Page 107

"Privacy protocol engaged," the AI responds. "All monitoring systems disabled."

I move to the equipment I need. A simple blood test will confirm what I already suspect, but I'm not taking any chances. I draw my blood, then prepare the sample for analysis.

While the computer processes the results, I pace the length of the lab. If I'm right, and I'm almost sure I am, our lives are about to change again.

The question is, who's the father?

I laugh softly at the absurdity of the situation. Four Alphas, one Omega, and a heat cycle that lasted for a week. It could be any of them. It could be all of them, in a way. Omega biology is still largely uncharted territory, especially for someone like me who can bond with multiple Alphas.

The computer chimes, indicating that the analysis is complete. I take a deep breath and look at the screen.

Pregnancy Confirmed. Gestation: Approximately 7 weeks.

Even though I was expecting it, seeing the confirmation sends a shock through my system. I grab the vaginal ultrasound wand and insert it inside of me, looking for a heartbeat. To my surprise, I find four! I'm pregnant, and I'm pregnant with quadruplets! Lives are growing inside me; babies created from the bonds I share with my Alphas.

I run additional tests to check hormone levels and genetic markers. Everything looks normal, though "normal" is a relative term when dealing with an unprecedented multi-bonded Omega pregnancy.

I sit up heavily on the lab table, my hand moving instinctively to my stomach. Four babies. Our babies.

For a woman who spent most of her life devoted to science, the idea of motherhood never featured prominently in my plans. But now, knowing four lives are growing inside me, lives created from the most unexpected and powerful connections I've ever experienced, I feel a surge of protectiveness and joy that takes my breath away.

The question now is how to tell them.

I save the test results on my secure server and clear the screens. This news belongs to all of us, but I want to find the right moment, the right words.

As I make my way back upstairs, the scent of breakfast greets me.

They are all in the kitchen when I enter. Leo is at the stove, Evan is reading news on his tablet, Axl is perched on a counter strumming his guitar, and Onyx is leaning against the island, drinking coffee. They look up when I enter, and I see the question in their eyes.

"Is everything okay?" Evan asks, setting down his tablet.

I nod, moving to pour a glass of water on myself. "Yes."

Onyx's nostrils flare slightly, and I know he can smell the change in me. His eyes widen almost imperceptibly, but he says nothing.

"Sit," Leo orders, gesturing to the table. "I made plain toast and scrambled eggs. It should be gentle on your stomach."

I obey, suddenly ravenous despite the nausea from earlier. As I eat, I watch them move around each other with the easy familiarity we've developed. It wasn't always this smooth. The first few weeks were a tangle of jealousy, territorial disputes, and the occasional physical altercation. But we've found our rhythm, each of them carving out their role in our unusual family.

Evan handles the business and security aspects, using his resources to protect what we've built. Leo manages practical day-to-day operations; his mind is always alert to potential threats. Onyx provides the connection to the shifter community, bridging the gap between our world and theirs. And Axl brings joy and spontaneity, reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously.

And me? I'm the center, the Omega who holds them all together. The scientist who found the cure. The woman who loves them each differently but equally.

"You're quiet this morning," Axl observes, setting his guitar aside. "What's going on in that brilliant brain of yours?"

I look around at them, these four extraordinary men who've become my world. They deserve to know now.

"I have something to tell you," I say, setting down my fork. "Something important."

They immediately go still and focus all their attention on me. The intensity of four Alpha gazes is still overwhelming sometimes.

"Is it about the tests you ran?" Evan asks, his voice carefully neutral.

I nod, taking a deep breath. "I've been feeling strange lately..."

"Dahlia, are you...?" Leo asks

"Yes," I confirm, unable to keep the smile from spreading across my face. "I'm pregnant."