Page 78 of Talk About… Secrets
“We’ll keep you safe, omega. I promise you that,” I vowed.
No matter what it took from us, she’d be safe. Even if that meant delaying the progress on our new office until I knew my omega was safe.
Fuck the board, and fuck anyone who thought they could tear apart the life we’d built here.
Grace
My sister’s scream was loud enough that people walking nearby could hear. I gave them an eye roll to reassure them that everything was fine before focusing on Hailey’s excitement.
“Are you kidding me? You’re pregnant, Grace?!”
“I am! I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you, but we’ve been so busy looking over pictures, and it just… it never felt like the right time. So, I made it a point to call you this time,” I reassured her.
“Good, because if I had found out from anyone else, I would have kicked your cute, little ass.”
“No ass-kicking. I’m a pregnant woman, remember?”
“Does it matter ifI’mpregnant, too?” Her voice was a worried whisper. I hated that we always tiptoed around each other.
“Are you kidding me?” I gasped, genuinely excited to share this with her. “How far along are you?!”
“Well, it was a bit of a surprise,” she hedged. “I thought I just had a little virus, wasn’t feeling good. We brushed it off because my symptoms were really minimal. It wasn’t until I started getting a baby bump that I went in,” she admitted.
“Holy shit, Haley! Does that mean you’re—?” I tried to do the math but failed.
“Just over twenty weeks. I know, I know. I should have been better about listening to my body. I was just so wrapped up in our vacation, then coming back to his place, that it slipped through.”
“Holy shit,me, too!Are you kidding?”
“You realize this means we both got pregnant during my honeymoon week?” she asked before we both burst into laughter. I was laughing so hard I had to squeeze my legs together.
“Stop! I’m too pregnant to laugh this hard,” she groaned at the same time, only making it worse.
“I’m actually on my way to the baby boutique here. Did you find out the gender yet?”
“No, actually. We wanted to wait and let it be a surprise, and there’s no one to ruin it this time,” she said. I could practicallyseemy sister rolling her eyes.
“I’ve decided the same thing,” I admitted. It was eerie how similar we were. “I don’t want to know. It feels like I won’t be able to appreciate my pregnancy because everyone will be so focused on it. I just want it to be this moment that’s just between me and my pack, you know?”
“Totally get that,” she agreed. “Well, we’ll find out together, won’t we?”
“Speaking of big news… have you talked to Mom at all?”
Hailey’s sigh was answer enough.
“No. I really think she’s waiting forusto call and apologize toher.I talked to the staff a little bit when we checked back in, andthey said she was fairly awful. Just demanding and complaining like she had any right to.”
“I shouldn’t even be surprised,” I huffed as I stepped inside the shop, pitching my voice a bit lower this time. “Honestly, my life has been a lot less stressful since I left all of that behind. You’re honestly the only family I need. Along with my people here in Rockwood Valley.”
“Amen, sister,” she agreed. “I miss it there.”
“Mama Whitaker is already planning another cookout. I’m meeting Drew’s mom again and everyone is dying for another gathering. If you guys aren’t busy, you should totally come down. It’s going to be next weekend.”
“I’ll definitely clear our schedules. Just send me the information.”
She started talking again, but I was having trouble listening to her all the sudden. My pulse started thundering in my ears, and my eyes went fuzzy. I wavered on my feet, actually knocking into something. One of the sales ladies rushed closer, her hands on my elbows, trying to keep me upright.
“Are you okay?”
