Page 161 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

The word landed badly. I saw it, and Damien saw it too.

His face twisted. “Right. Of course. Convenient.”

Lincoln’s expression changed in a way that hurt to see, and Hudson turned to stone beside him. “Don’t do that. You’re the one who reminds us permanently that we’re the bonus dads,” he said.

Damien’s eyes glittered. “Does it matter?”

“Look you’re hurt,” Hudson said. “But that doesn’t give you permission to be cruel.”

“You don’t get to lecture me about cruelty. You fucked my ex.”

The word hit me like a slap, not because I’d never heard worse, but because it made the room smaller and uglier.

“Enough,” Hudson snapped.

The sound made Damien flinch again.

It made me flinch too.

Lincoln turned at once. “Mary.”

I shook my head and told myself not to cry but my eyes, unfortunately, had never respected leadership, and the tears came thick and fast.

Damien looked at me, and the anger faltered. Not remorse, more confusion, as if he hadn’t expected me to be a person inside this.

“Mary,” Lincoln said again, softer.

I wiped my face hard. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” Hudson said.

“Very observant.” My voice broke, and I hated that.

Damien looked away first.

“Apologize,” Lincoln said again.

“I didn’t make her cry.”

“You did,” Hudson said.

Damien’s mouth opened. Hudson crossed the room so quickly Damien shut it.

He stopped short of touching him. Only just.

“You came into our home,” Hudson said, voice low and furious, “and you spoke to a pregnant omega as if she had set out to humiliate you. You don’t have to understand this tonight. You don’t have to forgive us tonight. But you will apologize to her.”

Damien stared, and the word pregnant hit the room late. His gaze dropped to my stomach.

I’d chosen a loose sweater that morning because I hadn’t known what armor looked like and fabric seemed like a start. It hid behind enough of it that he wouldn’t notice.

“Pregnant,” he said.

My hand went to my belly as Lincoln moved between us, not fully blocking me, but enough.

“Yes,” Hudson said.

Damien’s face paled. “Is it mine?”