Page 177 of Broken Bonds
I can’t even go run to burn off some of this stress because of the doctor’s admonition against strenuous activity. And if I go running, it’ll be to push myself as fast and hard as I can to shut down my noisy brain.
Can’t deny a malicious part of me wants to throw this in my family’s faces, tell my old packmates to suck a big bag of dicks, because here I am, a pack Alpha’s mate, and I’m about to have pups.
Pups plural.
I have a feeling that between Dad, Pops, and Iris, Jax and I will be lucky to get any time with our own pups. But I meant it when I said to Mal that at least he and Todd won’t be going through this alone. As weird as this situation is, I will have someone exactly in the same boat I am—well, minus a baby—and able to commiserate with.
When I reach home, a wave of exhaustion hits me, likely due to yesterday’s exertion and all the stress—and now the latest development—so I stretch out on the couch to watch TV.
I awaken to Jax kissing me, smiling down at me. “Dinner’s ready.”
I struggle to make sense of his words. “Huh?”
“I made dinner. Or do you want me to bring your plate out to you?”
I sit up, finally processing that the house smells amazing, and see I’ve been out nearly six hours.
“When did you get home?”
“Not even an hour after you left the office.”
“Holy crap.” I stand, then sit down again. “Yeah, bring it here, please.”
“Fasting after midnight,” he reminds me. “For your bloodwork tomorrow. So eat now.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
He brings me a plate and a large glass of water. “I didn’t expect to feel this ragged,” I admit. “I wonder if that’s the run or the stress or the concoction?”
“Or, maybe because you’re pregnant with twins?” he playfully asks. “Or a combination of all of the above?”
“Gawd. I was not expecting this.”
He playfully buffs his nails. “I am an overachiever.”
“Yeah, but honestly, this is the last additional complication we need right now.”
He leans in and kisses me. “Stop. Unexpected? Yes. But I’m not complaining. Alizée proposed an idea I’m giving serious thoughts to going ahead with.”
“What?”
“Destabilizing Sterling ahead of our attack on him by getting Mal’s mother out of there.”
“Um, was I asleep six hours or six weeks? That’s nuts!”
“No, think about it,” Jax says. “If she wants to come—and according to Alizée she believes she will—we can send Sterling on a wild wolf chase. Make him think she’s with Mal. Use their phones to ping places so he scatters his people in fruitless searches while we set our trap. It’ll enrage him, too. Once we’re ready, use that to lead them to the ambush site. Worst case, she doesn’t want to come, and we hold her somewhere until all the fireworks are over. Best case, she’s here to support Mal and Todd.”
I’m…doubtful. “Are we sure she’s really that good? Alizée, I mean.”
“Morning swears by her. I guess some of her biggest strengths are in midwifery and magick relating to familial, blood, and birth bonds.”
“And do we trust Morning?”
“Well, Pops and Dad both trust him,” he says. “And you know they don’t trust easily.”
“You haven’t told them this latest development, have you?”
Jax smiles. “No, baby. No one else knows until you okay it.”
