Page 19 of A Cobbled Conspiracy

“Is it?” My voice cracked. “Dominic’s in federal detention. We’re being threatened by organized crime. We’re living in Blake’s penthouse because it’s not safe to go home. And now…”

“Now you’re carrying the next generation of your family,” Penny said firmly, keeping his voice low. “A baby conceived between mates. You have a right to be happy about it if that’s what you’re feeling.”

I stared at the test, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what it meant. “You can’t tell anyone,” I said suddenly. “Not Blake, not Jake, and definitely not Dominic. Not until…”

“Until when?”

“Until he’s free. Until the threats stop. Until I know it’s safe.” My voice was stronger now, protective instincts I didn’t know I possessed surging to life.

Penny nodded solemnly. “Your secret’s safe with me. But you need to see Dr. Westfield soon. Pregnancy requires medical monitoring, especially with everything you’re dealing with.”

“I will,” I promised.

“Everything okay?” Blake’s voice came from the direction of the kitchen, and we both jumped.

“Just persuading Leo to try some of that ginger tea,” Penny called back cheerfully. He turned to me with a wink, keeping his voice just loud enough that Blake could probably hear. “You takea nice, long bath, and when you’re done, I’ll fix you a cup. And see if you can keep down some of those crackers too.”

After my bath—which, admittedly, was quite nice with Blake’s giant garden tub and Penny’s oatmeal bubble bath—I returned to the living room where Blake and Jake were deep in discussion about the threatening photograph. Penny bustled around the kitchen, his hands hovering over Blake's elaborate machine with visible disdain. His nose wrinkled as he pressed buttons and adjusted settings.

I smiled. Penny was a self-proclaimed snob when it came to his tea and coffee.

I felt like everything had changed while simultaneously staying exactly the same. I was still a cobbler. I was still dealing with the on-going threats to our community. I was still fighting to free my imprisoned mate.

But now I was also a parent-to-be, carrying a secret that made every risk more dangerous and every victory more essential.

My gaze landed on the photograph where it still lay atop its envelope. I stared at it, feeling the mating mark on my neck pulse with a rhythm that matched my accelerating heartbeat. Someone had violated Blake’s security, invaded our sanctuary, and threatened my alpha.

And now I knew—I was carrying his child.

The knowledge sat heavy and precious in my chest. With just two pink lines, everything had changed. The threatening photograph that should have scared me into backing down instead filled me with a fierce determination that had everything to do with the life growing inside me.

“They made a mistake,” I said quietly, my voice carrying an edge that surprised even me.

Blake looked up from his conversation with Jake. “How do you figure?”

“I don’t know how I know, but I think they’re scared.” I resisted the urge to rest my hand protectively on my stomach. Instead, I reached for the photograph. My eyes were immediately drawn to the sharp lines of Dominic’s jaw. I longed to touch him, hold him, look into the stormy steel-gray of his eyes…

I handed the picture to Blake. “If they were confident in their position, they wouldn’t need to threaten us. They would have just let the legal system destroy Dominic and moved on with their lives. I say we double-down.”

“Leo—” Penny started, his protective instincts clearly warring with admiration for my resolve.

“No.” My voice carried an edge of steel that seemed to surprise everyone in the room. “They want us to stop digging? Fine. But they picked the wrong omega to intimidate.”

I looked around at my chosen pack—Penny with his fierce loyalty and dramatic flair, Jake with his hard-won survival instincts, even Blake with his corporate resources and protective alpha authority.

Jake’s fingers drummed against his thigh as his gaze shifted between our faces. “So, what’s the plan now?”

Blake’s jaw tightened. He’d shucked his jacket and tie, tossing them onto a nearby chair. There was still an air of tension about him, as if he were ready to leap to our defense at the slightest provocation. “I think it’s best everyone stay put for a few days.”

“No can do,” I said. “I need to follow up with Victor tomorrow. I told him I’d come by the new boutique to discuss his commission. Three o’clock Friday afternoon, remember?”

Blake’s expression immediately shifted to concern. “I know I said you could take that meeting, but maybe you should reschedule? In light of this threat?—”

“No,” I said firmly, my rebellious instincts flaring. “I’m not letting them scare me away from my work any longer. This commission is important.”

Blake held up his hands in a placating gesture. “Then you need to let my driver stay with you at all times. He’s trained security. And I want Penny to go with you.”

The mention of going to see Victor made Penny’s scent spike with anxiety, his usual cotton candy sweetness taking on sharp, sour notes. His shoulders tensed, and I saw him swallow hard.