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When she hadn’t answered us for a few moments, we’d barged in—the lock was flimsy and could easily be undone from outside—only to find her staring at the test on the counter. Her face was contorted in shock as she muttered to herself, too quietly for us to hear.

It was obvious she had expected it to be negative. If she had thought there was a serious possibility of her being pregnant, she would have taken the test a lot more seriously.

“B-but what does this mean?” she asked in a small voice.

The lack of confidence, the quiet panic, it tugged on something inside me. I wanted to reach out and pull her into my arms to assure her that everything would be all right. We would take care of her.

My pack and I had been in this situation before, but it hadn’t ended well.

Then again, Bethany was a very different person from Joey’s mother. She wasn’t the kind of omega who would bail on her child. Though, truth be told, we’d thought the same about Bella.

“We’re going to need to get you a doctor’s appointment to see how far along you are,” Jensen said softly.

Bethany’s eyes shot to him. “Well, considering the only time I’ve had sex in the last three years was when I shared my heat with you guys, I think it’s pretty obvious whenthishappened,” she said, waving the test in the air.

Cullen snorted. “Ignore Dr. Stupid. You do need to make an appointment, though, to make sure everything is okay and to help prepare.”

We were all crowded in the doorway, pressed up against one another. The overwhelming urge to make things right was hitting me, but I had no cluehowto do that.

“I had wine,” Bethany whispered in horror, glancing between the test and us. “The other night. Oh god, do you think I’ve hurt them?” she asked in a panicked whisper, her hands drifting to her stomach where our baby was growing.

Our baby.

We were going to be fathers again.

That little plus sign was impossible to ignore.

“A glass of wine won’t cause any problems,” Jensen assured her. “You can ask the OB when you see them.”

“This is impossible. This can’t be real. I don’t know what’s happening. I must be dreaming,” Bethany rambled as she started to pace in the small bathroom.

Internally, I was feeling just as panicked, but I knew I couldn’t let it show. My job now was to make sure thatsheremained calm and relaxed. Alphas were born to be leaders. Omegas were often the calming force behind them, but Bethany was far from calm; she needed us to be strong for her.

If we all freaked out, it would be a disaster.

“We will figure it out,” I said, gently grabbing her arm, stopping her panicked pacing.

“Figure it out? How are we supposed to figure this out? It’s ababy, Gideon. I went into heat, and now I’m pregnant with my bosses’ baby, because that’s what you guys are. You are my bosses!”

“Actually, we’re dating, and we have been since your heat,” Jensen pointed out.

Bethany huffed, glowering at my pack mate with impressive ire. I was kind of glad I wasn’t on the other end of that look. “I don’t think a few pity dates after an accidental heat really count in this situation, Jensen.”

That made me pause.

Pity dates?

Is that what she thought?

Cullen was the first to react, lurching forward into the small bathroom and cupping Bethany’s face in his hands, refusing to let her look away. “You think those were pity dates?” he asked, voice low and gravelly.

There was no missing the way her body automatically melted into his. Her hands rested on his chest as she leaned into his touch.

“Those were because wewantedto be around you. Yes, you’re fucking stunning and the sex was goddamned mind-blowing, but you, Bethany Wells, are a fucking ray of sunshine in the lives of us three grumpy assholes, and we love having you around.”

Bethany stared at him, her eyes wide and shocked.

“I fully agree with him,” I said. “Those were in no way pity dates, and if you say that again, you won’t be able to sit for a week.”