Chapter Three

Riley

PACK CARSON FACES RESTRAINING ORDER AFTER MADDOX PREGNANCY REVEAL.

The headline goes on, divulging all the juicy details of what happened at the tribunal. It didn't take long for Carson to silence the press, but the original articles are still online for the world to see.

And not just the world.

I close the tab, returning to my text messages. My gut sinks.

UNKNOWN

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

I know we've had our differences

But it would mean everything to us if we could connect again

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

My instinct is to just clean out my inbox. Pretend I never saw the messages. But I also know to be wary of instincts that arise out of anger.

I wanted to tell Eve, but then I saw her in the kitchen this morning, enjoying those love first trimester side-effects. She's got enough on her plate right now.

Voices in the foyer distract me—Eve and Thorn coming back downstairs. Opposite me, Red leaps up from his desk to join them. My inner alpha barks at me to do the same … but my body won't move.

"—sit in the sun for a while," Thorn explains.

"You know," Red says, "if you're gonna sunbathe, she should really be wearing a bikini."

"Alpha!" God, it's like I can hear Eve's sweet blush.

"Go buy her one, then. You can join us once you've got the horny out of your system."

Realizing the trap he's walked himself into, Red huffs.

The front door opens and closes, my omega and second-in-command heading outside to catch the early summer sun. The fresh air should do Eve some good—settle her stomach, hopefully clear her mind.

Red wanders back into the office, his scent ever-so-slightly charred with frustration. He stops when he sees me.

"Christ, Riles. You good?"

I sit up straight. "What?"

"I dunno. You look—" he frowns, "—no, you smell like crap. You stressed or something?"

Damn. For an alpha with such a keen nose, you'd think he'd have more tact by now. But maybe it's a good thing that he doesn't—his words are exactly the kick up the ass I need to stand up and do something about this.

"I need to talk to Baxter," I say. A jolt of dread courses into my bloodstream. "Will you come with me?"

His face softens, making me wonder if he smells that, too. My fear.

"'Course. Want me to find Marc?"

"Yeah. Please." I'll take all the support I can get, especially if it means I don't have to drag Eve into this.

Red's gaze lingers. For a second I wonder if he's going to put his hand on my shoulder, or ask me what's going on, but then he just nods and walks out.

I grip the edge of my chair. Steadying myself.

Baxter. He'll know what to do.

***

My head alpha offers me a seat across his desk. I choose to stand. Marcus hovers beside me, his eyes penetrating. Red leans against the desk, arms folded.

It's not often he sees me like this—that any of them do.

Baxter sits forward. "What's this about, Riley?" he asks.

My mouth opens, but the words aren't there. I decide to show him instead, opening up my messages and putting the phone down on his desk.

Baxter reads them over. Red sneaks a peek.

"Holy fuck," he blurts. "Is that who I think it is?"

I nod soberly.

"Your family pack," Baxter acknowledges. He returns my phone. "Is this the first you've heard from them?"

"First time in six years."

Sensing Marcus's curiosity, I show him the screen. He blanches. "No wonder you're rattled."

"I thought they wanted nothing more to do with me," I say. "But I guess, when they saw the headlines, they decided otherwise."

"They seem happy for you," Marcus says diplomatically.

"Or happy for themselves," Red grumbles, "now they're grandparents."

Baxter puts his hand up, silencing them. "Riley," he says, "how do you feel about this?"

I shrug. "You guys summed it up pretty well. I can't tell if they're actually happy for me, or if they're just choosing to reconnect now Maddox has been publicly vindicated. Claiming grandparent rights would be the perfect excuse to worm their way in."

"If you want, I can ask Thorn to look into their garage. See if there's any financial motivation for them to be—"

"No," I say, quickly. "Thanks, but I think I'd rather play this clean."

"Clean how?" Marcus asks. "You mean … talk to them?"

"Or ignore them," Red says.

"I don't know yet. Honestly, I don't even know how I feel."

"You smell like you're pissed off," Red supplies.

"Red," Baxter warns.

"It's alright." I smile. "I am pissed off. If they had just said congratulations and left it at that, maybe I wouldn't care so much. But the fact that they want to see me—see Eve , and ultimately, our pup—"

I'm not the only one who bristles at the idea.

"They haven't earned that," I declare.

Baxter narrows his gaze, studying me. "And yet?"

I sigh. "And yet, they're my family. If there's even a chance they're just happy for me, and want nothing more, I can't help but think that … that …"

"It might be nice for our pup to have some grandparents," Marcus murmurs.

"Yeah." I run a hand through my hair. "Sounds stupid now I'm saying it aloud. Not like they were awesome parents—pretty telling criteria for what kind of grand parents they'd be—but our pup should know where they come from. One way or another."

"Family is crucial," Marcus agrees. "Studies have shown pups respond well to a strong lineage. It takes a village and all that."

"Not this village," Red mutters.

"Okay," Baxter says, grounding us once more. "Riley. I'm happy to sit down with you, talk through your options, but ultimately we're dealing with your family pack. Which makes it your call."

I frown. "You're not going to forbid it?"

He smirks. "Not my style."

Normally this is one of the things I like most about Baxter's leadership—he guides by example, not tyranny—but right now, it would be pretty nice for someone to just tell me: Delete those messages, and never think of it again .

"That being said," he goes on, "I don't want you talking about this with Eve. At least not until you've made up your mind."

I recoil. "You want me to lie?"

"Until you've made up your mind," he says again, more pointedly.

"Better get thinking," Red teases. "Riley can't tell a lie to save herself."

I growl quietly, making him grin.

Baxter adds, "And preferably, that won't be until the day after tomorrow."

Marcus nods. "Let's try to keep Eve's blood pressure down at the appointment."

Fair enough .

I guess I just have to be grateful it's not my blood pressure the doctor is gonna be checking.