Page 76 of The Reluctant Alpha

“Know that because Phoenix compelled my shift that I am technically a member of his pack and cannot be the heir any longer?” Kaylan shook his head. “They have to, surely.”

“Would they, though?” Phoenix asked. “You’ve spent so much time with us, your scent is bound to be mixed.”

“Maybe," Kaylan said quietly. "If they don't realize immediately, it gives us time to assess the threat before they have to deal with...my situation."

We walked in silence for a few minutes, the weight of recent events settling over us like a heavy blanket.

“What I wanna know,” Kaylan teased, “is what’s going on with Baloo?”

I groaned at the nickname. “How old are you?”

"Twelve, apparently," Kaylan replied with a grin that made him look exactly that age. "But seriously, you've been walking around with this weird mix of panic and joy in your scent for days. It's like Christmas morning mixed with a root canal."

Phoenix snorted. "That's...actually a pretty accurate description."

I shot them both a glare. "Can we focus on the murderous revenant instead of my personal life?"

"Oh, we're definitely focusing on it," Kaylan said, his expression suddenly serious. "Because if Danny is carrying your cub, that makes him an even bigger target."

The casual way he said it made my stomach clench. "We don't know anything for certain yet," I said carefully.

"Right," Phoenix said, not bothering to hide his skepticism. "And I'm sure Danny's sudden aversion to coffee is just a coincidence."

I stopped walking, turning to face them both. "How did you—"

"Emery," they said in unison.

"Of course," I muttered. "Can't keep anything private in this pack."

"Not when it affects pack security," Phoenix said, his tone gentling. "Bayer, if Danny is pregnant, we need to adjust our protection protocols. A pregnant omega carrying an alpha's child gives off a very specific scent signature."

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of leadership and impending fatherhood pressing down on me. "He's not ready to talk about it yet. He needs time to process."

"Time we might not have," Phoenix pointed out.

“What about Emery? His recent heat?” If my sex life wasn’t off the table, then neither was Phoenix’s.

He shook his head. “No, Em took something he got from Esther. With everything going on, it wasn't the time for Em to get pregnant."

"Tell me about it," I muttered. But I knew I was lying. The thought of Danny being pregnant filled me with a joy I didn't know existed.

We'd reached the edge of the clearing where the gamma houses stood in a neat row. Phoenix pointed to the one on the end. "That's where we'll meet. There’s no way I’m letting them anywhere near either Em or Danny."

"And if Dimitri tries anything?" I asked.

"Rhys will be there," Phoenix reminded me. "He can sense their intentions better than any of us."

I nodded, though the thought of putting a teenager in potential danger didn't sit well with me. Which reminded me. "Does anyone know why Ben doesn't have any gifts like Rhys?"

"I actually asked Esther," Phoenix said. "And none of them seem to know. It could be he's just never had the chance to develop them."

Then I remembered Rhys and Ben talking. "Is it usual for Rhys to talk so quietly we can't hear him? Is that a gift?"

Phoenix looked puzzled. "When?"

"Ben watched the babies while we went into the study, and Rhys told him afterwards what had happened. I couldn't hear Rhys at all." Which for a shifter was very unusual.

"I never noticed," Phoenix said. "Must be a gift of Rhys's."