“So whose kid is it really?” Cole asked the practical question.
“No idea. But we need to find out fast, before this gets worse.”
“It can get worse?” Hunt muttered.
“My parents arrive soon,” I reminded them. “How’s that for worse?”
“Fuck.” Cole summarized everyone’s thoughts perfectly.
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over us. My best friends, my inner circle, processing the fact that their Alpha had been hiding a mate and cubs while slowly going feral from the broken bond.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Hunt asked finally. “About her, about what happened?”
“Because I was ashamed.” The admission hurt to voice. “Because I called her a warm hole and left her there. Because I was convinced I’d get her killed if I claimed her. Because I’m a fucking coward who ruined the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“You’re an idiot,” Cole said bluntly. “But Mary’s the immediate problem. We need to figure out whose kid she’s carrying and expose her before she can do more damage.”
“I’ll handle Mary.” Noah spoke for the first time since his initial outburst. “I’ll try to gather information. Find out who the father really is.”
“Noah-”
“You protect your family, Knox.” He met my eyes, and for the first time in years, I saw my brother instead of just my pack member. Understanding passed between us. We both knew what it was like to lose someone important. “Your real family. Let me handle this bitch.”
“What about the council?” Hunt asked. “They’re expecting wedding plans now.”
“Stall,” Cole suggested. “Say you want to wait for your parents. Traditional blessing and all that shit. Buys us a week.”
“A week to find proof Mary’s lying while keeping Lina and the kids safe.” I scrubbed my face. “No pressure.”
“We’ve got your back,” Hunt said firmly. “All of us. Your secret’s safe.”
I looked around at my team, my brothers in all but blood, and felt some of the weight lift. I wasn’t alone in this. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank us yet,” Cole said. “We still have to deal with your parents. Good luck explaining why you’re not marrying thewoman carrying your fake baby because you already have real babies with a human mate you abandoned.”
“When you put it like that, it sounds complicated.”
“It is complicated, you absolute moron.” But Noah was almost smiling. “Good thing we specialize in complicated.”
I thought about Lina, probably tucking the twins into bed at Noah’s house, still unaware of the shitstorm heading our way. I wanted to fix this before she found out, before Mary’s lies could hurt her more. She already had enough reasons to hate me. I just had to keep my real family safe long enough to prove I loved her.
27
— • —
Lina
The doorbell rang while Knox and Noah were out getting groceries, because apparently werewolves still needed regular human food. I’d been enjoying the peace of their absence, not having to deal with Knox’s longing looks or Noah’s knowing smirks.
Through the peephole, I saw two massive men standing on the porch. One had intricate tattoos covering his arms, the other had red hair and a grin that spelled trouble. They looked vaguely familiar, tickling at the edges of my memory from that hotel morning five years ago when my life had taken its first supernatural turn.
“We know you’re in there,” the red-headed one called cheerfully. “Don’t worry, we’re house-trained! We even wipe our paws before coming inside.”
Jesus. More werewolves. Just what I needed.
“Who is it?” I called through the door, not bothering to hide my suspicion.
“Friends of Knox,” the tattooed one said awkwardly, shifting his weight. “I’m Cole. This is Hunt. We’re... um... here to help?”
