“Alex...,” I hoarsely whisper.
“And what’s worse?” he pauses as I step closer, right in front of him. “I’ve always wanted kids someday, and the moment I fell in love with you, I imagined what it would be like for us to have kids and a family. But I’m fucking scared, and you didn’t need to see that.”
“I want to see that,” I counter, cupping his cheeks, feeling how wet they are with tears. “I want to see every single side of you. The scared, the fierce, the brave, the loving and whatever else you feel.”
“Why?” he asks.
“Because I’m in love with you,” I remind him. “There isn’t anything you could do that would stop me loving every inch of you.”
He kisses me, pouring all his pain into every kiss and setting me alive with each brush of his lips that taste like whiskey and regret. Eventually, he pulls away, pressing his forehead on mine, and his hand settles on my stomach. I smile and cover his hand with my own.
“I got you something,” he tells me, pulling away and handing me the bag. I open it up and pull out a yellow knitted blanket. Tears fill my eyes as Alex covers my hands on the blanket.
“They have a baby shop here, and I saw this. I liked the silk edging, and I imagined our baby in my arms, wrapped in this blanket. I think we will have a boy with your blonde hair and beautiful eyes.”
“I will treasure this,” I admit, placing the blanket back in the bag. “Thank you, Alex.”
“I am going to protect you both, protect our family,” Alex tells me, tugging me back into his arms. I reach across the counter behind him, pulling the tiny storage box towards us and opening it up. I hand Alex the scan photo that I haven’t shown the others yet, but I will when they wake up. Seeing Alex softly take the photo from my hands and hold it in the light to see it better makes me so sure about what kind of dad he will be. Alex has nothing to worry about.
If he loves our child even a tiny ounce of how much he loves me...our baby will be loved and cherished for her or his entire life.
Chapter 10
Anastasia
Who’s the daddy?
“You’re pregnant?” Phoebe asks with wide eyes, her hands tightly holding mine. She squeals and throws herself into my arms, hugging me tightly, and I feel her joy like it’s my own. Estelle grins at me as she holds baby Alexia in her arms, and Raine looks completely shocked.
“You lucky madam. Who’s the daddy?” Raine asks, hugging me next and just as tightly. I see Alex outside the hut on the beach with Skye, telling her the same news. Liam will tell his mum tomorrow when we go to the meeting area to get the rest of our people. Mason called his parents and sister, explaining everything that has happened, and they decided to stay at their homes but promised to come and visit in the future.
“I err…,” I drift off, and Raine leans back, winking at me.
“Got it,” she whispers, and I laugh even as I see the grief my friend hides so well under her smile. The funeral for Hugh was yesterday, and he now has a plaque in the cemetery here near the top of the tallest hill. So many people, more than just the familiars who knew Hugh, came with flowers and cards to say goodbye to a man who led many of our kind for a long time. Raine cried throughout the entire funeral, and it was heartbreaking to see. I held her hand, her boyfriends on the other side of her, and I told her that I would be her family no matter what. And I meant it. I don’t know if that makes any of it easier, but all I want is to be able to help her suffering even a little bit.
“Are you okay with being an aunt?” I ask Phoebe. She shrugs, and Raine walks away a little, giving us some space. “Are you okay in general?”
“Everything is changing,” she says. “I miss Aunt Courtney, but I know she is bad now. I don’t want to lose anyone else.”
“I can’t speak for anyone else, but I am not going anywhere,” I firmly tell her. “I know you’ve had to deal with so many people coming in and out of your life, but that will change. This island is our home now. It’s where we can be at peace.”
“I do like it here. I’m starting school next week,” she tells me, and I grin.
“You’re going to be smarter than any of us. I just know it,” I say, and she hugs me once again.
“Ana!” Mason shouts, rushing through the door with my parents hot on his heel. The look in his eyes tells me enough. Something is wrong.
“What is it?” I ask, protectively standing in front of Phoebe.
“Can the children go out of the room?” mum asks, eyeing Phoebe and the twins. Even though they are just babies, the tension in the room is still something they could pick up on.
“Come on, we can go out on the deck and look at the sea. Let’s go see what Skye’s up to,” Estelle suggests, nudging Phoebe’s head towards the door. Estelle puts Alexia down next to her sleeping brother in the flat pushchair and takes all three outside. I stop behind my dad, who opens a laptop and presses play on a video I wish was never created.
Bethany’s beautifully cold and impassive face fills the screen, and behind her is the ruins of a city I do
