Page 56 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

“For God’s sake, Grayson, would you please say something.”

I shook myself, blinking again, and managed to stand up straighter, clearing my throat.

“I…holy shit.” The world was tilted on its axis, the sky was fucking purple, and hell had frozen over. "You’re pregnant. Actually…pregnant.”

Rolling her eyes at me again, Kenzie nodded. “Yes, okay. I just found out.”

“And…and you’re sure it’s…mine?” I was a stuttering mess, and Kenzie glared all the harder after I asked.

I realized it was a dick thing to say too late. But the truth wasn’t that I believed she was sleeping around more than…how could it be possible that I sired a child? Ineverthought I’d be capable of that.

“Yes, it’s yours, you dick. I haven’t slept with anyone else.”

Shaking my head, I squeezed my eyes shut, waving my hands through the air. “No, no. I’m sorry. That’s not…dammit. I’m just…surprised. I didn’t think I’d be able to…holy shit.”

Kenzie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she leaned back against the wall. “You said that already.”

I stooped down into her field of vision, ducking my head so that I could make eye contact with her.

“I’m sorry, Kenzie. I’m just…wow. I really didn’t think it was possible. With all the low birth rates and with how sudden that heat came on. I’m a little shaken, okay?”

“Ha,” she scoffed, “you’re shook? How do you think I feel? I had no control over my body in that moment, and it feels like I still don’t. But there it is. It’s all out there now. You don’t have to say anything else. I’m just going to go help Willow and Forrest with the antidotes, and we can talk later.”

She moved to leave, but I snagged Kenzie’s arm and kept her back from the others.

“I don’t want you anywhere near those rabid Alphas right now. Are you kidding me? You’re pregnant. What if you gethurt? That could affect…things.”

There was a beat where Kenzie just glared again, but after a moment, she pulled her arm away and jabbed a finger into my chest.

“I’m not a porcelain doll, Grayson. I’m still capable of defending myself—and the baby. If you think that I’m less capable now that I’m pregnant—”

“I don’t. That’s not what I’m saying. Ugh.” I sighed, stepping back and hanging my head before I looked up at Kenzie again. “Could you please just stay back this one time? We can talk more and maybe figure this out.”

“We’ll be fine, Kenzie. I think you need to chat with Grayson.” Forrest’s voice was calm and supportive, like some den mother, and I sort of wanted to smack him.

Throwing up her arms, Kenzie shoved off the wall and headed toward the stairs. “Fine! Let’s go fucking talk!”

Tension rippled through the room, and I cast a glance at Kaiden and Jet over my shoulder. They both offered nods accompanied by understanding looks. It was clear I had their sympathy, and if anyone knew what I was going through, it was them.

As I hurried along after Kenzie, I didn’t know how to feel. Everything was so different now, and it would be really hard to deal with all this and have a child in the mix. Did I evenwanta kid?

Except as the rhetorical question left my brain, my stomach pinched. I knewexactlyhow I was feeling. I knew that of all the things that I never thought I’d have—so I didn’t botherto get my hopes up for it—being Alpha and being a father were tied for first.

Fate had proved that both were actually within reach, and I was downright giddy that this was my new reality. I was thrilled. I wanted to be with Kenzie and witness the incredible growth of a child—our child. I wanted that more than I’d wanted anything, which was weird and terrifying and wonderful.

But you’ve done nothing to make your situation better, now have you, Grayson? No. This? This is going to take some work.

Chapter 21 - Kenzie

Having a long, drawn-out conversation about the future between Grayson and me was not what I wanted to be doing. I wanted to be down in the basement helping Forrest and Willow. Putting distance between myself and reality was my goal. I wasn’t ready to face all this shit head-on, and yet here I was, sitting on the bed where Grayson and I conceived the child that was growing inside me.

And talking in my head because, of course.

“Do you…need anything?”

I looked over at Grayson, reluctantly pulling my stare away from the floor. He glanced back at me with a small smile, unsure and fragile.Huh. It was the first time I’d ever really seen him look like that, except for a few glimpses here and there. It was…strange.

Grayson was this big guy with big energy. He was bold and a natural leader, and it made complete sense to me that he wound up an Alpha. Looking at him now and seeing him so unsure was something. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Being angry with him—finding reasons to stay apart—was easier than admitting there was still something between us.

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