I freeze, my hand halfway through Katie Rose's hair. I think I can handle the "where did the baby come from" or "how did it get in your tummy" question, but this one? I have no clue. “Oh, you can,” Nova breaks the silence, her response shocking me. “She could use the practice.” Nova grins, “In fact, when you get off school tomorrow, you're mommy Thalia's problem, she could use the practice.” “What?” I choke out, I don't think Mariella or Knox will appreciate their daughter calling me Mom. “You'll have two little monsters soon, get some practice with these two, they're not twins but they're just as good and bad.” “Yay, mommy Thalia.” Katie giggles, “I love mommy Thalia.” “That's new,” I hear Mariella say as she enters the room, her gaze fixated on Nova. “We are helping Aunt Thalia practice for the babies,” Katie Rose tells her. Mariella nods, ushering Arabella Venus towards her. “Come on princess, it's time for bed.” “Goodnight,” Arabella waves, pouting as she goes with
“No, it was great. But I don't know where this puts us, we can't seem to just be exes and if he's not with me or Mariella then some—” “Take a walk around the pack,” Amara says, nodding to herself. “What?” “I happened to have a sleepover with Ryan and made him run around the pack so every woman could smell me on him.” “Amara,” I laugh. This is very like her, she never claims any lovers this seriously but now I'm starting to believe that she and Ryan are serious. “What?” she pouts, proud of her actions. And I'm sure Ryan loved every single second of the task. “I need to mark my territory, he won't even knot me because he's scared I'll break.” “That knot will get you pregnant,” I warn. “Be happy Ryan has self-control.” Amara flinches, “Yeah, I will pass on pregnancy, I don't want little creatures inside my body, it's so weird.” “It's not bad,” I smile, my hand instinctively coming to my stomach. There's something now, not just a bloated feel. “Sometimes they're so still a
“I relapsed,” she grins, “You and I are the drug I should have never tasted.” “Agree to disagree,” I swallow, kissing her forehead. “You're likely my favourite drug.” “Likely?” she frowns, propping up on her elbow. I know I've said the wrong thing because she appears offended. “Who is the definite? Ella?” I pause, trying to decipher whether she's serious or joking with me. “No.” “You hesitated,” she says, playfully smacking my forehead. I frown at that, “Only because I was offended that you'd make her an option right alongside you.” “You've done it, I didn't.” she casually remarks. “You're the one who thinks she's better than me.” “That's different, damsel.” “Hmm,” she nods. “So then I'm good enough to fuck but not a good enough spouse?” I open my mouth to explain why I said it's different, why I ended up with Mariella but that's a hard truth we promised not to tackle. “No, don't try to explain, I get it.” She nods, “I've got ears, I've been hearing your taunts and
I'm half asleep when Thalia walks into my bedroom, I can smell her the second she nears the door and I still don't move. She joins me in bed and kisses my cheek, her fingers brushing over my forehead. I'm irrationally upset about her leaving me earlier but she leans in and kisses me on the lips? My eyes snap back open out of instinct, anger simmering away. I regret it the second she pulls away, "I came for that shower but it seems you had two without me." She says, her gaze shying away. "I can take another one." I grin. "I'm kidding, my bed is occupied tonight so I thought I'd join you if that's okay." "More than okay," I nod against my below. She's close, so close that I can easily drown in her eyes. "Good." She whispers, and then her face is gone from view, she now lies beside me, staring at the ceiling. "Do I need to be asleep for you to kiss me?" "I was trying to wake you," she lies. I nod, shifting more comfortably as I close my eyes. "Wake me again, then." “Knox
“And believe me, I do get horny at the most inconvient times, how could I not where he walks around shirtless the second he gets home. My eyes appreciate it but my vibrator and fingers don't. “I do, why do you think I practically live in your clothes now?” I snort out a laugh. “But I take care of it, I don't want to complicate things.” That births an uncomfortable silence, he doesn't say a word at all, and when I ask him if he wants anything to eat he just shakes his head. I ordered him a soda because I can't be seen eating alone, and I also ordered two kids' meals for the girls. “Can I watch?” Knox finally speaks, startling me. “What?” My face furrows with confusion, he's already watching me eat but soon the realisation dawns on me. “Oh,” my lips press together. “That's weird,” I clear my throat, biting into my food again. Knox doesn't stop watching me though, and I'm inclined to speak again. “And you're probably asleep by then,” I murmur, I've touched myself next to his
“I don't know what you're talking about,” I frown, watching Maddison smile wider. “She's mocking my miscarriages,” Mariella rolls her eyes. She knows I had a bit of trouble keeping babies because he's not my mate,” she says, glaring at Maddison. “Very tasteful joke, Maddie.” I silently mouth an 'oh' this conversation has nothing to do with me, but Maddie shouldn't be mocking Mariella, the pain of losing a child is something that sticks with you, I can't imagine losing multiple. “Me?” Maddison gasps, “But I am not mocking you, I'd never do that. I was simply trying to say how nice it is that Alpha went for someone who can actually carry an heir.” Even I wince at that, her words are polite but their intent isn't. “It'll be great, Thalia will walk, you'll walk in just like old times.” “What? Walk to where?” I frown, I don't miss what she's implying but I'm not leaving, I can't take our babies from their Father just to make Mariella and his relationship work. And I don't know i