chapter 27 Two Puppies

 

Briar was lost in her fantasy, but in the next moment, she saw Liam gently shake his head. He was warning her. Briar came to her senses. She no longer wanted to be the naive girl who was always expecting to be loved.

Killian stood by the hospital window, his back to Briar. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. Outside, the rain had stopped, but the atmosphere inside remained turbulent.

"I saw her, Killian," Briar said. She was sitting upright in the bed, her hands still instinctively shielding her stomach. "Vivienne was with him. In the alley, before the rogue wolf attacked me. She was talking to him like they were friends. She did this to me. She wanted him to hurt me."

Killian turned slowly.

"Vivienne is many things, Briar, but conspiring with rogues is a death sentence in this pack," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "Are you sure your mind isn't playing tricks on you again? You were terrified. You were in pain."

"I am slow, Killian, but I am not a liar," Briar snapped back. "I know what I saw."

Killian took a step toward the bed. He didn't look at her face; he looked at her midsection. "Let’s talk about things you *do* know, then. Like this pregnancy. You knew for weeks. You purposefully masked your scent so Fenris and I wouldn't find out. You hid our child from us. Why?"

Briar went silent. She bit her lip, looking away. She was terrified he would take the baby and throw her out the moment it was born. She didn't trust him to be a father when he couldn't even be a husband. Her silence was loud, and to Killian, it looked like guilt.

A sharp knock at the door broke the standoff. Gideon entered, his expression grim. He glanced at Briar, then leaned in to speak to Killian, though he didn't lower his voice enough to keep her from hearing.

"Alpha, we searched the perimeter where the rogues were staying," Gideon reported. "We found a leather pouch hidden under a floorboard. It contained five silver coins. They bear the Vane family crest. Specifically, the branch belonging to Vivienne’s father."

Killian’s jaw tightened so hard Briar heard the bone click. Before he could respond, the door burst open.

Vivienne scrambled in, her face a mess of tears and smeared mascara. She looked like a woman on the verge of a breakdown. She ignored Briar entirely and threw herself toward Killian, grabbing his forearms.

"Killian! You have to believe me!" she wailed. "I just heard what Gideon found! Someone stole those coins from my vanity weeks ago! I did not say anything because I thought I had misplaced them! Someone is trying to frame me!"

Killian stayed perfectly still. He looked down at her with chilling neutrality.

"If I find evidence that contradicts that," he said, "the conversation will be different."

"Of course," she said. "Of course it will. I have nothing to hide." She paused. "Is she all right? "

"Stable," he said. "And her pups same."

Something moved across Vivienne's face. "Pups," she said. "She's. Briar is pregnant?" Vivienne turned her head toward the bed. Her eyes widened as they landed on Briar’s stomach. "Wait. Briar. Are you... are you pregnant? Oh my goddess. You are carrying Killian’s child?"

Briar heard Vivienne's surprise and thought: she already knew. She has known for days.

"She knew," Briar said. "She already knew and she sent those men to hit my stomach and she is standing there pretending to be surprised and she knew."

Killian: "Briar."

"I heard her! I was right here!"

"She said is she all right and I said stable and she said baby," Killian said. "That is a normal inference."

"It wasn't an inference, she already knew, she saw me grab my stomach days ago in the hallway, I told you she suspected, she knew and she"

"Briar! That is enough!" Killian barked. "You are making extreme accusations without proof. Everything is still under investigation. Do not speak another word about this until I tell you to."

Briar flinched. The harshness of his tone felt like a physical slap.

Vivienne saw her opening. She slumped her shoulders and let out a shaky breath. She looked up at Killian with big, watery eyes. "Of course, I have done nothing to harm Briar. But since all the evidence points to me, I am willing to remain silent for the sake of her safety. If being the villain makes her feel secure during her pregnancy, then I will accept it. Her health is all that matters."

She turned to Briar and gave a small, humble bow. "I am so sorry for the misunderstanding, sister. I only want you to be well."

"If I find out you had even a whispered conversation with a rogue wolf, Vivienne," Killian said, "no amount of 'fated' connection will save you from the silver cage. Do you understand me? Go back to the villa. Do not leave your room until I tell you to."

Vivienne nodded meekly and hurried out.

Killian stayed perfectly still, looking down at her with a chilling neutrality.

_

The next morning, the discharge process began. Before Briar could leave, she had to undergo a full prenatal checkup at the hospital’s private wing.

The room was quiet. The only light came from the glow of the ultrasound monitor. The technician applied the cold gel to Briar’s stomach. Briar held her breath. Then, a rhythmic and rapid sound filled the room.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.Two heartbeats filled the room.

Briar stopped breathing.

"Twins," the technician said. "Both appear healthy. Both cardiac rhythms are strong."

Briar put her hand over her mouth.

It was the most beautiful sound Briar had ever heard. It sounded like a brave little drum. In that moment, a new kind of strength settled into her bones. She was not just a stupid Luna anymore. She was a mother. These little hearts were counting on her.

She was crying before she noticed she was crying.

The technician printed two images and handed them to Briar.

The door opened and Killian’s mother, Linda, walked in. She did not offer Briar a hug. She stood at the foot of the bed and watched the monitor with the interest of a farmer inspecting livestock.

Linda picked up the ultrasound images from the nightstand and looked at them.

"Twins," Linda said.

"Yes," Briar said.

"The strong heartbeats," Linda noted. Her voice had no warmth. "The Sterling line requires vitality. We will ensure these childs has everything it needs."

Linda stepped closer to the bed. She did not look at Briar’s face. She reached out and patted Briar’s stomach through the blanket.

"I have already arranged the staff," Linda continued. "You will return to the villa. You will have a strict diet and a team of omegas to watch you every hour. You are a vessel for the future Alpha now, Briar. Do not do anything foolish to damage the goods."

"I am a person, not a box," Briar whispered.

Linda did not even blink. "You are the mother of the heir. That is your only identity now."

When they returned to the villa, Briar found that her life had been moved. Her things were no longer in the master suite.

"The stairs are a risk for your condition," Linda said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "And Killian’s late nights will disturb the baby’s development. You will stay in the top floor guest suite. It has the best air."

Briar looked at the stairs. The master bedroom was on the second floor. Vivienne’s guest room was also on the second floor. By moving her to the third floor, they were isolating her.

That evening, Killian came into the room. Briar was sitting by the window with the ultrasound photo in her hand. She felt a spark of hope when she saw him. She wanted him to be happy with her.

"Look, Killian," she said. She held out the black and white photo. "I heard their heart today. You know, right? I'm pregnant with two puppies. It was so fast. It sounded like it was running a race."

Killian took the slip of paper. He looked at it for exactly three seconds. His face remained a mask of indifference. He did not smile. He did not touch her. He simply set the photo down on the nightstand like it was a piece of junk mail.

"Linda has set your schedule," he said. His voice was flat and cold. "Follow it. I do not want any more complications."

"Does the puppies make you happy?" Briar asked. Her lip trembled. "Just a little bit?"

Killian turned to the door without answering. "The child is necessary for the pack. That is all. Go to sleep, Briar."

He walked out and she heard the faint click of the lock on the outside of the door. Briar curled into a ball on the bed. She could hear the faint sound of music and laughter coming from the second floor.

She held the ultrasound photo against her chest and cried silently,  while telling herself that we were just experiencing temporary pain, and everything would get better. We need to be strong, for the puppies.