Although, I keep her pregnancy to myself.
Firstly, because I don’t like the idea anyone could actually think she’s pregnant with Will’s baby.
Secondly, it would make me sound bad when I have to explain that she doesn’t necessarily remember the night in question… Let alone the nights that I snuck into her apartment.
Thirdly, it’s no one’s fucking business.
Dammit.
I need to ask for my own access to the dungeon, so I can relieve some of this never-ending stress.
My omega is carrying my child, and I can’t hold or comfort her myself because she’s trapped behind that fingerprint access door. In the pack bedroom, with not one but two other alphas.
It was incredibly thoughtful of Maverick and Gunner to inform me of that fact. Their dogs certainly don’t like me any better than the men do, but the beasts are well trained. They didn’t attack while I browsed for nutrition earlier.
Tonight might be pure shit, but tomorrow is a brand-new day.
It’s another opportunity to start fresh.
I didn’t leave my business in shambles to track down Laken for nothing.
If anything, this is a new beginning.
I’ve found allies who hate my family every bit as much as I do. They have a formidable group at their backs, which will offer both Laken and me protection.
Now I just have to determine how to win over the men who are only tolerating me for her sake and ensure that I gently ease her into remembering our night together.
Fuck me.
I need a drink.
My face wrinkles as I take a generous swig of the bourbon. It’s nothing like the bottles I’m used to back home, but it was this or truly vile-sounding vodka.
“Help yourself.” The cold, dead voice belongs to Ranger. It comes from behind me, near the doorway to the garage and also his torture dungeon.
I smirk, taking another long drink of the terrible liquor without bothering to turn and face him.
Dropping the glass on the countertop, I lick the remnants from my lips. “How is my omega?”
“My wife was sleeping as I crawled from bed next to her,” he says smugly. “Unfortunately, I have an appointment to keep with our guests.”
“Best of luck.” I snatch up the glass, raising it above my head. “Braxton is a sneaky fucker. Don’t let your guard down, or he will use it to his advantage.”
“It sounds like you have experience with that firsthand.”
“We were close as teenagers,” I say, taking another small sip. “Far closer than I was to my own brothers. I made the mistake of confiding in him. I told him all about my plans for changes I intended to implement within the family business.”
“He’s why you were ousted as heir?” Ranger asks.
“Out on my ass with barely a dollar to my name.” I snort, shaking my head. “It took ten years and a whole lot of hate, but I built my business from the ground up without taking a dime from human trafficking.”
“And Will intended to erase all your progress by conspiring with your family. No wonder you want revenge.”
“I want Laken more than I want retribution. If she hadn’t been kidnapped, I had plans to walk away.” I shrug, staring across the room. “I would have let Will run it into the ground.”
Ranger hums. “Priorities have a way of changing.”
“I’m tired,” I admit, and it’s clear the alcohol has loosened my tongue. “Being a one-man island holds no appeal to me, and it hasn’t in a long time.”