And when it announced I was pregnant, I ran out and told them.
But I didn’t tell them by showing them the stick. The words came out of my mouth.
And it was hoarse and scratchy. It didn’t sound like I remembered me sounding, but they were definitely my words.
“How—how?” I asked.
Talon said softly, “No word shall be spoken until you are safe and free, my princess. The spell…it had an ending point. I don’t know why I didn’t see that earlier. You’ve always been safe and free with us, but for whatever reason, this news, this wonderful, amazing news, was what it took for you to feel it too.”
I was enveloped by three alphas, all of us crying tears of joy.
We were having a baby.
And as unbelievable as it was, that news was a million times better than being able to speak again.
We were going to have a family, my mates and I.
Fate may not have given me the best growing up, but she was making up for it now.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Archer
Our omega grew more beautiful every day, and her pregnancy sweetened her scent. What I’d never believed could smell better now, remarkably did. And it became harder and harder to send her home to her brother’s pack. She spent more time here than previously, but she still wasn’t willing to give up her turret entirely, and one cold evening after we had dropped her off, we went out for coffee and had a pack meeting.
“This can’t go on,” Dax said, hands cupped around a mug of hot apple cider. He’d been the one who suggested coffee, but to him, the term meant “have a hot drink somewhere and preferably a pastry along with it.” “My wolf is having fits, and it’s getting a little uncomfortable being clawed on the inside on the time.”
“It may be ‘physical,’ Talon agreed, “but it hurts all the same. And considering I fully agree with him, I can’t tell my beast he’s wrong. Our mate needs to beunder our roof. How are we expected to care for her and our child when they live under another alpha’s protection?”
“Sylvia is our mate, but she’s also a free person, and that’s relatively new to her,” Dax said. “How will she feel if we attempt to force her to do what doesn’t want to? In fact, I’m not willing to force her to do anything. I love her.”
“Me too!” Talon asserted. “If she doesn’t like our home, we can have another built to her specifications. If she wants a turret, we can do that, too. No problem. But I can’t sleep without her nearby. It’s so wrenching to see her go inside Benji’s home and wave goodbye like we are just casually dating or something.”
“I don’t think it’s a structural issue. Without forcing her, maybe we can point out that mates live together, that’s just how it is?” Dax huffed.
“And imply that she’s doing something wrong by staying where she is?” Talon, who was used to letting his money solve his problems, ground his teeth. “So I shouldn’t offer to build something for her?”
I sat quietly and let my mates hash out their thoughts while working on the problem in my own mind. Our mate loved her turret. We’d all had the opportunity to see it, but did we want to suggest she move in with us and hide away in her own space? Avoid us? Would she keep the baby up there? None of this sounded good. I’d already lain awake multiple nights trying to find a solution, but so far, I’d only come up with one, and I hadn’t mentioned it yet because it was far less than optimal.
No more time could pass while we lived apart from her, though. It was too hard on our wolves and on us. Taking a long sip of coffee, I waited for a break in the dialogue. When they began, I’d had a vague hope they would have an idea I hadn’t already considered, but no such luck. Limited options existed. And the one they hadn’t mentioned appeared to be the one we’d have to go with. One that would change everything about our life going forward, but our mate was worth any sacrifice.
Even being pack alpha.
When my friends finally sagged back in their seats, having vented for a good hour, I inhaled deeply and let it out. “We need to ask her brother if we can move into her turret with her.”
Both of them straightened up and gasped. “Alpha, we can’t do that because…well, you wouldn’t be alpha,” Dax said.
“We’d have to be part of their pack.” Talon sounded horrified. “Surely, our mate doesn’t want us to do that.”
She’s said as much, the day she discovered her pregnancy. But had that been for our benefit? Knowing her, probably.
“It’s the first place she’s been fully secure in a very long time. After all the trauma of her previous years, is it any wonder she is hesitant to give up her place in that tower? It doesn’t have to be forever. When I apply to the alpha, I will explain that we’d move on if it were ever something she’s comfortable with. Thoughts?”
Their lips were moving, but no words were coming out. Apparently, they, like me, recognized theimpossibility of any other option. “All right, if we’re agreed, there’s no point in putting this off. I’ll go speak to Benji now, if he’ll see me this late.”
“Alpha, we need to go with you.” Talon stood and tossed a few bills on the table for a tip. We’d paid for the coffees already but he always wanted to make sure the people who cleared had a little something.
“If he wants to speak with you alone, we’ll wait outside,” Dax added. “What will we do with our livestock, and Emma?”
