Chapter 3
This wasn’t exactly how Olivia wanted Eli or her father to find out, but there was no way she was going to let anyone banish him from New York.
The atmosphere in the room turned thick, and the silence overwhelming. Everyone waited for someone to speak, eyes darting around. Olivia glanced over at Sloane, who shot Jacob a look, who then glared at Eli, who stared back at her, his jaw nearly unhinging from his skull.
“Pregnant?” It was her father who finally broke the silence. “What do you mean, pregnant?”
“You know what I mean, Dad.”
“But did you even … what the hell?” He raked his fingers through his hair. “You got my daughter pregnant, Blake?”
“Excuse me,” she interrupted before Eli could answer.
“We were both there when it happened,” she said, which was probably not the smartest thing to say, based on the way her father’s face blanched.
“For God’s sake, Dad, I’m an adult with a job of my own.
And may I remind you, Arch was born a few months after your wedding? ”
“That’s different,” he shot back.
“How so?”
He turned to Eli. “And what do you have to say about this?”
Eli merely blinked at her. “You’re … pregnant.”
“He doesn’t know.” She sent him a sheepish grin. “Yeah, this wasn’t how I wanted to tell you.”
“When did you find out ab—”
“Just this morning,” she answered quickly. “I tried to look for you the last couple of weeks, but I didn’t have your number.”
“I didn’t think to ask for yours before you left,” he said.
“Yeah, about that—”
“Hold on,” her dad interrupted, holding a hand up. “Let’s go back. So, you two know each other, but you had no idea he worked here?”
“Yes,” Olivia said. “We first met at Blood Moon, a few months back. We had a couple of drinks and that’s it. Then we saw each other again a month ago and, uh, stuff happened.”
“No need to go into detail, Livy,” her dad groaned.
“I won’t, believe me.” Her face turned hot at the idea of her father knowing anything about her sex life. “But see, you can’t let the Alpha banish him from New York. Not when we have a baby on the way.”
“Are you gonna get married or—”
“Of course I’ll marry her,” Eli stated firmly.
“What?” Her head whipped toward him. “You just found out I’m having your baby. You haven’t even asked me—”
“Not yet. Will you mar—”
“Stop, please.” She massaged her temple with her thumb and forefinger. “We don’t have to get married.”
“And why not?” He sounded almost angry.
“You don’t have to ask me just because I’m pregnant. We hardly know each other. I mean, look at Sloane and Jacob. They’re pregnant and they’re not getting married.”
Eli’s face turned beet red. “You got Sloane pregnant, Martin?” he roared, shoulders rolling forward and chest puffing up. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
Jacob remained unfazed as he said, “Hello, my name is kettle, you must be pot.”
Eli’s dark eyebrows slashed downward and his face grew even redder.
“Besides,” Jacob continued. “I’m in love with her, and I was going to ask her soon.”
“What?” Sloane’s pretty blue eyes widened. “You want to marry me?”
“Of course I do, Sweet Stuff,” he said. “You’re my True Mate.”
“True Mate?” Eli’s eyes widened. “You’re True Mates?”
Sloane nodded. “Yes. Just like you and Olivia. You’ve heard about True Mates, right?”
A curious look passed over Eli’s face. “Yes.” He turned back to Olivia. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “We didn’t use protection and well, I suspected it, but confirmed it when I hurt my hand.” She held up her palm toward him. “Sliced myself with a piece of broken glass. Sloane saw it.”
“That’s right,” Sloane confirmed. “And since you’re True Mates, the Alpha should take that into consideration before he decides your punishment, right?”
Olivia bit her lip. “I hope so.”
Her father blew out a long breath. “All right, here’s what we need to do. First thing is to come clean to the Alpha. Blake, he won’t be happy about you being in his territory all this time while still being part of the Boston clan.”
“But Eli got the Lone Wolf tattoo,” Olivia pointed out. “And Sloane’s been here the whole time.”
“Technically, you were tossed out of the clan, right, Sloane?” her father asked. “Ronan declared to the Boston Clan that you were no longer under his protection?”
“Oh yeah,” she said proudly. “Attempting to murder your Alpha will do that.”
“But he didn’t do the same for Eli,” he explained. “Nor did Eli leave the clan on his own and declare his intentions to become a Lone Wolf.”
“But the Alpha is reasonable,” Olivia said, hopeful.
“You can make your case.” Her father sighed. “And I’ll support you, of course.”
