Chapter 5- Get Ready.

Morgan’s POV:

"Dimples!"

I barely had time to turn toward the voice before Allison launched herself at me.

"Oh, shit!"

Her arms wrapped around my neck with enough force to send me stumbling backward.

Ryan caught me around the waist before my ass could hit the floor. "Easy, woman," he complained. "She just got home. Could you wait at least twenty-four hours before breaking one of her legs?"

Allison ignored him completely.

She squeezed me harder.

Goddess, I'd missed this crazy woman.

I laughed and hugged her back.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"I'm trying to make up for almost four years of missing you."

"By crushing my fucking ribs?"

"Exactly."

I laughed again.

Some things hadn't changed at all.

Allison finally released me, only to grab both sides of my face and inspect me.

"Look at you!"

"What?"

"You're gorgeous."

"I was gorgeous when I left."

She rolled her eyes.

"And still humble, apparently."

"Always."

Usher stood behind her, shaking his head.

Our Alpha.

My brother's best friend.

And practically another older brother I never asked for.

He looked different.

Not physically, exactly.

Usher had always been tall, powerful, and intimidating when he wanted to be — but there was something about him now.

Authority.

The kind that didn't need to announce itself.

Alpha looked good on him.

I stepped around Allison and opened my arms.

"Are you going to stand there looking important, or are you going to hug me?"

His serious expression disappeared.

"There she is."

Usher pulled me into his arms.

"Welcome home, trouble."

I smiled against his chest.

"I missed you too."

"Not as much as we missed you."

"Impossible."

Behind me, Alex groaned. "Don't start that shit again."

I pulled away from Usher and stuck my tongue out at my brother.

Allison immediately grabbed my arm.

"Okay. Reunion over. We have shit to do."

I frowned.

"What shit?"

"Shopping."

My smile disappeared.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Morgan."

"Allison."

"We're going shopping."

I stared at her.

I'd just spent nearly fourteen hours with my ass planted on an airplane seat.

A little pup had cried for what felt like thirteen hours and fifty-nine minutes of that flight.

I'd barely slept.

I'd treated an injured airport worker before even making it through the terminal.

I was starving.

My body didn't know what fucking time zone it belonged in. And this woman wanted to take me shopping?

Could I at least go home and shower first?

Sleep?

Shift?

Eat my body weight in waffles?

Maybe stare at a wall for six hours?

Anything except walk through a mall.

I sighed heavily.

Allison narrowed her eyes.

"No."

"I didn't say anything."

"Your face did."

Damn it.

My face had always betrayed me.

Every emotion.

Every thought.

Every please get the fuck away from me before I lose my shit moment.

Written right there for the world to see.

"I know you're exhausted," Allison said, softening slightly. "But we don't have time."

"Why?"

She stared at me.

Then her eyes widened.

"Oh, my Goddess."

"What?"

"You forgot."

"Forgot what?"

Everyone looked at me.

That wasn't good.

"What?"

Allison put both hands on her hips.

"The Wolf-Ball."

I froze.

Fuck.

Fuck.

"Fuck!"

Alex laughed.

"I told you she'd forget."

"Fuck you, Alexander."

"Not my fault."

I slapped a hand against my forehead.

"Allison Smithson, I completely fucking forgot."

"Obviously."

How?

How the hell had I forgotten the biggest event Crescent Moon had hosted in decades?

Every year, one Pack within the Eastern Kingdom was selected to host the annual Wolf-Ball. And Crescent Moon hadn't hosted one in twenty-nine years.

Twenty-nine.

None of us had even been born the last time the royal court came here for it.

And this wasn't simply another formal Pack celebration.

This year mattered.

A lot.

Usher was a relatively new Alpha.

Our Pack had grown tremendously under his leadership, and tomorrow night would be his opportunity to host Alphas, Lunas, Betas, warriors, council members, and representatives from throughout the Eastern Kingdom.

Including royalty.

Our new King would be attending.

King Damian Khallowells.

His first official appearance at Crescent Moon since taking the throne.

I'd heard Alex talk about how important the event was to Usher and Allison.

I'd apparently listened so carefully that I'd completely fucking forgotten about it.

Fantastic.

"You don't have a dress, do you?" Allison asked.

I smiled innocently.

"Maaaaybe?"

"Morgan."

"No."

"I knew it."

"I have dresses."

"In your luggage?"

"Yes."

"Ball gowns?"

I thought about it.

"No."

