“Why didn’t you just hook up with Trevor from the start?”
“Because…” He took a moment to consider his reply. “You can’t just put two gay people in the same room and expect true love any more than you can two straight people. I’ve always liked his humor and quiet intelligence, but it was a love that grew with time. He’s much younger than I am and didn’t seem ready to settle down. Pack dynamics are equally as important, and if we had rushed into something and it ended badly, it would have created a rift, and one of us would have eventually left. Perhaps I’ve always been cautious with the choices I’ve made in life because I’m always thinking ahead. I couldn’t risk coming out in Lorenzo’s pack because I wasn’t sure if it would affect my standing. Not everyone is as open-minded as the Weston pack, and I was second-in-command. Your diversity is the one thing that made it so easy to accept my transfer, even though at the time I was actually being demoted.”
“I’ve always wanted to be with Austin, and I used to fantasize about what our lives would be like when he finally realized he loved me.”
William laughed. “He never stood a chance.”
“Well, that’s not entirely true. When I found out he was a Shifter, that really scared me. Suddenly our lives weren’t going in the direction I thought they were, and the future was uncertain and hard to see, like the fog out there,” I said, pointing at the window. “Even now, it still doesn’t seem as clear as it once was when I was a little girl.”
“Maybe it’s not supposed to be.”
My thoughts drifted again, and I smoothed my hand down the length of my hair. “Did Austin ever tell you about the necklace he wears?”
This piqued William’s interest. He sat forward, fingers laced. “Mustn’t hold back. I’ve been curious about it for years.”
“It’s a family heirloom. An important leader gave it to one of his great-great-grandfathers, way up in the family line. It can only be worn by the alpha in the family, and it’s supposed to bring them strength and protection. His father isn’t an alpha, but it ended up with him because he was an only child. I don’t know if Austin believes in all that, but he rarely takes it off. Lately, when he looks at me, he touches the medallion. I don’t think he’s aware he’s doing it, but I’ve noticed.”
“I’m not sure I follow.”
I looked down at my belly and sighed. “This may be Austin’s only chance to pass it on. We may not have more children. His eyes are filled with hope because this is his only chance to continue a family tradition—one that won’t die with him.”
“Well, if it’s not an alpha and you choose not to have more children, he could always pass it on to one of his brother’s sons.”
I tipped my head to the side. “Lennon and Hendrix are equals. It would be unfair to choose one over the other. The necklace will end up in a box if this baby isn’t an alpha, or if…”
He immediately rose from his chair and stepped over the cradle, placing his hands on the arms of my chair. “You’re the strongest alpha female I’ve ever met, even more so than Ivy. You just don’t realize it, and maybe that’s why some of us give you a tough time when we mean no harm. If anything ever happened to Austin, you could lead this pack.”
“Women aren’t Packmasters, and I don’t even want to think about anything happening to Austin.”
“Sometimes we have to think of the worst so we can figure out how to pick up the pieces and move on. Don’t let life slap you with a cold shock; consider all the negative outcomes so you can live a more positive life. You’ll make wiser choices and not dwell on all the perils that can befall you.”
I cupped his cheeks, brushing my fingers over the sparse hairs attempting to grow on his upper lip and chin.
“You should have worked for a fortune-cookie company.”
Humor danced in his eyes. “A regret I’ll always carry in my heart.” He stood up and almost stumbled backward before stepping over the rocker. “When you’re ready to move all this up to your room, I’ll lend a hand.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Austin let himself in. “Take off, Will. I need to talk to my woman.”
Austin briefly glanced out the front window before moving the cradle aside. When the door closed, he pulled a chair across from me and sat down. “Hungry?”
“Stop trying to feed me, Austin. I just ate a whole chicken pot pie, and I’m real skeptical of whether or not your mother put chicken in there.”
He smiled, putting those wonderful little creases at the corners of his eyes. “I promise it was chicken. Bought it myself.”
“No wonder you ate at our house all the time growing up.”
One of his dark brows arched. “My mom’s a good cook, but I always loved Lynn’s pot roast. Plus, I got to flick all my peas onto your plate.”
My smile waned. “I miss Wes.”