Page 47 of True Wolf

“You own the building but not the business. Ila will care.”

Zion and his brothers did own the building but Bean Bazaar was a business owned by one of the pack members who rented space here. I could have easily found another job, but I loved working at Bean Bazaar.

“Not a strong argument, little storm. I still call the shots.”

I groaned and pushed him away. He grinned, adjusting his dick while I yanked my shirt back down. It had risen around my waist because of his roaming hands. When I brushed my palm over my stomach, Zion’s eyes dropped and a smile spread across his face.

“We have to officially confirm with everyone.”

I tensed and shook my head. “Not yet but soon.”

“Ness, they know. If I can hear their heartbeats, everyone else can.”

He was right, wolves had keen senses. If anyone took the time to focus enough to tune in, they would know I was pregnant and carrying two Bennett pups. We weren’t sure if one was a boy and the other a girl, but we did know there were two.

Zion woke me one morning with the biggest smile on his face, telling me Sula was right. He sensed his pups, felt them, heard their heartbeats. I stayed in the apartment and cried for two days. I was so overwhelmed after everything I had been through.

We still hadn’t told the rest of the pack. I wanted to hold onto the moment between Zion and me for a while longer. I hadn’t even told Neyla but I sensed she knew also based on how she was always looking at my stomach and grinning. She didn’t bring it up, however, and I appreciated that she was allowing me to have my moment.

“Soon, I promise.” He nodded and kissed me. “Now you need to go and I need to get back to work.”

I pushed past him and he caught my wrist, pulling me back. “I’m only agreeing because I have something I need to do.” After one last kiss, Zion and I headed back to the front where I found Mina leaning over one side of the counter and Neyla on the other. I had a moment of déjà vu from the day Mina barreled in here like a chaotic storm to tell me Zion was coming home.

Things could have been so different if I’d managed to run like I planned to. As scary as that moment was when Lazar cornered me and dragged me to that basement, I wouldn’t change a thing. However, right now I needed to know what had my sister’s face twisted in a scowl.

“What’s up, Mina? Did you get the place ready for Karr? I have to meet my brothers to get him settled.”

“Uhh…” Her eyes flicked over to Neyla then to Zion. “Yes, the place is ready. He’s on the floor below yours. Laz knows which unit and has the keys.”

“Aight.” He lowered his eyes to me. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay.”

As soon as he was out the door, I turned to my sister and Mina. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Neyla huffed and pushed away from the counter, grabbing a stack of cups from the box to refill what we’d sold during morning rush.

“There’s definitely something. You’re pissed.”

“I’m not.” She shrugged but her mood was tense so I arched my brow at Mina.

“Karr is coming today.” She glanced at Neyla anxiously, then looked back at me. We had all discussed Neyla and Karr’s very complicated situation. He had a girlfriend. The two had been together for a while but Karr had yet to mark the woman he was with. Neyla believed he hadn’t because he didn’t truly want to claim her, yet he refused to leave her. There was a story there she either didn’t know or was refusing to tell. What we did know with certainty was that my sister had feelings for Karr.

“We’ve known he was coming for weeks now. What’s the big deal?”

“He’s not alone.”

“He’s…oh…she’swith him?”

Mina nodded and Neyla glared over her shoulder. “Stop whispering about them. It’s not a big deal. Him being here will be temporary. I don’t care that she’s with him.”

“Neyla, that’s not true. You care.”

She turned to face us. “Whether I care or not is irrelevant. Some things are what they are and what Karr is, is off limits for me.”

“But what if he wasn’t?” Mina asked and I waited patiently, wanting the answer as well.

“There is no what if, he is off limits. No point in worrying about anything concerning him. Can we focus on something else? Like my sister being pregnant while pretending we don’t know.”

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