Page 25

Beth

Four weeks later

A s I packed my books into my bag, I stopped by the fridge to grab my usual breakfast of yogurt and berries.

It felt odd being back in my little home; I was getting so used to the pack house.

But I had studying to do, and since Joey was home for a few weeks, the guys had taken more time off.

I did occasionally look after her, but it was few and far between.

When school had started back up, they had extended their time off a little to help her acclimate to her new grade and teacher.

It was sweet, and I wished my dads had been so caring.

We texted constantly, but I totally understood that, for a week or two, Joey was the priority. It was now late September, though, so I would be back to picking up Joey regularly very soon.

We had both started back at school full-time. Joey returned at the start of September, and my classes started around the same time, even though I had been studying all summer to prepare for my final year and get extra credits, so I’d hardly gotten a break.

The moment the scent of the yogurt hit my nose, my entire body recoiled.

Usually, I didn’t mind it at all, but my nose had been oddly sensitive.

My stomach turned violently, and I only had a second to get myself to the bathroom before I was hurling up my guts.

I didn’t want to be sick. I had just started my final year of college, and the end was in sight.

I had to get a jump on my classes if I had any hope of graduating.

Sitting on the bathroom floor, I pressed my forehead against the cool tile wall.

I didn’t feel sick, my skin wasn’t warm to the touch, and there were none of the telltale symptoms of the flu.

Well, there was always pregnancy.

My body stilled, like ice water had been thrown over my head. Could I be?

Surely not.

I was on birth control.

Which I’d happened to lapse taking while I was sick and staying with Pack Noble.

Shit.

It had been over a month since the heat, and we had gone on a few small dates, but I had been hyperfocused on my schoolwork. Having missed a few key deadlines while in heat, I had been scrambling to catch back up.

Sitting up straighter, I glanced around my bathroom.

It wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.

I needed a test.

Classes forgotten, I climbed to my feet, making a beeline for my bag. There was a nice grocery store about twenty minutes away from my dorm, and they would undoubtedly stock the fancy digital tests—the ones that let you know in clear, bold writing if you were pregnant or not.

Grabbing my wallet, I hurried out the door, now a woman on a mission.

Why on earth were there so many varieties of pregnancy tests?

Grabbing a few boxes, I started reading. Turned out, a few of them were ovulation tests.

Once I had a digital one in hand, I pulled out my phone, snapping a picture.

Bethany:

Look, don’t freak out, but I need an opinion and I’m losing my mind.

My best friend replied instantly.

Kennedy:

Shoot!

Bethany:

*image*

Bethany:

Is this a decent test, like a digital one that’s clear?

Kennedy:

BETHANY!

Kennedy:

Oh fuck, yes, it is!

Kennedy:

You think???

Bethany:

There is a *small* chance. I just want to be sure.

Kennedy:

Okay, that is the kind you need. You want to come here and take the test? I can be your emotional support mom friend.

I chuckled lightly. Part of me was tempted to take her up on her offer, but I was probably overreacting and being silly. The chance of me being pregnant seemed so minimal.

Bethany:

I’m okay. It’ll be negative. I just need to check.

Kennedy:

If I don’t have a message with your results within an hour, I will be hunting you down.

Bethany:

I don’t doubt it.

With a sigh, I tossed the test into my basket, pausing before throwing in a second in for good measure.

My next stop was the ice cream section, because it felt like a rocky road kind of day.

Finding my sweet treat of choice, I opened the freezer and leaned in to grab the carton of delicious ice cream that was, sadly, all the way at the back.

“Bethany?”

That rich voice, so familiar.

Turning, I resisted the urge to grimace when Gideon’s warm face came into view.

“Hi…” I trailed off lamely.

“You haven’t been by the house in a while. Joey’s been pouting all over the place.” As he spoke, he wrapped an arm around my waist, kissing the top of my head in a move that made my insides mushy.

“I’m sorry—I’ve just been trying to catch up after my surprise week off. I know you guys have been busy with Joey starting the new school year.”

Gideon nodded. “That makes sense, but you know you’re welcome. I…” He trailed off, his gaze locked on my shopping basket.

Where the pregnancy test just so happened to sit, like a big glowing beacon, screaming this omega is totally knocked up .

“Bethany?” he asked, his voice dangerously low.

“I, uh…I need to get going. It was nice seeing you,” I said, injecting my voice with lots of fake cheer as I went to turn away and make a beeline to the checkout.

