Page 98 of My Knotty Mountain Men

I’ve been leaning towards the baby being a girl, but I’m starting to think it’s a boy and has Aiden's or Thomas' DNA.Having over-six-foot tall, big, buff Alphas is all fun and games until you have to birth a baby made by them.

Feeling like getting out of the Jeep was a workout all on its own, I grab my purse and slam the door shut, leaning against it while I catch my breath.

I’m starting to think that just staying home would have been a better idea.

But the guys are working, leaving me on my own for the day. Plus, I was getting cabin fever, and it’s a really nice day. It’s mid-May now; the snow is pretty much gone, and Snow Valley is stunning. Every time I look out the window, I’m in awe that this is my home. I’m surrounded by mountains as far as the eye can see.

“Come on, Violet, you're being dramatic. You're pregnant, not disabled. Move your ass.” It also doesn’t help that the morning sickness—that felt the need to show up later in my pregnancy—has not left yet, and I’ve felt like shit all day.

But I have things I need to get done.

My best friends are coming back in a few days for the gender reveal party, and I need to get decorations. They said to wait until they came out so they could help me, but I’m impatient and need to get out of the house anyway.

A lot of Snow Valley’s stores are found on the side of the road along the highway, but there is an actual town of Snow Valley a little ways down the mountain from where we live.

It kind of reminds me of Calling Wood, just a little bigger. There’s a hospital, grocery store, some clothing stores, a few bars, some mom-and-pop shops, stuff like that.

And an adorable little party store. “Wow,” I whisper as I step inside. It has everything you might need for any holiday or occasion. “Party city heaven,” I sigh. “Damn it, my wallet is going to hate me after this.”

Grabbing a cart, I start walking around the store. My shitty mood starts to drift away with each item I toss in the cart.

The kick to my belly has me stopping. I smile, placing my hand on my stomach and laughing. “Oh, now you wanna party? We are not telling your daddies about this. You need to behave, little one, or you're gonna hurt their feelings,” I playfully scold the baby.

For a few weeks now, I’ve been able to feel the baby kick and move around inside me. When it first happened, I got so excited that I started crying. The guys were thrilled but sad because you couldn’t feel anything on the outside of my belly.

But last week, I was lying on the couch, having a snack while Aiden made supper.Yes, I know, it defeats the purpose, but sue me, I was hungry and didn’t want to wait.And Baby Bean started kicking. My hand was resting on my belly, and I felt it. I called the guys over, but as soon as one of them tried to touch my belly, the baby stopped.

They spent hours trying to feel it, being very stubborn and very determined.

Of course, as soon as I’d get up to pee or they left, the baby would be back to partying in my belly.

It’s both funny and sad to watch. They really are pissed about it.

After a few minutes, the baby settles down again, and I continue my way around the store.

“Shoot, sorry,” I curse, stumbling to a stop when I nearly crash into another cart as I round the corner.

“Watch where you're going,” the voice snaps, and my blood runs cold. No, not right now. Not today. And god, please, why couldn’t it be anyone but her. Her eyes meet mine and narrow. “Oh. It’s you.”

Sylvia. Of course, it’s Sylvia. It’s always fucking Sylvia.

I haven’t seen her since the day she thought she had the right to fuck with my pack, but there have been whispers around town.

Not that anyone believes the bullshit she’s spewing.

“Oh, lovely,” I sigh. “It’s you.”

She crosses her arms, raising a brow at me. “You're still in town?” she asks. “Haven’t you come to your senses and left yet? You really should go back to wherever you came from.”

“Look, I’m not in the mood for this. And I’m really not in the mood to look at your face, listen to your voice, or be anywhere in your vicinity.” I sigh heavily, my good mood totally gone.

“Trust me, I don’t want to have to look at you either,” she snarks back.

“Good, then we agree on something.” I go to move the cart around her, deciding this shopping day is over. I just want to pay for my things and get in my Jeep.

The hate I have for this woman is making it very hard not to clock her in the face.

But I’m pregnant, and I’m not going to put my baby at risk for this bitch.

---