Page 26 of Pucking With My Head (Pucking Pregnant #4)

Gideon

B ethany stared at the test in abject horror.

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 when this happened,” 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 clue how to 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 that she remained 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 a baby , 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 we wanted to 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.”

Her eyes widened at my threat, but the way she bit her lip and her scent intensified, sweetening slightly, made me think she wasn’t that horrified at the idea.

I mentally filed that information away for later.

“I think we all need to sit down, have a drink, and talk,” Jensen said.

“Yes, these conversations are better suited to a couch, not a hallway,” I agreed.

We had a lot to discuss, and a lot of decisions to make.

There were so many things to start planning.

I already knew that Bethany would want to keep her baby, and that was entirely her choice.

If I was brutally honest, despite the fact that this baby would be a complication, I wanted the child more than anything.

Joey had brought unimaginable joy to our lives.

Another baby could only be a blessing. The lack of sleep would be brutal—Bella had refused to do any of the night feeds, but spending so many late nights having baby snuggles and bottle feeds had been both exhausting and a joy.

“I am broke as a joke. How am I going to pay for a baby?” Bethany asked, sitting on the couch, her hair a mess from how many times she had run her hands through it. “I can hardly afford to look after myself and pay for classes!”

“You don’t have to pay for anything. That’s what we’re here for,” Cullen said. He and Jensen were opposite her on the other couch, while I was next to her. The scent of her distress was obvious, burned apples. It made my chest itch uncomfortably, but none of us would say a word.

I glared at my pack mate, who looked confused at my ire. “That’s not only what we’re here for, Bethany. We’re here for anything you need. This baby is a sibling to Joey.”

The family finances were managed primarily by me, so when Joey was born, I had created several trusts in her name to make sure she never had to worry about money.

She had a college and a mating fund ready to go—though I never intended to tell potential suitors about the mating fund until after she was bonded and settled.

Some alphas would take advantage of Joey, and I refused to let that happen.

It was no secret that Bethany wasn’t in the best situation financially, from what little I had gleaned from our conversations. But she had done admirably, funding her way through her education with next to no help from her family.

“Judging by when my heat was, I must be due sometime in May. I can’t have a baby in May. I have finals.”

“You can take them early, or defer them until after the baby’s born,” Jensen said. “High levels of stress are not a good idea while pregnant.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t think high levels of stress are ever a good idea, Jensen.”

My pack mate grinned and shrugged at me. “I don’t know. Sometimes stress can be a very powerful motivator. I’m pretty sure I got through my last year of medical school on stress, caffeine, and sheer spite.”

Bethany ran a hand through her hair. “I can’t afford to defer! I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am.”

“We’ll pay for anything you need,” I assured her.

She shook her head. “I can’t let you do that.”

Considering we were the ones who got her into this predicament, we very much could. It had been Jensen’s fault for not warning her that the medication he gave her for her migraines would cause her suppressants, and perhaps even her birth control, to fail.

“I think we all need to take a breather,” Jensen said. “Bethany, you’re looking a little green.”

He wasn’t wrong. Her face had taken on an unusual pallor.

Cullen vanished for a moment before reappearing with a cup of tea, gently placing it in the omega’s hands. “There’s going to be a lot to discuss, but for now, I think we should all take a breather and let the news sink in.”

“You guys can’t be happy about this,” Bethany said softly.

I cocked my head to the side. “The timing isn’t ideal, but this is a child, and we’ll love them.”

Internally, I was battling my own war. Deep down, I liked that this baby tied Bethany to us; she had been a joy to have around, even when moody. There was still that nagging worry, though, that she would leave, just like Bella had.

Bethany took a deep breath. “I still can’t believe I’m pregnant.”

“Maybe it’s a good idea if you stay at the house a little more. That way, we can help look after you while your pregnancy progresses,” I suggested.

Bethany blanched. “I can’t just give up my dorm room.

I’ve been living there for years. It’s my home…

Then again, they’re only for single occupancy.

They won’t allow me to keep that room once I have a baby.

The bigger dorms are more expensive… Once I start blowing up like a balloon, I’m not going to be able to ice skate or teach.

Oh god, this is a mess.” Her breathing started to come in ragged pants, and I could see the panic creeping into her expression.

Shit, she was going to have a panic attack if she didn’t calm down.

Scooping her up into my lap, I gently rubbed her back, rocking her back and forth. “Breathe, Bethany. It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”

I let her fall apart in my arms while my pack mates watched, pained expressions on their faces.

Our lives were about to change.

Taking a sip of her tea, Bethany steeled herself before looking between us, her back straightening. After she had cried for twenty minutes, Jensen had insisted on getting her another drink so we could continue our conversation.

I hated how her eyes were puffy and red-rimmed from crying. The omega shouldn’t be crying; we should be doing everything we could to make her happy.

“I want you to tell me about Joey’s mother.

Until now, I haven’t really thought it’s my place to ask, but she was the mother of your first child, and I need to know what happened.

I’ve heard the rumors from mothers at Joey’s school that you took Joey from her.

I don’t exactly believe them, but I need to be sure. Is she alive? Dead?”