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“We’ll meet you at the hospital so Finn can have a look at you.”

“What? No. Jamie, seriously, this is normal. Didn’t you read any of the books Finn brought home?”

Yes, I did, and I don’t fucking care. You’ll meet us there in twenty minutes or I will—”

“Fine.”

Nix is so angry, he just hangs up and throws open the door of the restroom so he can storm into the dining area. He’s got his scent turned down to a trickle, or he might have incited a panic, he’s so angry. Thank the Goddess he’s got that skill on lock.

The barista is standing by their table with a to-go cup in her hand and a little paper bag. Nix slows his walk and pastes a smile on his face, but he’s not sure he’s successful in containing his anger as her eyes go comically wide.

“Uh…Nix, this is from one of our regulars. He’s usually in here when you are, oddly enough. Said you might need these, whatever that means.”

Nix looks around, but the tall, handsome man is gone.

“Tall guy?”

The barista just smiles. “Mmhmm. Dreamy. Matteo is so nice.”

“Matteo Romano was here? Where? I can’t believe I missed him. Why wouldn’t he have come over and said hello?” Luca muses.

“Do we know him?”

Nix accepts the cup, and a waft of peppermint tingles his nose; when he takes a sip, it calms his tummy. There are two plain sugar cookies in the bag, and it’s a surprisingly thoughtful gesture from a stranger whoshouldn’tknow he’s pregnant.

Luca grabs his coat and hands Tsuki her leash, making sure she has it firmly in her mouth.

“Yeah. He’s Kennedy pack. Works for…oh…” He stops, looking caught out and guilty. “Don’t be mad…der.”

Oh, this is going to be good, Nix sighs to himself.

He puts Jay’s black puffer coat back on, and the scent of happy pine surrounds him, but also reminds him of his Pack Alpha’s ultimatum at the same time.

“Mad about what?” he grumps as he spots Artem pulling up outside.

The air is frigid when he opens the door, and Nix is grateful for the hot to-go cup warming his hands. He slides the cookies into his pocket.

Maybe he’ll start keeping his own pocket-snacks now.

“Well, I might have texted Gideon to see if he wanted to join us at the cafe. And Matteo works at Sentinel.”

So, Nix’s covert trip to the cafe was not, in fact, covert.

Luca told Gideon, who either called Sentinel or Jay, who then called Sentinel himself.

Nix doesn’t realize he’s growling until Tsuki drops her leash and takes up a position beside him, leash on the ground and teeth bared.

The action makes both Artem and Luca jump.

Anger at his high-handed, irritating, sneaky mates has reached its maximum.

It’s only when he feels the hot tea burn his hand that he realizes he has crushed the cup.

The other two men begin to talk over each other in concern, but he waves them off.

“I’m alright. Can we go, please? I have some things I need to say, and I expect the people I need to say them to are at the hospital.”

One Must Stay (Gideon)