LACEY

It took a long time to get an appointment to find out the s*x of the baby. Doctor Ron had been exceptionally busy lately, so we had to be patient.

I sat on the table, letting my feet swing while Felix stood next to me. He stood straight and rigid like he was nervous. I reached over and rubbed his arm gently, trying to calm him a bit.

“There isn’t anything to be nervous about,” I told him. “We will love it either way.” He just nodded. My quiet mate.

Finally, Doctor Ron came into the room. “Good afternoon,” he said pleasantly. He was always so calm and composed; it made this whole baby process a bit easier. “So, are we ready to see our pup?”

I nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, please!”

“How about you, Dad? Are you ready to find out what you’re having?” he asked Felix. Felix just nodded. “Alright then, let’s get to it. Lacey, dear, why don’t you sit back there for me?”

I pushed myself all the way back on the table that was sat up just a bit. I rolled my shirt up as Doctor Ron pulled over the little ultrasound machine. Felix’s hand found mine, and he intertwined our fingers. I could feel how nervous he was.

“Just a bit of cold,” Doctor Ron said, squirting the jelly over my belly. A small shiver came over me as he rubbed it in with the wand. He moved the wand all around, looking for the best angle. He quietly worked, rolling the wand over my rounding stomach and pressing buttons on the machine. Felix’s grip tightened on my hand the longer he waited for Doctor Ron to say anything.

After what felt like ages, he turned back to us with a mellow smile. “Are you guys ready?”

“Yes, we are,” I said, looking up at my mate. He looked back down at me and nodded. We both turned back to Doctor Ron, who turned the machine to face us. On the screen was a picture I couldn’t make out. He pressed a button, and a little arrow appeared with the words “ITS A BOY!” next to it.

I let out an excited scream. “Boy? We’re having a boy?”

“Yes, it appears you will be having a boy,” Doctor Ron confirmed. I looked to Felix, who had the largest, proudest smile on his face. My stomach flipped at that expression; he was happy for a little boy. Doctor Ron handed me a rag to wipe off, but Felix took it and did the honors. Then he bent down and placed a soft k**s on my belly.

“I will print a few good photos from today for you,” Doctor Ron laughed as he went back to the ultrasound machine.

“Thank you so much,” I said happily. A minute later, he handed us a string of tiny photos of our baby.

“His kidneys are measuring a little small, but we won’t worry for now. We’ll just keep an eye on things as the little pup grows and see if it gets concerning,” Doctor Ron said casually.Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

Felix let out a low growl. “What?” I said, putting my hand on his arm.

“It could be something that will require a simple procedure after birth, but it could also correct itself. We will keep measuring and see what happens. Nothing you need to worry about right now, though,” he assured.

“Okay,” I said. I wasn’t wholly convinced. Felix was tense again; there went our happy mood.

“We’ll see you back in two weeks, I think,” he said, noting something in my file. “Congrats on the little boy.” Doctor Ron left us in the room. I pulled my shirt down, and Felix helped me scoot off the table.

“He said we don’t need to worry right now,” I said softly. Felix was staring at my stomach. I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around his neck. He automatically held me closer to him.

“Hey,” I said, bringing his attention to my face. “We’re having a little boy.”

He rubbed his nose along mine. “We are having a boy,” he said softly.

LIAM

“I mean, it’s a plan. Could be a little dangerous but probably the most effective,” Langston said. I had just told him my plans for gathering information on Warwick.

“We need eyes,” I said. “We are guessing right now. Everything that is being reported or we are sifting from news outlets is just a guess. We could be entirely wrong.”

“This is true,” he said contemplatively. “What does your mate think?”

“She doesn’t think it’s a bad idea, just dangerous,” I answered.

“Who would you want to send? It should be someone you trust explicitly and someone who can recognize the vampires,” Langston said.

“That is the messy part,” I said. Langston raised an eyebrow. “I think I should send Maddox.”

Langston nodded but didn’t say anything for a moment. Finally, he said, “You think he is ready for the serious of an assignment?”

“I do,” I said. “He has shown a lot of maturity since coming to B***d Eclipse. Especially with my daughter.”

“Does that hurt to say?” Langston laughed.

“I am still not thrilled they are living on their own,” I admitted.

“And this is not a way for you to force your daughter back under your roof for a time?” Langston said. “You really think the boy will be a good candidate?”

“While I am not opposed to the added benefit, no, that is not my sole reasoning. Maddox is smart and determined. He will do everything he can to keep Missy safe, and she won’t be safe until Warwick is gone.”

“I can’t say I disagree,” Langston said, smiling. “So, tell them separately or together?”

–

“Missy, what are you doing here, sweetheart?” I asked, surprised to see my daughter strolling in behind Maddox as he joined me in my office.

“Rule number two,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “We just got back from a run when Langston said you wanted to talk to Maddox.”

I sighed, pressing my fingers to my temple. I was hoping to talk to Maddox alone about this. I wanted him to think about it without Missy’s influence.