She pointed at me.

"Shopping."

I groaned.

"Can I eat first?"

"Yes."

"Shower?"

"Eventually."

"Nap?"

"No."

"You're a horrible best friend."

"I love you too."

I was about to tell her exactly where she could shove her shopping trip when two soft arms suddenly wrapped around my shoulders from behind.

I froze.

Then I smelled her.

My heart jumped.

No fucking way.

I spun around.

"Oh, my Goddess."

Lily.

Her eyes were already shining.

"Lily!"

I threw my arms around her.

She held me tightly.

Not the violent Allison-style hug that threatened bodily injury.

This one was different.

Soft.

Long.

Emotional.

For several seconds neither of us said anything.

And suddenly I was seventeen again.

Three girls sitting at our favorite table.

Sharing secrets.

Stealing food from each other's plates.

Talking about boys.

Making plans we were absolutely convinced would never change.

Goddess, I'd missed her.

Lily's arms tightened around me.

"Morgan," she whispered. "I'm so happy you're home."

Something in her voice made me squeeze her harder.

"I've missed you so fucking much."

"I missed you too."

"You weren't here the last time I came."

"I know."

"I was pissed."

She laughed softly.

"I know that too."

I pulled back.

"We have so much catching up to—"

My words died.

I looked down.

Then looked back at Lily.

Then down again.

There was no fucking mistaking it.

Her stomach was round.

Very round.

My brain stopped working.

My eyes widened.

Lily's smile faltered.

What...

The...

Fuck?

I stared at her belly.

Then her face.

Then her belly again.

"Lily..."

She swallowed.

Holy shit.

She was pregnant.

Not maybe pregnant.

Not just found out pregnant.

My friend looked like she was well into her pregnancy.

And I hadn't known.

A strange ache replaced my shock.

Had she found her mate?

When?

Who?

Why hadn't she told me?

Why hadn't anyone told me?

I glanced at Allison.

She suddenly found something fascinating on the other side of the diner.

Usher's expression gave me absolutely nothing.

Alex looked uncomfortable.

And Ryan—

Ryan's arm slid around my waist.

The movement startled me.

I looked up at him.

"You okay, beautiful?"

His voice was soft.

Too close.

For some reason, I suddenly wanted space.

I gently stepped forward, forcing his arm to fall away without making a scene.

"I'm fine."

Then I looked at Lily again.

She had noticed.

I could tell.

But whatever expression crossed her face disappeared before I could understand it.

"You're pregnant," I finally said.

Brilliant observation, Doctor Miller.

Lily gave me a small smile.

"I am."

"How far along?"

"Almost seven months."

My mouth fell open.

Seven months?

I had spoken to these people.

Multiple times.

Seven fucking months, and nobody had thought this might be information worth sharing?

I looked at Allison again.

"You knew."

It wasn't a question.

Her expression softened.

"Yes."

"Alex?"

My brother sighed.

"Yes."

"Usher?"

He nodded.

Of course.

My eyes moved to Ryan.

He didn't hesitate.

"Yeah."

Something inside me sank.

Everyone knew.

Except me.

I hated how much that hurt.

"Wow."

"Morgan—" Lily started.

"No. It's okay."

It clearly wasn't.

My face probably announced that to the entire fucking diner. "I just..." I forced a smile. "I'm surprised."

Lily reached for my hand.

"I wanted to tell you."

I looked at her.

"Then why didn't you?"

Silence.

Not angry silence.

Something heavier.

Lily looked down.

Her hand drifted instinctively over her stomach.

"I don't know."

That answer hurt more than I expected.

We used to tell each other everything.

There had been a time when Lily couldn't kiss a boy without Allison and me receiving a complete fucking report afterward.

Now she was seven months pregnant, and I hadn't even known there was someone in her life.

I suddenly felt every mile I'd spent away from home.

All one thousand three hundred and thirty-three fucking days of them.

Maybe I'd been stupid to think I could come home and pick everything back up exactly where I'd left it.

Life had continued without me.

Of course it had.

People changed.

Relationships changed.

My friends had lives I hadn't been part of.

That realization stung.

Lily squeezed my hand.

"I'm sorry."

I looked into her eyes.

There was something there.

Something I couldn't quite name.

"Don't," I said softly.

Her eyebrows pulled together.

"We'll talk later."

Relief flashed across her face.

That was strange.

Before I could think too much about it, Allison spoke.

"Lily, are you sitting with us?"

