He handed it back to me, and it crumpled in my grasp.
“How do they know?” he asked as he looked between me and the summons.
“Exactly,” I growled. “Don’t worry, Killian, this is nothing I can’t handle.”
He hesitated. “Will you go?”
I looked at him. “Do I have a choice?”
He flinched.
We stood there for a long moment. “Fuck,” I grumbled. “Let’s go back to the house.” We began to walk. “I’ve told Diesel and Brand to meet us there. I’ll find Rowen on the way.”
Killian said nothing as we walked, but I could feel his anger. It matched my own.
Did they think I was weakened? Did they think the mate bond, the rebels, the Hollow—all of it—would have softened me? Did it make me in need of their help?
If anything, I resented the fact that they were calling me away from my responsibilities.
Rowen met us on the path to the house. “What’s wrong?” she asked immediately, reaching for me but stopping herself before she did, her expression one of conflict.
“You can touch me,” I murmured, taking her hand and pulling her closer. “Your instinct as my mate is to reach out; trust me, it’s the same for me.”
“So…you’re both needy assholes,” Killian muttered. “Fantastic. That’s all I need.”
I shoved him away from us, laughing as he pretended to stumble, knowing he was creating this moment oflightnessbecause he knew what was coming.
At the house, I opened the door, seeing Diesel, Brand, Axel, and Cody already inside.
“We need a bigger house,” I said to no one, but my mate turned to me with an “I told you so” look.
“Hence why Dad and I slept at the pack hall.”
“Which is full of corruption, betrayal, and blood,” Diesel replied gruffly. “We’ll make you an extension, Wolfe,” he said with a look to Axel. “You’ll need it when the young come.”
“Young?” Rowen looked up from where she was prepping a tea tray. “Who’s coming?”
“He means our children,” I said to her casually while sending my enforcer a death glare that Rowen couldn’t see.
“Our children…” She stood looking up at all of us, eyes darting from face to face, her scent becoming more anxious.
Is this where she tells you she doesn’t want kids?Killian asked curiously, watching Rowen like she was a rabbit ready to run.
It might be, I confirmed.Diesel knows how to pick the best moments to make it awkward.
“Am I pregnant?” Rowen blurted, wide eyes fixed on Diesel.
He frowned. “Do you take the healer’s herbs?”
She shook her head, her breathing picking up. “No. No, I…” Wild eyes met mine. “No, I don’t… Fuck!” Rowen looked ready to pass out. “I don’t sleep around.”
This was not a conversation for us to have in front of my men, and I stepped into Rowen’s space, my hands taking hers, looking down at her as she panicked.
“Deep breath, princess.” I took one, and she mimicked me. “You haven’t had your heat yet; you’re not pregnant.”
Rowen’s panic began to clear, and her shoulders sagged. “Of course,” she breathed out with a low exhale. She stepped back, her eyes sweeping the room, landing on Diesel for a fraction longer than anyone else. “You’re a sadist.”
He tipped his head back and laughed out loud.
