21 - Ben


    “No way, Rayna! This isn''t happening. We have no clue what any of this stuff does, and I''m not going to let you take those kinds of risks,” Ben said firmly, his voice shaking with frustration.


    Rayna''s tone rose with each word, sharp and defiant. "You really think locking me up in here is going to fix anything? Make it easier or better somehow?!" The tension between them had been building for nearly ten minutes, their voices bouncing off the walls.


    "Ben,e on, man, back me up here," I said, raising my hands in surrender. I wasn''t going to get involved in their argument—Ben was just too scared to stand up to Rayna on his own. "You saw what happened at the clinic. That stuff messed with her. She can''t be around it."


    Rayna''s voice softened, but there was a dangerous sweetness to it. "Ben," she said, her tone almost mocking, "would you mind exining to your friend what really happened at the clinic? I wasn''t affected. The smells were just stronger for me because I''m pregnant. That''spletely normal."


    "Jason, you better get in here," Ben called out, his voice urgent. "Rayna''s going to need you soon."


    "I thought she was with you. What''s going on?" I asked as I stepped into the room.


    "Jeremiah''s acting up. He and his wolf are being difficult, and Rayna is pushing every one of their buttons right now," Ben replied, rubbing his temples.


    "I''m in the middle of something, but I''ll be there in twenty minutes. Hold them off. Distract Rayna with something long and pointless-Jeremiah will sit and listen to her ramble for hours. The sap," I muttered with a grin.


    Jeremiah''s voice cut through the tension, calm but firm. "There''s nowhere else any of us need to be right now. No word from the healers yet. I know you''re worried about your Luna, but you''re stressing her out too. Let''s just breathe and make a n while we still can."


    I gently guided Jeremiah to his chair, patting his shoulder as I exchanged a quick look with Rayna—an unspoken alliance forming against him. “Jason, he''s on his way. Don''t give me that look—I''m trying to help here. If you want to get out of these four walls, help me calm him down. Give him something to focus on. Baby names, nursery paint colors, stickers-I don''t care. Just distract him. Then the three of us can work on convincing him you don''t need to go to the hospital.”


    Rayna closed her eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath. When she opened them, I saw a spark of mischief flicker there. She was about to stir things up, and I was so utterly doomed. "So, Jeremiah," she began sweetly, "I was thinking about the nursery... We might need to make a few changes to the ns..."


    Her voice trailed off, but we could work with that. Jeremiah loved talking about their pup. He was almost twenty and already over the moon at the thought of bing a dad. I felt his tension start to melt under my hand as I kept a firm grip on his arm, holding him in ce.


    "What kind of changes, baby?" he asked, leaning back and settling into his chair. I felt safe stepping closer to his side.


    Rayna''s smile widened as she casually dropped the bombshell. "We''re going to need double of everything."


    I stopped breathing for a moment. "Wait, what?" Jeremiah leaned forward, eyes wide. "Why double?"


    "Jason, get your ass moving!" I snapped at him. This was probably going to make things worse, not better.


    But Rayna kept going, her voice slow and deliberate. "Two cribs, two car seats, a double stroller..... and we need to pick names,” she emphasized the plural, "for two babies." She looked at him with such joy it was hard not to believe her.


    I whispered urgently, "Rayna, go now while he''s still in shock. I''ll handle him. Jason''s almost here-meet him at the door and keep him close. Don''t give Jeremiah any reason to actually lock you up."


    She nodded slowly, rising carefully so she wouldn''t disturb him. I didn''t move until the door clicked shut behind her.


    “Jer?” I asked quietly, lowering my voice. "You good, man? Who knew you''d be so talented at making kids?" I tried to lighten the mood with a joke, hoping it would break through the thick tension hanging in the room.