"Is everything okay?" I answered the phone, concerned about how he had dropped the call earlier. The whole time I'd been waiting for him to call back I'd spent opening and closing my contacts list, my finger hovering over his name as I considered calling him to check. "Sorry about that," he apologized. "Ryder and my dad got into an argument," he explained sounding exasperated. "Shit... hope everything is okay now," I said, wondering whether the argument was about me, but I was hesitant to ask. "Yeah, it's okay. For now at least," he finished, sounding a little uncertain. I was quiet for a moment, tempted to ask what that meant, but he went on, "So, when do I get to see you again? I know you've got plans to see Ryder tomorrow, so I figured we should make plans too?" he suggested, sounding sure of himself. I felt an immediate rush of guilt as he mentioned my plans with Ryder. "Tyler, I'm sorryâ" I apologized, but he interrupted me. "Don't be, it's no big deal," he confirmed befo
"Hang on, Kate," Tyler's voice echoed faintly as I pictured him navigating his way out of the resonating bathroom, the door clicking shut behind him and abruptly muting the cascade of water that had become white noise to me by this point. "Okay. Sorry about that. Ryder isâ" Tyler was saying, likely trying to come up with reasons or excuses for his brother's bad behavior. "A pig?" I suggested, butting in and saving him the trouble. He chuckled to himself but made no arguments, and we went on to discuss our plans for Saturday. Tyler suggested a proper date night with dinner and a movie, just the two of us. It sounded great, especially since I wasn't going to be able to see him much during the week. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I was looking forward to it. We spoke a little more about his parents and how he agreed that their approval of our relationship wasn't necessary. It was reassuring to know that we seemed to be on the same page in that regard, bu
I woke up to the sound of thunder and realized we were in for another rainy day. Good thing I liked the rain. I loved the smell of it and it made me feel invigorated, even though I just wanted to cuddle up in bed and be lazy.I instinctively checked my phone and saw 2 new messages.Tyler:Good morning đRyder: Morning. Are you vegan?Wow... he was even worrying about my dietary restrictions. Pretty sweet.I typed my response to Tyler first, still wrestling with my lingering disappointment that I wouldn't be seeing him later.Me: Morning đ You sleep ok?Then I typed my response to Ryder.Me: No. Bacon is my favorite food group đĽ I don't eat olives though.Within seconds I had a response from Ryder.Ryder: Fuck... was gonna make olive pancakes. Thanks for ruining my plans.I couldn't help but giggle. Maybe this is why I found him endearing.I checked the time, 07:15. I still had a reasonable amount of time to get ready and hopefully squeeze in some room cleaning, but I already h
Ryder and I headed out to his car, but there was an air of awkwardness between us after our little altercation.He helped me in and closed the door before heading around to the driver's seat. When he got in he sat for a moment, staring at the rain as it fell on the windscreen. I was certain he wanted to say something, but he either thought better of it or wasn't sure how.Instead, he simply started the car and we headed toward his house in total silence."Wanna put some music on?" I suggested hopefully, trying to fill the space between us with some kind of sound. "Sure. No problem," Ryder agreed, but he made no attempt to put the music on and the silence lingered.I was about to ask again when he spoke up, "You mad at me?" he asked, sounding a little on edge."A little," I replied honestly. "But it feels like the kind of thing a stack of pancakes might be able to fix," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.A small smile spread across his lips, relieved to hear that I wasn't planning to
"You okay?" he asked curiously, his lips only a breath away from my ear.I swallowed. "Fine," I replied unconvincingly."You sure? Because I'm pretty sure you aren't breathing," he murmured, his voice low and resonating in my ear.He was right. I wasn't breathing. I exhaled deeply and felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. He knew what he was doing. He knew how he made me feel and he reveled in it.I took a deep breath and placed the last three pancakes in a stack. "Ready to eat?" I asked, pretending everything was fine and I wasn't on the verge of begging him to kiss me again."Ooh! Yes! Syrup or Honey?" he asked, heading back over to the pantry.Either he was a good actor or the mate bond didn't seem to have quite the same effect on me as it did on him, because he seemed perfectly functional while I felt confused and disoriented."Uh... syrup please," I replied, cutting two squares of butter and placing them on top of each of our stacks.Ryder returned with a bottle of maple syrup
"What do you mean you aren't going to be Alpha? You're twins, right? Shouldn't you like, share the title or something?" I asked, surprised by his revelation.He shook his head vehemently. "No way. That might be Tyler's dream, but it sure as shit isn't mine," he explained, bitterness lacing his voice.It all seemed to suddenly make sense. This was the reason he was such a huge disappointment to his parents, why he had a far more flexible schedule than Tyler. I stared at him in surprise for a moment as it all fell into place."So, sorry to disappoint you, but you're mated to one future Alpha... and me," he finished, the bitterness morphing into disdain as he gestured toward himself.He seemed annoyed and was suddenly staring at me as if waiting for my reaction, his eyes burning with defiance.I looked at him, my own eyes wide and filled with worry as I whispered, "I don't want to be Luna," shaking my head slightly as I revealed the truth to him.His expression softened. "Does Tyler know
