Baby System: My Mates Can Read my Mind?

Ugh, I feel so queasy, she groans in her mind.

Her stomach rolled in tight, uncomfortable knots. Axel was outside in the woods with little Theron, hunting for sweet fruits and fresh berries to fill her empty stomach.

Inside the warm cabin, Caius stood by the iron stove. The Serpent was preparing real food for the predators. He chopped thick cuts of raw pork and tossed them right into a hot iron pan.

The sharp smell of sizzling fat and dark blood filled the small room fast.

It was enough to make Rue want to run straight out the front door.

But she didn’t run. Knox held her. The giant panther sat on the wide woven rug near the stone hearth, resting his broad back against the wooden wall. He kept Rue tucked securely right under his chin. He wrapped his thick arms around her waist, acting like a warm, living shield.

His natural scent was strong and thick. He smelled like fresh pine needles, damp earth, and spicy musk. It blocked out the awful smell of the cooking meat perfectly. Rue buried her nose straight into his dark shirt and focused on his steady heartbeat.

Drax sat right next to them on the floor.

The Dragon King had a habit of keeping one hand on her at all times. Right now, his long, pale fingers rested casually on her bare ankle. He didn’t grip her tight. He just let his thumb trace slow, lazy circles over her soft skin.

He was talking to her. He didn’t boast or yell like the others. He spoke in a low, smooth voice, telling her a story about the bright stars over his mountain kingdom. He described a silly little bird that used to steal shiny coins from his treasure hoard.

"The bird thought it was very sneaky," Drax murmured, his dark eyes shining in the firelight. "It hid the coins under a pile of dry leaves right in front of me."

Rue let out a soft laugh. Her shoulders relaxed. She shifted her legs, leaning a little closer to his gentle touch.

Drax didn’t tease her the way Knox always did. Knox liked to poke and prod until she blushed bright red. Drax just offered raw, quiet affection. He made her feel seen without demanding a performance.

Rue caught herself leaning into his warmth without even thinking about it. She liked his scent a lot. He smelled like rich smoke and old parchment. She liked his calm silence. When he stopped talking, the quiet wasn’t awkward. It felt like a safe blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

He’s so gentle, Rue thought. I shouldn’t let myself get used to this. But it feels nice.

She forgot her mates could hear her internal conflict broadcasting loudly through the invisible bond.

Over by the stove, Caius flipped a piece of meat with a wooden spoon. His sharp jaw ticked. The muscles in his pale neck pulled tight. He heard her soft thoughts praising the dragon. His snake biology hated sharing her, but he didn’t intervene. He just focused on the hot pan, letting the meat sizzle loudly to drown out the sudden spike of jealousy in his cold blood.

Knox felt it too. The panther’s broad chest rumbled against Rue’s back. He was holding her, keeping her safe from the bad smells, but she was thinking about Drax. Knox tightened his arms around her waist just a tiny bit.

He was jealous.

But Knox stayed restrained. He forced himself to stay calm so he wouldn’t scare her.

"Do you think Axel will find the yellow berries?" Rue asked, tilting her head back to look at Knox’s scarred face.

"He better," Knox grunted, his voice deep and vibrating. "If that dog brings back sour berries, I’ll throw him right into the swamp. You need the sweet ones to settle your stomach."

Rue chuckled, rubbing her cheek against his shirt. "Be nice. He’s trying his best."

"I’m always nice," Knox lied smoothly. "I’m a delight."

Drax moved his hand from her ankle up to her knee. His cool fingers rested there, a steady, grounding weight. He didn’t push past her boundaries. He just let her know he was there, listening to every word she said.

"Axel will find them," Drax said softly. "He has a good nose. He won’t return until he finds exactly what you need."

"I hope so," Rue sighed. Her stomach cramped a little, a quick flutter from the baby growing inside her. She let out a small breath and shifted her weight again. Knox shifted with her, adjusting his broad legs to give her more room to stretch out.

"Are you okay, little one?" Knox asked, leaning his chin on the top of her silver hair.

"Just a cramp," Rue whispered. "The baby is restless today."

"He’s eager to meet you," Drax noted, watching her face closely.

Or she, Rue thought. It could be a girl this time.

The two men in the room went perfectly still. A little girl. A tiny daughter with silver hair and pink eyes.

The Serpent stared blankly at the iron stove, his golden eyes wide with shock. He never even considered the idea of a daughter.

Knox stopped breathing for three full seconds. The panther stared down at Rue’s flat stomach like it held all the secrets of the universe.

"A girl," Knox whispered out loud. His rough voice cracked.

Rue shivered, looking up at Knox. "Did you say something, Knox?"

But he shook his head and denied it.

Drax’s dark eyes softened. He looked at Rue’s face, tracing the delicate slope of her nose and the curve of her lips. The thought of a tiny, fragile girl running around the cabin shifted something deep inside his chest.

He didn’t hear her thoughts but he knew that’s what she was thinking.

I really hope it’s a girl, Rue thought, feeling a warm glow in her heart. But if I let Drax in, and he realises I’m not the girl he remembers...

She stopped herself.

Drax felt her retreat. He didn’t ask her what was wrong. He didn’t force her to talk about it. He just slid his hand from her knee and wrapped his long fingers gently around her wrist.

His thumb brushed over her racing pulse. He offered a quiet, raw affection that made her breath hitch.

I like this, Rue admitted to herself. I like his silence. I like the way he looks at me. I can at least try, how hard can it be?

"Do you think the baby will have ears like mine?" Rue asked Knox, trying to distract herself from Drax’s intense gaze.

Knox cleared his throat. He forced his loud jealousy down. "I hope so. Your ears are perfect. But if he’s a panther, he will have round ears."

"I’d love a little panther cub," Rue smiled.

Knox puffed his chest out. He shot a smug look at Drax. "See that? She wants a panther."

Drax didn’t take the bait. He didn’t argue. He just kept his thumb tracing slow circles on Rue’s wrist. He knew he didn’t need to yell to prove his place. He felt the subtle way she relaxed against him. He knew she wanted his touch.

The fire popped loudly in the hearth. The heat in the room grew, but Rue didn’t feel the terrible pregnancy fever right now. She felt anchored. Knox’s hot chest warmed her back, while Drax’s cool fingers kept her grounded.

She closed her eyes, letting the quiet moment wash over her. She listened to the sound of Caius plating the cooked food. She smelled the fresh pine scent on Knox’s shirt. She felt Drax’s unwavering attention.

Drax watched her eyelashes flutter shut. His dark eyes darkened further. The urge to claim her, to take her away and keep her all to himself, flared bright in his chest.

He tightened his grip on her wrist just a fraction of an inch. Not enough to hurt her, but enough to let her know she belonged to him too.

[Ding!]

[Bond progression detected. Target Drax is experiencing elevated possessive instincts.]