Page 24 of Pregnant By the Alpha Wolf

I wave him off, aware that I don’t have much time. I head down to the supply closet and grab the items I need for the tests, waving to a few colleagues on the way and trying to appear as natural as possible. Thankfully, my office has most of the lab’s equipment, so once I’m inside, I lock the door and turn some music on.

Although taking my own blood samples is awkward, and my hands shake with trepidation, I waste no time setting up the tests. The first to confirm the pregnancy will only take seconds, but I set the longer DNA tests to run anyway—a sure sign that I instinctively already know what the first result will be.

If I’m honest, there were signs last week. My breasts have been sore, my sense of smell heightened, and although I didn’t understand why at the time, my desire for Rowan is off the charts. Although I don't have a wolf in the traditional sense, I do still sense her, and our need to be with our mate has been insatiable—all signs the other Völva lunas have shared. Being a virgin, I didn’t fully understand what they meant about theneedto mate. But now I do.

Boy, do I now. I roll my eyes as I wait for the result. Seconds seem to take hours as I watch the spinning icon on my screen.

Positive.

I expected to feel shock, but there’s none. I knew. I already knew.

I lean back in my chair for a moment and steady my breathing. How have I ended up here—pregnant, luna of a pack with secrets, and mate to an alpha with more? I can’t help but think of my parents and how I was born into a world of shadows and secrets.

And look how well that turned out.

The PCR machine behind me whirs reassuringly as it separates my DNA, producing a raft of data sequencing I can compare to my previous results. Kenzie mentioned being able to actually hear her baby’s spirit; I try to tune into my body, trying to feel something.

There’s nothing but silence and the frantic drum of my own heartbeat. I focus a little harder and try to imagine what Rowan will say. Will he be happy? Angry? He’s evasive about his age, but the strange differences in his DNA make me think he’s potentially much older than he lets on—a very long life to have never had children. Perhaps he doesn’t want them.

Gradually, my mind does begin to connect, not with my baby but with Rowan. He’s out on patrol, but he’s still reaching for me. I’ve realized I can choose whether to let him in, which I always do. A warmth wraps around me, his hands on my shoulders. It feels like heaven, and I lean into him.

Suddenly a knock at the door and the sound of the machine beeping pulls me abruptly away from the dreamscape. I turn the monitor off and pull my sleeve down to hide the Band-Aid. Unlocking the door, I find Griffen standing with two cups of hot chocolate.

“Good thinking, locking the door,” he says gruffly, squeezing past me. “How did you get on with your files?”

I turn the music down and gratefully accept the hot chocolate. “Oh, fine. It didn’t take as long as I thought,” I lie.” I’ve just started another round of tests on some samples. When they’re done, I might take them back to the house to read through them.”

Griffen nods in approval. “Smart. Best to keep anything new under wraps.”

I feel bad lying to him, but he can’t know before Rowan, and Rowan can’t know until I see these results for myself. But what am I expecting to see? Why do I feel a knot in my stomach? Rowan has secrets; he’s very good at distracting me, but he’s a fool if he thinks I don’t see what he’s doing.

For the next couple of hours, I try to bury myself in other research, but it’s hard to stay focused. Occasionally, I check the PCR data, but unusually, it seems to be having trouble completing the profile. Data points keep changing, and it appears to be creating a longer profile than I was expecting. Eventually, it beeps, and I’m relieved it’s over. Looking down atthe page I was working on, I see I’ve barely made any progress all day.

Groaning, I print off the files, determined not to look at them here. I bundle them in with some of the others and grab my bag. Griffen has set himself up in the conference room just opposite my office, where he has a view of the whole lab. He nods when he sees me coming out.

“You heading out?” he asks, falling into step with me as I head for the exit. I nod. “I’ll walk you out.”

I’ve come to recognize that Griffen has an old-style chivalry that’s quite nice, along with unwavering loyalty to Rowan.

As we approach the doors, Rian calls out, “Are you leaving? I wanted to go over those new data points with you,” he says. “One of the researchers found something relevant in the ancient texts.”

I’m torn. Any new discoveries are vitally important, but I also really want to read my new profile. Griffen has paused and Rian is waiting for my answer. I start to feel flustered, “I—um, I’m not actually feeling great, Rian. Can you email them over, or I’ll catch you first thing tomorrow?”

Rian looks genuinely surprised, and I don’t even look at Griffen because I can feel his questioning stare.

“Yeah, sure. You okay?” Rian asks. “Sara could take a look at you?”

“No. No, I’m fine,” I say, desperately not wanting to have this conversation, especially with Rian. “I’m fine, I’ll be in tomorrow.”

With that, I turn and walk quickly out the door. The cool air hits my face, and I feel my racing heart trying to calm itself.

“Hey,” Griffen calls out, catching up with me in only a couple of strides. “What was that about? Are you really okay?”

“I’m fine. Honestly, I just wouldn’t have been able to get away, and I really need to look through these files at home,” I assure him.

He looks thoughtful for a moment before he asks, “Do you not want to share those files with Rian? Do you have concerns?”

I know everyone at the lab is under suspicion, but I’m still surprised Griffen would openly ask my thoughts on another beta. I understand Rian only recently took the position as a dying favor to his late father; he works hard in the lab, but he’s also the only one there who makes me feel watched.

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