A hand wrapped around my wrist, turning me back and halting me in my tracks.

Gideon didn’t look happy, not at all.

“Are you pregnant?” he asked in a low voice.

“I don’t know! That’s why I got the test. I’m probably being silly, but I’ve been sick a few times.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” he asked, his voice low and controlled.

“Because there’s nothing to tell,” I said, attempting to tug my hand out of his grip and failing miserably.

“If you’re taking a pregnancy test, then there is something to tell.”

“No, I’m probably being paranoid.”

Gideon was thoughtful for a moment, taking the basket out of my hand, ignoring my complaints.

“What are you doing? Give me that back!”

He shook his head. “We’re going to go check out, and then we’re going back to the pack house, and you are taking these tests.”

I spluttered, following him as he strode toward the cash registers. He really wanted me to go back to his house to take the tests?

That was ludicrous.

“I can pee on a stick in my own home,” I assured him in an annoyed whisper. I would have shouted, but I didn’t really want to be screaming about peeing on sticks in the middle of a grocery store.

Gideon gave me a firm look, and deep down, I knew that resistance was futile. He had a stubborn set to his jaw that made it clear he was not going to back down.

That’s what I got for going to the fancy grocery store.

Jensen and Cullen were waiting for us the moment we arrived.

Thank god it was the middle of the day and Joey would be at school.

I hardly spoke to Gideon the entire drive, crossing my arms and glaring at him occasionally to let him know just how displeased I was.

My ire seemed to bounce off him as he simply stared forward at the road.

“Is it true?” Jensen asked, rushing forward when he saw me.

I turned to Gideon. “When on earth did you have time to message them?” I asked incredulously.

“I texted them while you were getting in the car.”

Stupid bossy, controlling alpha.

I huffed, turning to them. Jensen had a large grin on his face and Cullen didn’t seem that stressed either.

“Look, I’ve been slightly averse to a few foods recently and thought I would take a test. It’s seriously unlikely that I’m pregnant. Gideon is blowing this so far out of proportion.”

Cullen cocked his head to the side. “No, he did the right thing, bringing you back here. We should be with you if you’re taking a test.”

I leveled him with a glare. “I probably have gas. Or a virus.”

Jensen smirked. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m a doctor, then. If it’s gas, we will stay with you in solidarity while you stink.”

“Look, we have a right to know,” Cullen said.

I shook my head. “It’s not like I was keeping anything from you. I had a slight suspicion, so I decided to take a test in my own bathroom in my own home before I had a conversation with you guys. I didn’t realize I needed permission to pee on a stick.”

“We need to know,” Gideon said.

Huffing, I looked at each of them in turn.

“You are stressing yourself out for no reason. The chances that I am actually pregnant are minimal. You should have just let me go home. I would have taken the test, seen that it was negative, and never have bothered you guys, but now you’re getting all worked up! ”

“The migraine medicine may have made your birth control useless if it messed with your suppressants…” Jensen trailed off.

The handsome fuck had a point.

“Bathroom. Now,” Gideon said, pushing me toward the stairs.

When he started to follow me into the small bathroom, I turned to him with shock. “You don’t think you’re coming in here with me, do you?”

He nodded, his face hard and set.

In the hallway, Jensen was smirking and Cullen looked like he was about to shit a brick.

“Out!” I growled, snatching the pregnancy tests out of Gideon’s hand and shoving him toward the door.

“But you?—”

“ Out. ” I put every ounce of strength I had behind the word to make it crystal clear I was not going to urinate in front of them.

Gideon didn’t look happy with the prospect, but eventually he stalked out of the room, allowing me to close the door behind him and lock it.

Part of me wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Was this what I got for overreacting, thinking I needed a pregnancy test in the first place?

“Have you taken the test yet?” Jensen asked through the door.

“You know what? Having you three hovering outside the door does not make for easy urination!” I growled.

A chuckle echoed in the hall. Cullen.

It took several tries—I even turned on the faucet to try to encourage my shy bladder—but I was able to pee on the stick while ignoring the three alphas hovering outside the door.

“Okay, I’ve done it. We just need to wait three minutes for the results,” I said, placing the test on the counter before turning on the faucet and washing my hands.

Those three minutes were painfully slow, but once the alarm on my phone beeped, I turned over the test.

Positive.

Oh.

Fuck.