<b>Chapter </b>147
<b>Envy </b>
By the time I stepped out of the shower, my skin flushed warm from the steam, the house already smelled different. Not just cinnamon and coffee anymore, but also something savory that was making my stomach rumble. They were busy in the kitchen. I could hear them murmuring, tes shifting, sses clinking. I dressed slowly, letting the towel linger around my shoulders. The mirror showed me what they saw every day now. A softer roundness, a belly that stretched my shirt in a way that both scared andforted me. My hand found it again, instinct. “Happy birthday, little one,” I whispered. “Guess we share it today.”
When I walked into the living room, four sets of eyes immediately found me. Haiden was the first to grin, shameless and wide, like he’d been waiting for the chance. “Look at her. Birthday girl and all grown up.”
“Shut up,” I muttered, rolling my eyes, but I couldn’t help the smallugh.
Xavier was already pulling out a chair at the table, the one he’d clearly set for me with a nket draped across it and a pillow for my back. “Sit,” he ordered gently. “You’re not lifting a finger today.”
“Okay, bossy boots,” I said with a smirk.
Levi had arranged the tes a little too neatly, too deliberately not to notice, and slid one in front of me. “Eat first,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “We have ns forter.”
Noah leaned against the counter, watching me, like he could see past skin and bone into the exact ce my thoughts turned sharp. “We’ve got tonight sorted,” he promised. “Somewhere quiet.”
I sank into the chair, my chest tugging tight with both love and ache. “You’re all fussing too much.”
“Not possible,” Haiden said, already reaching to pile food onto my te. “You’re ours. That means we can fuss all we want.”
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I shook my head, but I didn’t fight it. I let them serve me, let them fill the quiet with chatter, let myself enjoy the simple normal for a moment. Every bite felt like more than food; it felt like a promise they were trying to push into me, that I’d be here tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.
Still, the shadow of what wasing crept in. Betweenughter and kisses pressed to my temple, I caught myself staring at the clock. Counting the hours instead of candles.
Xavier noticed, of course, he did. His hand slid over mine under the table, strong and grounding. “One thing at a time,” he murmured. “Today, you’re ours. Tonight, too. The rest… We’ll face it together.”
Xavier
After breakfast, the tes were cleared, but none of us moved far. The house was still
too quiet without the kids, but today, it felt softer. She was sitting on the couch, nket tucked around her shoulders, hair still damp from her shower, one hand on her belly like she couldn’t help it. She looked tired, but she looked… happy. At least for now. I wanted to keep her in that feeling. I sat beside her first, holding the box in myp until she noticed. Her eyes flicked from me to it, then back, suspicious. “What’s this?”
“Happy birthday, little mate,” I said simply, passing it into her hands.
She lifted the lid, and her breath caught. Nestled inside was a set of throwing knives, each bnced perfectly, polished steel with ck leather grips. The hilts were engraved with runes Maddox had insisted on, the kind that caught the light like fire when it
moved.
Her lips parted, and for a moment, she didn’t speak. Then sheughed softly, shaking her head. “Of course you’d give me weapons.”
“You love weapons<b>,</b>” I reminded her, leaning close so only she could hear, “And these are yours. Bnced to your hand, sharp enough to cut through whatever tries to touch you. Even me.”
“Never you,” she whispered, but her smile said she liked them more than she let on.
Haiden was next, clearing his throat like he was embarrassed, which made me grin
18:10 Fri<b>, </b>Sep 5
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already. He set a small box on herp. When she opened it, her hand flew to her mouth. Inside was a mobile for the baby with tiny hot air balloons made of painted wood, strings of stars between them, light enough to sway with the faintest breeze.
Her eyes went glossy again. “Haiden…”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I figured… every pup deserves something to look at while they dream. Thought they’d like this.”
“They will,” she whispered, voice breaking.
Noah stepped in before she could cry too hard. He carried something t, wrapped in brown paper. He set it gently across herp and helped her peel it open. Inside was a canvas painting, bold and messy, sshed with color. Elliot and Macey’s handprints filled the corners, little hearts painted between them. Envy pressed her lips together tight, but the tears came anyway. Noah sat beside her, pulled a smaller box from his pocket, and ced it in her palm. She opened it to find a delicate silver locket, engraved with vines. Inside, a photo, one I remembered well. She’d fallen asleep under the apple tree, sunlight across her face, Elliot curled into her side, Macey sprawled over herp, both kids looking like they’d never let her go.
Her hand shook. “Noah…”
He kissed her temple. “I wanted you to have it close. Even when they aren’t here.”
Levi had been quiet through all of it, which was never a good sign. Finally, he pulled a bag from under the table and handed it over. She opened it and frowned, confused, until she pulled out the stash of Haiden’s jerky.
Herugh broke through the tears, bright and sharp. “You didn’t.”
“Oh, he did,” Haiden growled, lunging for it, but Levi shoved him back with a grin. “The baby’s been craving it. You thought you could hide it? Rookie mistake.”
Envyughed harder, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “Best gift ever.”
“Not done,” Levi said, and nodded toward the window.
Outside, under a tarp, sat a new bike. Sleek, ck, built tost.
Her jaw dropped. “Levi…”
“Before you even think about it,” he said firmly, “you’re not touching it until after the baby’s born. I mean it.”
She bit her lip, smiling despite herself. “Spoiled. That’s what I am. You spoil me.”
“You’re ours,” I told her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s not spoiling. That’s just how it is.”
And the way she leaned into us then, clutching the jerky in one hand and the locket in the other, told me we’d given her exactly what she needed.
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