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“Could he be any grumpier?” Ruby teases, winking at me before she gets up and waddles after her brother. “I have another scan due anyway. Killian won’t let me rest until this baby is born, I know it.”
“Did something happen?” I ask Jax as he sighs and sits.
“The Alphas almost got into a fist fight. Tensions are high, people are finding their mates and none of them are theirs. Each of them thinks their pack is better than the other, and the moment they disagree tempers flare.”
I sigh, laying a hand on his arm. I can see in his eyes that he feels badly for his friend. It must be hard trying to keep the packs and peace all alone. “You found me so easily, I’m sure it will be the same for Cole. Ryder has so many options I’m not surprised he hasn’t chosen. It’s like living in a buffet, isn't it?”
“Ha, not Ryder!” Chase says, poking his head through the door, no doubt on the way to see Killian himself. “He won't admit it, but we all know he has eyes for Cookie. He doesn’t want a mate, he wants her. Neither of them will let it happen though, no idea why!”
“She’s human,” Jax says.
“Why would that matter?” I ask, and Jax turns to me.
“Only wolves can be mated. You can mate with a human, but it wouldn’t be able to have the bond like we have. He has a duty to his pack just like Cole does, a duty to produce heirs.” Jax says the last part to Chase himself and he looks like the knowledge has physically struck him. He frowns and leaves the room to go look for Ruby.
“That’s so sad,” I say quietly, looking down at my knees. “Love can't just be love for wolves?”
“If it was love, she’d be a wolf. If he does have feelings for her they’ll vanish the moment he meets his woman for the first time. Trust me.” He smiles and strokes my face.
“What about Cookie? Doesn’t she have feelings for him?” I ask, remembering the long looks and heavy sighs she has whenever he’s near.
“She’s a human, she doesn’t feel like we do. She’ll be fine.”
“Just because she’s human doesn't mean she feels less than we do, Jackson…”
“Jackson Wraith, you dog! Talk about taking the job seriously!” Killian says as he pushes his way through the door and walks straight towards us. “Ruby just told me the news, pregnant already?”
He grabs the neck of Jackson’s shirt and pulls it over his shoulder. Then he puts his hands on his knees and looks closely at my handprint on his chest and chuckles.
“What’s so funny?” Jax growls, ripping his shirt out of Killian’s hand with obvious frustration.
“Oh nothing, it just looks…well, it looks like a tattoo, and with all your talk about how you’ll never get one? Just ironic is all.”
I’m shocked by Killian’s laughter as he turns to me and ducks to miss a swing from Jax. What does he have to be happy about? He knows I’m dying. I’m dying and pregnant!
“You know what this means, don’t you, honey?” Killian asks, taking his stethoscope off and listening to my heart and lungs, his movements seamless even though he only has one working hand. He seems to sense my apprehension. “If you’ve gotten the mark that means there has to be a way to heal you, Raina would never—”
“Jax said the same thing, but it’s all wishful thinking…”
Killian’s eyebrows rise as he folds his arms over his chest. “You’ll see for yourself, sweetheart. Raina and Cassius’ touch on us is very real. You just have to have faith in them.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t believe in ghosts, sir.” I stand up, kiss Jax on the cheek, and inform them I’m going to go lay back down. Jax and Killian can talk unicorns and rainbows all they want, but I don’t care to be around. It hurts too much.
When I get back to the bedroom, I’m so upset I’m almost in tears. This isn’t fair. This isn’t fair! I push through the door and throw myself on the bed to cry. I flip over on my back, sobbing, and look at the roof. When my hand lands on the pillow beside me, I hear the crunch of paper. Tears wetting my cheeks, I sit up and see a card with the wordcongratulationson the front.
I wipe my tears away and open it, quickly registering it’s in the same hand as the note before.
Congratulations on the new baby!
I’m sure you’re so worried about your survival now, the survival of your baby.
Meet me, please? I can help.
Come outside.
“What in the world…” I sob.
The only a few people who know what’s going on are in this house and none of them would leave me a note like this. They’d congratulate me to my face. Why is this person messing with me! Angry, I crumple the card and throw it on the ground and stomp out of the room. I’m going outside alright, I’m going outside to face whoever’s leaving these callous notes to give them a piece of my mind!
