“The explosion was only a few days after my heat ended. How could they know that quickly? The test was probably wrong.”
“If you got pregnant on the first day of your three-day heat, a testcould’vepicked it up. Pregnancy tests have gotten much more sensitive and incredibly accurate at early detection. All it needs is a trace of hormones four to five days past implantation.”
Implantation. It sounded like an alien invading his body. It basically was. “We only shared one heat, Emerson.”
“One’s all it takes,” Emerson replied.
Dash stared at Emerson, feeling like his skin was too tight. His chest hurt, his heart beating too fast. “My papa said I wasn’t. Did you lie to my parents, too?”
“I thought it would be easier for you if they didn’t know.”
“Easier?”
“I wasn’t sure which way your parents would lean on the matter of choice.” Emerson shrugged. “Leaving you free to make one without potentially causing a rift with them. It’s your call. No one else’s.”
Dash stared at Emerson, realizing what his mate was saying.
He’d given Dash agency—and complete control over his choice.
Ever the protector.
He’d make an amazing father.
Someday.
What if someday was now? What if this was their only chance?
“And how does Emerson Walker view choice?”
Emerson stared at his mate.He’d always envisioned having a family but lived a life thinking it was impossible. Impossible—yet they’d made a baby together. A miracle child, from the sounds of it. If it was up to him, they’d become a family—but he would never force Dash to carry a child he didn’t want. Either they walked into parenthood together or they didn’t. It wouldn’t be fair to their child not to grow up withtwoloving parents like he’d had.
Steeling his emotions, he gave Dash as best of a smile as he could, sure it was lacking but hoping it wasn’t. “Choice is up to the person carrying the child. I’ll support whichever decision you make.”
“And you wouldn’t resent that choice if I made it?”
Emerson shook his head. “No.”
“Why does that feel like a lie?”
Emerson dragged his gaze away, staring at the floor for a few seconds. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and collected his thoughts for a moment. “I would love to have children someday, but I’d already resigned myself to the fact that could never be—considering who I was.” He glanced at Dash. “Would I be sad? I think we both would. But I won’t resent you for making the right decision for you. It’syourbody. And in this case, I realize how much more difficult it might be for you to bear a child.”
“How so?”
“A pregnant alpha?” Emerson said, lifting a brow. “We both know what’s going to happen.”
“People will stare,” Dash said, sighing. “They might even get confrontational.”
“Exactly,” Emerson said. “I wouldn’t put you through that unless you were a hundred percent ready for what might come. And you mightneverwant to go through that. I’m okay with that, too.”
Dash stared at him, pain in his eyes. “I’m upset you didn’t tell me.”
“I get that, but as I said, I wasn’t sure your heart could take the shock.”
“I’m not sure it can take it now,” Dash admitted, rubbing his palm over his chest.
Emerson grasped Dash’s wrist and checked his pulse. Dash’s hand trembled slightly under his touch. Was it worry or something else? “A little fast but steady. I think you’ll survive.”
“How soon could I… have the procedure?” Dash asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