Lily shook her head. "Not today. We're packed, and one of the girls called in sick."

Alex leaned back. "Tell her we have a new doctor in town."

I shot him a look. "I haven't even unpacked."

"Doctors don't get days off."

"Neither do Betas, apparently."

His eyes narrowed.

Too soon.

I smiled sweetly.

Lily laughed.

There.

That sounded more like her.

For a moment, the weirdness disappeared.

Almost.

We made our way toward our usual table.

The same table we'd occupied for years.

Mom and Dad had sat there with Alex and me countless times.

Later, it became the table where Allison, Lily, and I gathered to gossip about everything and everyone.

Our unofficial executive headquarters.

Seeing it again made something warm settle inside me.

Lily's mother came rushing over before I even sat down.

"My beautiful girl!"

I smiled.

"Hi!"

She hugged me tightly and kissed both of my cheeks. "Look at you. Doctor Miller."

I grinned.

"I know. Sounds fancy, doesn't it?"

"I'm so proud of you."

That almost made me cry.

Almost.

She disappeared back toward the kitchen before my emotions could embarrass me.

Lily pulled out her order pad.

"What can I get everyone?"

I stared at her.

Really?

"We've been coming here since before Thomas Edison invented electricity."

Lily blinked.

Then laughed.

"You weren't alive before Thomas Edison."

"Neither were you. That's not the point."

"What is the point?"

"The point is you already know what I want."

Her smile became genuine.

"Five blueberry waffles."

"Big."

"Obviously."

"Bacon casserole."

"Extra."

"Extra-hot vanilla mocha."

"With?"

"Milk foam."

I smiled.

"See? You do still know me."

Something changed in Lily's expression.

Barely.

But I saw it.

"I'll always know you, Morgan."

My smile faded slightly.

Before I could respond, she turned toward the others and finished taking their orders.

I watched her walk away.

My eyes dropped to her belly again.

Almost seven months.

Who was the father?

And why the hell was everyone acting like asking that question would detonate a bomb?

I turned toward Allison.

She immediately reached for the menu.

Oh, no.

Absolutely fucking not.

"You don't need that."

She looked over the top of it.

"What?"

"You've eaten here your entire life."

"I like reading."

"Since when?"

Usher coughed into his fist.

I narrowed my eyes.

Something was going on.

"Who is the father?"

The table went silent.

There it was.

Not one person looked surprised by my question.

Interesting.

Allison lowered the menu.

"Morgan..."

"What?"

"It's complicated."

I stared at her.

"Pregnancy is actually fairly straightforward, Alli. I can draw you a diagram if necessary."

Ryan chuckled beside me.

I didn't.

"She doesn't want to tell anyone," Allison said.

My irritation faded.

"Oh."

That changed things.

I looked toward the counter.

Lily was speaking with another customer, one hand resting protectively beneath her stomach.

"Nobody knows?" I asked.

Usher answered. "Lily knows."

I looked at him.

"Obviously."

"And that's all that matters until she decides otherwise."

There was something unmistakably Alpha about his tone.

Not threatening.

Final.

I nodded.

He was right.

Lily's pregnancy wasn't Pack entertainment.

If she didn't want to identify the father, that was her decision.

Still...

I couldn't understand it.

Lily had always believed in fated mates.

All three of us had grown up fantasizing about finding ours.

So if she'd found hers, why hide him?

And if she hadn't...

Then who had gotten my best friend pregnant and left her to deal with this alone?

My protective instincts immediately kicked in.

"Is she okay?"

Allison's expression softened.

"She's okay."

"Is he taking care of her?"

Another pause.

Small.

But noticeable.

"I said she's okay," Allison repeated.

That wasn't what I'd asked.

Before I could push, Ryan's hand settled over mine beneath the table.

I looked down.

Then at him.

"Let her tell you when she's ready, beautiful."

I stared at him for a second.

He sounded reasonable.

Kind, even.

And he was right.

So why did his hand suddenly feel heavy over mine?

I slowly pulled mine free and reached for my water.

"That's what I'm going to do."

Ryan watched me.

Only for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Good."

I took a sip.

Across the diner, Lily looked toward our table.

Our eyes met.

She smiled.

I smiled back.

Then her gaze moved slightly to my right.

Toward Ryan.

Her smile disappeared.

Only for a heartbeat.

Then she turned away.

I frowned.

Maybe she'd heard us talking about her.

Maybe she knew I'd asked.

