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“She did. I offered to bring dinner home with me, but she insisted,” I said as we headed up the drive.

“How long have you been here?” Jensen asked Cullen with a laugh.

“Seconds. Trust me, I wouldn’t hesitate to get some solo time with our girls.”

I would do exactly the same.

Together, we entered the house.

Bethany padded slowly down the stairs, her face serious. She was wearing tight leggings that showed off every curve of her legs and a college sweatshirt of mine.

“We need to talk,” she said, pointing to the living room. “Now.”

“Where’s Joey?” Cullen asked.

“Asleep. Living room.” Her response was short, terse. Her scent was unusual. Instead of the almost caramel apple scent she gave off when she was happy, this was charred, like someone had burned an apple pie.

“Uhh, why do you look murderous?” Jensen asked as we followed her, her footsteps a little louder than usual.

As we filtered into the room, Bethany closed the door, glowering at me. “Your admirer is a bitch!” she hissed, looking me dead in the eye. I was used to anger from her, but it was the playful, fun kind of anger. This anger was genuine and possibly violent.

Not that she was really dangerous; she was a tiny omega who hated mushrooms. Not exactly murder material.

Though, the look she was giving me was enough to make me reconsider.

“Admirer?” Jensen asked questioningly, cocking his head to the side as he stepped next to her. “Come here. You’re too far away,” he said, reaching out for her.

She batted his hands away.

Jensen frowned, pouting at her rejection.

“Jennifer Lowe?” She looked at me, her gaze hard.

What had that insufferable woman done now? She was a pain but harmless, or at least I’d thought she was.

“Isn’t that the PTA mom from the school? The clingy one who kept trying to convince you to join when Joey started there?” Cullen asked. “She was creepy,” he admitted with a shudder.

“Thank you!” Bethany threw her hands up in the air. “Clingy and creepy.”

“She’s not that bad,” I insisted. “She’s just…eager.”

Bethany rounded on me, the look of fury on her face so terrifying, I took a step back. We were probably a sight—a large alpha stepping back from the fury of a little, grumpy omega, but I was quickly realizing that she meant business.

“Well, that bitch and her demon child told Joey that I’m pregnant and that we wouldn’t want her once we have a new baby! The poor girl came home in buckets of tears.”

My blood turned to ice.

I focused on Bethany, who was staring me dead in the eye, her arms crossed, her body language screamingtry me. “Tell us everything.”

“Fuck, where is she?” Cullen said, going to get up from his seat, but Bethany lightly pushed him back down, shaking her head.

“She cried herself out, then fell asleep in the nest. She was exhausted, and I didn’t want to disturb her. You guys—Fuck. She was so distraught, and I wasn’t sure what to say to comfort her.”

Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes, and she furiously wiped them away.

The sight of her distress was just another blow.

I needed to make it right. My family was upset, and it was my job to protect, love, and cherish them. There was nothing on this earth I valued more than the people in my house at that moment, and I would do whatever it took to prove that.