87 Pups
Ace POV
The whole time I’m helping Olivia clean up, my heart is beating a mile a minute. I can’t believe she is really pregnant with more than one pup, and we are about to see them. Just as I help her into her sundress, she presses her hand to my cheek. “I’m excited to see our pups too. I want Della to come with us. I don’t ever want her to think that she isn’t important, Ace. No matter if I carried her in my body or not, she is my first pup and having biological pups won’t change that.
I need to make sure she knows that. I press a kiss on my perfect mate’s lips. “Olivia, you never have to worry about that. You love our daughter fiercely, and I promise you that she will not have an ounce of fear about the love you have for her. Now let’s go get Della and head to the hospital.” I take her hand and leading her down the hallway that leads to the stairs.
I smile when I notice Amber, my dad, and Della waiting in the foyer. When we reach the bottom of the stairs, Della wiggles out of my dad’s hold and rushes over to Olivia. “Mama, are we going to see the pups, she asks. I’m startled by her question until I realize Amethyst probably knew before I did. I look down at my daughter, and she gives me a knowing smile. “Yes, sweet pea. We are going to see the pups,” Olivia says.
“Are you excited about becoming a big sister?” “I am. I will always protect them,” she says. “We know you will, sweet pea.” I hug my father and Amber after they hug Olivia. We make our way toward the door that leads to the pack yard when Evie calls out to Olivia. We turn to see Evie and Xavier who is holding Calliope, walking toward us. “We heard the news about the pups. I just wanted to congratulate you both,” Evie says.
I can see Evie wants to reach out and hug her daughter, but she stands still. She is trying to go at Olivia’s pace. “Olivia, do you think if you have time later we can talk privately,” Evie asks. “I actually would really like that mom.” Tears well in Evie’s eyes and the usually stoic Xavier smiles. He wraps his arm around Evie and leads her back toward the direction they came from. I pull Olivia towards me and press a kiss to the side of her head.
“I’m proud of you, love. I think really talking is going to help you both. Now let’s g our pups.” We make our way out of the pack house and down the path that leads to the hospital. When we arrive, the nurses already know why we are there. Connor must have linked to let them know to expect us. The nurse leads us down a long hallway to an exam room. It doesn’t take long for Melinda, another pack doctor, to step into the
room.
“Alpha Connor, let me know you two would be coming. Congratulations Dr. Morris and Olivia. Congratulations little miss Della. We can forgo the blood work since your Lycan and wolf have confirmed the pregnancy. The Alpha also mentioned there are multiple pups but your beasts wouldn’t tell you how many. Is that correct,” she asks. “It is,” Olivia says. “Olivia, can you lay on the exam table? Lift your shirt and slide your pants down
on your hips” Melinda says.
Olivia easily climbs onto the table and Della and I go to the other side so we can see the screen when Olivia does. Melinda begins to rub the wand over Olivia’s belly and the sound of thunderous heartbeats fills the room. Tears form in my eyes as I look down at Olivia, who is already crying.
“Well your Lycan and wolf were correct. I count three pups to be exact. It’s going to be difficult to give you a due date because Lycan pregnancies are shorter than wolves. I’ll need to see you in two weeks to get an idea
87 Pups
of their growth. We should be able to tell then if they are Lycan or wolves. We should also be able to tell the s*x of each pup if they cooperate, and you want to know,” she says. Three, holy sh*t, we are having three pups. I thought maybe twins, but I never expected triplets.
Melinda helps Olivia clean her belly and prints out a bunch of pictures for us before she leaves us alone in the room. “Are you alright Olivia?” She hasn’t said anything yet. She just keeps staring at the pictures. “I’m
growing in my belly,” she says as tears streak down her cheeks.
perfect. I’m happy. There are perfect. I’m happy. There are
PU
I wrap my arm around her, and she presses her head against my chest. Della wraps her arm around Olivia,
and we stay like that for a long while. My whole world is right here in my arms. I thank the goddess every day that my best friend didn’t tell Olivia everything about breaking our bond because I’m the luckiest ba**ard to
my fated mate.
have the other half of my sovin
Olivia POV
I make my way toward my mom and Xavier’s wing of the pack house. I didn’t realize that the retired Alpha
was given a wing out of respect for his years of caring for the pack. I knock twice before the door opens and
Xavier smiles at me. It is still weird to see him smile, but he really hasn’t stopped since we returned. “Come
- in. Your mom is just finishing up feeding Calliope and laying her down for a nap” he says.
He motions for me to have a seat on the couch. I take a seat and he does the same. We sit in awkward
silence for a few seconds before he finally speaks. “I just want to truly thank you, Olivia. I know you were hurt by my actions in the past and for that I am truly sorry. I’m sorry that Charles didn’t get to see you grow into the strong, capable, selfless woman you’ve become. I know you will never consider me family, but if you ever
need me, I’ll be here for you and your pups,” he says.
Before I can respond, my mother steps into the room. She looks between the two of us with concern on her face. “Is everything alright, Olivia” she asks. “Everything is fine mom. Xavier and I were just talking. He was apologizing because dad didn’t get to see me grow up” I say. I turn toward Xavier, who is standing ready to leave us alone. “I forgive you, Xavier. My father did get to see me grow up, and he has forgiven you both. You will never be my father, but you are my family.”
“Thank you, Olivia,” he says before stepping out of the room. My mom smiles and takes the seat next to me. “Olivia” she starts to say, but I reach for her hand. “Mom, I meant what I said in that wful place. I forgive you. I want you to call me Oli. I want you to be a nana, not only to Della but to our new pull one of the
pictures the doctor gave me and hand it to my mother. She sobs as she traces the three beans on the
ultrasound.
“Three pups, my pup is having three pups” she says, and I giggle. “I am, and I don’t want to deprive Della or these pups of the amazing nana I know you’ll be. I may not have agreed with your choices, but you were a great mom when we were pups. I want us to move forward, mom. I’m not sure what that looks like, but I know dad wants us all to be happy.” She reaches out and pulls me in for a hug. “I never thought I’d get to hug you again, Oli. I love you so much,” she says. “I love you too, mom.”
“Now, you wanted to talk to me, and I’ve done most of the talking. What did you want to talk about?” “It’s actually about Miranda or Cassandra, whatever the hell her name is,” she says. I can’t help the growl that escapes me at the mention of her name. “What about her mom?”
“I will never make excuses for my part in your pain or your father’s, but there are things she said while she held me prisoner that I want you to know. Not because I’m trying to justify what happened, but because she doesn’t deserve a quick death,” she says. She begins to tell me about her interference with my mom and
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Xavier when they were trying to stay away from each other. Part of me feels guilty knowing that magic was
involved.
“Don’t do that, Olivia. You have nothing to feel guilty about. You had every right to be angry.” Did I really though if she used that powder on my mom? Her next words have the blood freezing in my veins. “She is also the reason your father drank himself to death.” “Explain mom, right now.” “She went to the house the night he died and used her power of persuasion to convince him that the pain he was in was never going away. She is the reason he drank so much that night. He would never have done that otherwise Oli. He loved you and Connor so much. He never would have done anything to jeopardize being with you two,” she says.
I’m off the couch and heading for the door despite her calling my name. That b**ch orchestrated all of this. She is the reason I lost my father and my mother. She is the reason I rejected my mate. Her greediness for power ruined so many lives. The guard moves the minute he sees me heading toward him. I move down the stairs and stalk toward her cell. The minute she sees me, she smirks at me. “What’s the matter mutt? Did you finally learn the truth,” she asks. I can feel myself losing control as I move to find the key to her cell. She isn’t going to make it to sentencing.
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