Xena''s POV


    "We could have a small ceremony in your father''s office so you can establish the mental connection with the pack, Ryder suggested as he knocked on the door.


    "That sounds nice. I''ll think about it," I replied with a smile. William opened the door wearing only shorts.


    "Are we interrupting something?" I asked, my eyes involuntarily scanning William''s bare chest before I awkwardly looked away.


    "No," William shrugged, letting us in. Something about the energy between him and Ama felt off, making me wonder what had happened.


    2


    Ama sat on the couch, typing away on herptop. The focused expression on her


    face reminded me of when we used to work on projects together.


    "We''ve just been working in the room today," William exined.


    "Why in the room?" I questioned, curiosity getting the better of me.


    Ama red at me as I walked toward her. There was something in her eyes I couldn''t quite ce.


    Still mad?" I asked tentatively, wondering what was causing her unusual mood.


    "I was never mad," she countered, but the defensiveness in her tone only confirmed my suspicions that something wasn''t right.


    "Good, because we were thinking of inviting you both to a barbecue, I said, leaning down to look at her screen. She was designing blueprints for a new pool. My professional instincts immediately kicked in when I spotted an issue with the design.


    "You can''t put the slides there. They need to go here," I blurted out, pointing to another location on the screen.


    "What, why?" Ama frowned.


    "You can''t have the slide drainage ovep with the pool drainage," I exined.


    Ama snapped her haptop shut and stood up. Her movements betrayed a hint of irritation that wasn''t typical of her.


    "I could definitely use some fresh air and food. But if you spotted an error in my blueprints after looking at them for just one second, you''reing to the pool with me this afternoon to help me fix it," she challenged, though I noticed herplexion was pale and her eyes looked tired.


    I stood up and studied her. Her emotions had been all over the ce recently, her face slightly puffy, and her skin had a particr glow to it. My instincts told me these symptoms were familiar. My heart rate suddenly increased could it be?


    "Are you pregnant?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them, and I noticed both men''s jaws drop in surprise.


    Pregnant? You think I''m pregnant?" Her voice trembled slightly.


    "Your mood swings just, when was yourst period?" I asked carefully.


    Ama opened her mouth, then closed it. Her silence made the atmosphere in the room even heavier.


    Ama?" William questioned. He was clearly both confused and shocked.


    You''ve been together long enough. If you got pregnant the first tim you slept together, It would be showing by now. Werewolf pregnancies move fast, and high-ranking members'' pregnancies mov even faster," I shrugged, trying to ease the tension with factual knowledge.


    Ama ran to the bathroom and shut the door. I could hear several drawers being opened and closed. My heart raced with anxiety for her.


    "Yes. I mean, it would be very early, but it''s possible. You guys mated a full week before us," I shrugged.


    William began pacing back and forth, and I walked over to stand beste Ryder. The clock ticked by slowly, each second feeling ten times longer. Just as William was about to lose hisposure, Ama pened the bathroom door.


    She was visibly shaking as she looked at William. Her hand covered her mouth as she nodded. In that moment, I felt a warmth spread through my entire body-the miracle of life unfolding right before me.


    "You''re pregnant?" William walked toward her seeking confirmation, his voice quivering with disbelief.


    "I am..." Ama''s voice was barely audible. She was shaking so much that William had to take the test stick from her hands.


    "Oh, Ama." William pulled her into his arms while processing his own emotions. "I''m going to be a father?" His question was half surprise, half joy, tears glistening in his eyes.


    I hooked my arm through Ryder''s as we watched them process the news. Tears streamed down Ama''s face faster than William could wipe them away.


    "Let''s give them some space," I whispered to Ryder. He nodded, and we left their room, heading back to our own.


    "I guess you could be pregnant too," Ryder said after a moment of silence. His eyes held seen before.


    eagerness and anticipation I''d never


    "Hmm, too early to tell, but I suppose it''s possible. The timing isn''t ideal. We should probably be more careful," I said as I removed my pants and grabbed a tank top. My heart raced at the thought of carrying new life within me-both exciting and terrifying.


    "I don''t know. Having a little one running around seems like fun. Then they''d be the same even best friends," Ryder said, his voice filled with longing.


    "You want kids now?" I asked, turning to face him. "What about our travel ns?" age as William and Ama''s kid, maybe


    "Kids cane along. I want a whole bunch of them," Ryder said, wrapping his arms around me from behind.


    "You''d look sexy as hell carrying my baby," he whispered in my ear, desire evident in his voice.


    "Hold on, there''s no baby in there yet!" I pushed him away so I could get my pants


    on.


    "Keep wearing those pants and there will be soon," Ryder deliberately looked me up and down, the heat in his gaze nearly scorching me. I was tucking my tank top into my pants when I realized how enticing this simple action must appear to him. Chapter Comments