Page 67 of Alpha Fate

“But how?” My question hangs between us, plaintive and small. “They never touched me in there. Not like that.” I’m certain of it. Beyond all the confusion, that part is solid in my mind.

“It must have been Cole, Savvie,” Sierra says gently. “When you…you know…” I try hard to breathe as her words sink in.

Pregnant with Cole’s babies… She’s right. It’s the only possibility. We were chosen for each other before my abduction, before my world was torn apart by Rack’s pack. We would have tested the bond. The bond that we never sealed.

“But I don’t understand,” I protest weakly. “The drugs… Wouldn’t they have…” I don’t want to say it, but it has to be said. “Wouldn’t it have terminated a pregnancy? What they did to me?”

“Actually, I think that’s why the chip didn’t work. Why you never came into heat,” Dr. Bea interjects softly. “You were already pregnant.”

I drop my head into my hands, my elbows resting on the table. This is too much to comprehend. How could this have happened when Cole and I didn’t seal the bond?

Our kind don’t need to.

It hits me in a flash. Yet another of those elusive memories that come out of nowhere. This one isn’t so welcome.

We can bear pups for any male. It’s why they take us.

“Oh my God,” I groan into my palms.

Sierra’s grip tightens on my shoulders as she leans closer. “Savvie,” she whispers urgently, “you’re not alone in this.”

I look up into Dr. Bea’s compassionate eyes – and something within me shifts from disbelief to resolve.

“I need time,” I say finally, raising my head and straightening. “To think about this.”

“Of course.” Dr. Bea nods solemnly before she stands and gathers her things. “I’ll leave you two to talk.” The doctor gives me a reassuring pat on the back before exiting the apartment.

As soon as the door clicks shut behind her, Sierra moves closer and wraps her arms around me in a protective embrace that feels like it could shield me from the world outside.

Nestled in her arms, I stare down at the floor, taking in the sight of the glass that’s gleaming from puddles of water.

I have to clean it up.

“God, Sav…” Sierra’s voice is husky with emotion. “This must be so much to take in.”

“I’m so sorry…”

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about,” she assures me, still holding me close.

“I left a mess earlier. I spilled coffee. And now there’s glass…” I choke on the words.

“What?”

“I made a mess before I left, and you must have cleaned it up. And now I…I broke a glass. Just look at it everywhere.” I’m choking on words. “I’m so sorry.”

I’ve made a mess of everything.

“For God’s sake, forget about the glass. It doesn’t matter.” Her grip tightens.

“But it does, Si!” I sound tortured. “I’ve messed up, and it all matters. All of it!” Because this revelation ruins everything. “What am I going to do?”

“We’ll think it through, Sav. I’ll be here for you every step of the way,” she murmurs into my hair as I fight down the sobs that are threatening to burst free. “We’ll figure it out.”

But we won’t figure it out. How could we?

I’ve just given my heart to Gage while I’m carrying the babies of another man. One who I barely even remember.

This changes everything.

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