Tasting

443–We Are Ready

Nash:

I told the warrior the entire route we’d follow for our run and that we’d meet at the deep woods after an hour. But the moment he shifted and took off, I turned back. I needed to know what was going on. I had to see Nora‘ s baby.

I raced through the mansion, frantic. My brothers weren’t answering my calls, which only made me more anxious about what might be happening.

Finally, I reached the second floor and entered the open room where they were, only to be hit with not one, but three surprises.

Cain was holding a baby, tears streaming down his face, while Ryker stood between two bassinets, grinning at the infants inside.

“What is this?” I asked, stunned, my throat dry as I tried to swallow.

“Nash, look-” Cain turned toward me, his face soaked with tears. His tear–streaked cheeks were all the proof I needed.

“I’m a father,” he said, his voice shaky as he showed me the baby in his arms. The infant bore a resemblance to him, but still, it was hard to believe.

“What–what am I missing?” I asked, laughing awkwardly, trying to gather my thoughts. Nora had given birth? To his baby? Babies?

“Nash, Nora was pregnant with my babies. I can feel the connection with this one,” Cain said, his gaze shifting to the other two. “Not really with those two, but with him–I feel it. So that means all of these babies are mine. Oh, my God! When she told us at the packhouse that she lied about being pregnant, she was actually not telling the truth. She was carrying my children! I’m a father to Nora’s babies,” he continued, his excitement tinged with sadness for having missed being with her during the pregnancy.

But I still had so many questions.

“You two were intimate–but after all this time, you slept with her without protection and now, months later, she’s had your child?” I watched as his smile faded.

“What are you trying to say, huh? That I’m stupid? That I can’t tell? I can feel it, Nash. I don’t know how, but it’s real. And yes, we were intimate. I had sex with her,” he said with conviction, making my jaw tighten.

“Guys, can we discuss this later? Look at these two–they’re so tiny and adorable,” Ryker said, unable to stop his tears.

I knew Ryker had also kissed Nora. Maybe he wasn’t as involved with her as Cain was. But what about me?

I’m her mate.

I rushed over to the bassinets, eager to see and hold Nora’s babies. Yet, when I looked down, my eyes fell on only one of them, guilt stirring in me for leaving the other out of my focus. I picked him up, and instantly, a shudder ran through me.

The baby–there was a connection. I quickly pulled him close to my chest, holding him tightly as I felt our heartbeats sync.

I turned to Cain, watching the oblivious Alpha King doting on the baby he kept insisting was his. Then I glanced at Ryker, who was clearly noticing the shift in my expression.

“Okay, guys,” Ryker suddenly said, pulling out his phone to check a message. “Silas just texted me. They’re coming back. Should we take the babies and confront them?” He started pacing, clearly unsettled.

“We know they’re here. Let’s meet Brody at the entrance,” Cain replied, kissing the baby he claimed was his before gently placing him back in the bassinet.

I cradled the baby I felt connected to, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead before we left the room. My mind was in utter disbelief.

There was no mistaking it.

This was my child.

Cain was wrong. Nora gave birth to ‘my‘ children.

A heavy, awkward silence hung between us as we made our way outside to wait for them to arrive.

“I’m going to kill Brody,” Cain growled under his breath, clearly ready to charge the moment he saw him.

I felt the same fury building inside, but there was also confusion.

“I’m going to make him suffer in the worst way possible,” Ryker snarled, his unexpected aggression catching me off guard. It shocked me- especially since he wasn’t even the father of Nora’s children.

Did he not care?

Or maybe he genuinely cared about Nora, but not in a romantic way.

As the cars arrived, we stood tall, bracing ourselves. Silas was the first to step out from the lead vehicle, hurrying toward us, his expression tense.

“Did you guys find the baby?” he whispered urgently, making sure to speak before the others joined us.

“We did. We found all the babies, and now we’re going to confront Brody,” Cain growled, but that’s when a frown appeared on Silas‘ face.

“All the babies? There’s only one baby in the last room down the hallway,” he corrected, causing us all to turn and stare at him in disbelief.

“Guys, I don’t think we should confront him right now,” Ryker muttered, swallowing hard as Brody stepped out of the car, a nasty smirk plastered d out of the car, a nasty smirk plastered on his face. But it was the anklet on Nora’s foot that stopped us in our tracks, making us hesitate before making any rash decisions.