“Did I scare you?” she asks, closing the door.
“A little. I just got so absorbed by the book that I guess I zoned out,” I admit while putting my phone away.
“Well, the results are in,” Hannah states as she sits across from me. “Lucas is right. You are indeed pregnant.”
My hand moves to rest on my flat stomach. From Lucas’ actions, I knew he was telling the truth, but having my doctor confirm it made it much more real.
“It explains why you had an abnormality in your hormones three days ago, but we couldn’t decipher what it was. I’ll schedule an ultrasound appointment and give you a few pamphlets about your options,” she continues, taking my free hand in hers and squeezing it. “You have a few weeks to decide by how early it is, but whatever you choose, I support you, Kaylee.”
I nod, unsure of what to say. Hannah sighs softly before releasing my hand and getting up from her chair. After rummaging through the cabinet’s drawers, she hands me an envelope.
“You don’t have to worry about the news spreading. My team is under strict confidentiality agreements or risk being banished from the pack. It’s a rule Alpha Amelia set for us so that no one can use our packmates’ health as blackmail.”
I take the envelope from her wordlessly. I can tell Hannah is worried, but I finally speak when she moves to the computer in the room to book an ultrasound.
“Do...do you think I will be able to raise the pup without being mated?” I ask, watching Hannah as she turns to look at me in surprise.
“Of course. You’re strong, Kaylee, and the pack would help you if need be,” she answers, her words making me feel slightly better. I know Lucas wants to be with me and raise the pup as mates if I decide to keep it, but the thought of being with him scares me, and I think Hannah can see that.
After confirming the ultrasound for three days from now, I leave the pack infirmary and make my way to my cottage. I have some more thinking to do.
3
Marco
Standing in front of Kaylee’s cottage, I knock on the door and wait for her to answer. After confronting Lucas, I had planned to talk to her, but duty called, and I’d had to deal with wolves on our borders instead. They were spies from Oak Fur again, trying to sneak in and catch a glimpse of our alpha and beta.
News had spread that Ivory Fangs had helped Shadow Moon liberate themselves from the tyranny of their former alpha, Jordan, and people were becoming increasingly curious about our female leaders. It took longer than I’d thought to deal with them, the enemy wolves fighting my men with everything they had. One managed to escape capture, and the other two decided to take their own lives by slitting their throats before we could restrain them.
“Marco? What are you doing here?” Kaylee’s voice calls from behind me, and I turn to see her coming up the path. The faintsmell of rubbing alcohol comes off her, and I frown. It seems she’s just coming back from the pack infirmary.
“I wanted to see how you’re doing. I heard Lucas took you from the training facility against your will,” I state with a shrug, watching Kaylee sigh and run her hands through her hair.
“Yeah, the mate bond called out to him, thinking I was in danger,” she admits. I scent the air, hoping she’s lying so I can return to where Lucas is and beat him to oblivion—but she’s telling the truth.
“Do you know what caused it to do that?” I ask, watching as Kaylee looks away and bites her lip.
“I do. But I’m not ready to talk about it,” she mumbles quietly.
I nod, deciding that if it is something she isn’t willing to share right now, all I can do is be there for her as a friend.
“If you need anything, you know I’m here for you,” I reassure her, watching Kaylee smile at me with relief.
“I know, Marco. It’s why I like being your friend,” Kaylee says, walking towards me and hugging me. “Do you want to come in for some coffee and cookies?”
“I would, but I have some patrols I need to plan. We had some spies try to sneak in from Oak Fur today.”
Kaylee frowns at my answer, telling me to wait for a moment before she disappears into the cottage and returns a moment later, no longer holding the envelope.
“Let’s take my truck to the packhouse. We need to tell Amelia about this and make a plan,” she states, closing the door and marching towards her truck. Helplessly, I follow her, climbing into the passenger seat of the truck as she pulls out of the small driveway and onto the small road.
I link Amelia, telling my alpha that we need an impromptu meeting, before linking Royce and telling him to meet us at the packhouse. Within a few minutes, Kaylee is parking beside the large building just as Royce makes his way up the stairs.
“You know, I was hoping for a break,” Royce sighs as we join him, and Kaylee rolls her eyes.
“Unfortunately for us, we get no breaks,” she retorts, getting another loud sigh from Royce.
The three of us make our way to Amelia’s office to find her door open. Walking into the room, we find our alpha sitting at her desk, a look of concern on her face.
