Charlie

Erin was curled up to Karsen's side on our sofa. I gave the omega a sad smile and asked to speak to him separately in Presley, and I's room. He met my brother's eyes and broke away from him.

Presley and I had talked a bit before everyone arrived and came to the agreement of me pulling Erin aside and telling him the news before everyone else, just to make sure he would be okay with it. He got off of the couch and followed me into my room. I motioned for him to sit on my bed.

He did so and looked at me with a questioning look. "So," I began, walking back and forth. Making sure I wouldn't make the omega upset. "I wanted to confirm with you before I announced it to everyone." I stopped and turned to him. I pulled my oversized sweatshirt up, exposing my large stomach where my baby rested below my heart, not knowing if this was the best way to tell him, but I didn't know the best way to announce it without feeling like I was inconsiderate to him.

Erin's red eyes widened, "Oh, goddess, how many are you carrying?" He quickly jumped to his feet, putting his hand against my belly.

"I'm only carrying one." I gave him a soft smile. "I'm about six months along now."

"Wait–" He furrowed his brows, shaking his head. "Wait, how long have you known?"

"We've known for a while. Since before Presley was attacked." I replied. "Then, when he got home, so much happened, and well... We haven't had the time to tell anyone other than Miles of course." I rambled, staring down at his hand.

"Oh goddess," his voice cracked. "Please don't tell me that you kept this all a secret because of me?" Tears began to form in his eyes.

"Partly, but Presley also had his issues as well. We didn't know when a good time would be to tell everyone about this little one." I put my hand right above Erin's. "The reason I brought you in here separately is that I want to make sure with you that it's okay to tell everyone?" I asked him.

Erin wiped at his eyes, ridding his face of the tears that had fallen. "I'm so sorry. I ruined your mating ceremony, and then I messed up your pregnancy announcement." His voice cracked.

"Hardly." I reached out and cupped Erin's face with one of my hands. "We knew what you were going through was something that would be hard for anyone to deal with. Not only with your son but finding out you have another mate. We didn't want to add more to your list." Erin nodded his head.

"Thank you." He wiped at his face again. "You two really didn't have to do that."

"We did." I nodded. "You deserve kindness and respect just as much as everyone. Plus, we just realized it'll be harder to keep it from everyone now that this little one is showing." I giggled. "Thank you for being okay with this."

"Why wouldn't I be? A child is always something that should be celebrated." He gave me a pained smile.

"Because you're going through something no parent should," I replied.

"I have hope that he's okay." He balled his hands up to his chest. I could tell he was trying his best to keep himself together. I pulled him into a hug and let him cry. I could only imagine what he was feeling, to have the raging hormones after having a child run rampant.

I just let him let all of it out. It wasn't uncommon to see him cry when he was around everyone. My mom had helped them take care of Alicent when both Karsen and Rowan went out to search for Gage. Erin was there, but his mind was elsewhere. I could only imagine what losing a pup would feel like. It was clear even though the child was Mateo's. He loved that boy with all of his heart. I could tell that Rowan had stepped into the father role for him. Because he, too, at times, would be beside himself. I had caught him crying a few times outside, but I knew better and looked the other way.

Most alphas didn't want to show that they had the same feelings as the rest of the pack. They wanted to be the pentacle of strength. They didn't want to show they, too, had weaknesses. It was as if their world had been turned upside down and inside out.

Many people had stopped looking for the boy. Some presumed he was probably dead, much like the caretaker in the cabin. We had bits and pieces of where he could have gone, but it was almost as if the boy had vanished into thin air. Some warriors from other packs told us the likelihood of Gage being alive was super slim and that we should be looking for a body instead of an alive and breathing child. I was glad the meeting didn't include my brother and his mates.

Hearing that would have sent Erin into a downward spiral.

I felt awful knowing that knowledge, but I also had the same hope that Erin did. That the boy would be healthy, alive, and well when he was found.

He finally pulled away and wiped his eyes clear of tears. "Thank you." He sniffled.

"No problem, love. Now let's get this announcement over with. Don't be shocked if my mama starts being overdramatic. I remember when they announced they were pregnant with Emilio. She dropped down to her knees and started bawling." I chuckled at the memory. "She'll probably do the same for you when you're pregnant again."

