Chapter 27
Hudson
Alex sits behind me on the exam table, his arms around my waist and his chin on my shoulder. The doctor already drew blood and sent it off – apparently money really does speed up lab work – so now we wait.
“What if it’s negative?” I whisper.
Alex left work just to be here with me, and I wish the other two were, too. Whatever the result is, it feels like something we should hear together.
The door opens and my breath hitches. Then my heart begins to race when Desmond’s head appears around the side before he fully steps in.
“Anything?” he asks.
He crosses the room and presses his soft lips to my forehead.
“What are you doing here?” I wince. I hadn’t meant for that to come out so snippy, but I’m surprised to see him. “Thought you had court today,” I say.
“Only a quick hearing,” Des answers, brushing his fingers through my hair. “How are you feeling?”
Definitely better having both of them with me. Instead of saying that, I smile. “Nervous. Anxious. Ready to get the results.”
“If it’s negative, we’ll try again during your next cycle,” Alex says from behind me, his breath minty and warm against my cheek as he nuzzles his against mine. “Either way, I’ll definitely enjoy the practice.” The words are whispered against the shell of my ear.
My perfume explodes into the air as my dick hardens almost instantly.
Definitely worked to distract me from the second hand ticking away on the generic clock hanging on the wall.
“We could lock the door. I’m sure Desmond would love to drop to his knees right here and –”
A sharp knock on the door has me jumping a foot in the air as my cheeks grow hot. Pretty sure I look sunburned or resemble a ripe tomato when the doctor steps back in the room.
He’s an older beta male with kind eyes, lines between his brows, but deep smile lines around his mouth and eyes.
“Looks like we’re only missing one of the gang now,” he says in that fatherly way. “Are we waiting?”
“No,” Des, Alex, and I all say at the same time.
No way can I wait until all three alphas can be present because, really, there’s no way to tell when that time will come again. Other than weekends. Pretty sure the medical staff doesn’t want to come in on their day off just to give us our test results.
The doctor rolls the stool closer and lowers onto it, then opens the folder he carried in and scans over the numbers and letters that look as though they’re in a different language.
Not so much because I can’t decipher them – I’m not focusing that hard – but because my sight is blurring with tears and my heart is thumping so loudly, I’m surprised everyone in the room can’t hear it.
I squint my eyes as the doctor’s lips move, but I swear it’s in slow motion, even when he glances up at me, then over to each of the alphas.
It isn’t until Alex’s arms tighten around me and Des cups my face in his hands, tilting my head back to slant his mouth over mine, that the words register: Positive.
The test was positive. I’m pregnant. We succeeded on our first try.
And now, I have a little life growing inside me.
My eyes are still open as Des keeps his mouth pressed against mine and then pulls back to stare into my face, his eyes glassy with unshed tears.
“Thank you,” he whispers as though the lump in his throat is too big to speak past.
“Holy shit. We need to call Mason,” Alex says from behind me.
He climbs over the side of the exam table and pulls his phone free while Desmond steps away from me to get closer.
The phone is on speaker, the ringing filling the room over and over until Mason’s voice breaks the monotonous sound.
“How’d it go?” he asks, his voice quiet.
Is he in court today? Did he have to step out of the room to take the call?
“We’re going to be fathers,” Des says, unable to hold back as the watery smile stretches across his face, his eyes darting to my face then back to the phone.
I’m trying. Really, I am. I’m trying to keep the smile on my voice, but there’s only so much I can do about my scent.
I’m pregnant. I’m going to give them the child they’ve always wanted. And then, in a year, I’ll return to my life before I knew Pack Anders existed.
Why did I put up that fucking ad? Why did I agree to have a sit down with them?
Why did I agree to this fucking arrangement?
Because you didn’t think your heart would feel anything more than happiness for them and joy over the number in your bank account.
Now that reality has come crashing in, I’m struggling to smile for them, to accept their hugs the congratulations from the doctor and nurses.
It’s Saturday, officially one day after discovering I’m carrying my first child.
A child I agreed to hand over after he or she is born.
Sure, I can stay a part of their life, but it’s not like I’ll be sleeping in the same house as them, not like they’ll see their parents as a pack.
Maybe if I bring up a few of my newest concerns? Although, they’re not really that new to me. It’s something I’ve been dwelling on, especially when I’m alone and have nothing else to do but think.
Would they let me remain in my quarters and my room? Would they allow me to coparent right beside them?
I mean, they did say they’ve never been interested in adding a beta or omega, so it’s not like they’ll need my room for someone else.
Amy has made a huge breakfast, leaving the overflowing platters on the island instead of crowding the kitchen table.
“We should have done this in the dining room,” she grumbles as she plops her hands on her hips and surveys the variety.
She’s made pancakes and waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, milk gravy, toast, biscuits, and even cut up fruit and beautifully arranged it on a tray.
Yet…my appetite is waning.
If they’ve detected the change in my scent, they’ve either attributed to my hormonal change or haven’t mentioned it.
Can they not feel my conflicting emotions through the bond? Are they so absorbed in their own joy they’ve completely ignored the fact I’m…
Well, I’m kind of depressed.
And now I feel like an asshole.
I knew exactly what I was getting into when I agreed to this. Today is supposed to be a celebration. This is something they’ve waited twelve fucking years for, and I have no right to dampen their spirits.
Pushing to my feet, I make my way to the island.
“I’ll get it,” Des says, putting his hands on my shoulders and guiding me back to my seat. “Tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you,” he says, pressing gentle kisses along my cheek before straightening.
His one-day stubble scratches against my skin as he continues to nuzzle my cheek. Through a giggle, I say, “I can get my own plate, Des.”
“I know you can, but I want to do it. Then later, we’re going shopping. Oh, and Mason is having a new vehicle delivered.”
“I never picked the one I wanted,” I say with a faux pout. Seriously, though, any new car is fine with me. Doesn’t mean I’ll be getting rid of my Honda, but who wouldn’t want something safe, sleek, and luxurious?
“After the baby’s born, you can pick another one, a backup to this one,” Mason says, and I turn wide eyes and raised brows on him. Did he seriously just suggest he planned to buy me two brand new cars?
Also, I might be reaching, but it kind of sounded as though he likes the idea of me being safe even after I’ve given birth. That’s a win, right?
After giving Desmond my request for breakfast, I sit back and really focus on the alphas.
Since we’ve only had weekends together, that time has generally been spent with them doting on me, snuggling me, holding me while we watch TV or movies.
This might be the first time I’m watching them behave as bonded alphas. Alex runs his hand along Mason’s waist, giving his ass a swat as he passes behind him. Des presses a kiss to Alex’s shoulder when he sidles up beside him to plate my waffles and bacon.
They’re so affectionate toward one another. It’s obvious to anyone who watches for more than five seconds how close they are, how in love they are.
Are they like this at the office, or do they keep their distance from one another. I suppose they would have to remain professional regardless of their relationship status.
But here, in the quiet hours of the morning, watching them interact…I want to be a part of this more than I knew was possible.
I want someone to look at me the way Mason is looking at Des right now. I want someone to want me here simply because they love me. I want a pack to desire me for me, not because I’m physically able to bring life into the world.
That’s it. I need to actually say something. I need to speak my mind. Tell them how I feel. Tell them they are quickly worming their way into my heart day by day, minute by minute.
When they sit down and the conversation turns to the nursery, décor, baby clothes, and maternity clothes…
I chicken out and decide to wait until the excitement dies down.
And do my best to block my emotions from the alphas as they excitedly discuss what kind of furniture they plan to buy amid speculations of whether I’m carrying a boy or a girl.