Yanking the front door open, my annoyance only grew at the sight of the person on the other side. "Oh... It's you," I said flatly, unable to mask the disdain in my voice. Ryder stood there, his eyes narrowed, a clear accusation in his gaze. "Did you lose your phone?" he asked curtly, his tone sharp. "No, I just don't want to talk to you right now," I replied, my hand already on the door, ready to close it and end this unwanted encounter. But Ryder was too quick. He placed his hand against the door, holding it firmly open. "Well, I do want to talk. We need to work this out," he insisted, his voice steady and serious. His eyes blazed with a determination that told me he'd set his mind on this and he wasn't going to be easily dissuaded. I sighed and rolled my eyes with annoyance before reluctantly stepping outside, pulling the door shut behind me to afford us some privacy from Aunt Mara, who was no doubt watching curiously from the dining table. "So talk," I said sharply as I took a
As I stepped back inside, Aunt Mara's eyes met mine and she gave me a look that said 'I have questions'. "It was Ryder," I stated, as I headed back to the seat I had been occupying just before he'd arrived. "I figured it must have been one of the twins," Aunt Mara replied, gazing back at the door before she penciled in a number on her puzzle. "What did he want?" she asked curiously. I sighed. "We had a bit of an argument earlier. He came to clear the air," I replied, feeling a heaviness settle over me. "That's a good thing, right?" she asked, her eyes settling on me again now with a searching look. "Yeah, it's a good thing," I assured her, clearing my throat as I stared down at the wooden table in front of me. "So... If it's a good thing, why do you look so concerned?" Aunt Mara asked, taking a sip of her wine. "His parents have invited me for dinner tonight," I finally said, my voice tinted with worry. "And you don't want to go?" she probed gently, her brows knitting togeth
Time slipped by as I got lost in a fictional world of magic and politics. It was a welcome respite, but before I knew it, Ryder was messaging me to tell me he was on his way. My anxiety levels began to rise immediately. I was hopeful that dinner would be a pleasant affair, but my gut told me to be wary. Grabbing a jacket from my cupboard, I headed out to wait for Ryder in the quickly cooling evening. "Bye, Aunt Mara!" I called out as she got ready for her dinner date in her room. "Bye, hun!" she replied, her voice carrying down the hallway. "Make sure you're safe!" I teased, opening the front door. "You too!" she replied with a lighthearted chuckle from the other side of the house. Just as I was heading down the porch steps, holding the railing very carefully, as had become my new habit, Ryder pulled up in front of the house. "Hey," I greeted him as I climbed in. "Hey," he replied, flashing an uncertain smile. I gave him a curious look. "You okay?" I asked. "Nope," he repli
My eyes closed for a moment as I enjoyed the brief touch of his hand despite the chaos swirling in my mind. I wasn't about to argue with him. It wouldn't prove anything or get us anywhere, so I let it go. He wasn't entirely wrong anyway.When I opened my eyes, he was still looking at me, his eyes searching mine as if he were trying to read my mind.It felt like he wanted to say something, but he never did and the silence stretched out awkwardly until I couldn't take it anymore."So, tell me more about Tuesday," I ventured, needing a way to break through the mounting tension that the quiet between us seemed to be causing.Ryder retracted his hand from my cheek as if he'd been snapped out of a daze before he replied, "Uh... The gig is at a small club in Portland, pretty laid back. Ash’s band is decent, but I'm not sure you'll like their music," Ryder explained, his voice sounding uncertain."Why? What kind of music do they play?" I asked curiously.For some reason, I immediately thought
We'd all heard the noise, but no one made any move to investigate. Besides me, Shelly seemed to be the only one who looked worried and fearful that something was wrong. So maybe it was a door that had just slammed in the wind and the rest of the family was used to it?But as I turned my attention to Ryder, my gut told me it wasn't the wind. He was watching his parents through narrowed eyes, clearly suspicious as their shared looks of concern swept across the room to focus on the entrance.Heavy footfalls could be heard coming up the stairs and suddenly Tyler appeared in the entryway, a look of fury on his face. His hair was disheveled and he looked hot and sweaty, like he'd just finished a long run or something."Is there a reason I wasn't invited to this little family gathering?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. His expression softened momentarily, until his focus was turned back on his parents.Shelly quietly retreated from the room, probably figuring
Liz intervened, her voice calming but firm, "Tyler, nobody's trying to change your mind or your feelings. We're just concerned—" "Concerned?" Tyler cut her off, his tone sharp. "If you were concerned, you'd talk to me, not manipulate my schedule to try and keep me away from Kate." Under the table, Ryder squeezed my thigh gently, grounding me as the discussion escalated. Liz sighed, looking between David and Tyler, a hint of desperation in her eyes. "We're doing what we think is best for you, for the pack. We're not your enemies, Tyler." "But you're treating me like I'm incapable of making my own decisions," Tyler argued. "I'm the future Alpha. How can you expect me to lead if you're constantly undermining me?" David stood, his posture stiff as he faced Tyler. "Because sometimes, Tyler, you're too close to the situation to see it clearly. We're trying to help you see beyond this... infatuation." "Infatuation?" Tyler's laugh was bitter. "That's what you think this is?" My hand dro
I watched as Ryder led Kate back downstairs, feeling a mix of relief and regret. The anger that had surged through me just moments ago began to dissipate, leaving a deep sense of disappointment in its wake. I turned my attention back to my parents, searching their expressions for any kind of understanding. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?” I asked, wanting a real answer. “Kate is a good person. She makes me happy. Isn't that enough?” My mom looked down at the half-cleared table, covertly wiping a tear from her eye. I thought I saw a flicker of shame crossing her face. Dad, on the other hand, remained resolute. His expression only hardened as he met my gaze. "No," he said plainly, "It's good to hear that you're happy, but that's not enough. You need a strong partner at your side. If Ryder isn't going to stand with you, you need a mate that will." That was ridiculous and I told him as much. "What about you? You're the Alpha and you don't have your brother holding your hand eve
I stood frozen on the spot as Tyler took a step toward me, his confession hanging in the air between us. A whirlwind of emotions swirled within me. Fear... Hope... Relief... Understanding... "You don't have to say it back if you aren't ready," he said, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face. "There's no rush." He didn't look upset or disappointed, rather he wore a thoughtful smile. His patience only deepened the feelings I knew I already felt. This was right. We were right. Of course, his parents couldn't see it, but who could blame them? It was like trying to describe the color blue to someone who was blind. They wouldn't get it. They couldn't. "I love you too," I whispered, the words radiating warmth through my chest as I looked into his eyes. I knew I meant it, which was kind of scary. It felt like I was exposing myself to him, laying bare all my vulnerabilities and hoping he wouldn't use them against me at some point in the future. But I trusted him. His
(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