Page 51 of Fated to the Warrior Wolf

He let his hand slide down to rest over my totally nonexistent bump, and the warmth, the sudden, overwhelming feelingofprotectionmade tears spring back to my eyes all over again. And I vowed to myself, right then and there, to never compare him to Marcus again.

Gael was so, so much better.

“Thank you.”

He laughed, the sound dry and not at all humorous. “You don’t have to thank me for being a decent person. That’s the bare fucking minimum, and I’m going to show you that you’re worth so much more than that piece of shit ever thought. He was a chickenshit who didn’t deserve you. But his loss is my gain.” He growled again, his hand still cupped possessively over my stomach.

And I believed him. To the core of my being, I believed him. I rested my hand on top of his, both of us holding our little miracle, and thanked my lucky stars that I’d found him.

But something was bothering me, and I would be mad at myself later if I didn’t say it. I could feel a knot of tension between my shoulder blades.

“Do you think… Could we maybe be friends, for a while? So much is changing so quickly, and we don’t even really know each other yet. I know that’s probably a little ridiculous, given how this relationship started and the fact that I’m already pregnant, but…”

He let me trail off, even as I wanted to ramble for the next ten minutes to cover up my awkwardness at the request. And he promised a few minutes ago that he wouldn’t get mad, but taking a physical relationship off the table the same day I was half-naked under him and begging him to fill me up… Well, he might feel like I was a tease. Or someone who couldn’t make up her mind.

“Of course we can be friends,” he said with no tension at all, and I felt my shoulders relax, just like that.

“Thank you,” I whispered, suddenly without another thing to say.

By the timewe left the atrium, I was emotionally wrung out, but happy all the same. I felt lighter, freer than I had in a long time. Since before Marcus, before the gathering. Gael led me with our hands linked, back through the twists and turns to the main area of the castle. I counted each one because I couldn’t wait to go back to that atrium and spend an afternoon just walking around, checking out all the different plants, and basking in the sun from the glass ceiling.

It would be a great place to hold a morning yoga class. So peaceful.

“There you two are. We’ve been looking for you. You didn’t take your phone after the challenge.” Shay elbowed Dirge, who held out the phone for Gael.

“What’s up?” he asked as he slid it back into his pocket.

“Results came back on Kane’s mother’s blood tests. It was confirmed,” Dirge said with a grim expression. “She was magically sedated and presumably killed by a magic user.”

“Holy shit,” I murmured, sharing a worried glance with Shay.

“Yeah, not great. We’re all gathering in Kane’s office to discuss next steps and go over the specifics.”

Gael looked down at me. “You up for that? If it’s too much, or you need to rest?—”

“I am not a fainting flower just because I’m pregnant, BD.” I used the nickname with relish, and for the first time, his lips quirked up into a smile when I said it. “But if I get tired or need a break, I’ll say so.” I gave him a smile so he’d know we were good.

“I can live with that,” he said, kissing me on top of the head. “But I’m not promising not to hover.”

Dirge snorted at that. “You wouldn’t be an expectant father if you did.”

A loud crash startled us all.

Dirge and Gael took off at a run, Shay and I hot on their heels. Another crash made me flinch as we reached the door to the office. Gael turned to protectively wrap himself around me, like a human shield. I could feel his heart pounding under my cheek.

Dirge and Shay barreled straight in, unafraid. When the crashes stopped abruptly, he lifted his head. “Stay here.”

I leaned against the wall as he darted into the office, but he was only gone for a moment.

“Come on, we’re clear.”

“What happened?” I asked as I walked in. The office looked like a tornado hit. Kane was in the corner, back facing us with his hands over his head, while Brielle stood at his side, a hand on his shoulder as she murmured soothing words, probably infusing him with her omega mojo. Shay and Reed were standing up overturned club chairs, much like the one that had gone flying through the door a few moments before. Dirge stood like a sentry, arms crossed as he faced the high alpha.

“Kane is having trouble processing the news about his parents’ killer,” Reed said casually from the seating area as he continued righting furniture. The chair wouldn’t stand straight, though, as one of the legs had splintered and hung from a sliver of wood. He lifted it and carried it past, out into the hallway.

“Yes, and I apologize. I shouldn’t have taken it out on the furniture.” Kane looked haggard when he turned around, a man who hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in some time.

“But it’s just furniture, and we’ve all been there,” Shay said, quiet concern lacing her voice as she continued picking up shards of wood.

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