Page 92 of Alpha's Redemption

Zoe is getting released from the hospital tomorrow. She video-called earlier, and thankfully the nurse had given her some makeup, so she didn't freak Casey out. My father has been waiting with her until Marcus returned, but I wasn't willing to tell her where it was that Marcus went and why. Though I think she knows because there’s only one reason that would make Marcus leave her side, and that’s revenge.

“Are you okay?” I ask Macey, touching her arm, but she pulls away from me, smiling the fakest smile I have ever seen on her face. I narrow my eyes at her and she sighs.

“Sorry, I'm on edge. All this rogue stuff, the hotel, Zoe.”

I swallow nodding and turning to flick the kettle on.

“Tea only, Everly,” Kalen scolds. Geez, now I know where Valen gets it from.

“Yes, Dad!” Macey and I say simultaneously, and he chuckles.

“I’ll eat in the room with you. I need to speak to you about something anyway. Something not for kids' ears,” she says, and I nod just as Kalen chimes in.

“Great idea! You girls get settled, and I will bring some trays in and make your tea!” he says, looking at me before pushing us out of the kitchen.

“Hold on–”

“No. Shoo, shoo! Make her sit down. I caught her trying to bleach the damn bathroom! Watch her,” Kalen scolds.

“She’s nesting, leave her. Besides, she cleans when she’s nervous,” Macey defends me. Besides, this sitting around nonsense is annoying, and I don't like how everyone fusses. I get they're concerned, but I’m damn near going insane from it.

“Not with my three grandbabies, she doesn't. She is supposed to be on bed rest. We want them babies to stay in as long as possible,” Kalen tells Macey.

“Fine. Just let me get some Tylenol, these cramps have been the worst. Stupid monthlies!” she curses, and I blink at her in confusion.

“Wait. You still get your period?” I ask her.

“Uh, yeah. Iama female,” Macey says. “What did you think? The hysterectomy turned me into a man?” she curses, shaking her head.

Kalen looks at her funny, and I look at him. Macey retrieves her Tylenol from above the stove and downs two pills with a glass of water. As she turns, she notices us staring at her.

“What?” she asks.

“You said you had a full hysterectomy?”

“No, a partial. They took all the baby carrying bits out,” Macey says as if she’s tired of this conversation already.

“But you have ovaries?” I ask.

“Well, duh! I get a period, so I assume so,” she shrugs.

“Then you're not infertile,” Kalen says. She pops her hip and puts her hand on her waist.

“What part of ‘I haven't got the baby carrying bits’ did you not understand?” she says sarcastically. Kalen says one word.

“Surrogate!”

She seems taken aback. “Because someone would want to carry my baby? Yeah, right. Besides, I kind of need a man to fertilize the egg and all. Unless your old dust sperm is volunteering?” she says.

Kalen pulls a face. “Pass! I am too old for babies! But this news will make Tatum happy.”

“Wouldhave made him happy. He dumped me,” she says, rubbing her temples. “We’re werewolves—we all know how impossible it would be to find a surrogate. Can't have a human carry them, and we’re pack animals; it doesn't matter if it's not a blood child, you know what that would do to a she-wolf.”

She does have a point. I’ve never heard of someone becoming a surrogate. I would do it if I wasn't already pregnant, though Valen probably wouldn't let me. And Zoe is in no state to be asked, though I’m pretty sure she and Marcus were trying before all this happened.

“Now, come on, I want to ask you something,” Macey says, grabbing her handbag and tugging me toward my room. I get comfortable on my bed, propping myself up with pillows and settling under the blankets. Kalen comes in a few minutes later with dinner trays for us. Once he’s left, she retrieves the documents from her bag.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

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