Page 211 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha
She sighed. “We’ll just have to wait and see. I’m sure the Fates have a plan for this, but I hate waiting to find out what it is.”
“Same here.” I blew out a breath. “By the way, Mom, I have a favor to ask. Bryn wants to learn more about her biological parents, but she’s hit a brick wall there. Is there anything you can do to help her out?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “I wasn’t expecting you to ask me that.” She scratched her chin.
“I know it probably won’t be easy with how little we have to go on.”
“Honey, you know I’m at my happiest when I’m needed.” She patted my hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll find out what I can, but as you said, I doubt there’s much to find.” She smiled. “I’ll reach out to our elders, the Kings’ elders, and anyone else to get more information about Bryn’s mother.”
“Thanks so much, Mom.” If she could find out where Bryn’s mother lived, it would lead us closer to finding out who her father was. “Bryn wants to be able to tell our pup about their grandparents. I think she feels lost because she doesn’t know anything about them.”
Mom nodded. “Wolves have always been pack animals. We must have family and community around us all the time. And equally important, we need to know they accept us. Bryn was denied both community and acceptance her entire life. If there’s even a chance that she has siblings or cousins, it’s only natural that she’d want to find them.”
“Exactly.” Bryn had recently learned that not only was she never human, but also that she was the daughter of a pack mother. All that new information would make anyone want answers about their heritage.
“Thank you for doing this for her, Mom. Really.”
She waved a hand in dismissal. “If I can help ease Bryn’s worries, that’ll be all the thanks I need.” The corner of her mouth twitched. “You know, Night, you had such a kind, gentle nature when you were a little boy. You cried every time you and Dom had one of those silly fights, or one of the other kids didn’t wantto play with you. Whenever I told you stories, your little heart broke when the hero didn’t make it.”
“Aw, Mom.” I couldn’t remember being so tender-hearted.
“I was beginning to think the harshness of Warg life had weeded out the soft little boy I raised. I worried I was one of the lucky few to see your sweetest smiles….but I was wrong. Bryn brings out the warmest parts of you, Night. You’re much quicker to show your gentler side. Not just with Bryn, but with how you talk about the merger and being alpha, of trying to foster a better, healthier community. It’s lovely to see.” Tears misted her jade-green eyes. “It’s lovely to see,” she repeated.
I got out of my chair to kiss her forehead and hug her. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, honey." She sniffled and patted my back. “Now, listen. The first three months of pregnancy are the hardest. The best thing for Bryn to do is to get as much rest as possible and drink peppermint tea when her stomach aches. But to be honest, I imagine Glenda’s already got her covered on that front.”
“Got it. I’ll make sure she doesn’t push herself too hard. But you know it’ll be a struggle to get her to listen to me.”
She laughed. “Our Bryn is stubborn, but she’ll do right by her baby. That’s just the kind of person your mate is.”
82
BRYN
The warm water in the bath was filled with so many herbs, I felt like I was steeping in tea. The aromas of rosemary and chamomile drifted through the air, thanks to the things Violet had sent with Night. A cup of the tea my mother had mixed for me sat on the stool next to the tub. The soothing scents and tea helped ease the aches in my body, but I still felt like a pincushion.
Some of the bubbles had disappeared in the twenty minutes since I’d gotten into the tub. I reached to add more, but a wave of nausea rocked me before I could grab the bottle. I closed my eyes, willing away the urge to vomit. Now, in the tub, would be the worst time to lose my breakfast.
Thankfully, the wave dissolved without incident. I sighed and leaned my head against the hand towel draped over the edge of the tub. “Dammit, I should be working.” I groaned.
I was here because I’d vomited my entire stomach into the toilet that morning. Night told me I needed to rest—what else was new? Everyone had been telling me to do that—and that he’dtake over the paperwork for me. When he offered his help, I assumed the two of us would be working together. Not that I would be soaking in a tub whilehedid all the work.
Even Tavi was busy checking up on the reconstruction today, so Night was working by himself. I loved him, I appreciated him, but it irked me to no end that I had to rely on him so completely. I’d never felt more useless and out of the loop. And he wouldn’t even bring me some documents to pass the time while I “relaxed.”
What a joke. How was I supposed to take it easy when my pack needed me?
Growing up, Mom was the only person I could rely on, and even then, I was always a pretty self-sufficient child. Having a mate meant I should rely on him when I needed to, but I hadn’t thought I’d have to rely on him like this so soon.
While I understood that the first few months would be the toughest on me, I’d never expected it to be like this. As much as I had already fallen in love with my baby, I wish I’d known ahead of time that it would feel like my life was being drained out of me. At least then, I could have planned for the days when I was too weak to get out of bed—or out of the tub.
Night didn’t mind catching up on work for me, but that didn’t lessen my guilt about taking a bubble bath while he and Tavi combed through that mass of paperwork.
I sighed and closed my eyes, sinking under the water until the suds covered my mouth. Maybe I could convince Night to bring some of the paperwork home. I could handle some light reading.
As if thinking about him had summoned him, I heard his heavy footsteps headed up the stairs. Night was normally light on hisfeet, but because I hated when he snuck around, he didn’t mask his footsteps.
Moments later, he came into the bathroom. I opened my eyes and spotted the envelopes he held.
