Page 8 of His Unicorn Alpha
I was ready for it, though.
Wasn’t I?
“What’s this about you trying to land me with more kids?” Beckett asked me a few days after the monthly pack run.
Not expecting anyone else in the lab, I just about jumped out of my skin. Spinning my chair around, I found the alpha grinning at me from the doorway, where he leaned against the door jam with his arms folded across his broad chest.
He was young, still in his early thirties, with olive-colored skin and dark hair. He kept a stubbled jawline, and he was tall, though not as tall as me. I’d heard more than one omega and beta swoon over him. But it was the electric alpha scent that really worked in his favor. Despite his generally easy-going nature, he was powerful.
But, to me, the pack alpha was a friend. I guessed there was something about rescuing a man from his abductors and flying him back to his laboring mate that formed an instant bond between people.
“Well?” he prompted with eyebrows raised. “You gonna explain yourself, Brandt?”
Snorting, I sat back in my chair and onlyjustmanaged not to splay my hand across my abdomen. I’d taken to touching my belly more often, as if the touch would reassure the tiny fetuses that I was thinking about them.
“I was actually trying to prevent that,alpha,” I responded drily.
“Uh huh,” he sounded amused. “By offering my mate untested medication?”
“How else are we supposed to test it if the only omegas with alpha mates refuse to use it?” Despite understanding Ollie and Damon’s misgivings, my frustration on the issue was building. I put that down to hormones, too. Trying not to pout, I added, “Besides, Oliver said that he wouldn’t be opposed to having more children.”
“Yeah, planned ones, preferably.”
“Does it make that much of a difference? Really?” I gestured around us. “When you weren’t financially secure and were newlymated, I understand. But you’ve got a spacious home, an entire pack at your disposal, endless resources funded by dragon hoards—”
“It’s not just about the financial strain. There’s an emotional one, too.” His answer was gentle, and he wandered into my little lab and sat down on the spare chair beside me. I casually closed the window I’d had open on my computer screen, not wanting him to see the records I was keeping of my own pregnancy. “Kids take a lot of energy and attention, too. There’s the sleepless nights, the diapers, the potty training…which I amnotloving, by the way.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Plus being constantly worried that I’m giving them enough attention, enough love, that I’m not screwing them up for life…It’s a lot, Brandt.”
I hadn’t expected the brutal honesty, nor to hear about his self-doubt. I had to bite my lip to prevent it from wobbling. Clearing my throat, I averted my gaze. “I apologize,” I told him. “I suppose I’ve idealized the concept of having children. Many children. With our species on the brink of extinction…” My throat tightened and I clenched my hand into a fist to once again prevent it from wandering to my belly.
Unlike Eric, who was muscular and defined, and Sage, who was long and lean, I had a more average build. I am tall, and broad shouldered, but my stomach had never been flat or muscular. I was glad for the additional padding, the slight softness and roundness which had always existed, because it would allow me to hide my secret just a while longer.
Beck’s expression softened and he leaned forward, placing his hand over my own. “I get that. And, like I’ve told Ollie, I would love any kids we have together, even if they’re a surprise like Rory and Duke were. It does seem unfair that we have the luxury of choice where you don’t.” He gave my hand a squeeze and satback again. “But I didn’t actually come here to make you feel bad about asking us —again— to be your guinea pigs.”
Still struggling against the tumultuous emotions inside me, I managed to croak, “You didn’t?”
“A couple of years ago, this badass dragon saved my life. I told him that I owed him. That I’d have his back. So…” he took a deep, steadying breath, “this is me saying that I trust your science, Brandt. Ollie and I talked about it, and we agreed that we can’t keep relying on condoms during his heats, anyway. The last one…” Beck’s cheeks flushed and he averted his gaze. “Let’s just say it was a close call and leave it at that, yeah?”
His sudden change in tune almost gave me whiplash. I sat up straighter. “You’re serious?”
“About being your guinea pigs?”
I nodded.
He sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face again. “Yeah. I am. Like I said, I trust you.”
Oof. I wasn’t feeling particularly worthy of that trust in that moment.
But, Ididstand by the calculations and the research Eric and I had done.
I licked my lips and clapped my hands together. “Okay. In that case, bring Ollie down later and Eric and I will run through everything with you both. I promise, we believe it to be just as effective as The Pill for human and beta women. As long as he takes the medication like clockwork, it’s likely even more effective.”
Beck squinted a little and nodded slowly. “Alright,” he agreed slowly. Then he sighed and offered me a small smile, “If it fails, you and Eric are going to be our on-call babysitters for eternity.”
I grinned. “Deal.”
Chapter Four
“There he is!” Beck’s voice was loud and joyful, rising over the small crowd of people at Sioux City airport.
