Page 226 of The Heart of Winter

Winter blinked and huffed.

"Wait, Storm told you this? Then why didn’t anyone say anything? I could’ve saved myself so much second-guessing. And I thought Snow was the family expert on magical bonds or whatever."

His father laughed lightly.

"You know how it is with Storm. No one in this family wants to admit he’s right… until we all do eventually. That’s just how it works."

"Probably just to keep his ego from getting too big," Winter muttered dryly.

"There’s another reason," his dad said suddenly. "Snow believes that some things need to unfold on their own, that you shouldn’t rush them. So we all agreed not to make a big deal about Storm’s revelation. We hoped it would come out naturally, and it did. Because truthfully, it always does. Once the magic of True Mates takes hold, it never strays. There’s no need to force it."

Winter considered his words, his eyes focusing on my face. He smiled lightly, then slowly nodded.

"You might be right. Some things need time and space to bloom. Sometimes the… other magic has to happen before the TM magic can take hold. It shouldn’t be pushed or rushed. It’s like… pregnancy and childbirth, isn’t it?"

His eyes lit up. "Which reminds me: more news is on the way. You’re going to be grandparents again!"

But if he expected a surprise, he was disappointed.

His dad smiled gently.

"Oh, sweetheart, we already knew. When you were staying here before, you forgot your suppressant spray once or twice. And after eight births, trust me, I know that scent anywhere." He winked.

"But that’s not the end of the surprises," Winter said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I’m not the only one who’s pregnant."

Then he looked straight at me.

I felt the blush rise, but I spread my arms and said, "Guilty as charged."

That was when his dad’s eyes widened in shock, the reaction Winter had clearly been waiting for. Then he gave a funny hop and let out a surprised squeak.

"No way! Are you serious?"

With my chin up, I stood tall.

"I’m not an alpha," I said, feeling a new energy surge through those words. For the first time, I was speaking my truth to the world (my father didn’t really count, since he’d clearly known from the start). The weight of the moment made my heart race, but I steadied myself and continued calmly:

"I’m a sigma."

Judging by the looks on their faces, his parents had no idea what I meant.

So Winter stepped in, offering a quick explanation of what the subgender meant and what came with it. They listened intently, then both looked at me again, and in their eyes, I saw excitement, kindness, and… acceptance.

Winter’s dad stepped forward, arms out again. I pulled him close, feeling emotion tighten my throat.

Could it really be this simple?

All my life, I had feared this moment. I’d braced myself for rejection, for being called a freak. But instead, I was welcomed. Just like that. And something inside me, something hollow, finally felt full.

"So we have a dual pregnancy," Winter added. "Kind of like twins. We’re both carrying each other’s child. I’m the sire of Sariel’s baby, and he’s the sire of mine."

"Well, I can see you two didn’t spend your time on that island just watching for drones," Winter’s father muttered, pulling a slightly facetious expression.

A blush crept up Winter’s cheeks.

"Well, we had to keep ourselves warm during those long hours somehow, waiting for a rescue team."

His dad smirked and waved his hand.

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