Sloan didn’t say anything, just nodded. “Did Duncan give you orders for today?”
“Not yet,” Adam answered, also looking at Sloan with a weird expression. “That’s why we’re here.”
“Okay, good.” Sloan looked at Adam. “I need you to stick close. I have someone coming later today for you to read.”
“No problem.” Adam nodded just as the door opened.
“Be prepared,” Sid said as he walked in, taking a seat in front of Sloan’s desk with Jared following and taking the seat next to him.
“For what?” Sloan’s eyes narrowed, as if he needed any more fucking surprises.
“All the women know,” Jared supplied.
Sloan didn’t think he was going to like where this was going. “I figured they would sooner rather than later,” Sloan said, looking from Jared to Sid.
“And did you figure that sooner or later they would want to have babies of their own?” Sid frowned, then glanced at the door as if Lana was going to walk in and slap him upside the head.
Glancing that way also, Sloan smirked, but then it turned into a deep scowl. Damn, he hadn’t really thought of that. Or maybe he had and just shoved it behind all the other shit he was dealing with.
“Angelina was super excited that this could be a way we could start a family,” Adam said, not looking as distraught as Sid.
“We are Warriors.” Sid threw his arms out as if that proved the point he was trying to make. “We are not running a nursery.I mean, after talking to Slade, who isn’t sure what the fuck is happening, we don’t know if it’s just the human mates. If Golden Blood can make us fertile, or whatever in the fuck it’s doing to our bodies, it could also do that to the women vampires.”
“Let’s not forget how the human government wanted to round up all the half-breeds,” Jared added. “Afraid they were going to breed like rabbits.”
Sloan’s eyes shot to Jared, who actually had the sense to look away.
“Listen,” Sid continued, then sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. “I love Lana and would burn the world down for her, but having a kid?”
Sloan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he listened to Sid have a freakout. Which honestly Sloan understood. He was having a freakout of his own, but he was keeping it private.
“Seriously, bringing a child into the fucking mess we deal with day in and day out?” Sid looked at Sloan. “You can’t sit there and tell me you haven’t thought of this. I’m sorry, but out of any of us, you are the last person I would see ever being excited about having a kid.”
No one said a word as what Sid said hung in the room.
Sloan couldn’t deny what Sid was saying. He didn’t even try. Yeah, he definitely had reservations. He would be a damn liar if he said otherwise. This had hit him from every side, and he was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Becky was pregnant. That he was the father. That there was a child growing inside his mate that should have been impossible. He was a fucking vampire for fuck sake.
“Listen,” Sloan said, his voice low, “we will deal with this however we need to deal with it.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Sid leaned forward, frustration clear on his face. “I’m saying this changes everything.”
“No shit,” Sloan snapped, his eyes cutting to Sid. “You think I don’t fucking know that? You think I haven’t wondered what kind of man brings a child into this world? Into my world?”
Sloan tried to keep his voice low not wanting to wake Becky up.
“I never would have chosen this.” Sloan’s voice was low, but every man in the room heard him. “Every single one of us has enemies coming at us from every fucking corner, looking for a weakness. Our mates are always going to be targets, but once the enemy finds out we can have children, they’re going to come hard for our offspring.”
He cursed, then frowned. “Adam. Steve. Give me a second with Jared and Sid.”
Neither said a word, which was a damn miracle from Steve, who always had something to say. Sloan could tell by the looks on their faces they realized how serious this was. They walked out, shutting the door behind them.
Sloan waited a minute before speaking. “I’ve already talked to Duncan about this.”
“Don’t fucking say it,” Sid hissed, shaking his head before he stood and started pacing.
“I’m thinking of resigning,” Sloan said, ignoring Sid.
“No.” Jared shook his head. “You resign and it all falls the fuck apart. Don’t get me wrong, I respect the hell out of Duncan, but he’s not you. You’re Sloan Fucking Murphy.”