Erin bit down on his bottom lip.

"I don't know about that... Sometimes I feel as if she doesn't think I'm a fit omega to be her son's second chance." I frowned.

"I don't think so. My mama is very understanding. She knows your child is missing. She would react the same." I replied. "She was upset that I moved to this pack. To be honest, though, my papa was the bigger baby of the two." I chuckled in remembrance.

"Thank you for the reassurance."

"Any time."

—

We stepped out of my room, and both Rowan and Karsen noticed the look on their mate's face, and they got up to their feet to console him. I searched around the apartment with my eyes to locate my own mate. He was talking with his mom in the kitchen. August was preparing something for dinner. He looked up, noticing that I had exited our room.

I smiled at him and nodded my head, letting him know that Erin would be okay with our announcement. Presley's younger siblings were playing a board game on the coffee table in front of the couch.

My papa and Alexandre were sitting next to each other with the same brooding look on their faces. Probably wishing they were elsewhere. My mom had Emilio in her lap, and they were reading a book together. I couldn't help but smile. This was the family I had wished I would be mated into when I was a young pup.

To see it in real life brought nothing but joy to my soul.

We waited to announce that I was pregnant after dinner because the two old men were just a little happier. The kids were all tuckered out and watching TV in the living room.

"So–" I began, looking to Presley, who sat at the head of the table. "We wanted to tell you all something."

"What is it?" My papa asked before I could finish the sentence. "Are you two finally going to have a ceremony? It's been months now."

"We very much plan for that to happen real soon. Preferably before the summit here in the next month." Presley answered for me. I nodded my head in agreement. "We wanted to tell you all something else." He smiled. The grin he had on his face almost lit up the entire room, filling my heart with pride.

"We're expecting a pup soon," I told them, giggling. "I'm six months along." I patted my stomach.

"You're kidding me?" My mama got up from her chair. Her voice had raised an octave, and it was clear that she was excited. "You're kidding me?" She screeched. Alicent squirmed in her arms and began to cry. "Oh, Oh, Oh, I'm so sorry, darling." She looked down at the baby resting in her arms. Kissing her on the forehead. Erin got up from his seat and grabbed Alicent out of my mom's hands so she could congratulate us.

"Congratulations!" August gleamed at us. "Do you guys know the gender?"

They asked questions non-stop, but it was almost an unspoken rule not to ask why. The answer was evident, and we wanted to ensure we respected Erin because healing didn't happen overnight.

"So you're planning on mating him soon–" My papa got up to his feet. He held a stoic look on his face. I could tell that he was clearly upset. "I can't believe you got pregnant before your ceremony." He shook his head.

The mood in the room dropped. I frowned, upset at the outdated thought process my papa brought up.

"Papa, we're already mated. We just haven't had our ceremony. It's no big deal." I replied. Presley could sense that I was upset, and he grabbed onto my hand.

"What are all of the other alpha's going to think when they find out you got pregnant before your ceremony?" He asked.

"Why would it matter?" Presley asked. "You gave me your blessing to marry him. So what are you upset about?"

My papa leaned back into his seat. "I didn't mean it like that." He rubbed his face in frustration. "You know some of the old alphas are still the head of their packs. If they find out that he was pregnant before his ceremony, they'll talk."

"And if they want to talk about my mate. They can, but I don't think they'll have their teeth by the end of the summit. They're still in charge because they didn't produce an heir suitable to take over their pack. I honestly could give two rats' asses about what they think."

"You're right." He held his hands up in a dismissive manner. "I'm sorry, Charlie."

"Apology accepted," I responded, nodding my head in reassurance. "We planned to tell everyone after our mating ceremony originally, but it got postponed. Then it felt like there wasn't a good enough time to tell everyone. But we decided tonight was the best time. It was better now than ever."

My papa nodded. "I guess I need to get a bit progressive with my thoughts." 

A/N: I promise I haven't forgotten y'all, I just have a fuck ton of things on my plate right now.

Anyways. You can always subscribe to my Patreon to get ahead to the end of the book, you will also get exclusive access to Erin, Karsen, and Rowan's story. And of course you will get access to book three before all platforms do.

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