Chapter Ten

Riley

It would be a hell of a lot easier to get my parents out of my mind if we weren't driving into the city every damn month.

We've been following the news. Seems congratulations are in order

I still haven't answered, and—to their credit—they haven't texted me again. Given me space. Baxter's done the same. Apart from the occasional lingering glances, he's left the matter in my hands.

I decide to get a head start packing Eve's bag, making sure she has what she needs before tomorrow's drive.

" I talked to the lawyers ," Baxter told us after the last ultrasound. " Apparently, the judge is happy with Eve's progress ."

Surely, this should be all the more reason not to drag her out to the city. But who knows? Maybe my real reasons for wanting to stay out of the city are selfish. After all, it's not just Eve I have on my mind.

It would mean everything to us if we could connect again.

I scowl down at my screen for the hundredth time.

"You okay, alpha?"

I jump. Eve is standing in the doorway, tilting her head at me.

"Yeah, baby." I put my phone away. "Just packing up for tomorrow."

"I could've done that," she says, wandering into the nest.

I loop my arms around her waist. "You're doing enough, omega."

My eyes trail down to her stomach, my inner alpha preening like crazy. That's our pup in there. Ours.

When I meet Eve's eye again, it's like she's staring right into me. I freeze, wondering if someone told her about the text messages. But no. She just understands, intrinsically, the significance of starting a new family. For all of us.

Suddenly I scent a bitter undertone to her scent.

"What is it?" I demand. "You feel sick?"

She shakes her head, scowling. "Red and Thorn are fighting."

"They're what ?"

"In the gym."

Then it clicks. "Oh." I loose a breath. "You mean they're sparring?"

She huffs, displeased.

I tuck her hair back. "They'll be careful, sweetheart."

"They're never careful."

"They will be . You know why?" She looks at me cautiously, and I smile. "Because they know if anyone gets so much as a scratch, they'll have our fierce omega to answer to."

She seems taken aback for a second, but at my earnest look, colour floors her cheeks. "Yeah?"

"Hell yeah."

She snorts. "You sound like Red."

I return my arms to her waist. "What? Horny and short-tempered?"

Finally, she laughs, her tension ebbing away. I take the opportunity to kiss her, loving the way her joy tastes on my lips.

***

We leave early the next morning. The sooner we get there, the more time we'll have to freshen up before meeting with Doctor Perez.

Eve is half-asleep when we pile into the cars—also by design. The longer she can spend unconscious, not throwing up, the better.

It was a good plan. But, if the eight pit-stops are any indication, pregnancy-induced motion sickness trumps sleep. Not only do we arrive at the loft with only fifteen minutes to spare, but Eve is more exhausted than ever.

"Fuck this," Red growls, pacing, while Marcus and Baxter get Eve cleaned up. "We're not coming back out here. Never again."

Thorn growls lowly, though his dark eyes haven't left the bathroom door.

"The courts are happy," I get out, "that counts for something."

"Jack shit it does," Red mutters.

"It means no-one can take her away," Thorn says. " That counts for something."

It looks like Red wants to say something else, but stops himself, choosing his words more carefully. "I just feel like we're trying to do right by the wrong people." His eyes shift to me. "You especially, Riles."

I quirk a brow. "Damn, Red. You don't want to do right by me?"

"I mean your parents." Seeing me bristle, he explains, "You've checked your phone, like, a hundred times since we got here. The longer you spend worrying about it, the more distracted you're gonna be from what's important. It's the same with these damn city appointments. Feels like we're still kissing Carson's ass."

"Carson is out of the picture," Thorn asserts. "If they had things their way, Eve would be visiting a doctor on the peninsula."

He's right. Locked away in Carson's holiday house, where they've been forced to relocate full-time. As far as we're aware, Lucille and Flora are still with their new packs in the city, but we're not exactly aware of much. The restraining order keeps all Carsons, former or otherwise, well and truly off our radar.

"Eve comes first," Red insists. "And this?" He jabs a finger at the closed bathroom door. " This isn't putting her first."

A surprisingly insightful point. I fold my arms, fighting the urge to check my messages once more.

Let me know when you're next in the city. We'd love to see you, and your omega

"Dammit," I mutter. How does the phone keep ending up in my hand?

The bathroom door opens. We perk up, relaxing as Eve appears in a fresh change of clothes, a soft blush, and those sparkling lilac eyes.

Glowing.