Ryder scoffed and rolled his eyes, but made no objections as I stretched out like a cat, my socked feet resting in his lap. We watched in silence a little longer when my curiosity finally got the best of me. "Do you believe in stuff like this?" I asked with genuine curiosity as I gestured with a nod toward the TV. "What? You mean ghosts?" he asked, seemingly a little surprised by the question. I nodded. "Well, yeah. Like ghosts and paranormal stuff," I clarified, interested to hear his answer. "Well, I mean, I believe in werewolves," he joked, eliciting an exasperated eye roll from me, but then he went on more seriously. "I'm not sure. I've never experienced anything that's convinced me, but I'm not against the possibility of it being real. Maybe I'm just waiting for proof. What about—" He was cut off by the harsh buzzing sound of his phone vibrating on the wooden coffee table in front of us. Watching him reach out for it and pick it up, I could clearly see the word, 'MOM" emblaz
"Do you think you'd ever reconsider?" I asked with a thoughtful expression. "I mean, do you think you might change your mind and wake up one day thinking, 'Shit, I feel this big hole in my life because I didn't fulfill the task I was made for'?" I clarified, my gaze set on him with curiosity."That sounds like an issue for future Ryder. Right now, I'm happy with my decision," he stated firmly, his conviction unwavering. "I'm not the leader. I'm not the role model. I'm a fucking write-off and I would never deserve the title of Alpha anyway. Tyler was made for it, and I'm okay with that," he finished, seeming to resign himself to these self-proclaimed facts."You aren't a write-off," I asserted with a scoff, giving him a stern look.He shrugged, uninterested in arguing the point.I shook my head and sighed, seeing that he was shutting down and becoming apathetic. Deciding not to push him any further, I leaned in closer to him, resting my head against his shoulder in a gesture of support
Unfortunately for me, I wasn't so lucky. After waking up and changing into my pajamas, I struggled to get back to sleep. Then, when I finally did manage to fall asleep, I kept getting that weird falling feeling that jolted me awake at least three times. Needless to say, it had been a miserable night for me, which was only exacerbated by the fact that I'd barely slept the night before too. I opened one groggy eye as I heard my bedroom door creak open. With gentle footsteps, Aunt Mara tiptoed into my dark room, halting at the treadmill before retreating back out the door and closing it behind her quietly. I wondered what that had been all about, but figured it couldn't be anything all that sinister if it involved Aunt Mara. With a groan I swung one lazy leg out of bed, then the other, using the momentum to pull myself into a sitting position. I sat in silent stillness for a moment, hunched over and listening to Aunt Mara's footsteps in the kitchen. She was likely making her morning c
The world around me went dark and I slipped out of consciousness, a welcome escape from my reality and the pain that seemed to radiate from my right forearm.I wasn't sure whether I'd been asleep for hours or days when the muffled sound of an argument seemed to pull me back toward wakefulness. I opened my groggy eyes, looking around for the source of the conflict.It was immediately clear that I was in the hospital. The sterile, white room, that lingering smell of cleaning products and disinfectant, and the sound of distant beeping machines gave it away instantly. Aunt Mara was sitting beside me on an uncomfortable-looking chair, reading a book with great focus.My head was throbbing and I wanted to reach up to touch it, but the attempt caused a jolt of pain in my arm and I groaned. The memory of the bloody bone sticking through my pale skin made me feel sick all over again, but Aunt Mara's gasp served as a welcome distraction."You're awake!" she exclaimed, scooting closer to me in
***TRIGGER WARNING - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE*** The odd couple watched Aunt Mara with suspicious eyes as she sauntered past them casually. She exited the room quietly, closing the door behind her. "Miss Grey," Pantsuit Barbie addressed me, her tone shifting from serious to friendly in an instant, "I'm Tamara Bennett. I'm a Social Worker here at the hospital and I'd like to ask you a few questions if that's alright with you?" The woman began to walk toward my bed before I had even had a chance to reply. The pink pantsuit she wore was practical and formal, which was a sharp contrast to her shoes, which were anything but practical. The strappy stiletto heels made my feet ache on her behalf and I wondered how a person could wear those all day. Her entire outfit seemed to be a display of her authority and power, but simultaneously her femininity. "Is this about the AMA thing?" I asked, not understanding what the big deal was. "I'd just like to better understand why you would want to leave th
"I know... but you didn't. I told them you weren't even there when it happened," I explained, now having a better understanding as to why he had been so upset."They wouldn't let me come back in the room. They kept me out there with two security guards watching my every move... as if they would have stood a chance against me," he scoffed with a small smile, enjoying the knowledge that he could easily have torn them apart if he wanted to. But then the smile faded again."I wouldn't hurt you, Kate..." he assured me, releasing his grip on me now so that he could look into my eyes."I know..." I replied with a tiny smile as the fingers of my left hand found their way up and held his cheek. I stood on my tiptoes, trying to reach his lips with my own.He leaned down to bridge the gap between us, his lips meeting mine in a caring kiss as he held me in his arms.A soft knock at the door signaled Aunt Mara's return. It had taken her longer than it should have to get a drink from a vending mach
