Page 87 of Knot Your Baby

“Your fathers came, James the second day and Damien the third, and Harlow and her pack have been a few times, each time they took Stone to their home for a few hours to give him fresh air.” Thorne laughs. “I think her pack is broody.”

I smile. “They are. They love her.” I swallow the saliva suddenly in my throat.

Thorne looks down at the floor.

“Did my mother visit?”

“Apparently, she is visiting with your sister later today. Your father told us about you experiencing omega drops before,” he says.

Ah.An omega drop.The last thing I remember is collapsing in my bedroom, the world spinning away into darkness. A feeling I have felt before.

“Stone—”

“Is perfect,” he assures me, reaching over to stroke our child’s cheek. “They’ve checked him thoroughly. He’s strong, just like his mother.”

His mother. Not ‘you.’

Something significant has shifted, but I can’t place what or why. Did I say something while collapsing? Did the doctors tell him something I don’t remember?

“I have something to tell you. I was coming to tell you when I must have collapsed…” I pause as my hand reaches for Zane’s head. I brush my fingers through the strands. “Stone is your baby, and I’m sorry for what I did. I was going to lie to you and say it was an accident, but I planned it. I dyed my hair blonde because I know you like blondes and wore a heat blocker.”

He doesn’t say anything, so I continue. “I never expected it to be so easy. But you grabbed me the moment I came out of the bathroom, and we went to the room I booked.”

“And you disappeared from me while I slept,” he says.

He knows. How long has he known?

I chuckle. “I had this crazy idea that you finally liked me. And that you finally realized I was your scent match, but when you cuddled me, you called me ‘Maya’ and—” I suck back a sob, remembering how hard that was to hear. “I went home and spent the rest of my heat in my apartment in pain.”

“I am so sorry.” His hand finds mine, fingers intertwining with a familiarity we’ve never shared. Our eyes meet. “Let me make it up to you.”

I shake my head. “I’m not telling you this because of me. I’m telling you this because Stone needs you in his life. He needs your pack.”

“Freya—” His voice turns into a growl.

“No.” I shake my head, pulling my hand from his. “You don’t have to pretend. I know what I am—what I did was wrong.”

“You’re not listening.” Thorne leans forward, his face inches from mine. His scent surrounds me, making my omega want to curl into him. “I’ve been such a fool. The way you smell, the way you care for Stone, how you make our house feel like home—”

“Stop.” Tears blur my vision. “Please don’t say things you don’t mean. You ignored me for years. I’m not your type. I know what your type is—”

He cups my face, thumb brushing away a tear. “Freya, look at me. Really look at me.”

I can’t. If I do, I’ll break.“You don’t have to do this. I just want Stone to know his father.”

“Our son needs his mother, too. His whole pack.” His voice drops lower. “We need you. I need you.”

Zane stirs beside me, lifting his head. His sleepy eyes find mine. “You’re awake.”

“She’s trying to leave us,” Thorne tells him.

“Like hell she is.” Zane’s hand tightens around mine. “You’re ours now. All three of us want you.”

I laugh, but it comes out more like a sob. “You don’t understand. I’m not—I’m just a poor excuse for an omega. I tricked an alpha into getting me pregnant. I’m not a good omega for any pack.”

“You are perfect and I’m glad that you never gave up on me, Freya.”

“But I did. Don’t you get it? That’s why I have Stone.”

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