“Alpha, whatever it is, you can tell me in front of Missy. I don’t keep anything from her,” he said. He gave her a loving look; I could tell the poor boy was helplessly in love when he looked at her that way. Poor guy had joined the club.

“Missy, why don’t you go see your mother for just a bit?” I proposed.

She threw herself down in one of the chairs. “Now, I am absolutely not leaving because you don’t want me to hear this conversation.” She crossed her arms and looked at me expectantly.

“Fiesty pup,” Gavin snorted. Maddox gave her an incredulous look but sat down in the chair beside her.

“Alright, but you are simply a spectator. Maddox and I will be having this conversation,” I told her.

“Alright,” she agreed. I turned my full attention to Maddox.

“I know that you are pretty well informed about the evolving situation regarding Warwick,” I started. Maddox nodded. “Everyone, Langston and myself included, have taken notice of your work ethic recently. You were a significant help to Austin while I was occupied with Azalea.”

“I was happy to help,” Maddox said. “I really have learned a lot.”

“We are having trouble locking down solid information on Warwick and where he might be. We have a few solid guesses, but nothing concrete yet. We can’t attack the vampires until we know where they are,” I explained. Maddox nodded along, listening intently. “Langston and I agree- we need to to find Warwick. We need someone we trust to find Warwick and send us information on his movements.”

I paused, waiting for a reaction. Maddox’s eyebrows creased in the middle. Missy moved, sitting up straight, but I kept my eyes fixed on Maddox.

“Wait, are you saying you want me to….” Maddox trailed off with his question.

“Yes,” I said. “I want you to act as a spy for us. I want you to follow some of the intelligence we gathered and find Warwick.”

“No!” Missy exclaimed. “You said you wanted us nowhere near this war, Dad!” I kept my eyes trained on Maddox.

“You have earned my trust, not just with my daughter,” I supplied.

“I don’t know what to say, sir,” he said, taken aback.

“I know what you will say, and it’s no!” Missy almost shouted, standing to her feet now. “Maddox, you are not going after a genocidal vampire bent on revenge against my family!”

“Missy, I allowed you to stay in this room as a spectator,” I warned her.

“Are you kidding me? This could be a suicide mission!” she said.

“Your mate has made his wishes and intents for the future very clear,” I said, standing to my feet. “Protecting your pack does not just mean working out every day and being able to throw a punch!” Missy looked back at me with fury.

“Missy, wait,” Maddox said, standing and putting a hand on her lower back. She stared me down for a minute more before she reluctantly tore her eyes away and looked at Maddox. A silent conversation passed between them.

“Alpha, can I take some time to decide?” Maddox finally asked, his eyes still glued to Missy.

“Yes,” I said. “But time is not our friend, Maddox. We need to know what Warwick is doing. He already knows what we are doing.”

“Of course,” he said in a low voice. He looked at me and nodded his head respectfully, then headed toward the door. Missy looked back at me with hateful eyes.

“I will never forgive you if he gets killed trying to impress you,” she silently threatened. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, Maddox following her.

“You i***t,” Gavin grumbled.

“Not helping,” I shot back.

“She’s like Little Mate but more aggressive,” he observed. I sighed. She was a lot like Azalea but with the temperament of a werewolf, not a saint.

Langston knocked on my door, peeking his head in. “I can see that went well,” he said with a chuckle.

“She threatened me,” I said. I still wasn’t sure I handled it appropriately. I didn’t expect that strong of a reaction from Missy.

“She just feels strongly. It’s refreshing to see. She is finally taking charge,” he said.

“You say as the visiting Alpha and not her father,” I g*****d, sitting back down.

“Let them talk it out. Maddox will make the right decision, and she will come to understand it.”

MISSY

Of all the things my father could ask my mate to do! How much more hypocritical could he get? He wants us nowhere near the war, but he wants to send my mate on some espionage mission? All I could see was red as I tore out of the packhouse and headed home. Maddox followed right on my heels.

“Missy, please calm down,” he tried as I almost ran down the front stairs.

“Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down after that?” I yelled.

“This is why he wanted to talk to me privately. He didn’t want you to react this way,” he tried to reason.

“Because this is absolutely nuts!” I argued. Holland was whining and upset inside my head. We both knew this meant our mate was not only going to be in danger but far away for who knows how long. There was no way that I would ever be allowed to go with him; that would put me right there for the taking.

Hot, angry tears started to leak from my eyes, and I sped up, full-on running towards our house now. After everything that Vlad put me through, I thought my parents would just let us live peacefully. I thought Maddox could be a warrior, but I didn’t think he would be interrogating war prisoners and chasing after my father’s mortal enemy.

Losing my biological parents. Growing up with the stigma of being the Alpha’s adopted charity case. Getting kidnapped. Being betrayed by the boy I thought I loved. Wasn’t any of that enough? Now my father wanted to serve my mate up to Warwick on a silver platter.