They knew.
They fucking knew.
My heart skipped, then I remembered—why did I care? I wanted a home. I wanted my pack. I wantedforever. They would’ve found out eventually.
I swallowed hard and cleared my throat.
It felt like gargling fiberglass.
But now was as good a time as any.
“Tw—in—s.”
The word came out shredded and humiliating.
Vinny didn’t react right away, and the silence was terrifying.
“…What?” he asked, confused.
Great. He couldn’t understand me. Fantastic.
I winced and tried again, slower, even though it felt like dragging sandpaper over my vocal cords.
“Twins.”
Vinny’s face softened. His hand slid into my hair.
“There’s my girl,” he murmured, like I’d done something brave instead of pathetic. “Okay. Good news—both babies are completely healthy.”
The word babies settled differently when he said it out loud.
“Two heartbeats,” he said calmly. “Strong. No abnormalities. No distress. They’re measuring a little ahead, but that matches the hormone spike.”
My eyes burned.
I mouthed, Two babies.
Because even though I’d known, suddenly it felt real in a way it hadn’t before. Even when I’d stared at two jellybean-shaped blobs on a screen with Reed beside me.
Maybe I’d been denying that this could go right.
I was pregnant.
The babies were healthy.
And their dad was happy they existed—not because he needed an heir.
The door opened again.
Serena walked in with a duffel bag slung over her shoulder and a small stack of folded clothes balanced on her forearm.
She stopped dead when she saw me sitting up.
I lifted my hand and waved like an idiot.
“You’re awake?” she demanded.
I nodded.