Reba’s POV


    A small smile tugged at his lips. “I felt your emotions spike. The mate bond is strengthening faster than expected. His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied nie. “Your eyes…. they’re changing.”


    “<b>I </b><b>saw </b>it in the mirror,” I said, feeling a tremor of fear. “Dominic, what’s happening to me? Am I bing… like you?”


    He guided me to sit on the edge of the bed, joining me there as he held my hands in his. “The blood transfusion is having effects beyond what Dr. Winters predicted. The mate bond was already connecting us, but my blood seems to be… changing you. Giving you some of our traits.”


    I tried to process <b>this</b>. “Is that even possible? For a human to develop werewolf traits?”


    “It’s unprecedented, at least in recent pack history. His expression was a mix of concern and fascination. “How’s the baby? <b>Can </b>you feel anything different?”


    My hand instinctively went to my stomach. Now <b>that </b>he mentioned it, I did feel something new – a stronger, more definite presence within me. “He feels… stronger. More solid somehow. Like he’s growing faster than before.”


    Dominic’s eyes lit up at my words. “He?”


    I smiled despite my anxiety. “Just a feeling, <b>I </b>don’t know for sure yet.”


    A knock at the door interrupted us, and to my surprise, Alpha Sterling entered without waiting for a response. Even more surprising was the tray of food he carried himself something I couldn’t imagine the imposing Alpha doing under normal circumstances.


    But most shocking of all was his expression. Gone was the cold disapproval of yesterday. In its ce was something that looked almost like… respect?


    “I thought you might be hungry,” he said, setting the tray down on a nearby table. Next to the carefully arranged breakfast was an ancient–<b>looking </b>leather–bound book.


    “Thank you,” I said cautiously, still not entirelyfortable in his presence despite the apparent change in attitude.


    Alpha nodded, then turned to Dominic. The blood transfusion is working better <b>than </b>we hoped.” It wasn’t a question.


    “Yes,” Dominic confirmed, his arm protectively circling my waist. “She’s exhibiting enhanced senses already.”


    Alpha’s <b>gaze </b>returned to me, more intensely analytical than before. “Can you hear the conversation happening in the kitchen right now?


    –


    a woman giving instructions about dinner preparations,


    your wife, I think is discussing tonight’s menu with someone. Salmon with


    I tilted my head, concentrating. Sure enough, faint voices drifted up to me someone else responding. “Yes,” I said, amazed. “A woman dill sauce?”


    Alpha’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Impressive. The kitchen is three floors down and on the opposite wing.”


    He picked up the ancient book and handed it to me. “This may help exin what’s happening to you. It’s a history of our pack, dating back nearly a thousand years-


    I took it carefully, feeling the weight of history in my hands. “Thank you, but… I don’t understand. Yesterday you seemed…”


    your


    mey


    bond with


    my son. And before <b>I </b>“Opposed to your presence?” Alpha linished for nie. “That was before I understood the true nature of saw how your body is responding to his blood.” He settled into a chair across from us. “You may call me Alpha. Or, if you prefer… father


    I nearly dropped the book in shock. Beside me, Dominic seemed equally stunned.


    “There are rare cases,” Alpha continued, opening the book to a marked page and pointing to an illustration of a human woman surrounded by wolves, “of what our lore <b>calls </b>Gained Ones humans who, through blood bond with their wolf mates, acquire some of our abilities. It’s mentioned perhaps five times in our thousand–year history, and never with such rapid manifestation.”


    I traced the ancient illustration with my finger. “So I’m bing… what, exactly?”


    “Not fully werewolf,” Alpha rified. “But something between. The ancient texts suggest these rare humans developed enhanced senses, strength, and longevity. Some even developed a limited ability to sense pack bands and emotions.” His expression grew serious. “Your <b>child </b>will be stronger for it too. A powerful heir for the Sterling line.”


    Dominic squeezed my hand. “This doesn’t change who you <b>are</b>, Reba. It just makes you… more<b>.</b>”


    Alpha stood, his imposing figure somehow less intimidating than before. I’ll <b>leave </b>you to eat and rest. <b>The </b><b>pack </b>elders will want to meet the first Gained One in generations <b>will </b>cause quite a stir.” He paused at the door. “Wee to the Sterling family, Reba.”


    <b>you </b>soon


    After he left, I turned to Dominic, who looked as astonished as I felt. “Did that just happen? Your father actually weed me?”


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