“Your total will be $5.68.” the cashier told me.

I pull out my card and slip it in the card reader. I punched in my pin. It made a beep and I pulled the card out.

A receipt print out. The cashier handed it to me along with two cups, “here is your receipt and cups we’ll call you up when your meal is ready.”

“Thanks,” I take the cups and head back to Val. 

Val sits at the table, staring at his phone, looking stressed. I tap his head with the cup, “hey.”

Val smiled and grabbed the cup, “so our order?”

“Being made,” I showed him the receipt, “might not take too long though. Place is slow right now.`` The fast food place was mostly empty. We might have missed a lunch rush or something which I consider lucky.

“Yeah,” we walked over to the drinks dispenser and filled our cups. Despite how happy Val looked like, I can tell he is very tense about the meeting. He’s been mostly quiet on the way here.

We walk back to our table. I do a quick scan. i look down and see the pants that tightly clung to his ass. “those exercises you do really are helping you back there.”

Val smiled at me, “yeah, they are.” before turning away. Usually he would give more of a response then just that.

We took a seat. Val pulled out his phone again. 

I cover the screen, “hey Val, don’t you want to talk about it? you ‘ve been quiet since we left this morning.”

“Maybe,” he took a sip of his drink, “I'm sorry about this. I mean, we probably could have talk this more-”

“You have nothing to blame yourself for Sweety. This is difficult to actually talk about; I don't blame you for wanting to distract yourself.”

He signed, “sometime I think you are too soft on me.”

“Would you rather me be stern?” I lean in close to him and whispered, “like I am in the bedroom.”

Val stopped himself from laughing, “no, but being serious right now would help.”

“I mean, we are taking this seriously. That's why we are here right?”

“No, we are here because you got hungry and wanted something to eat.”

“Oh come on, you were hungry too.” I reached over the table and poked at his stomach, “I heard this guy screaming on the way here.” We both laughed. We’ve been too quiet for much of the trip. We should be joking, laughing, telling each other how much we love each other. Not being silent for the past few hours.

Val face started to loosen, “but you know Fred, i am still kind of scared. I mean, this is a big decision, getting a kid.”

“I know.” I sipped my drink. For the past month, we have talked about having kids. Little versions of us running around our house. “This isn’t something we are taking lightly though. I think we are doing a good thing right now.”

“Yeah. that Pack would have more info right?”

“That is what Dad said. The Pack here should have more knowledge on the process then anyone back home did, since they focus on the more medical side of werewolf. I’m sure they can give us a more in-depth explanation of the process.”

“We can only hope.”

I take Val’s hand and squeeze it. Without speaking I leaned over and kissed my mate. It was moments like these, where we just comfort and support each other, that makes me really happy I pick Valrez as my mate.

“Number 145, your order is ready!”

###

We pulled up on the dirt road, “you sure this is the way Fred?” Val said from the passenger seat.

“That's what the GPS said.” I continued driving us till we got somewhere that resembled a parking lot. I parked us near a tree and turned off the car.

Val and I stepped out of the car, “still I didn’t think the pack would have their own campgrounds.”

“Yeah. Our Pack is considered small so we never needed things like a campground or anything like that. If you actually think about it, the territory we have is quite large for a pack of our size.” 

As we passed through the campgrounds we noticed a few things. The campground was well maintained. The grass was cut and the cabins looked well cared for. People who I assumed were members of the Pack were going about doing things. “Certainly a lot of people here.” I hear Val say.

“I wonder how many are in the pack here?”

“If you want an estimate, I would say we easily hit triple digits in members.”  We both turned around and saw a man standing behind us. He had a neatly trimmed goatee and neat haircut. He wore a long green trench coat that reached to his knees. “Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.”

“Oh, no you didn’t scare us.” how strange someone got the drop on me. Maybe i am out of practice.

“Hmm,” the man scanned us, “I take it you are the Lowells then?”

I stand between him and Val, “And you are?”

“Sorry, there is no need to be defensive.” he stuck out his hand, “I am Oscar Lewis, I am married to the Alpha of this Pack. I take it one of you is Fredrick.”

I shook his hand, “that would be me.”

“ I see,” he let go of my hand and offered it to Val, “so the person behind you is?”

Val took his hand, “Valrez Lowell.”

“I see. So you two are legally married then?”

“Yeah,” I said, “a few months back.”

“Interesting,” Oscar started to stroke his goatee. “Well do you mind if we continue speaking in the office? You know for privacy.”

Val and I both nodded and followed Oscar through the campground. He took us into the counselors building and into an office.

“So where is the Alpha?” I ask.

“She is getting a check up for her pregnancy right now. Making sure our child is developing properly and everything.”

“Oh you're expecting too?”

