Page 148 of The Other Omega

“Caius! You made it.”

“For you, my love, I would have made it from considerably less convenient circumstances.”

My smile widened until I noticed the dark smear across his forehead. “Is that blood?”

Caius wiped it with the back of his hand and checked his fingers as if I’d pointed out a bit of dust. “It is not mine, my love. I am well and safe.”

I stared at him for another second before deciding I really didn’t want to know anything more about whose blood it was. Alaric was still in uniform, his collar slightly undone, a stack of documents visible behind him. He looked exhausted, but his attention stayed completely on me. Lucien sat beneath the cold light of his office with his shirtsleeves rolled to his forearms.

“Okay.” I rubbed my hands together, then gave a small clap. “First things first. I’m sorry for asking for a Pack meeting so suddenly. I know you’re all very busy, but this can’t wait.” My stomach fluttered as I looked between them. “I wanted to tell you in person, but Thaddeus says it can’t wait until you’re all home, so this will have to do.”

Leon shifted a little closer beside me.

“I don’t even know the best way to tell you, so I’m just gonna go ahead and say it, okay?” All five were watching me, their faces so serious, while I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. “I’m pregnant.”

I waited for someone to say something.

Nobody did.

“We”—I waved between us—“are gonna become parents.”

Alaric didn’t move at all. Caius’s eyes widened, and Lucien looked like I’d just announced gravity had stopped working.

“Yes. I know, I know! It’s very shocking for all of you. I was shocked too, even though I suspected I was pregnant in the first place, but it’s true.” My smile grew despite their blank faces. “We are gonna be parents.”

Leon found his voice first. “Sweetheart, you cannot be pregnant.”

“That’s what Eira said.”

“You have not had a heat,” Caius said.

“I know that’s how it typically works. But we all know nothing about my presentation was typical.”

Darius turned fully towards me. “We would know.”

“Thaddeus said that too! My scent is only a few days away from changing enough for you to recognise it. Can you imagine? If I’d waited a few more days, you would’ve told me instead of him.”

Alaric still hadn’t taken his eyes off me. “Thaddeus confirmed this?”

“Yes. Properly confirmed. Blood tests, scans, everything.” I grabbed my pad and opened the recording. “I have the scan here. Look.” I projected it above the table. “Can you see?”

They all studied the image with such serious expressions that I nearly laughed. I knew it was enormous, but they looked like they were trying to solve a military crisis instead of looking at a picture of their baby.

“And that’s not even the best part yet.” Their attention returned to me. “We are having twins!”

I enlarged the scan until the two little shapes filled the display. “Can you see? They look like babies already, even though they’re still tiny.” I laughed. “They’re seventeen weeks and three days, and they’re perfect. Thaddeus checked everything, and he says they’re doing very well for now. He even gave me a proper image of them. It’s really clear.” I selected it on my pad. “Let me send it to you.”

“Elowen…” Alaric began.

“One second.” I sent the picture into the Pack chat. “There. Look at how pretty they are already. They’re not actually that big, obviously. He enlarged the image for me, but look…” I zoomed in again. “Look at their tiny fingers and toes.”

Leon was already staring at the picture on his own pad, while Darius still hadn’t moved beside me.

“Two,” Caius said quietly.

“Yes, my love. Two.”

The bond was so quiet that I couldn’t yet tell what any of them were feeling.