E


    The sudden warmth of Alexander’s arms around me made me let out an involuntary squeak of surprise. I hadn’t expected him to hug me; he’d maintained his usual polite distance sincest night.


    Once we had returned from the banquet, I’d slipped away to check on Lilith–who was resting in her


    room, sleeping when I arrived–and he had gone to his office to handle the onught of paperwork he’d


    received after the coronation.


    And now he was hugging me like his life depended on it.


    But then I began to rx into him, and the fabric swatches slipped from my fingers.


    Goddess, he smelled good. Too good–likeing home to a ce that you should have left long ago. I


    pressed my face against his chest and breathed him in like the fool I was, and for a moment, I could have


    sworn I felt his arms tightening around me.


    I wanted to ask what we were now. Because the way he was hugging me seemed far more intimate than I


    expected.


    But for now, I kept it to myself. Alexander still didn’t fully trust me, and part of me was afraid to burst this brief little bubble of happiness.


    When we finally pulled apart, my heart was pounding in my chest. I hated the way my cheeks were a


    fiery red now. Hated the way his green eyes looking down at me made me want to crumple right then and


    there.


    “What was that about?” <b>I </b>asked, stooping to pick up the forgotten color swatches.


    Alexander shook his head. “Nothing. It was nothing.”


    It didn’t seem like nothing; I’d seen Gabriel storming out of the house just minutes prior<b>, </b>followed by the rev of his car engine as he sped away. It must have been another argument, and after what happenedst


    night, I had a feeling it had something to do with me.


    Certainly Gabriel wasn’t happy about the fact that I knew everything now. For all I knew, Gabriel was hell bent on finding out if I was a spy for my father.


    What did Gabriel think of the fact that Alexander had told me the truth?


    More importantly, what was going through Alexander’s head now?


    But I didn’t want to press if Alexander wasn’t willing to talk about it right now, so I held up the swatches again. “So. Blue or green?<b>” </b>


    Alexander studied them both for a moment, then pointed to the soft sage green. “Green. It’s peaceful.”


    “Green it is,” I said, nodding.


    And just like that, we’d made our first real parenting decision together.


    The next few days passed in a blur. To my surprise, Alexander threw himself into getting ready for the baby with enthusiasm. Every minute he had to spare between Alpha King duties, he was the perfect expecting father. Always there when I needed him. Always focusing on preparing our child’s room.


    If it was a distraction from the elephant in the room–the fact that my father had apparently killed Alexander’s parents and used me as a pawn to get what he wanted–then it was a very sweet distraction indeed.


    On the second day, we painted the nursery walls that soft sage green, and Alexander insisted on doing that himself, too, even though the house staff would have dly taken the job considering how busy he was with his new Alpha King duties.


    But he wanted to do it. And no one could stop him.


    On the third day, we finally assembled the crib together. Mostly, I just sat on the floor and read off the instructions to him while he did everything else. I had tried to help, but he seemed intent on doing it himself just like everything else, and I couldn’t find it in me to tell him to stop.


    Seeing him like this… it made my chest warm. Even if he was just happily preparing for our baby’s arrival and it had nothing to do with our future–orck thereof–as a couple, seeing his constant smile and drive


    to be a good father was something that I didn’t want to interrupt..


    “Hand me that… what the fuck is this thing?” Alexander held up a curved piece of wood with a furrowed


    brow.


    “The instruction manual calls it a ‘stabilizing dowel,” I read from the booklet.


    “A what? Why can’t they just call it a stick?”


    “Because then how would they charge us three hundred dors for a pile of wood and some screws?”


    Alexander snorted. “Fair point. Anyway, hand me the safety strap?”


    Nodding, I rifled through the pile of parts for the crib. But I couldn’t seem to spot it.


    “Shit,” I muttered, scratching my head. “I think they forgot to pack it.”


    Alexander let out a sigh and passed his hand over his face. “Are you serious?<b>” </b>


    “Nope.” I stood. “We’ll have to get a recement.”


    “I can run to the store.”


    The offer was sweet, but I shook my head. “I could use some fresh air anyway. I’ve been cooped up in this


    house for days.”


    The trip to the baby store took longer than expected. They didn’t have the exact part I needed, so I had to go to two different locations before I found it.


    By the time I got back to the mansion, I was tired and my feet were aching, but I felt aplished. I had even made a secret pit stop to pick up some croissants from the bakery–a recent pregnancy craving that I’d found impossible to ignore.


    I had just kicked off my shoes in the foyer, crib part and bag of pastries in hand, when I heard the sound of music drifting from upstairs.


    Curious, I made my way up the stairs. The music wasing from the nursery, and when I carefully pushed the door open, my eyebrows shot up.


    Alexander was standing in front of the far wall with his back to me, carefully painting what looked like a


    tiny rabbit near the baseboards. He’d changed into old jeans and a paint–stained t–shirt, and there were


    already several other small animals scattered across the wall–a fox, a squirrel, a little owl perched on a


    branch.


    My heart clenched so hard it almost hurt.


    He looked so… content. Peaceful. There was something about seeing him like this, sleeves rolled up and


    excitement.


    Alexander was nesting. Preparing for our pup.


    And humming to himself with a big smile on his face while he was at it.


    For a moment I just stood there watching him work, afraid to move and break the spell. I just wanted to


    observe him like this. I’d never seen him look so serene, and I’d certainly never heard him sing.


    He had a nice voice. Deep and rich with just the slightest rumble to his soft hums.


    Would he hum to our child like this, I wondered? Would he sing lubies in this very room,te at night


    when no one else was around?


    The very thought made tears spring to my eyes, unbidden. Damn pregnancy hormones. But I couldn’t help it; the idea that Alexander really, truly wanted our child was so much more than I ever could have


    asked for.


    But without thinking, I sniffled, breaking the spell. Alexander jolted, apparently not expecting me to be


    there, leapt to his feet, and whirled around.


    And in his haste, he kicked the paint bucket on ident and sent paint sttering all across the floor. And in his haste, he kicked the paint bucket on ident and sent paint sttering all across the floor.