Page 36 of Rescued by the Alpha

“What are you thinking about?”

Elam detected another bout of weepiness threatening, so he shook his head. “You go first.”

Nic lowered his gaze as he wriggled in his chair. After a moment, he raised his eyes. “Are you mad at me?”

Elam dropped his head back and sighed before looking back at him. “No. Of course not. How were you supposed to know something like this could happen? I mean seriously, the spirit guide didn’t even have a clue.”

Nic nodded. “Okay, good. But please don’t be mad at me now, because I wanted you to know this makes me happy.” Nic squeezed his hands. “Real happy.”

Elam arched his eyebrows. “It does?” He’d already started to worry that Nic was going to come up with some excuse like he’d been just kidding about the whole fated mates thing, then keep his distance.

Nic scooted closer, the chair legs scraping across his sister’s floor. “Yeah. And it’s not only because I’ll have an heir. It’s about you and me, about us making a new life together. A family.” He gave a little shrug. “We would always be a family no matter what, but this is incredible.” Nic trembled slightly. “I don’t know if this is the right way to do this or not, I’ve never done it before. But I wanted to tell you I love you.”

It took several seconds before Elam convinced himself he’d just heard Nic correctly. “Oh, Nic.” Elam tugged his hands from beneath Nic’s then threw his arms around his neck. “That was perfect. I love you too.”

“Yeah?” Nic hugged him back. “Good. I’m trying.”

Elam smiled. “You’re doing great.”

“Ahem.” They broke apart to see Alex leaning against the frame of the doorway with her arms crossed. “This is what got you two into trouble in the first place.” She held out a small rectangular box Elam. “Here. I had to do some digging.”

He and Nic exchanged glances. They were about to take the journey from the mystical world back to the physical world. If the test was negative, they could figure out their next move.

Elam looked up at Alex. “Am I going to know how to use this thing?”

Alex shook her head, sighing. “What is it with men and directions?”

* * * *

Nic trudged along through the snow, his hands stuffed into his pockets, his father in step beside him. After Elam had taken two pregnancy tests—both of which had come up positive—he’d determined that an emergency council meeting had to be called. Elam had stayed with his sister and Nic had headed to his father’s place. That had been over an hour ago and after the predicable shock and disbelief, his father had agreed that the council needed to be informed immediately. But that hadn’t been the only reason.

Nic glanced sideways at his father. “No one else has heard from him either? Not even Dara?”

Artur had never returned after storming out of the house the night before.

His father grunted. “They don’t speak anymore. To be honest, your brother hasn’t had much in the way of friends for a while. At least not in this town.”

Nic’s gut clenched, the hair on the back of his neck going up. “What do you mean?”

“I hate to say it, but my hunch is that he’s taken up with another pack.”

Nic clenched his jaw, a grim scenario passing through his mind. “The Yukon Delta Pack. That’s what you’re getting at, right?

“I’m not sure what he’s up to yet, but I have a feeling after his fit last night, it’s about to come down on us soon.”

Artur’s stupidity is gonna get him killed. “What does the council already know about his behavior?”

His father glanced at him before returning his gaze to the group of tall pines that heralded the path leading to the council building. “They know he lied about Dara.”

Fuck. “But you haven’t met about it yet.” The elements of the pack’s current dilemma were beginning to click into place.

“I’ve been delaying the inevitable. I was hoping you’d come to the conclusion that you’ve always been meant to be Alpha and would come back to claim your rightful place as my heir.”

Nic stopped before they reached the entrance, grabbing his father’s arm to get his attention.

“What about Artur? It’s obvious he still plans on being Alpha.”

His father grunted. “He can plan all he wants to. It’s ultimately the council’s decision, and without even holding a meeting, I already know the outcome. And I suspect, so does he. They’ll rescind his right as heir-apparent due to his deception. It’s in the by-laws.”