“So will I,” Uncle Quinn added. Uncle Connor also nodded in agreement
“It will be fine.” She locked gazes with Eli and sent him a reassuring smile. His face, however, remained impassive.
“And you’ll have our support too,” Jacob said. “And the rest of the family’s.”
“We shouldn’t wait any longer, he has to know,” her father said. “We’ll call the Alpha now.”
“Thank you, Dad,” Olivia said.
“Don’t thank me yet.” He nevertheless gave her shoulder a squeeze, then kissed her on the forehead. “But I promise, I’ll do my best.” Glancing at Eli, he gave one last snort, then headed out, his brothers trailing behind him.
Sloane elbowed Jacob. “We should probably go too.”
“Huh? Why—”
“Duh, I think Olivia and Eli need some privacy.” Hooking her arm around Jacob, she dragged him away. “Congratulations on the happy news, guys.” With one last wave, they disappeared out the door.
A beat of silence passed before Olivia turned to Eli. The words to even start this conversation escaped her, but she had to at least try, so she said the first thing on her mind.
“So, about what I said … about getting married—”
“You hardly know me,” he interrupted. “Of course you don’t want to marry me.”
He had seemed genuinely hurt that she hadn’t said yes, so she had wanted to address it. “What I said was we don’t have to get married, not that I didn’t want to marry you,” she clarified. “But yes, I don’t know you and you don’t know me.”
His lips pressed together. “And I understand … if you … I mean.” He paused, as if gathering his thoughts. “You only found out today. So, whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you. It’s your body.”
Her wolf did not like that implication, and if the rumble coming from his chest were any indication, neither did his.
“I’m keeping it.” The rumbling stopped and his shoulders visibly relaxed. “Besides, it’s not like I can do anything about it now. It’s a True Mate baby, after all.”
He frowned. “What does that have to do with your choice?”
“I couldn’t terminate the pregnancy even if I chose to because I’m invulnerable. So, while I can’t get sick, shot, poisoned or hurt in any way, that means no surgery either.” She paused. “Wait, I thought you said you know about True Mates?”
“Only that they exist.” He hesitated. “My … parents were True Mates, at least that’s what they both told me.”
Olivia couldn’t quite wrap her head around the fact that Garret McCall had a True Mate.
Everyone in the Lycan world had heard of him once Ronan Forte’s crimes had been exposed.
Apparently, the beta had been Forte’s executioner, carrying out his vilest orders, including murdering Sloane’s parents.
It was no wonder Jacob had gone all protective when Eli’s real identity had been revealed.
One thing Olivia couldn’t figure out was what Sloane and Eli meant to each other, because it was obvious the she-wolf didn’t see him as a threat despite what his father did to her family. In fact, she had even embraced him and was relieved that Eli was alive.
A sliver of jealously cut through her, but she recalled Sloane saying he was like a brother to her and they had grown up together, and he had joined later in the clan. “So, did your mother—”
“What do you want to do?”
The question caught her off guard. “About the baby? I told you, I’m keeping him or her.”
“And what about …” He swallowed audibly. “About me.”
She hadn’t thought about it. There hadn’t been any time. “Do you want to be part of this baby’s life?”
“I don’t think I’d be a good father. You’d be better off without me.”
Olivia’s heart sank.
“But I would never abandon my kid.” His jaw hardened. “Even if you weren’t my True Mate. That label doesn’t mean anything to me.”
“Your mother,” she breathed. “What happened—”
“She’s dead.”
“How did she—”
“And Garret’s going to Siberia and I’m never going to see him again.”
The finality in his tone was impossible to miss. The subject of his parents was obviously a sore one, so Olivia didn’t press him. “So now what?”
“I told you, I’m not abandoning this kid.” he said. “But that would mean I would be in your life too.”
“Yes.” True Mate or not, they would be forever bound by this life growing inside of her. But what did he want? What did this mean to him? “Eli, what are you asking me? Please, no more games. Just say it.”
“I feel a connection to you.” There was no hesitation in his words. “From the moment I saw you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since that first time we met.”
“Me too,” she admitted. Even though she left New York after that night on the rooftop, but she still found herself thinking of him. “I didn’t think I’d see you again, and then I came to Blood Moon that second time and we …”
“Why did you leave in the morning?” His tone wasn’t accusatory. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, no,” she said, shaking her head. “Not at all. I just freaked out. It all felt so fast. I woke up and felt embarrassed.”
“Can’t blame you, I guess.” He looked away from her. “I’m probably not the type of guy you usually go for.”