Page 28 of Beautiful Ascension

LEV

“She’s pregnant?” Sebastian questions. His blue eyes grow three times their original size as shock sets in from Wes’s words.

We’re seated around the Council’s table in their private chambers at the Fraternitas as Wes informs Sebastian and the Council of the shocking news.

“How’s that possible?” Sebastian mutters, more to himself, but it’s still loud enough for us to hear.

Never missing a moment to be a wiseass, Wyatt explains, “Well, you see when a man and woman have sex, the man’s sperm fight each other to fertilize?—”

“You know what I fucking mean,” Sebastian spits. His jaw tenses as he grits his teeth. “Ariah, like all the other Selected girls, was given a birth control implant, and she was adamant about using condoms.” He turns to face Wyatt. “So, again. How is that possible?

Pulling out my phone, I do a quick search before responding, “It’s possible, just highly unlikely. The combination of the implant and a condom reduces the likelihood of conceiving to less than one percent.”

“Thank you, Captain Brainiac,” Owen chimes, his sarcasm evident. “The more important question here is, what are we going to do? We can’t leave her to go through this pregnancy alone or think we don’t want her.”

A throat clears. “Nothing changes,” Mr. Edgewood states. “It’s even more important we continue to play along. We can’t risk any harm to Ariah. She’s carrying the future of the Fraternitas.”

“I don’t give a shit about the future of this organization,” Owen snaps.

Before his father can respond, Wes asks, “Did you have something to do with this?”

Donald Edgewood’s face scrunches in outrage. “Absolutely not. We wanted you to choose Ariah, but we wouldn’t go this far.”

“I distinctly remember you urging me to sleep with her,” Wes retorts.

Owen’s nostrils flare. “Is that true?”

“I merely suggested that if you all were going to sleep with any of the Selected, Miss Bradford would be the best choice,” Wes’s father replies dryly.

Wyatt is out of his seat and grabs Wes by the collar of his navy blue polo before we can react. “Is that why you were on a mission to get her to forgive you? Because Daddy said so?”

“We don’t have time for this,” Sebastian shouts.

“Let him go, Wyatt,” I order.

Wyatt’s wild eyes snap in my direction. “Not until he answers.”

“I’m quite curious to hear his response as well,” Owen adds, twirling a knife between his knuckles.

“Fuck you both for thinking I’d do that,” Wes growls, pushing Wyatt until he drops his hold. “I can admit I was a major dick when she first arrived.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Sebastian snorts, making Wes glare in his direction.

“Says the guy who ran so hot and cold you gave her whiplash,” Owen murmurs.

Sighing, I say, “We don’t have time for this. We’ve all done something that we need to apologize for. So, let’s stop with the blame game bullshit and focus.”

Wyatt takes his seat, but Owen doesn’t stop glaring at Wes. “I still want an answer.”

Wes goes rigid—his face flushing red with anger before his heated gaze meets Owen’s matching one. “No. I just said I wouldn’t do that. I fucking love her. It took me all year to realize it, but I’d never do that to her. I’ve been trying to do everything so we can get her back.”

“Enough,” my father commands. “Your trivial shit isn’t the concern here. You can have your group therapy session later. Right now, we’re going to discuss the next steps.”

Chastised, Owen and Wes huff but keep quiet.

“We’re going to up security around her. Increasing her discreet detail and you five will make Samantha believe she’s in control until we can get that damn chip out of my son,” Owen’s father orders.

“You can’t expect us to ignore our pregnant girlfriend. It was bad enough we had to treat her the way we did today,” Owen confesses.

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