Page 30 of Mercy

I lean forward, intrigued.

The tension in the air shifts, becoming charged with a secret on the verge of spilling out.

Fern clears her throat, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Well, actually... Charm has agreed to be my surrogate. Runes and I are trying to have a child."

The room erupts in excited gasps and congratulations.

I feel a genuine smile tugging at my lips for the first time tonight.

This is big news.

Magnolia, never one to miss a beat, quips, "Damn, Charm. You must really love being pregnant!"

Charm throws her head back and laughs, the sound rich and warm. "Oh hell no! This is the LAST time I'm doing this, I swear." She reaches over and squeezes Fern's hand. "But I'd do it again in a heartbeat for my best friend. Fern and Runes deserve something precious."

Fern's eyes are shining with unshed tears. "I can't even begin to express how grateful I am," she says, her voice thick with emotion. "What Charm is doing for us... it's beyond words."

I take a sip of my wine, letting the warmth of their friendship wash over me.

It's moments like these that remind me why the club feels like family, even when I'm struggling to find my place.

Gwen shifts in her seat, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, who knows? Maybe Charm will be pregnant at the same time as me."

The room goes silent for a beat, then erupts again.

"Wait," I say, leaning forward. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Gwen's grin widens. "Yep. Rati and I are expecting another baby."

The excitement in the room doubles, everyone talking over each other to offer congratulations and ask questions.

I join in, genuinely happy for my friends, but there's a small part of me that feels... separate.

Like I'm watching their joy from behind a glass wall.

As the chatter continues around me, I can't help but wonder: will I ever have something like this? A family, a future that feels certain and bright? Or am I destined to always be on the outside, looking in?

I push the thought away, focusing instead on the warmth of the moment.

But the question lingers, a shadow at the edges of my mind that I can't quite shake.

Magnolia's voice cuts through the excited chatter. "So, Gwen, do you want a girl or a boy this time?"

I watch as Gwen's hand unconsciously rests on her still-flat stomach. "Honestly, I don't care either way. A healthy baby is all that matters to me." She pauses, a wry smile playing on her lips. "But Rati? He's got his heart set on a boy this time."

I can't help but chuckle, imagining the tough biker secretly hoping for a mini-me to teach the ways of the club.

The conversation naturally shifts, and Magnolia turns her attention to Fern. "What about you guys? Are you selecting the gender via IVF, or how are you doing it?"

Fern's eyes light up, and I feel a pang in my chest at the pure hope radiating from her. "We're actually leaving it up to chance," she says, her voice soft but full of excitement. "But if I'm being honest, we'd love to have a girl." She glances at Charm, their shared look speaking volumes. "Or potentially two. Charm has agreed to carry twins for us, if we want it."

The room falls silent for a moment, the weight of Charm's offer hanging in the air.

I'm stunned by the depth of friendship between these two women, the selflessness of Charm's gesture.

Vail, usually so stoic, breaks the silence. "Damn, Charm," she says, her voice gruff but filled with admiration. "Carrying twins? That's... that's something else."

Charm shrugs, but I can see the emotion in her eyes. "I'd do anything to help Fern and Runes grow their family," she says simply, as if offering to carry not one but potentially two babies for her best friend is no big deal.

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