Page 54 of Never Submit

Dax scowls but doesn’t retort or retreat, though I see the fight burning in his eyes. He hates this as much as I do—being cornered, knowing we’re outmatched, struggling for a solution.

He’s my beta for a reason. His aggression has always been a double-edged sword.

The door swings open without a knock, and Flora waddles in, her rounded belly leading the way. “You two are arguing loudly enough to wake the kids. Are you kidding me?” she admonishes immediately.

Even though she’s one of the only omegas left, she’s always been seen as the stand-in mother of the pack, loved and respected by everyone.

The tension in my chest softens in her presence.

Flora’s only in her mid-thirties, young-faced, and adept at holding everyone together while Dax and I try to figure out how to stop Andras.

She reminds me a bit of my mother with her strawberry-blonde hair and compassionate nature. Maybe that’s why I’m always a bit easier on her than I am with most everyone else.

“Flora,” I say, softening my tone. “You shouldn’t be in here.”

“Shouldn’t I?” she counters, propping a hand on her hip. She rubs her pregnant swollen belly with the other hand. “I’ve been cooking for hours trying to keep the pack fed, and no one’s saying a word about what’s going on. You think I can’t feel it? The fear is thicker than smoke out there. Not to mention what you’ve got brewing in this room.”

Dax huffs, clearly annoyed by her presence. "Mathis will tell them when he’s ready?—”

"Don't even start with me, Dax," she cuts him off sharply.

Her eyes narrow, and I bite back a smirk. Flora might be pregnant and small, but she’s a force of nature, and even my beta knows better than to push too hard.

He snorts, drawing himself up to his full height, his hair bristling. “Keeping the kids asleep is less important than figuring out our next move.”

He stares her down like he’ll physically remove her from the room himself. Flora gives him the same look right back. Uncowed.

I wave a hand to cut through their brewing argument. “She’s got a right to know. The pack relies on her more than you realize.”

Flora’s expression relaxes a fraction, and she moves to the chair next to Dax, lowering herself into it with a groan.

“I know Dax found the girl,” she states. “Otherwise he wouldn’t be here and you wouldn't have shut yourself away in the office. Am I right?”

“Ren? Yes. She’s safe now,” I say, drumming my fingers along the edge of the map.

“With the Steel Claws?” she clarifies.

A growl vibrates in Dax’s chest. I don’t blame him, either.

The truth stings, but I can’t lie, not to Flora. As it stands, Ren is safer with them than with us. “Yes, with Torin and Noble.”

Flora nods and shifts in the chair, adjusting her weight as she rubs soothing circles over her belly. She’s ready to pop. Any day now, we’ll have another pup to add to our pack, despite the terrible circumstances.

I catch myself staring, my thoughts drifting before I can stop them.

The sight of her, pregnant and glowing with life, tugs at something deep inside me. Not desire—I’ve never seen Flora that way—but a yearning so raw it aches.

Ren’s the one in my head. The way she’s been since I saw her in that shithole diner with her fake-ass wedding ring.

I picture her with that same glow, belly round and full from carryingmypups, and the thought constricts my chest to the point of pain.

I’ve always wanted a big family. The kind that fills a home with noise and laughter, makes the hard days’ worth it. I want what I had growing up—a family, a pack that wasn’t torn apart by betrayal or bloodshed.

Before Andras and his people decided to target us.

My father was a great alpha to his people, and I’ve struggled to be the same against all odds. To have a family, to be the kind of father I had, the one I want to be, means everything to me.

Ren would be an incredible mother and partner. I know it.

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