Chapter Nine

Baxter

It's the end of Riley's roster as we know it.

Long gone are the days we had to take turns with her every night. Even accounting for Thorn's absence, this extra-large nesting mattress is more than enough to accommodate all six of us. Seven, soon.

I've never seen Eve's omega so pleased.

She'd probably never get out of bed if not for a bout of morning sickness. Riley and Marcus leap up after her, closing the ensuite door behind them.

Red startles, scowling when he sees Eve gone. "She good?" he asks me blearily.

Before I can answer, the sound of retching carries out. Red grimaces.

"Marcus and Riley have it under control," I tell him. He looks at me reluctantly, clearly wanting to make sure she's okay, but holds back. We've all been through enough of Eve's morning sickness to know that it only takes two alphas to hold her hair back.

I'm making up the bed when Eve emerges. "Morning, alphas," she says cheerily.

I open my arm, welcoming her in. "You seem chipper."

"For starting the day with your head in the toilet," Red adds.

She shrugs. "It wasn't too bad."

"Again—head. In. The toilet."

Rolling her eyes, Riley gives him a mild whack over the head. Eve chuffs.

"No hitting," she says.

Red shoots Riley a gloating look—enough to make a less restrained alpha snap—but she just lifts her hands in surrender. Eve's increasing protectiveness, fussing over us like a mother hen, is too cute to reckon with.

"Sure you don't want to go back to bed for a bit?" Marcus asks. "I could bring you breakfast."

"Thank you, but that's okay. I'm feeling fine."

Riley beams. "You're taking this first trimester like a champ."

Of all Eve's blushes, this one is a favorite—bashful, pleased with herself. "Not like nausea and fatigue are anything new to me." She shrugs. "I guess all those years of being a runt have paid off."

A collective shock sweeps through us. If anyone else had said the word, Riley would've bitten their head off. But maybe Eve is past that now—like all the training for the tribunal has given her a chance to reclaim her status.

I couldn't be prouder.

Red and Riley bicker over clothes—something to complement Thorn's oversized shirt, which Eve refuses to take off—when Marcus gets my attention.

"Got a minute?"

I follow him into the hall. He leads me all the way downstairs before meeting my look.

"What's up?" I ask. "Did something happen when Eve was sick?"

He sighs. "It's not about her being sick. It's about her being so okay with it."

"Would you rather she was upset?"

"No. Sorry. I—That's not what I mean." He pulls a sports drink out of the fridge. "I guess her comment about being a runt just struck a chord. Doctor Perez has been great, and very considerate about how he tells us things. But …"

I frown. "Is there something more we should know?"

"Yes and no. He made it clear the first trimester is when Eve's at her most fragile, but I can't help but think there's a deeper element to it."

I take a moment, weighing up his words. "You mean that she was a runt."

"Was. Still is, in some ways. She still has to deal with her osteoporosis. With her POTS, and asthma. All problematic in pregnancy."

"I'm aware of the risks." And I can understand why Doctor Perez didn't want to rattle them off in our last appointment—half the pack would probably lose their minds.

"Right. So don't you think it's possible we should be more than ‘careful'?"

This time I'm faster to guess his meaning. "You're talking about yesterday with Red."

Marcus forces himself to hold my eye. "He shouldn't be having sex with her. Not right now."

"Intimacy is important, isn't it?"

"Hugs, yes. Pack nesting, absolutely. Maybe even the occasional knot—but not like that."

"Not with Red, you mean?"

"No. Maybe." He runs a hand through his hair. "Red can be … enthusiastic."

"It's alright." I sense he's withdrawing, scared of pissing me off. "I appreciate your concern." He is our resident nurse, after all. If he thinks the doctor is being too cavalier, I trust him.

He watches me, awaiting my judgement, when finally I nod.

"I'll talk to the pack. Eve won't appreciate being treated like a runt, but she'll understand if it's for the pup's sake."

Marcus looses a breath. "Thanks, Bax."

I clasp his shoulder. "Why don't you get her that drink?"

Remembering the sports drink on the counter, he picks it up and walks off, shooting me an appreciative glance over his shoulder.

His words sit with me long after he's gone. All problematic in pregnancy. He's not wrong. It was daunting enough taking care of Eve's health before she was pregnant. She's come a long way since then, and I know she'll continue to improve, but a part of me can't help but wonder …

What if we're out of the pot, and into the fire?