Aunt Mara gave a light, airy chuckle, which was completely unexpected. This was serious... I was mated to the future Alpha and I didn't want to be Luna. What was so funny about that? Her expression turned serious when she saw me staring at her in disbelief. "Honey, you were born to lead," she said simply, though the smile still tugged at the corner of her lips as she pulled into the driveway. I scoffed. "I'm a bit of a wallflower, in case you hadn't noticed..." I reminded her with a frown. "No, baby. You command attention. You blame the hair, but it's not that. And it's only becoming more apparent as you're getting older now. There's something we need to talk about, but—" My car door suddenly opened, interrupting her mid-sentence. Ryder loomed over me with a smile. Aunt Mara sighed deeply and continued in a whisper, "But the time never seems right..." She frowned. "Sorry Aunt Mara. What were you going to say?" I asked, urging her to continue despite our interruption. "We'll tal
Aunt Mara suddenly walked into the room looking concerned. In truth, I hadn't even noticed that she had left. "Honey, I hate to do this, but I need to go. One of the kids at school choked. She's fine now, thank God, but I need to go in to help with damage control. Ryder, would you stay with her?" she asked, giving Ryder a pleading look. I wiped the tear from my cheek as I looked up at Ryder. His expression was one of concern, but he nodded. "Of course," he replied. "But would you be able to swing by Dr Kelly's office then to get Kate's painkillers on your way back? He said he'd try come past here at the end of the day, just to give her a once over, but that might still be a while." "Sure," she replied, gathering her stuff together. "Of course, this would happen on the first day I take off all year..." she continued, mumbling under her breath in annoyance. She straightened herself up, smoothing down her shirt and taking a deep breath. "Sorry, baby," she murmured as she leaned over
(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.“What the fuck was that, Kate?!” 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 airplane’s 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 I’d 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.I’d wanted so badly to figure it all out before I faced The Council. I’d 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, didn’t escape me. This time, he’d 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.Tyler’s hand rested reassuringly on mine, his presence a steadying force, but Ryder’s tense silence was killing me. He looked like a caged animal, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.“I…” Ryder started, but his voice faltered. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as frustration flashed across his face. “How am I supposed to do this?!” he suddenly blurted, his voice sharp and rising with each word. “For fuck’s sake! I’ve 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?!”He stood up again and began pacing, his movements erratic and tense. “I can’t! I can’t do all of this at the same time! It’s too much! How the fuck am I supposed to deal with this?!”His 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 she’d suggested checking out some stores for the twins’ birthday gifts, I’d 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. “You’ll be fine,” she murmured, her hands gripping my shoulders as she looked me in the eye. “You’re 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.“No,” I whispered, shaking my head as tears began to well up in my eyes. “I can't... That can't... This wasn’t...” but the words evaporated into thin air as I tried to reason this out.Dr Connors watched me carefully. “I know this might be a lot to take in,” she said, keeping her tone professional but supportive. “But you have options, Katelyn. You don’t need to make any decisions right now. Perhaps you should just take some time to process this.”“Options?” I repeated numbly, the word tasting foreign on my tongue.Her meaning was clear, but I couldn’t focus on it. I couldn’t 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. “It’s okay, babe,” she murmured. “We’ll figure this out, okay? You’re not alone in this. I'm here with you.”I couldn’t 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.“It’s positive,” Dr. Connors said, looking down at the test on the desk in front of her.My stomach flipped violently. “What?!” I blurted, my voice echoing in the hollow room.“It’s positive,” she repeated, looking at me with a measured expression.I blinked at her, my mind scrambling to process the information. “No, no, no,” I stammered, shaking my head furiously. “That can’t 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 I—" 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