Page 28 of Nursing the Alpha

Soon it was time to leave as Ellie became droopy.

Micah bundled the baby tighter into her little jacket, and I looked on in envy.

He was such a good daddy to Ellie. Would I be a good parent as well?

We parted ways outside the bistro with plans to meet up again before the party.

But my heart wasn’t in our parting words.

By the time he was out of sight, I was moving faster than I should have been, cutting across streets and weaving through pedestrians with my coat clutched tight around me.

I couldn’t wait.

I had to know.

The glowing green pharmacy sign up ahead felt like salvation. I ducked inside, the too-bright lights making my eyes water, and beelined straight for the pregnancy tests. My hands shook as I grabbed not one, but three different brands, because what if one was wrong? What if two were?

The cashier didn’t even blink as I paid, though I couldn’t meet her eyes. I shoved the little bag into my coat pocket then took a cab to Seth’s—our—home. I speed-walked up the driveway, and once I set foot inside the house, I made a beeline for the downstairs halfbath.

“Baby, that you?” Seth called, making me jump.

“Yeah. Just need to use the bathroom. Be there in a sec!”

It wasn’t a lie. I needed to pee. On a stick. Three sticks.

I dumped my bag on the floor and slipped into the bathroom. My chest felt tight as I unwrapped all three tests with fumbling fingers, my heart pounding hard.

It’s probably nothing. A stomach bug. Stress. Anything but ? —

But the thought wouldn’t settle .

Sitting down, I forced myself to relax and did what needed to be done. Then I set the tests on the counter in a neat row, the little windows staring back at me like unblinking eyes.

The longest minute of my life ticked by.

I washed my hands. Paced. Wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. Bit my lip so hard it hurt.

Finally, I forced myself to look.

Two lines.

Two lines.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

All three of them.

The breath rushed out of me like I’d been punched. My knees wobbled, and I had to grab the counter to steady myself.

I’m pregnant.

A burst of happiness bubbled up in my chest so fast it nearly knocked me down. My hand fluttered to my belly, the tiniest curve that could easily be dismissed as nothing.

Our baby. Seth’s baby. When did it happen? Our first time? That moment in the park when my heat hit?

What if he doesn’t want this?

My heart plummeted at the thought. We hadn’t discussed kids.

I had no doubt how Seth felt about me but not everyone wanted children?

I didn’t want to become a single father.

I didn’t want to go back to lonely nights and sleeping in an empty bed.

I didn’t want to work through my heats alone or have an achy chest that I had to pump regularly.

My throat burned .

“I’m pregnant,” I whispered to the empty room, trying to make the words feel real.

But no matter how I turned them over in my head, one truth rang clear.

I had no idea how Seth would react.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Flynn?” Seth’s voice was soft, but there was a thread of concern woven through it. “You’ve been in there a while. Are you okay?”

I stared at the three tests lined up on the counter like damning evidence. My stomach churned, my pulse racing. I couldn’t lie—not about this. Not to him.

The door creaked as Seth pushed it open a little, his big frame filling the doorway. “Baby?” His eyes swept over me, taking in my pale face, the trembling in my hands, the sticks on the counter.

His gaze landed there and froze.

I didn’t bother hiding them.

“I’m pregnant.” The words came out small, shaky, but there they were. Hanging between us.

Seth didn’t move. His expression was unreadable for what felt like hours—long enough for my heart to clench painfully.

“Say something,” I whispered, my fingers tightening over my belly. “Please.”

“Flynn.” His voice cracked. He stepped inside, closing the door gently behind him. The next second I was enveloped in his arms, pulled tight to his chest. He buried his face in my hair, breathing hard. “God. God, baby. You’re serious?”

I nodded against his shirt, my tears dampening the fabric.

“You’re really pregnant?” He pulled back just enough to cup my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the wetness on my cheeks. “You’re carrying my baby?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I—I think so. The tests?—”

But I didn’t get to finish. Seth kissed me, hard and deep, like he couldn’t get close enough. His hands trembled against my skin.

When he finally broke away, his grin was wide, unrestrained, almost boyish. “This is the best fucking news of my life.”

“You’re sure?” I searched his face for any flicker of doubt. “I mean… we never really talked about—about kids, and?—”

“Flynn.” His tone left no room for argument. “I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything. You’re carrying my baby, and I…” His voice softened, eyes going molten as they traced over my face. “I’m so fucking in love with you. With us. With the family we’re building.”

My lip wobbled. Relief hit me so hard I almost sagged in his arms.

“You’re not… scared?” I whispered.

“Oh, I’m terrified,” he admitted with a laugh, pressing kisses across my forehead, my nose, my cheeks. “But in the best way. I can’t wait, Flynn. God, I can’t wait to see you swell with my baby.”

“You really want this?”

“Baby, I want everything with you. And you’re forgetting something.” He cupped my tits. “These will be full again.”

I chuckled through the tears. Just like that, the dread in my chest melted.

Seth’s hand slipped over mine where it rested on my stomach. He spread his fingers wide, protective already, and smiled down at me.

“We’ll do it together.” His lips brushed my temple. “I’m not missing a second of this. ”

“Okay.” My voice broke, thick with emotion. “I’m glad you feel that way.”

“I bet it was that day in the forest,” he murmured. “We kind of went a little off the rails there, didn’t we?”

Yes, yes, we did, but it’d been beautiful, and if that was the day we made our baby, then even better.

“Seth.”

“Hmm?”

“You know when I lactate this time, it’ll be food for the baby.”

He squeezed my hip. “I’m sure junior won’t mind sharing with his dad.”

“Or her. Or they.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll love them regardless. And I love you.”

I closed my eyes and buried my face into my alpha’s chest, breathing in the scent of him—warm, steady, unshakable.

My lips curved faintly against his shirt. I was teasing him earlier about my milk, but the thought lingered, warm and a little heady. If I produced as much as last time… if my chest grew heavy and ached the way it had before…

I’d need him.

To help me deal with the supply.

To drink from me, greedily, like only he could.

To remind me every day that I was his omega, his mate, his.