Page 71 of Escalating Alpha

Leaning heavily against him, I glanced up and finally said what had been hurting me the most. “I was supposed to be your wolf, not her.”

Carter blinked back tears. “She wasn’t my wolf. I thought she was a trusted friend, but she abused me. I was abused again and it cost me you.”

I wasn’t sure if he said more because I passed out, exhaustion and too much crazy getting me.

Shocker.

I woke sore and starving. Axel had been snuggling with me, so it was late enough that he was back from the training center.He immediately fed me power and I moaned as my muscles and body felt better.

“Food just arrived,” he told me as he rolled out of bed with me in his arms. “Eat and then we’ll shower. There’s a lot to update.”

“Anything good?” I mumbled.

“All of it, but it’s a lot.” He nuzzled my neck. “I’m fucking exhausted just from hearing about it all.”

“And I’m just amused because I thought you weren’t going to expand,” Mauro drawled. He gave me a wink when he came into view. “I like a challenge, so I am just teasing you.”

“It would have been a bigger mess and led to more problems if I’d walked away and not done what I’d done,” I grumbled.

“Which is why you are a smart girl,” Eva praised. “And I will beat Demi for giving one of her tests when you were in such a state. She is so good but so stupid to her surroundings sometimes.”

That was like the pot calling the kettle black, but I would never say that.

“It’s fine. Please don’t be mad at her and let’s just—it was educational.”

She gave me a look not to lie to her, but I simply shrugged. “She’s handling things well in Ohio. The council team and that Gere’s team is a big help. Seven criminals the council has been looking for were hiding out there and paying off the Alpha. Demi confirmed they were guilty and allowed them to be taken into custody.”

“Good.” I practically stuffed an Italian beef in my mouth while trying to fit fries in as well, no one remotely judging me. I got a second one down right before Maya came in and gave me a desperate look. “I would have sensed if he was hurt.”

“No, he’s just fussy and keeps crying for you. I think he needs to tell you something?”

I chuckled and wiped my hands. “You love how special he is, but it also drives you nuts. I get it. I mean—I saw it a lot growing up and he sees more than me.” I took a few gulps of my drink and went across the hall, my heart hurting when I heard Topher crying.

“Mama!” he sobbed, immediately reaching for me.

“I’m here. I’m here,” I whispered, hugging him tightly and rubbing his back. I nodded as I saw the images he projected to me so fast it hurt my head. “You’re the bestest boy. You’re fair and amazing. They’ll love it.”

“What is going on?” Brian worried. “He didn’t want any of us and just kept crying for you.”

“He’s been wanting to say something to you guys, but he didn’t want to say it first to anyone, and he’s scared someone will get upset and jealous, so he wanted me here,” I explained, giving his four dads a look to be smart for this.

But Dain already knew. He saw as much as I could—sometimes more but in different ways.

“We’re all here and no one will get upset, buddy,” Reagan said, looking as exhausted as I felt. He must have just gotten back now that people came from Greece to handle Indiana?

I had no idea, and that was dangerous. It wasn’t the time for me to have zonked out. I seriously needed like four of me.

“They’re ready,” I told Topher when he settled down.

He nodded and seemed to gather his courage. “Dada. Me dadas.”

My mouth fell open. The little bugger really had an ace in his back pocket adding in the “me” there.

Then he held out his arms to Dain. “Dada.”

“Yes, my son,” he rasped and took him from me. He leaned his forehead to Topher’s, and I saw a tear run down his cheek. “You did so well. We’re all your dads. Thank you so much.”

He did the same to each of them, going from how they stood closest to me probably thinking it was fair. It put Reagan last, and he gave me a glance that showed he was fine with it. He understood.

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