I sink my teeth into her neck, bonding us together.
There’s a moment of pure bliss. I’d mark it as the happiest thirty seconds of my entire life as I feel the contentment and love down the bond from Sloane, and I know she feels it from me.
In those few short moments, everything is perfect—until it’s not.
The amazing orgasm and feelings of complete happiness fade away as Sloane gasps and cups the side of her neck.
We’re still knotted together, and there’s nowhere for her to go. I blink up at her as all of her feelings of fear, guilt, and panic shoot down the bond.
“Fuck. Sloane, I’m sorry. I should have asked first. I’m so sorry, baby,” I say in a panic.
Sloane’s cries catch Bram's and Ethan’s attention. Bram looks like he wants to kick my ass while Ethan looks more concerned for Sloane.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I tell her, my own emotion catching in my throat.
Was she not ready to bond me? Did she not want this?
“What did you do?” Bram says loudly, standing there completely naked, which somehow doesn’t make him as imposing.
All of Sloane’s feelings weigh me down with a tremendous amount of sadness. Has she been feeling this all the time? What the fuck is happening? I’m trying to push down my own panic so she doesn’t feel it, but it’s evident she does.
She catches her breath and breathes through her nose and shakes her head. “I want it. It’s not you, Max. I promise. I love you, I wanted the bond… I just…”
“Just what?” Bram asks in my stead, and I’m happy for it because I’m about to have a mental breakdown all on my own.
“Tell them, Sloane,” Ethan says, and we both glance over at the Beta.
“Tell us what?” Bram asks.
Sloane covers her face with her hands. I’m still holding on to her hips. I didn’t think there was ever a time when knotting wouldn’t work in my favor, but this moment proves otherwise.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you all sooner, but I was scared.”
“Tell us what?” Bram asks again.
I don’t even need to be bonded to him to feel and hear how scared he is right now.
“I’m pregnant, and I was going to go to the doctor to make sure bonding is safe for the baby, and I haven’t had a chance, and now I just ruined our bonding moment, and I don’t know what this means for the baby,” Sloane says so incredibly fast we all blink at her for a moment trying to catch up with her words.
We’re all silent as Ethan rubs her back, clearly proud of her for getting this all out.
“How long?” Bram asks. His tone is hard, a way I’ve never heard him speak to Sloane.
She can’t even look at him when she speaks. “The night of the accident.”
Bram lets out a puff of frustrated air, and I can sense how disappointed Sloane is of herself. I rub her legs, trying to reassure her as I collect my own thoughts.
Holy fuck.
We’re going to have a baby, and I’ve never even held a child.
Sloane mistakes my trepidation over not knowing what kind of father I’d be to being angry with her as she tries to shuffle off my lap but can’t.
“Stop squirming.” Bram uses his Alpha voice on her, and she glares over at him. “You might hurt yourself or Max. Just sit still as soon as his knot goes down. We’ll take you to the ER to get checked out.” His tone is direct and no bullshit.
It’s not the soft, tender Bram Sloane is used to, and it’s evident she notices as she retreats into herself. She nods her head and looks away from all of us.
“Sloane,” I whisper her name, wanting to comfort her and hating all these feelings that are transferring over to me.