Maybe she was embarrassed.

There were a dozen perfectly reasonable explanations.

So I let it go.

For now.

But something had changed since I'd walked through the doors of Lily's Diner.

I couldn't explain it.

Couldn't even put my finger on what the hell it was.

Alex's eyes suddenly darkened.

I knew that look.

Someone was mind-linking him.

His jaw tightened as he listened, and whatever warmth had been in his expression disappeared.

A few seconds later, he cursed under his breath.

"Shit."

My stomach sank.

"What?"

He pushed his chair back.

"I have to go."

"But we just got here."

"I know, Princess."

"Then tell whoever it is to wait."

Usher gave me a sympathetic look.

That told me everything.

This wasn't optional.

Alex leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

"We're still finalizing security for tomorrow's Wolf-Ball. One of the border teams needs me there before the royal delegation arrives."

Of course.

The fucking Wolf-Ball.

I had forgotten how much preparation went into an event like that, especially with the King attending.

"Can't someone else handle it?"

"I wish."

He looked genuinely disappointed.

"I'll see you at home in a couple of hours. I promise."

I crossed my arms.

"That better mean two hours and not Beta-time."

He smiled.

"What's Beta-time?"

"Six fucking hours."

Usher coughed into his hand.

Alex ignored him.

"I love you, Princess."

"I love you too."

He squeezed my shoulder once before walking away.

I watched him until the diner door closed behind him.

I was already missing him.

Ridiculous.

The disappointment hit harder than it should have. I'd been home for barely a few hours, and Pack responsibilities were already stealing my brother away.

I understood.

That didn't mean I had to like it.

I was still staring toward the door when Ryan's hands suddenly cupped my face.

My body stiffened.

Before I could ask what he was doing, his mouth covered mine.

Hard.

Too fast.

Too intense.

His tongue slipped into my mouth before I'd even decided whether I wanted the kiss.

I froze.

Then panic flickered through me.

Not fear.

Discomfort.

There were people everywhere.

Usher.

Allison.

Lily.

My friends.

My family.

"You taste fucking amazing."

I stared at him.

My cheeks were burning.

Not from excitement.

Embarrassment.

"Oh."

That was apparently the most intelligent response my medical education could produce.

I became painfully aware of the silence around us.

Allison was staring into her coffee.

Usher's expression had become unreadable.

And Lily...

Lily was standing beside the table holding her order pad.

Our eyes met.

Something crossed her face.

Pain?

Shock?

Discomfort?

Whatever it was disappeared so quickly that I couldn't be sure I'd seen anything at all.

Goddess.

Em-bar-rass-ing.

I forced a smile.

"Lily, could I please get some water?"

"Of course."

Her voice was quiet.

She turned toward the counter.

The second she walked away, I looked at Ryan.

"Can you not do that again?"

His smile disappeared.

"Do what?"

"Kiss me like that in front of everyone."

A flicker of something crossed his face.

Then it was gone.

"I haven't seen you in months, Morgan."

"I know."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"Then what's wrong?"

There it was again.

That strange pressure I'd felt in the car.

Like because he'd missed me, I was supposed to respond a certain way.

"Nothing is wrong. I just don't like being put on display."

His jaw tightened slightly.

"I'm your boyfriend."

"I know you're my boyfriend."

"So why does kissing you have to be a secret?"

My stomach tightened.

"It doesn't."

"Then—"

"Ryan."

I kept my voice low.

"I said I don't want you kissing me like that in front of people. That's it."

For a moment, he stared at me.

Usher remained completely silent.

So did Allison.

But the atmosphere around the table had changed.

Then Ryan's expression softened.

"Okay."

He reached for my hand.

I instinctively pulled it into my lap before he could take it.

Another tiny silence.

"I got carried away," he said.

I nodded.

"Okay."

"I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

He leaned back in his chair.

And just like that, everything was supposedly fine.

Except it didn't feel fine.

Maybe I was exhausted.

Maybe I was overwhelmed.

Whatever it was, I didn't want to think about it right now.

Especially because there was a much larger elephant standing in the middle of this fucking diner.

I waited until Lily reached the counter.

Then I looked at Allison.

"Okay. Can we please address the elephant in the room?"

Usher glanced around.

"There's an elephant?"

I gave him a murderous look.

His hands immediately went up.

"Never mind."

At least he knew when to retreat.

"Is Lily..." I began.

Allison stopped me.

"That's for Lily to tell you."