Oscar gave us a smile as we took our seats, “yeah, we are still off a few months so we are just preparing the camp for her absence soon.”

“Oh sorry, we didn’t mean to take some of your time away.”

“Don’t be concerned. Our Pack is focused on the medical care of werewolves, so we are happy to answer any questions that pop up, even if we don’t have any pact or contact with them.”

Val breathed out a sigh of relief, “that is reassuring. While we have a few doctors on our end, they couldn’t answer our question about the procedure.”

Oscar nodded his head, “that’s understandable. Though to be honest we might not have all the answers you seek either.”

“How come?”

“Well because male pregnancy of werewolves is more rare here. Most gay werewolf couples here who want kids usually adopt or use a surrogate. I actually know maybe one who tried to attempt the process but had to give up.”

“Why did they give up?” I ask.

“From what I recall, the process was taxing on the body. Hormonal imbalance, fainting spells, and if I recall correctly the womb itself wasn't forming properly. We had to terminate the process because we thought the person wouldn’t make it.”

“So, we can stop midway?”

“Well yes and no. from what we know of, the process is similar to a woman having a baby and can only be stopped up till a certain point. If we stop it early enough, it's fine. But wait too long and you would have to carry the baby to term.”

“I see. But what about the artificial womb?”

“Well, for a man to have a baby they need a womb to actually grow it. In most of the records we have, the womb is,” Oscar fell silent and tapped his fingers on the table, “i want to say ‘inserted’, but created is a more fitting term.”

I feel Val getting nervous through my glyph on my back. I honestly am starting to feel the same, “continue please.”

“Well, mostly through magic, the person who carries the child gets an artificial womb of sorts. It takes time for the womb to form properly so that it doesn't cause all term negative effects on the body, but how long depends on the method used.”

“There more than one method?”

“Yes. Each method has its own risks however, so I suggest you both really consider which option is best for you before starting.”

“Okay Mr. Lewis.”

“Dr. Lewis is more fitting. Anyway, once the womb has properly formed, or inserted properly, then you begin the impregnation process. From there you should expect it to work like any other pregnancy. Though you would have to have a c-section to properly give birth to it, that is also where the artificial womb would be removed.”

Valrez and I were quiet. We were both just processing what we heard. It was difficult to swallow all of that in one sitting.

Oscar handed us a folder, “these are the methods that we know of that should work as well as any other info that could help.”

Val took the folder, “thank you.”

“Forgive me for being forward Valrez, but you are still human right?”

Val had a sullen look on his face, “Yeah, I am. The test showed that trying to turn me into a werewolf was a bad idea.” Even after all these years, we are still upset about it. I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked at me, “don’t worry Fredrick. I’m fine.”

Oscar coughed, “I see, so then in my professional opinion I would like Fredrick to do the procedure then. The methods in the folder were designed for werewolves bodies anyway. And with that I have told you everything I know about the process.”

Val and I got up from our chairs, “thank you for your time Dr. louis.”

“I am happy to help. I am aware of a few more packs where male pregnancy is more common. They would most likely have more to give on the process then I did. Once I get in contact with them, I'll forward you their contact info.”

“That’ll be a big help, thank you.” We left the office.

Outside the building, Val tugged on my shirt. “Are you going to be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, is your body going to be alright? You heard the Doctor. The last couple had to give up because it was too hard on them.”

“Valrez.”

“I know we have to do it because you are the next Alpha, but I am still scared. I’m sure we can find a surrogate if we just ask around our pack, you don't have to put yourself at risk for that.”

“I know you are worried. But I want it to be our child, a child you and I made.”

“But that doesn't mean you have to risk yourself to do it!”

“Look Val. I understand what you are saying here. I’m having second thoughts about this procedure as well.”

“You are?”

“Yeah. When I told you about it years ago, I wasn't expecting it to be complicated. I just expected we would do some ritual, one of us will have a kid and just bang we have a child of our own. I was so naive really.”

“You weren’t the only one.” Val held up the files, “I really don’t know about making you suffer just so we can have a kid.”

I pulled Val close to me. “Look, I want to make a deal with you. We don’t decide right now okay. The doctor said he is going to get us in contact with a pack where male preg is more common. We will hold off on making decisions till we talk to them and people who actually been through the process. This is something we both have to really commit to once we start.” i pulled away from Val and looked him in the eyes, “so till we have more info on the table, we won’t decide for or against the idea alright.”

Val was silent.

“I am not going to force you to decide now. Just when we have all the info we need; you and I are going to sit down and really talk about our options.”

Val nodded his head, “alright, i promise.”

“Good,” we kiss. “Now I trust you are going to drive us back home.”

“Oh course,” Val said as he slapped my ass.

This might be a long ride back home. But I'm glad I am spending it with Val.