“That’s not fair, Cora,” I scolded, narrowing my eyes and leaning back against my pillows, arms crossed.

“Don’t you want it, though?” she accused, widening her eyes as if hoping I’d deny it. “It would be neat, wouldn’t it? Two sisters matched with two brothers? Our kids would be so close—they wouldn’t even have other cousins!”

“I think that sounds amazing!” I exclaimed.

“Ella!” she cried, throwing up her hands. “There can’t be any kids!”

My mouth dropped open as my mind whirled. Cora glared at me while I gathered my thoughts. “To begin, Cora,” I said, holding up a finger and launching into my argument. I felt, in that moment, that my post-hospital television binge had paid off—I’d watched a lot of law dramas, and I laid out my case like a courtroom lawyer. “Do you even want kids? Because ever since we left the orphanage, I’ve been crazy about being a mom, and you’ve always been focused on your career.”

“What,” she snapped, crossing her arms, “just because I have a career means I don’t want kids?”

I took a deep breath. She was really starting to annoy me, just like a real sister, which, of course, she always had been. “Obviously I don’t think that, Cora, and you’re discrediting me by suggesting otherwise. I’m just pointing out that children haven’t seemed to be a top priority for you! But now you’re using it as a reason to break up with Roger!?”

“There’s nothing to break up! We weren’t even going out!” she blurted, frustrated and defensive. I shook my head, waiting until she looked at me again, which she did after a moment of deep breaths and self-composure.

“Even if you weren’t officially dating, Cora,” I continued, “you know there was something between you. That there is something between you! Something big. Don’t insult my intelligence by pretending otherwise.”

Cora sighed, folding her hands in her lap and looking down at them. I waited, my patience wearing thin.

“All right, Ella,” she murmured, still avoiding my eyes. “There is something there. Of course there is. Roger…he makes me…”

She sighed, unable to articulate it, and I leaned forward, placing my hand over hers, letting her know I was listening. She looked up, tears in her eyes. “I just don’t know what future there is with us. And I’m scared to…to invest my time and heart into this if I know it might end badly. Why even try, if he’s going to leave me for someone who can give him children?”

“Well, that brings me to my second point,” I said, shaking my head in wonder. “If you’re so against dating a werewolf because of biological differences, then why are you dating Doctor Hank?”

Cora’s jaw dropped. “Ella…”

“What?” I demanded, leaning forward.

Cora burst out laughing, covering her mouth and shaking her head, a little good-natured pity in her eyes. “Ella, Hank is human.”

“What!” I gasped, sitting bolt upright. “No, he’s not—he’s a wolf—he’s a wolf doctor; he knows all about wolf anatomy—”

Cora laughed harder, falling back on the bed.

“She’s right,” I heard, and I spun around to see my mate, Sinclair, whom I hadn’t heard approach. “You didn’t know?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe. “You couldn’t smell it on him?”

“What!” I repeated, looking between them, apparently incapable of any other exclamation. “What!?”

Sinclair joined Cora’s laughter, shaking his head and giving me a fond look. I blushed and threw pillows at both of them. “Stop laughing at me! How was I supposed to know!”

Cora sat up, wiping her eyes. “Don’t you have, like, extra senses that tell you these things?” she asked, smiling, happy to have the upper hand again.

“Well, sorry I was too busy dying to get a good sniff of him,” I grumbled, throwing another pillow, and looking bashfully at Sinclair. “But seriously, if he’s human, why does he know so much about wolf biology? Why is he such a great wolf doctor?”

“He dated a wolf in med school at Harvard, apparently,” Cora explained, calming down and taking a deep breath. I leaned forward to listen, relieved she wasn’t yelling or laughing anymore. “She let him in on the secret, and he was fascinated. He also saw an opportunity to break into a relatively small medical field and be at the top.”

“It’s true,” Sinclair added, nodding. “While shifters have our own medical personnel, not many shifters are drawn to the years of study it takes to become a doctor. It’s not that we’re stupid or lazy,” he shrugged, “we’re just drawn to more physically engaging jobs.”

“Oh,” I said, my mind drifting to my baby. Does this mean he’s going to be a jock? I’d kind of hoped he’d be a nice, quiet nerd, so I could keep him home forever. “So, are a lot of wolf doctors human?”

“Not many,” Sinclair replied. “But enough. I mean, you saw it—to get fertility treatment, I had to go to a human sperm bank. It’s a lucrative field if you can break into it and are good at the work. And if, like Hank, you can learn the culture to communicate effectively with your clientele. It was helpful to me, when you were ill, that he recognized my alpha tendencies and responded appropriately.”

“Well,” I said, glancing at him ruefully. “Sounds like everyone’s Team Hank except me.”

Sinclair frowned and straightened. “You don’t like Hank? Did he do something—”

“No,” I said, holding up a hand, stopping him from going after the poor man. “He’s fine. I’m just…” I sighed, tilting my head back, staring at the ceiling. “I was just rooting for someone else.” I glared slightly at Cora.

“Well,” she said, giving a prim shrug. “In this case, it doesn’t matter who you root for, because I’m the referee. And I don’t listen to the fans.”

Sinclair looked between us, confused. “What the hell are you two talking about?”

As one, we turned and gave him simultaneous sisterly glares.

“Nothing,” I said, clamping my mouth shut.

“Sister stuff,” Cora replied haughtily. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Sinclair raised his hands in defeat. “No worries,” he conceded. “I don’t want to know. I’ll go downstairs and get you guys some snacks. Anything in particular?”

“Oreos!” I shouted as he left. “And hot sauce! Celery with peanut butter on top!”

Cora laughed, leaning forward and poking me in the belly. “This little guy has a weird appetite,” she said, grinning.

“Yeah,” I said, sighing as I looked down at my body. “He’s got my taste buds all screwed up.”

We were quiet a moment before I started again. “Cora,” I said, rubbing my stomach. She looked up. “Just don’t count him out, okay?”

She frowned, opening her mouth, but I raised a hand, asking her to let me finish. Slowly, she closed her mouth.

“I won’t bug you about it, I promise,” I continued. “But just don’t close the door completely, okay? Not until you’re really sure.”

“Okay, Ella,” she agreed, smiling slightly. “I won’t close it completely.”

We grinned at each other for a second, but then I couldn’t help myself. I leaned forward, eager. “So, did you and Doctor Hank kiss yet? Is he good at it?”

“Ella!” Cora exclaimed, laughing. Then she grabbed a pillow and playfully swung it at my head.