Page 99 of Unexpected Delivery

My jaw isn’t the only one hanging open.

“You’ve never had a heat?” Hael asks slowly—almost like his brain can’t process the words.

“I’ve been on suppressants for years. Adam tried to talk me into going off them, but I was worried it would be painful going through a heat with only one alpha.”

“Okay, it’s cold,” Morris says, moving toward the door. “Come on. We can chat about this when it’s not twenty degrees outside.”

Hael nods and follows Morris, so I guide Arbor toward the store.

My mind races a mile a minute, though. Arbor was taking birth control when she got pregnant with Gracie. It was a two-in-one formula pill that also included her suppressants. It’s strange that she would get pregnant outside of a heat… I have no way of proving it, but my gut says Adam swapped her pills. If he wanted to experience a heat, he could have changed the medication out for a placebo.

Only conception halts heats. So, if he changed out her pills, she likely got pregnant before the heat could start.

That shady motherfucker.

Ultimately, there’s no way to be sure one way or the other.

Easton’s exact words to me and Hael when we talked on the porch before he left were…You don’t need all the details, but I’m telling you, there’s nothing to worry about. Keir will ensure Adam never resurfaces.

I still don’t know if he meant literally, as in Keir intended to chuck Adam’s lifeless corpse in a body of water somewhere. Or he could have just meant that Adam was going to disappear, never to be seen again.

Either way, Easton was right. There are some details I don’t need. My brother might be a lot of things, but he always honors his word.

Arbor browses the wall of throw blankets. This area has testers in one foot by one foot and matching small sample cards in a box next to each option. She runs her fingers over two similar patterns. They’re close to the same color and maybe even material, but they must feel different or something because she seems to be thinking extra hard about which is the superior option.

She finally grabs a sample card for each, but all I can seem to focus on is her ring finger. If all goes well tonight, we’ll have our engagement ring weighing her hand down by the time we make it back home.

Hael leans against the wall, with his phone out like he’s taking pictures.

Morris is on the other side of the room, examining some kind of confinement swing contraption. I think he’s checking to see if the beams in the house would be able to hold it. That thing could be a lot of fun, but I’m more worried about grabbing items that will help Arbor’s nest feel more like home.

Our little omega moves down the row, running her hand over the other testers too, but the bond says she’s still stuck on the others.

Sliding up behind her, I wrap my hand around her stomach and pull her back to my chest.

“How about we get both?” I kiss her cheek, snagging the samples she saved. “Our reservation is in about thirty-five minutes, and I want you to be able to check out the supplements too. They have a whole line of various products that are supposed to help with things like the pre-heat symptoms and even the post-heat cramps.”

“Sorry.” She laughs, running her hand over mine. “You’re right. We haven’t made it very far. I got stuck on the blankets.”

“It might take us a while, but we can fill your nest to the brim with all the styles you like.” I give her a squeeze. “You want the two you grabbed the sample cards for?”

“Yep,” she says, nodding. She struggles against the urge to say she can pick just one. At least, I think that’s the emotion I’m picking up in the bond. We might not be able to buy her the entire store, but we can slowly show her that it’s okay to splurge on her comfort.

“Perfect,” I purr, nipping at her ear. “Now, let’s see what kind of creams and lotions they have specifically meant for heats.”

She goes feral omega every time one of us wears the cologne Morris bought, and according to the company website, they have a special line for heats… Which they recommend only using at home and when you can be out of commission for several hours. Based on how much she loves their cologne, I think it’s safe to say she’ll really go feral for one of the massage lotions.

Arbor runs her fingers over my T-shirt as we wait for the server to bring dessert. I’m stuffed, but when an omega is involved, youalwaysorder dessert. Even when the omega in question swears they don’t need a sweet treat tonight. I think she forgets we have full access to her thoughts and feelings via the bond, but I do find it extra cute when she tries to fib.

I’ve got my arm stretched over the back of the circular booth, and we have her trapped in on both sides. Unless she climbs under the table, she’s not getting away from this proposal.

Morris reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out the paperwork Easton sent over this afternoon.

I nuzzle my cheek to the side of Arbor’s head and nod at Morris.

The man looks physically pained, but honestly, this is just a formality. He reaches across Hael and holds out the papers until Arbor grabs them.

“What’s this?”

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