Page 54 of In Their Arms

Ward leans back in his chair. “If you want it to be. Luca, you have some restrictions, but nothing that should keep you from enjoying your life with your Alphas. You’ve earned it more than anyone and your babies deserves all the love you can give them.”

Something twists inside me, a strange discomfort I can’t quite place. I blame it on the hormones, on the stress of everything, on the fact that I still don’t know who the father of this baby is. It’s too much, too fast. My body hasn’t even caught up with everything yet. My mind sure as hell hasn’t. I shift again, rolling my shoulders. “So we’re good to go?”

Ward nods. “Yeah,” he says, standing up. “I just need to photocopy your new ID and get it in the system. Other than that, you’re all set.” He offers a small smile, something that looks almost genuine. “I hope the next time we see each other, it’s under better circumstances.”

We all stand, shaking hands. The ID gets copied, the necessary paperwork filed, and then I’m out the fucking door. I don’t wait for the others. I don’t slow down. I push through the station, out into the fresh air, needing the open space, needing the sun on my face, needing to breathe.

Blake catches up first, jogging up beside me, his brows drawn together, concerned. “Luca, what the hell?”

Luther’s voice follows right after, firm, steady. “What’s wrong?”

I turn to them, my stomach twisting, heart racing with something I can’t explain. “I don’t trust him.”.

Grayson frowns. “Ward?”

I nod, shaking my head as I try to put my thoughts into words. “Something is off,” I mutter. “A promotion? Peyton gone? That other detective gone? And now Hudson? Just like that?” I snap my fingers for emphasis. “It’s too easy.” The way he brought up the bundle in my belly was also strange but I don’t bring that up.

They don’t say anything at first. I can tell they want to believe it, that they want this to be over just as much as I do. But I see it in their eyes. The same doubt. The same suspicion curling in their chests. Before anyone can say anything else, my phone rings.

Except it’s not on me. It’s in Maceo’s pocket. He pulls it out, glancing at the screen before a slow, relieved smile spreads across his face. “It’s the doctor’s office,” he says, holding it up.

Blake grabs my hand, squeezing it, but it doesn’t help. I can’t fucking move. “I don’t know if I can answer it,” I admit, my voice small, choked. “Someone else do it.”

Maceo doesn’t hesitate and puts it on speaker, Quentin’s voice coming through steady, professional, but there’s something lighter in his tone, like he’s about to drop something big. “Is Luca there?”

Maceo, still holding the phone, glances at me before answering. “We’re all here.”

“That’s even better,” Quentin says. “I couldn’t get a DNA sample from Hudson’s file, and you made it very clear you didn’t want to reach out to him.”

My chest tightens. I can already feel the dread creeping up, bracing myself for the worst.

“But,” Quentin continues, “I was able to see his file.” There’s a pause, just long enough to make my breath hitch before he says, “Luca, he’s unable to have kids. It would have never been his. Did you know that?”

I blink, my stomach dropping to my fucking feet. “What?” I choke out.

Hudson fucked me all the goddamn time. I was sure that’s what he wanted from me. To get me pregnant. To tie me to him permanently. To own me forever. Blake’s arms wrap around me, solid, grounding, but I feel like I’m floating outside my body.

“No,” Quentin says. “He’s sterile.”

Everything I thought, everything I feared, everything that kept me up at night, the horror of carrying his child—it was never even a possibility.

Quentin clears his throat. “Based on the bloodwork, though, I’m happy to announce that Blake is the father.”

A strangled noise tears from my throat before I whip around and throw myself at Blake, pressing my lips to his, my entire body trembling with relief.

Blake lets out a shocked grunt as his back slams into the car, his arms catching me just before Maceo is grabbing me by the collar and yanking me back.

“Jesus Christ,” Maceo mutters, reaching past me to steady Blake. “We’re going to have to watch the both of you.”

I’m grinning so wide my face hurts, my hands dropping to my little belly. I can feel the warmth spreading through me, tears welling up in my eyes before I can stop them. “It’s not Hudson’s,” I whisper. “It’s not Hudson’s.”

Blake cups my face, tilting my chin up so I meet his gaze. His eyes are shining, his expression soft, full of something I can’t quite name. “I told you it would be okay,” he murmurs. “Because you’re mine, cupcake.”

I nod, choking on a small laugh, pressing my forehead against his. “Yours.”

Quentin clears his throat on the other end of the line, reminding us that we’re still on the phone. “And would you like to know the sex?”

I barely hesitate. “Yeah.”

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