“That would be up to the Packmaster.” Atticus fastened his gaze on Tak. “Joy has given me the privilege of courting her. This isn’t what I ever imagined for myself, but it’s what I always hoped for. From the moment we met, she lit up a place in me that’s always been dark. Joy loves her pack, and if she wants me as her husband, it’ll be her choice where we live. She loves it here. You’re her family. But that’ll beyourdecision. I understand your concerns. My kind have a reputation, but I could be an asset to this pack. I’m willing to prove just how valuable my contributions can be. In every way possible.”
“I have laundry in my bedroom,” Virgil chimed in.
Salem directed his words to Tak. “She’s hormonal right now. You can’t trust she’s making the best decisions for herself.”
Atticus withdrew his hand from my back. “Don’t belittle this woman in front of me. I won’t stand for it. She had every opportunity to refuse me, and she still has that choice.”
I stroked my belly. “I’ve never trusted Vampires, but Atticus has always put his best foot forward even when I didn’t want to see it. Being alone with him allowed me to learn who he really is. More than that, he shined a light on whoIreally am. Maybe you should give him that chance too. I’ve always gone along with everyone and never caused a fuss, but my voice matters. I love all of you, and it would shatter my heart if I had to leave. But if that’s what you decide, so be it.” Tears welled in my eyes, and I gathered the courage to get through this and tell them everything. “I’m going to be a mother soon. I have to make decisions—make plans.”
That pulled their attention back up.
Hope touched her chin. “Does that mean… you’re keeping it?”
“My feelings are changing,” I confirmed. “I was so confused before, but now I’m bonding with the baby. That came as a surprise. Maybe I won’t be such a terrible mother after all.”
“Terrible?” Cecilia scoffed. “You would be awonderfulmother.”
I wondered if Atticus had any idea what I was internally struggling with at the moment. “Should I tell them?” I whispered so quietly that only he could hear.
He leaned in close to my ear and replied, “It’s up to you. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I have other news that might change how you feel about me more than dating a Vampire,” I confessed. “Now that I’m thinking about keeping the baby, it’s important everyone knows the whole truth. If you can’t accept it, I’ll have no choice but to leave.”
Tak touched a leather bracelet on his wrist. “Do you want to discuss this with me privately first?”
I shook my head. “You already know. This is about the baby.”
Tak immediately scooted back his chair and crossed the room. I wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but when he stood behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders, I felt his unwavering support.
Based on the silence, he must have been doling out lethal glares.
I steeled myself and began. “You obviously know that Salem isn’t the father. But the reason I’ve been afraid of keeping this baby is because I never had time to process what happened to me. Maybe you pieced together a few theories when the Vampires came after Salem. I was kidnapped and held captive in a lab. I don’t remember any of it because they had my wolf. That’s who they impregnated, and I don’t know what experiments they were running.”
Krys turned his gaze to Salem. “Do you?”
Salem shook his head.
I didn’t want to throw him under the bus. “Salem rescued me, and by then I was pregnant. One thing is for certain: This baby is a Shifter. At least in part.”
Montana frowned. “How do you know?”
“Because it shifted inside me.”
Everyone gasped before shaking their heads and murmuring to one another.
“We have a special child on the way.” Tak gave my shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
“I was afraid of what it might be,” I explained. “That’s why I wasn’t certain if keeping it was the best idea. After what happened, I didn’t feel connected, and it scared me. But then it started moving and kicking, and I saw pictures of it.” As I stroked my belly, I felt the baby move. “I’m still not a hundred percent certain I’ll keep it, but if I do, I don’t want to raise it among people who think it’s a monster or treat it differently. I know what that’s like, and it’s an awful feeling to have people you love reject you.”
“Reject you?” Mercy said in disbelief. “Why in the world would anyone treatyouthat way?”
“Because I was born different, and that’s why the labs wanted me.” Nervous butterflies filled my stomach, and I could hear my mother’s admonishment in my head from all those years ago. Words of rejection. Words of disgust. “I was born with two wolf spirits, not one.”
Virgil’s eyes widened. “Holy cannoli! Are you serious?”
Mercy held her hand to her cheek. “This day’s had more twists and turns than a pig’s tail.”
“Best day ever,” Virgil declared. “I haven’t seen this many shocking twists since the time I dated a contortionist.”