Ryder and I spent most of the day chatting in the kitchen and getting to know one another better. After telling him about my relationship with my parents, he seemed to have dropped his guard a little more, and the conversation was filled with fewer jokes and less sarcasm. Instead, it was replaced with more honesty and vulnerability. I was just telling Ryder about the time Skylar had sabotaged my dress for a school dance by slashing the skirt, when Tyler appeared in the doorway, taking me by surprise. I jumped off the chair I'd been perched on beside Ryder and stood there like I'd been caught in some compromising position. Tyler chuckled and headed to the fridge. "Hey, guys. Sorry to interrupt," he apologized, taking a soda out and snapping it open. Looking like a deer caught in the headlights, I went on to say, in a rather surprised and accusing tone, "What are you doing here? You aren't supposed to be here." "It's kind of my house..." he reminded me with a chuckle. "But you sai
I looked up at him, my heart racing and my eyes begging him for more. He released my hand, his fingers now cradling my cheek tenderly as he kissed me. His touch sent a rush of pleasure through me as a wave of goosebumps rippled throughout my body. My hands had a mind of their own as they trailed their way up his arms and over his shoulders before they wrapped around the back of his neck. The kiss grew more fervent and his hands wandered down the curves of my body before settling on my butt. He began to trail hungry kisses down my neck as his hands pulled my hips closer to him possessively. I leaned my head back, giving him all the access he needed as he nipped and kissed along my neck and collarbone. His fingers began a desperate ascent once more, feeling their way over my body like a man lost in the darkness. They wandered up under my top, his touch warm against my skin as he wrapped a hand around my waist, anchoring me in place against him as he kissed me once more. With one hand
(Katelyn's POV)"You're okay," Tyler whispered over and over again, but I wasn't sure whether he was talking to me or to himself.âWhat the fuck was that, Kate?!â Ryder's voice demanded.I shook my head, against Tyler's chest, still trying to come to terms with where I was and what was going on here."I... I just..." I tried to reply, but my voice was weak and hoarse.Tyler kissed the top of my head, his own breathing uneven as he gently stroked my hair, still holding me against him in a death grip. "Sshhh... Sshhh..." he hushed me, shaking his head as he rocked me back and forth."Never again. Never a-fucking-gain. Okay? You're never doing that again, Katelyn," Ryder's voice was sharp and firm, leaving no room for argument or debate. "Never again..." he repeated, sounding more exhausted now.It took a few minutes for me to regain my bearings as Tyler continued to whisper soft reassurances in my ear, rocking me back and forth against his chest like a child.I heard the sound of footst
(Katelyn's POV)The airplaneâs engines droned softly as I stared out the window, the world below reduced to quilted patches of green and brown earth divided by winding roads.New Haven, Connecticut... The Council Headquarters. We were still a few hours away, but the gravity of what awaited me felt like a noose around my neck.I adjusted my seatbelt for what felt like the hundredth time and closed my eyes, leaning back into my seat and letting my thoughts drift back over the last two days at home. The two days Iâd spent trying, and failing, to harness my telekinesis. The two days that had left me feeling more exhausted, more frustrated, and more anxious than before.Iâd wanted so badly to figure it all out before I faced The Council. Iâd tried everything I could think of. At first, I tried to recreate the conditions of those emotional surges, thinking maybe I could trick my mind into somehow flipping that internal switch. I thought about arguments. About fear. About sadness. But nothin
(Katelyn's POV)The next day started off like any other, but with the new weight and responsibility of pregnancy pressing down on me. I'd made a call to Dr Connors's offices to try and get a better idea of how far along I was and we managed to gauge that I was about three weeks in. She said they would be able to confirm by checking measurements and all that stuff at my first scan, but for now, I was three weeks in. Three out of forty. It somehow felt like too much and not enough at the same time.Shortly after the call, Alpha David's voice called from upstairs. My blood went cold and the twins and I exchanged worried glances."Jesus, do you think he overheard that?" I asked, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights.Tyler shook his head. "I doubt it..." but still, he looked as concerned as I felt.The fact that David had bothered to call us upstairs personally, rather than sending Tyler a message like he usually did, didnât escape me. This time, heâd taken the effort to personally
