Chapter 230

Ethan

Twins. Fiona is going to have two babies, and I can’t stop thinking about the little blurry image in my pocket. I want to take it out and look at it again, but I force myself to keep my composure. She’s upstairs resting while I’m down here, alone.

“Are you alright, Alpha?”

Well, I’m not exactly alone. I’m just not with my mate.

“I’m fine,” I tell Ryan as I turn to look at him and the Gammas charged with protecting Fiona. “Things are going to get busy around here over the next few weeks, and I need each of you to be prepared. There’s been a development.”

Fiona and I agreed that we should keep the news about the twins and the upcoming wedding quiet for now, unless someone absolutely needs to know. We don’t want anyone to think they have more reasons to attack her.

Still, each of them is crucial to keeping Fiona safe, so they need to know. I rub the sonagram picture of my babies between my fingers in my pocket before pulling it out. They need to know the weight of their job has just gotten heavier on their shoulders.

“The first thing you need to know is that Fiona and I will be getting married soo—”

Each of them launches forward, whooping and pulling me into their arms. They congratulate me, and I smile, thankful for their support and camaraderie. It fills me with a sense of ease, their kind words mixing together and settling over me like a warm coat.

“That’s not all,” I say once they’ve settled down. I prepare myself for another round of the same or even more excitement as Ryan stares up at me, looking confused.

“There’s more?”

Lifting my arm, I turn the image of the twins around. Each of the men around me leans in, focusing on the picture. They stare at it for much longer than is probably necessary, and long enough that I wonder if they realize what they’re looking at.

“This is…”

“Holy shit,” Laxus gapes. His eyes bounce from the picture to me then back to the picture. “There’s two of them.”

“There are,” I confirm.

“Two?” Ryan mutters, looking back at the image. “Two… two babies? TWINS?!”

Smirking, I watch as the information rolls over them and sends them to the floor. Michael and Robert blink in sync, and I wonder if my twins will be as in sync as these two. I don’t know what they’re thinking but Laxus and Ryan both take in sharp, deep breaths to calm down.

“We’re keeping this information quiet for now, but as my Beta and as Fiona’s guards, you needed to know,” I tell them, then turn to Laxus, Michael, and Robert. “This also means that her life and the lives of my two children are in your hands when I’m not around. Laxus.”

“Yes, Alpha?” He jumps to attention, straightening and becoming serious.

I clap a hand on his shoulder, making sure he’s paying full attention as I say, “I’m assigning you as her main guard, still, but I want you to bring in a few more Gammas to keep an eye on Fiona. I trust your judgement and give you permission to make the necessary security decisions unless you think you need my input.”

He nods, bowing as he accepts the order.

“I understand, Alpha, and I swear to keep the Luna safe to the best of my abilities.”

Michael and Robert step up to his side and bow as well, signaling their acceptance of my orders as well.

“As for you,” I say, turning to Ryan, “My father hurt Fiona just before the rogues attacked at the celebration. I haven’t had a chance to get with you about his movements, but has there been anything suspicious?”

“Not physically, but he’s definitely angrier and more frustrated since you went public about Fiona’s pregnancy and heritage,” he answers.

Fiona POV

“Why didn’t you call me sooner? Holy crap, that’s so much!” Isla shouts through the phone. “I can’t believe you’re pregnant and getting married!”

“I know. There’s so much going on, but I couldn’t wait to tell you. I’m going to ask Ethan to bring you here because I can’t get married without you.”

“Oh, girl. I love you and I would never miss it for the world!” She cries, and I wish I could hug my best friend, but she’s hundreds of miles away. I’ve missed her, but haven’t had a chance to contact her since I got here.

Everything has been so out of control and crazy, but while Ethan meets with the elders, I finally have a moment of peace.

“I even have some girls I could introduce you to when you get here. Speaking of them, I need to call them over to tell them the good news too.”

“Well, go on and ask your man to bring me to the West. I can’t wait to see you!” She tells me, the grin in her voice evident. The idea that we’ll get to be together soon has both of us grinning, I guess.

We end our call quickly after with promises to talk soon, and not even fifteen minutes later, Sophie, Nova, Laura, and Claire are circled up on my floor with laptops, a cork board, and snacks.

“I’m sure the wedding will take place at the palace, so any color flowers and decorations would go well with the neutral colors around the palace,” Laura says, turning her laptop in my direction. I snack on the sweet popcorn that Clarie brought, fiddle with the necklace Ethan gave me, and lean in to see the screen.

Nova pins several images of flowers onto the cork board, catching Laura’s attention.

“Nova, Fiona didn’t pick that. What are you doing?” She hisses, pulling the pictures off the board and smacking Nova.

“Sorry, I just got excited,” she mutters sheepishly.

“Let me see those real quick,” I say, holding my hand out for the pictures. Nova watches me the entire time I sift through the four images, until I land on one that has gorgeous blue and white flowers. “These are a good choice, Nova.”

She leans in, looking over my shoulder as I show her the flowers she picked. Her responding smile as I pin the flowers to the board has me smiling as well.

For the next hour, each of us finds new decorations and color schemes, filtering them and then pinning them on the board. We continue until it’s completely full and there’s paper and snack wrappers all over the floor.

“What the hell happened in here?”

Five heads pop up from laptop screens to find Ethan standing in the living room doorway with a bag of take out and wide, shocked eyes.

“We’re planning the wedding!” I grin, letting the happiness I feel spread down our bond until the shocked expression on Ethan’s face is replaced by a smile.

“Would you like to join us, Alpha?” Claire asks, her voice a bit timid as she looks up at him.

Ethan scans the room, his eyes landing on the cork board and softening as he says, “I’d love to.”