to know Artemais much better, not just for her own peace of mind, but also for their baby.
    “If I don’t like your place, do you swear to let me come back here? Come home?”
    Artemais looked carefully at her, obviously weighing his words.
    “I trust you to take some time, to let us get to know each other. I know we don’t know each other very intimately,” at her blush he hastily continued, “or at least know each other’s personalities very intimately. I just want us to make the best go of this possible. I always assumed to have a family unit much like I had myself as a child, two parents, many children, lots of noise and fuss in the house. I’d like to think we’re both mature enough and we care enough for each other to try and make this work.”
    Sophie nodded.
    “Let’s try. But we can drive up in my car, so I have a means of transportation. I’ve never stayed long in the country. It might drive me mad with boredom.”
    Artemais grinned a toothy, half-feral grin she knew she would soon adore and make her melt every time.
    “I promise you, Soph. You won’t be bored for long. Something is always happening around our place.”
    She nodded. Looking back to the monitor, she nearly spoke again when the nurse came in.
    She smiled. “Seen enough?”
    Sophie laughed. “Never. Can you print that out? So we can take it back with us and show my partner’s brothers?”
    The nurse looked at Artemais and nearly drooled.
    “Of course.”
    Artemais looked at Sophie and winked.
    “Baby’s first photo. The boys will be totally stoked to see it. We might need to stop off at a copy shop before we drive back to make duplicates.”
    Sophie laughed, feeling lighthearted for the first time in a while. She and Artemais were going to try to make things