(Katelyn's POV)Ryder's hand lingered on my stomach for a moment, but then he sighed and dropped it."So... What do we do now? I mean, I guess this thing is happening. Do we have to start picking names and shit?" he asked, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.I shook my head. "I don't really know. Can't say this has ever happened to me before. I don't even know how far along I am... I kinda freaked out and left the doctor's office before she got to tell me..." I admitted."Well, you should probably find out," Tyler suggested, slipping his hand into mine and giving it a squeeze. "A timeline might be helpful here."I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll try get hold of the doctor's office tomorrow to see if she can give me more details. She said something about an OBGYN. I think she gave me a referral or something. Maybe Jen knows more of the details. My brain was all over the place," I explained, feeling a little stupid for not paying more attention to something so fucking
(Katelyn's POV)Ryder fell into silence, not finishing his thought as his jaw tightened and his hands balled into fists.Tylerâs hand rested reassuringly on mine, his presence a steadying force, but Ryderâs tense silence was killing me. He looked like a caged animal, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.âIâŚâ Ryder started, but his voice faltered. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as frustration flashed across his face. âHow am I supposed to do this?!â he suddenly blurted, his voice sharp and rising with each word. âFor fuckâs sake! Iâve just agreed to take on the role of Alpha! Now I need to play dad too?! When is it going to stop?! When is it going to be enough?!âHe stood up again and began pacing, his movements erratic and tense. âI canât! I canât do all of this at the same time! Itâs too much! How the fuck am I supposed to deal with this?!âHis words hit me like a slap, leaving me momentarily stunned. The fear and uncertainty I had been feeling all day were
(Katelyn's POV)The drive home had felt too short. Jenna and I had spent lunch talking in circles, and I knew she was just trying to distract me, to lighten the load, but there was no amount of banter or brainstorming that could make this easier.When sheâd suggested checking out some stores for the twinsâ birthday gifts, Iâd briefly considered it, but ultimately, I'd ended up saying no. I was way too distracted to focus and it felt like it would be a total waste of time. So, instead, she called the Uber, and we headed home.The drive was quiet, my thoughts too loud to leave room for conversation. All I could think about the entire way was what I was going to say, rehearsing it in my mind and trying to come up with the right words, but I guess there are only so many ways you can say, 'I'm pregnant', right?When the Uber pulled up outside the house, Jenna gave me a tight hug. âYouâll be fine,â she murmured, her hands gripping my shoulders as she looked me in the eye. âYouâre going to t
(Katelyn's POV)"You can tell them the truth, babe," Jenna said with a reassuring smile. "I mean, that's what I'd recommend.""What if... What if I can't do this? What if... What if I don't want this life?" I whispered softly, ashamed to be saying the words out loud.Jenna squeezed my hand. "Well, that's something you need to think about. It's not a decision to make on a whim. But if that's what you decide, I'll be there for you every step of the way. I'll hold your hand in the appointment and tell you that everything is going to be okay. I would never let you do this on your own, okay? Never," she assured me, looking into my eyes with a fierceness that told me she wasn't kidding."Do you want to think it over for a while before you talk to the twins about it?" she suggested, her hand still clutching mine across the table.I shook my head. "No. I can't keep this from them. Even if I wanted to, I know I wouldn't be able to.""Babe, I'm sure they're going to be super supportive," she ins
(Katelyn's POV)The words echoed in my ears, bouncing around my skull but refusing to settle into anything coherent.âNo,â I whispered, shaking my head as tears began to well up in my eyes. âI can't... That can't... This wasnât...â but the words evaporated into thin air as I tried to reason this out.Dr Connors watched me carefully. âI know this might be a lot to take in,â she said, keeping her tone professional but supportive. âBut you have options, Katelyn. You donât need to make any decisions right now. Perhaps you should just take some time to process this.ââOptions?â I repeated numbly, the word tasting foreign on my tongue.Her meaning was clear, but I couldnât focus on it. I couldnât focus on anything. The tears spilled over, sliding down my cheeks as my chest heaved with quiet sobs.Jenna was at my side instantly, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. âItâs okay, babe,â she murmured. âWeâll figure this out, okay? Youâre not alone in this. I'm here with you.âI couldnât even bri
(Katelyn's POV)The silence in the room was unbearable as Dr. Connors studied the test. My heart pounded, each beat feeling sharper than the last and I could feel sweat beginning to pool at the base of my spine.âItâs positive,â Dr. Connors said, looking down at the test on the desk in front of her.My stomach flipped violently. âWhat?!â I blurted, my voice echoing in the hollow room.âItâs positive,â she repeated, looking at me with a measured expression.I blinked at her, my mind scrambling to process the information. âNo, no, no,â I stammered, shaking my head furiously. âThat canât be right. How many stripes should it have?" I demanded to know, certain that she must be mistaken."One stripe is negative, two is positive," she explained, pushing the test toward me for verification."Well then you're wrong, when Iâ" The words died on my lips as I looked down at the test in front of me. Two stripes. One was faint, but very clearly a stripe.My mouth went dry, my lungs forgot how to wo