Page 88 of Connected

“Because this… the way you’re being, I can tell somethin’s got to you. I mean you’ve always been the more sensitive one, but hell this is a head-fuck even for your pussy-ass. So, what is it?”

“Nothin’” Digby sighs rubbing his hand over his head as he sips from his glass. Watching as Rhys focuses his stare on him. “Oh, you know what, you’re right—it is about Kat. She um, she… Oh hell, it’s a mess—a mistake.”

“You know, that makes no sense. So, what the hell did she do? Well…” Rhys taps his fingers against his glass as he waits on a more coherent response.

“The other night after your party… we ended up knottin’. Kat’s pregnant; in pup—havin’ a baby.”

“Oh…” Rhys’s mouth gapes and he chokes on his drink, “… fuck! How the hell did that happen? No, don’t answer that. What I mean is, how have you not learned to put a condom on your dick? I mean, after the last time with Kirstie I thought you said you were going to be more careful? And hell, I can’t believe Kat would be so dumb. Seriously, she’s a medic—a doctor, I would’ve thought she’d have taken care of all that.”

“She did—take care of it. I told you it was a mistake. We didn’t know she was in heat and…”

“Yeah, well, that’s obvious—about it being a mistake. So, then how?”

“I don’t know. The mission we were on, there were… complications, and her implant thing got removed. With everythin’ that went on when we got back, she didn’t get it replaced and she didn’t realize the symptoms she was havin’—was her heat. Everythin’ got rolled into one, and now we-are-where-we-are.”

“Okay, so she’s in pup? Well that’s no big deal, right? Oh, what… you don’t want another pup, but she wants to keep it? You’re worried she’s gonna go all alpha-momma crazy on your ass—that she won’t have the same sex appeal? They’re not so sexy all mated up.”

“No! God no, that’s not it. No, it’s her; she’s the one doesn’t wanna keep it. Do you know Zak found her tryin’ to take an abortion pill? Rhys, she went behind my back. She was gonna do that—tomypup—without fuckin’ talkin’ to me. I mean, how could she do that?” Draining the vodka from the glass he sighs, “why would she do that? Like you said, alpha-moms, they get all protective. Why the hell’s she not like that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you need to give her some time. Let those hormones kick in? You know I’m kinda envious, I don’t know how you found an alpha who doesn’t want pups cos every damn one I meet wants a gazillion—and a gold band on her finger to go with them. You’re damn lucky, she doesn’t wanna tie you down. Hell, you have it perfect—doin’ the job you loved, a damn-hot-alpha like her—and from what I know she’s a pretty game fuck too, and then you, being you; go get her pregnant. Shit, that would be funny if it weren’t so tragic—I’m joking! Anyway, you’ve got four, or is it five, pups already, so maybe you shouldn’t have another one right now. Hell, you’ve still got plenty of time to have a basketball team. So, what’s the problem?”

“What… Rhys, I can’t believe you’re sayin’ that. What you think what she did was okay?”

“I’m not saying that but… Oh c’mon, seriously have you actually thought this through? With your job, what the two of you do, how the fuck are you gonna take care of another pup? Really? Nah, I can’t see it. And you know, if she went ahead with this, it would also give me a serious headache too. It means I gotta look for another alpha bitch for the club. After all, I can’t have an alpha that’s in-pup wandering around. It’s not exactly going to attract many new clients.”

“Oh yeah, think of yourself, Rhys.”

Digby sneers and leaning across the desk, he grabs the bottle of vodka, pouring another large measure into his glass.

“Wait… is this thesomething stupidyou said you did? Because if it is, then what’s the somethingmore stupidyou did to put it right?”

Digby’s silent as he stares across the room—the two brothers focused solely on each other. “All right, so what the hell did you do, Ryan?”

“I… I kinda agreed to a pact—with someone. They’ll take the pup—when Kat gives birth then we’ll hand it over—kinda like a surrogate except it was agreed that I could still see him; have a part in his life. Kat can go back to work; everyone gets what they want. Hey, don’t look at me like that. It was the only thing I could think of. Well, actually… it wasn’t exactly all my idea. It’ll be fine.”

“So, if it wasn’tall your idea,then whose was it? Ryan, who are you giving this pup to?” Rhys cocks an eyebrow and places his glass on the desk next to him. “I said…whois getting the pup?”

Digby swallows his apprehension and knowing his brother will not like what he has to say, he takes a breath. “Ezra… Ezra’s takin’ the pup—well, technically Rosie is because she just lost the pup she was carryin’. Ezra was bein’ an ass about it, so we figured this was a solution for everyone. Rosie’s gonna take it as soon as it’s born and pass it off as her own. Ezra wants to keep it secret—that it’s not mine and hers. He wants an alpha pup for the pack, and this is his way to get what he wants.”

“Ezra, seriously? Oh my God, how fuckin stupid are you? Apart from that being such a dumb idea for the obvious reasons…. letting that man anywhere near your pup is crazy. After everything, we went through growing up. Hell, I can’t believe you’d want him having any influence over your kid. Seriously Ryan, what the hell have you been smoking? Do you seriously think this is going to work out?”

“Oh, c’mon Rhys, he’s not that bad. And our childhood was fine—could’ve been a lot worse.”

“Our childhood was bullshit and most of it thanks to him. He’s a fucked-up crazy-ass cult leader and how the hell no one’s taken him out before now is beyond me. Ryan, he’s a control freak. Those women at the commune are terrified of him—so afraid that they’d rather come work for me than go back to that place. What does that tell you about him?”

“Yeah, well, maybe you should have done somethin’ instead of walkin’ away and leaving the rest of us to pay for your mess. You don’t know what it was like for me and Zak after you went.”

“And Ryan, you know exactly why I had to leave. No way was I puttin’ up with that dumb shit toe’ing his line, uh-uh, no way. You know he would have had Zak as some fuckin’ rent boy if I hadn’t stepped in, so don’t give me shit for my choices. You might be blinded, but remember I knowexactlywhat he does there. I can’t believe you want to give a pup of yours to him. You should have come to me and I would’ve found somewhere for the pup. Hell, I’ve got a book full of adoptees waitin’ for pups—an alpha pup like yours—that’s a license to print money, right there. Ryan, don’t do this, let me sort an alternative. I’ll even find someone that will let you see it if that’s really what you want. Hell, half these couples are so fuckin’ desperate they’d let you sleep with their grandmother to give them an alpha pup—that is a joke—kinda. Ryan, please don’t put that pup there.”

“It’s too late. And this was for Rosie more than anythin’. He won’t let her be with her boyfriend until she gives him what he wants and so this way… I told you everyone gets what they want. It’ll be okay. Anyway, the deals done. I made a blood pact and I can’t take it back.

“You did what? Oh my God… You know I’ve always known you were stupid, but this… this has to be the most fuckin’ stupid of stupidest things you ever did. Undo it; refuse—take it back. Tell him Kat changed her mind—tell him anything.”

“I can’t. That was the condition. That was the pact—that we didn’t change our minds. I had to honor it with blood.”

“You did what? Fuck!”

Rhys turns his back and closes his eyes. He takes a deep breath then turning back to the desk he fills his glass to the brim and glugs a large mouthful of vodka. “Okay, so what the hell did you agree?”

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