My mouth closed.

Allison lowered her voice.

"We don't know who the father is, Morgan."

That surprised me.

"You don't?"

She shook her head.

"I've asked."

"And?"

"And she doesn't want to tell me."

I looked toward Lily. She was filling a glass with ice.

"Not even you?"

"No."

That didn't make any sense.

Allison and Lily had been here together while I was gone. If anything, I would've expected the two of them to become even closer.

"I pushed her about it once," Allison continued. "Too hard."

"What happened?"

"She stopped speaking to me for weeks."

Holy shit.

Lily?

Our Lily?

She could be private, but shutting Allison out completely? That wasn't like her.

At least...

It hadn't been like the Lily I remembered.

But I'd been gone a long time.

People changed.

"Does anyone know?" I asked.

Allison shrugged.

"If they do, they're not talking."

My eyes returned to Lily's stomach.

Seven months pregnant, and nobody knew who the father was.

That wasn't an insignificant secret in a Pack.

Unfortunately, werewolf society could be incredibly fucking judgmental when it came to unmarried females having pups.

Especially females who refused to identify the father.

The gossip practically wrote itself.

Maybe he's mated.

Maybe he's married.

Maybe she was just a good fuck.

Maybe he abandoned her.

And somehow the female always ended up carrying more shame than the male who'd participated in creating the damn pup.

Fucking ridiculous.

If anyone started treating Lily differently because she was pregnant, they'd have to deal with me. But that didn't mean I wasn't curious.

I was dying to know.

Had she found her mate?

Was the father someone from Crescent Moon?

Someone I knew?

Someone from another Pack?

And if he was her fated mate, why the secrecy?

I looked at Allison.

"Is she okay?"

"Yes."

"Is she happy?"

Allison hesitated.

That hesitation told me more than her answer.

"She's excited about the baby."

Not what I asked.

I noticed Usher looking at his mate.

Allison ignored him.

Interesting.

"Does the father know?" I asked.

This time, Allison shook her head.

"I don't know."

I sat back.

Goddess.

What the hell had happened while I was gone?

Then another thought slipped into my mind.

Who the fuck was I to question Lily's decisions?

I was sitting here trying to understand why she would complicate something as sacred as a mate bond while I'd spent the last several months deliberately dating someone who wasn't mine.

Hypocrite much, Morgan?

Kira chuckled.

"Don't."

Her amusement grew.

"Did you hear a word from me?"

"You don't need to. I can hear the smugness."

"Perhaps because your argument is finally beginning to make sense to you."

I narrowed my eyes.

"We're talking about Lily."

"Of course."

"We are."

"Absolutely."

I hated when she did that.

"Kira."

"My princess."

I mentally slammed the door on her.

Or tried to.

Her laughter followed me anyway.

Bitch.

Well...

Technically, she was a female wolf.

So the description was anatomically accurate.

That made me smile despite myself.

"What are you smiling about?" Ryan asked.

I looked at him.

"Nothing."

His eyes searched mine.

Then his hand settled on my thigh beneath the table.

My smile vanished.

I looked down at it.

There was nothing inherently wrong with the gesture.

He was my boyfriend.

He'd touched me before.

But after the kiss...

I didn't want it.

I gently lifted his hand and placed it back on his own leg.

Ryan stared at me.

"Not right now," I whispered.

His expression remained pleasant.

But his eyes didn't.

Only for a fraction of a second.

Something cold passed through them.

So quickly that I almost convinced myself I'd imagined it.

Then he smiled.

"Of course, beautiful."

Lily returned with my water.

She placed it in front of me.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Our eyes met.

There was so much I wanted to ask her. But Allison had already warned me.

So, instead, I reached across the small distance between us and squeezed her hand.

"We're talking later."

Lily swallowed.

Then nodded.

"Okay."

"No interrogation."

That earned the faintest smile.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Just you and me?"

My smile softened.

"Just you and me."

For some reason, her eyes became glossy.

Before I could ask why, she pulled her hand away and grabbed her order pad.

"I need to check on the kitchen."

Then she walked away.

I watched her go.

Something was wrong.

I knew my friend.

Or at least...

I used to.

But I was sensing something that I couldn't explain. And whatever Lily was hiding wasn't simply about protecting herself from Pack gossip.

There was something more.

Something painful.

Something she wasn't ready to tell me.

And sitting beside me, Ryan casually reached for his coffee as if none of it had anything to do with him.