Page 34 of Alpha's Twins
“Like hell you are.” His arms slide under me, and he lifts me effortlessly, cradling me against his chest. “We’re going to the clinic.”
“No,” I protest, trying to push against him, but my strength is gone, my limbs heavy and useless. “It’s just…I just need a minute.”
He doesn’t listen, doesn’t even pause, his grip on me firm and unyielding. I feel the steady beat of his heart against my cheek, and I know there’s no arguing with him. “Aiden, please,” I try again, but my voice is fading, and so is everything else.
He carries me to the truck like I weigh nothing, and I feel the cool air hit my skin as he lays me gently in the seat. “I know you’re scared, but I’ve got you.”
The engine roars to life, and I see the tension in his jaw, the determination in every line of his body, and the fear. I can’t even speak, so I close my eyes, and the world slips away again.
When I wake, the truck is still, and Aiden’s voice is a low, urgent rumble as he talks to someone outside. I blink, the bright sunlight making me squint, and then he’s there, his eyes fierce with a mix of anger and worry.
“Serena,” he says, his voice tight. “We’re here. Can you walk?”
“I think so,” I mumble, not even sure I believe it. He helps me out, his arm around my waist, supporting me as we head toward the clinic doors.
My legs feel like jelly, and I lean into him, feeling the strength in his body, the heat of his skin. The nurse at the front desk looks up, surprise turning to concern as she sees us.
“We need a doctor,” Aiden says, his voice commanding, leaving no room for argument.
A flurry of movement, and suddenly we’re being led down a hallway, toward a small private room. The more I regain consciousness, the more my panic grows. Any doctor or nurse is going to discover I’m pregnant pretty quickly.
As the nurse runs to get something, Aiden helps me onto the bed and brushes the hair from my face. “How are you doing now?” he asks gently. “Gave me quite the scare.”
His voice is so surprisingly tender, I’m lost for words. “I’ll be okay,” I lie, and he narrows his eyes as if he can see right through me.
The nurse returns before I can say anything else, and suddenly the room feels impossibly small. She begins by checking my blood pressure, asking all the questions I’ve been dreading. “When did the dizziness start? Have you been eating? Could you be pregnant?”
I freeze, and I feel Aiden’s gaze snap to me, his whole body going still. The air is heavy, charged with the silence that goes on far too long.
“Well?” His voice is low, dangerous, and I know I can’t avoid it any longer.
“Aiden,” I say, my voice trembling, “I was going to tell you.”
“Tell me what?” His eyes are fierce, searching my face.
The words stick in my throat, but I force them out. “I’m pregnant.”
The silence stretches, unbearable, and I see the flicker of disbelief, then anger, then something else—something unrecognizable—flash across his face.
“How long have you known?” His voice is tight, controlled.
“A while,” I admit, feeling the shame burn in my cheeks. “Marian did a spell, and…”
“And you didn’t tell me?” The hurt in his voice cuts deeper than I expected, and it’s my turn to go silent.
“It was just a lot to take in,” I try to explain as the nurse excuses herself. “Marian said it’s twins, and…”
He cuts me off, his voice raw. “I can’t believe you kept this from me.”
I reach for him, a desperation I didn’t even expect suddenly clawing at my chest. “Please, Aiden, I was going to—”
His eyes are dark, a storm of emotions. “Don’t,” he says, pulling away. “I need to think.”
He turns and leaves, the door slamming behind him, and the sound is like a physical blow. I sit there, frozen, my heart pounding in my ears. He’s gone. He’s really gone.
The nurse rushes back in, her face a mix of concern and sympathy. “Are you okay?”
Her kindness is too much, and the tears come in a torrent I can’t control. “He left,” I sob, the words choked and broken. “He just left.”
