Chapter 66

Ansel groaned. The groan turned into a coughing fit.

He was propped up in his office chair, already miserable, when Henry delivered the news that half of the pack’s children were now expected to arrive tomorrow for Karin’s dance class.

Ansel’s breathing was still ragged, even without a coughing jag. It took him a minute to speak again.

“Obviously, we have to call this off,” Ansel said, his voice hoarse.

“The gamma I spoke with said the news is all over the pack, and there’s a great deal of excitement that the children are being invited to tour your manor - “

“Tour the manor,” Ansel shouted.

Henry nodded.

“Did she promise them ice cream, too? College scholarships?” Ansel threw his head back. “I’m going to kill her.”

“Look, I don’t know what was originally said, but I get the feeling a lot of this has grown as it’s spread through the grapevine.” Henry sat down in the chair across from Ansel’s desk.

“The staff may - okay - they will - hate us for all the last-minute work that’s about to get shoved at them, but this is good PR for the election, and from what you told me about your last, um, talk with King David, the election has renewed importance. Win in a landslide, and it’s all the better.”

Ansel sighed. “Fine.”

Henry grinned. “I’ll help you work out the details.”

“Security is the first priority,” Ansel began, when a knock came at the door. “Come in.”

Maggie peeked her head in. “Sir Ansel, Doc and Karin need you.”

Ansel immediately felt his temper flare. “Absolutely not. I told Karin - “

“Oh no, excuse me, sir. It’s about Karin. Doc’s here for the fertility check-up.”

“Oh,” Ansel said. He rose from his desk, swiftly shutting his laptop and padfolio. “Henry, will you -“

“Don’t worry, Boss. I’ll meet with the staff, and I’ll get the ball rolling so we can coordinate security with the gammas.”

Ansel made his way to meet with Doc and Karin. He stood outside the door for a few moments to try and get his breathing under control. He straightened his posture to project health.

“Good afternoon,” Doc said, as Ansel stepped into the room.

Ansel nodded and looked over to Karin. She was lovely, as always, and it made his heart skip a beat. Instantly, this physical response to her made him cross.

“To let you know where things are at,” Doc said. “The bloodwork detects no pregnancy, at this point, but the window is here for ovulation.”

Still greatly fatigued, Ansel leaned up against a counter. “How many days do we have?”

“It’s twelve to twenty-four hours.”

Ansel crossed his arms. “Nice. Okay.” He caught Karin’s eyes. She quickly shifted her gaze toward the window.

“Per my instruction, Karin’s kept a record of sexual activity. Since there was some activity about three days ago, that’s very promising timing, but Karin is also requesting artificial insemination, which, I believe, the two of you discussed?”

“You could say that,” Ansel said, glancing angrily over at her.

“We’ll just need a sample, then,” Doc said.

Ansel cringed internally and tried not to show it on his face. He blamed Karin for the humiliating situation and his anger only grew stronger.

Doc got out the sterile cup. As he was handling it to Ansel, he paused. He was watching the shallow movement of Ansel’s chest.

“Actually,” said Doc, pulling his stethoscope on. “Do you mind if I take a listen, sir?”

“Frankly, I do mind,” Ansel said, more sternly than he meant to.

Doc froze, looking more than a little stunned.

“I don’t need an examination. This is her appointment,” Ansel said. He grabbed the cup and stormed off with it.

Ansel passed by a beehive of frenetic energy as his employees were scurrying about to get ready for tomorrow. He made it to his room and fell into his bed.

Ansel spun the cup around in his hand. Children were conceived this way all the time. There was no sense in being square about it. And at least this way, he could keep things more business-like between him and Karin. That was obviously what she wanted, and what he wanted, too.

Except that he didn’t. He sighed. The contradictory, ping pong of emotions, the constant tugging inside, was exhausting.

Ansel tried to focus on made-up fantasies in his head, visual memories of supermodels, and porn on his phone. He felt a silly amount of pressure to get this done and it wasn’t happening. Eventually, he realized half an hour had already gone by since he left Doc and Karin.

Frustrated, he allowed himself to think of her. The curve of her breasts and hips. Her soft moans in his ear. Within minutes, he had the “sample.” He laid his head back on his pillow. He had to find a way to end this dependence on her - this forced tie to her. But of course, he had tried for five years. He’d might as well cut out his own heart for all the good it would do him to resist.

Fuck fate.

He would figure this out.