33 Max Many

33 How Many

Ace POV

Olivia is quiet as we make our way back to the Beta floor. When we reach the door, she reaches for the handle, but I lay my hand on hers to stop her. Before I can say a word, she wraps her arms around my middle I do the same and hold her tightly to me. We both need this right now. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect what we heard in that office. “I know this is a lot, Olivia, but I’m going to be with you every step of the

way. We are in this together.”

She pulls back, and her smile takes my breath away. “I really am sorry about bringing up the past, Ace. You’re right about everyone else’s choices affecting my life, but you had no idea we were mates. Xavier and my mother made choices that benefited them regardless of how much it hurt others. I never want you to feel like I think you are anything like them, because I don’t,” she says.

I press a kiss on her lips before pulling back to look into her eyes. “I love you, Olívia. I meant what I said about never truly knowing what love was before you. I never expected to feel the bond with you so strongly with me being human, but I do. The pull to be with you and to love you is like nothing I ever imagined. The tingles that dance on my skin every time we touch damn near takes my breath away. I promise you that I never thought you were lumping me in with Evelyn and Xavier. I never want you to hide how you feel from

me.”

I brush a piece of hair off her face before gripping the back of her neck with my hand. “I can’t imagine what the connection will feel like when we are fully mated.” Her cheeks pink and rub my thumb from my free hand

across them. “I love to see your cheeks blush when I talk about making you mine completely.” She opens her mouth, but before she can speak the door opens. Rain smiles as she steps into the hallway first, followed by

Kevin.

“We are heading to our ultrasound so don’t go far. We will be having breakfast with Becca and Connor to

reveal the pup’s gender. Della is watching cartoons in the living room,” Rain says as she hugs Olivia and then me. I smirk when Olivia’s eyes darken. I love how possessive my girls are of me. Wolves have a tendency to be

jealous creatures, but I’m sure it’s not helping that she hasn’t marked me yet. Holy sh*t, I’m going to have

Olivia’s mark to show everyone that I am hers.

The excitement quickly fades when I realize I can’t mark her. We will never share a complete bond because

I’m human. When Candace refused to mark me because she felt it wasn’t fair to have half the bond, it didn’t

bother me. At this moment though, knowing I won’t share it with Olivia, guts me. Hands on my face brings me

out of my thoughts. “What are you thinking about that has that look on your face? You were smiling one

minute and looked like you lost your best friend the next.

“Oli, your back” Della squeals, effectively halting the conversation. “What am I chopped liver?” Della giggles

as Olivia scoops her up. “You are so silly, daddy. I see you all the time,” she says. “Well, now that daddy and Olivia are mates you’ll see her all the time too.” Della squeals as she squeezes her arms that are around Olivia’s neck tighter. “Careful Della, don’t hurt Olivia.” “Sorry Oli,” she says loosening her hold.

“You are fine, sweet pea. Your daddy is being silly,” Olivia says. “Daddy, why do you call Oli, Olivia? She said her family and friends call her Oli. Aren’t we her family now,” Della asks. I smile reaching to take her from Olivia’s arms. “It makes me feel special to call her Olivia. She has a beautiful name, and I’m the only one in our family that calls her by her full name. It’s just like when I call you sweet pea. It makes me happy.”

<33 How Many

“Della, do you think that me, you, and daddy could talk about something important,” Olivia asks before looking at me. I nod and Della, of course, is thrilled to talk. We have a seat on Rain’s couch and I set Della between us. “Do you like living here, Della, in the pack?” “Yes, I have lots of friends. Plus this is where my nana, aunts, and uncles live. Are you going to live here with us now since you’re going to be my mommy

Della says.

I can see that Olivia is torn. “Olivia doesn’t live in the pack sweet pea so we are trying to figure out if we should live with her or if she wants to move here with us. Either way, what matters is that we will be a family. If we decide to move to Olivia’s house, you’ll get to make new friends. So you’ll have your friends here and your friends in our new home. Plus, we will always visit if we don’t live here, so you can see nana and

everyone else.”

Olivia’s eyes meet mine, and she mouths the word “thank you.” “I tell you what Della. I have an idea. I’m a nurse in a big hospital in the human city. I have to give them a couple of weeks to replace me. While I do that, maybe you and daddy can stay with me in my house. You can stay in my old room that I used when I was a kid. Then, after a couple of weeks we will decide together where we are going to live.”

“I think that sounds like a great idea. What do you think, sweet pea?” “Do you have toys in your room,” she asks and Olivia and I both chuckle. “No, but I’m sure we can get some for you,” Olivia says. “Ok we can stay at your house,” Della says before she slides onto the floor and focuses on the cartoons. “We can head back to my house after we meet with you know who. I have a couple of days before I’m due back at the hospital. Oh, and don’t think I forgot we didn’t just finish our conversation. I want to know what caused that look on your

face, but I can wait till we are alone” Olivia says before she moves closer, snuggling to my side.

Olivia POV

An hour later the door opens and Kevin steps inside. I expect him to be beaming after hearing what his pup

is, but he looks like every bit of color has been drained from his face. I jump up from the couch, rushing

toward him. “Hey what’s wrong? Where is Rain?” “She is headed to the Alpha floor for breakfast. She asked

me to come get you guys,” he says. “Then why the hell do you look like you need a couple pints of blood?”

“I can’t tell you anything. Rain threatened to never let me touch her again if I said a word without her there.

She wants to tell everyone together,” he says. We follow Kevin to my brother’s floor. Kevin leads us down a

hallway, and I’m shocked by the beautiful dining room that sits at the end of the hall. I never really explored

when I was here, but I didn’t realize the floors for the ranked members are like little apartments.

Becca and Connor are already seated when we step inside the room. Rain is practically bouncing with

excitement. We take our seats and omegas bring out trays of food. Once everything is on the table, we all

look toward Kevin and Rain. “Alright, we are all here. Tell us what we are having, a niece or a nephew.” Rain’s

smile gets even bigger and Kevin is smiling now too. “One of each” they say in unison. “Holy sh*t your having

twins. Did you know before today?” “Mommy, you said a bad word” Della says, and I freeze.

I know she said she wanted me to be her mommy, but hearing her call me it has warmth spreading through my chest. Danica is preening in my mind at hearing her pup acknowledge us. I turn to her, fighting the tears that threaten to fall. “I’m sorry sweet pea. Did you hear that Aunt Rain and Uncle Kevin are having two pups.”

“I’m going to help take care of them. I’ll keep them safe,” Della says. “You don’t have to worry, Della, the pups will be safe in the pack,” Kevin says.

I notice her look down, but just as quickly, she picks her head up with a big smile on her face. “I know Uncle Kevin, but I’m a big girl, so I have to protect the pups,” she says. “Well, they are lucky to have you as part of

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their family Della” Rain says. The rest of breakfast we talk about the pups and our plans to stay in my hogi for a couple of weeks. I can see the disappointment on Becca’s face, but it’s quickly gone when I may ther a possibility of us living in the pack.

I don’t know if I’m ready to let go of the house that is my last connection to my father, but how can I rip Della away from the only home she has ever known? Besides the fact that I’m a guardian wolf and the pup is likely part of this pack. It only makes sense for us to live here. I swore I would never live here but I guess things change. I push the thoughts out of my mind for now. We have time to ke a decision. I just hope meeting

with this witch doesn’t turn out to be a mistake.