“Axel told me last night that you and your mate are about to make Mason a cousin. Congratulations brother.”
Malachi's eyes widened and he shot to his feet. “What?” He fixed his gaze on Mikhail. “What?”
“Fuck,” Malek cursed, and began moving towards the door. “You didn’t know?”
His brother wiped his face with his hand and let out a groan. “Axel is going to kill me. Don’t tell him I said anything, please.”
However, Malachi wasn’t listening to his brother as he ran towards the door, and Malek stepped aside, letting him pass.
He heard Malek’s voice as he made it to his car, “Axel is definitely going to kill me.”
Chi considered shifting and cutting through their forest to get home, but he decided the drive would give him time to put all his thoughts together.
He was going to be a father. The joy coursed through him until he realised, for some reason, his mate had told Axel, but not him.
Thirty-Three
Alfie
Alfie had known the minute he was pregnant. Yeah, those words just came out of his mouth. As much as he’d known it was a possibility when the nausea started, he’d ignored it, until finally, he couldn’t deny it anymore.
He and Axel had driven into town to pick up a test at the Tesco there. They’d used the excuse that they needed some spices for the Chicken Korma they were making for dinner.
Axel had talked him down from his freak out when the stick said pregnant, but still it was a day later and he still hadn’t told Chi.
“You know you have to tell him,” Axel pointed out from his cross-legged position on Alfie’s sofa.
“I know, and I will. I just need to figure out how…”
“I think the words ‘I’m pregnant’ is how.” He didn’t have to look at Axel to know his brother was rolling his eyes.
“How did you tell Malek?” Alfie liked his brother’s mate. He was amazing for Axel, and he’d honestly never seen his usually uptight brother this chilled out.
“I didn’t have to. He was there when I took the test… but next time, I may do the whole cupcakes or t-shirt thing. I’ve saved some ideas on Pinterest.”
“Are you… you’re not also.” Before he could finish his sentence, Axel chuckled, shaking his head.
“Nope, I’m not. Cameron gave me a shot that should last a year. Malek and I wanted some space to enjoy Mase—and each other.” His brother wiggled his brows as he said the last part.
“But you want to do it again?” Alfie confirmed.
“Oh my goddess, yes!” His brother probably didn’t realise he picked up on their mates’ use of goddess instead of God. “It's an amazing feeling—someone you created with the person you loveinsideof you. I loved Mason from the moment I realised he was coming.”
“Weren’t you scared. Like, I knew it could happen, but I don’t know…” Alfie shrugged.
“But it didn’t feel real until you saw it on the stick, huh?” Axel unfolded his legs from beneath him and shifted so he was beside Alfie.
Alfie nodded and leaned back on the couch.
“My first question is, are you happy about it?” Axel asked.
Alfie thought about it for a moment. He thought about the life he was building with Chi. How amazing every day they’d spent together was. Malachi loved him, and he loved Malachi. He’d never been so happy, never felt so whole.
All of a sudden, Alfie felt happier and more lighthearted than he had in ages. Of course he was happy about it.
“Yeah. Yeah. Yes I am.” Alfie could feel his lips curve. “I need to tell Chi.”
“You just did, love.”
