Guard 159 - To protect what’s mine

bChapter /bb159 /bbAmalie /b

I spend way too much time in the shower alone with my thoughts.

‘She’s here,‘ Cal says through the link.

My eyes snap open. I had not realized I spent that much time lost in thought. I nod to myself and turn off the shower. I grab my towel and mechanically dry off. Once my body is dry, I wrap the towel around my hair. I leave the bathroom and grab clothes. I walk back to the bathroom and change. I run a brush through my stubborn curls.

I’m satisfied once I get the knots out of my hair. I need a trim, I think absentmindedly. There are a lot of split ends. I let out a sigh, problem for future me to deal with.

I’ve stalled long enough.

I leave the bathroom and walk to the dining room. We always seem to congregate here. Why not the living room so we can sitfortably on the couches?

‘Say something if you want to go sit on a couch,‘ Beren huffs in amusement at me.

‘It’s fineb,/bb‘ /bI dismiss. I make my way into the dining room. My mates, my uncles, Sam and Gretchen are all sitting at the table. Rose must be ying in her room.

There is not a seat left for me. I try not to let the sh of pain sh across my face. The sixth chair has long been removed from the table as Uncle Mike sits in his wheelchair at the table.

There are six ces around the table and six people already in the dining room. Of course, no one was going to stand and just linger awkwardly as they waited for me. They were all going to sit and rx as they waited for me to take my time. I should not feel hurt that there is not a spot for me.

I must be too lost in thought, as the next thing I know, Mark is pulling me into hisp with an amused huff. “Just ask for a seat next time instead of letting your thoughts run wild with worry,” he whispers into my ear. He wraps his arms around my waist in an attempt to ground me.

“Sorry,” I whisper back as I snuggle into hisp. I take a deep breath of his scent to calm my nerves. When my heart stops beat a thousand beats a minute, I nod at Gretchen.

“Do you want to read the results?” Gretchen asks as she slides the folded paper towards Cal.

He reaches for it. If I hadn’t been looking for it. I don’t know if I would have spotted the slight

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Chapter 159 Amalie

hesitation in his movements. Cal picks up the paper and looks over it. He lets nothing show on his

face as he reads it.

Like a jerk, he folds the paper and hands it to Mark. I want to growl at Cal and demand the answer. Mark presses a kiss to my lips as he takes the paper. He then shifts me slightly so the pair of us are able to read what the paper says.

Mark takes a deep breath before he unfolds the paper.

I skim the top part that has my medical information. I am looking for the part that tells me what I want to know. There it is, on the middle of the page.

Positive

The single word, and my world stops. Am I breathing? I don’t know.

“Love?” Cal asks hesitantly, like he is afraid that I will break.

“We’re going to have a baby,” I whisper.

Mark tightens his hold on me. I don’t think that his touch is enough to ground me.

Uncle Mike and Uncle Will freeze. They do not say a word, unsure of what oue I truly wanted.

A tear rolls down my cheek.

Beren does not say anything. She keeps her emotions locked up and hidden from me.

I’m going to give birth.

Sam stares at me, trying to gauge my reaction.

The twins are going to be fathers.

Zviad and Aziz do not let their own emotions flood the bond. Cal and Mark are blocking their own emotions so I can not feel them.

Rose is going to be a big sister. She is going to be the best big sister.

“We’re having a baby,” I say, a smile overtakes my face.

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Chapter 159 Amalle

Cal pulls me from Mark’sp. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. “Our family is growing,” Cal says. I can hear the smile in his voiceb. /b

The dam breaks.

“We have so much to n,” Gretchen says with augh. “I will be here for anything that you need

dear.”

“Congrattions you both are going to be amazing fathers,” Uncle Mike says to the twins.

“We are going to have to baby proof the house,” Uncle Will sighs, but I can tell that he is excited.

“You are going to be amazing grandfathers,” Iugh as I look at the two.

The couple freeze at my words. The rest of the room goes quiet as everyone stares at me, again.

“I mean if you want to be considered grandfathers. I mean, if you don’t that is fine. Rose has been calling you grandpas,” I ramble to fill the void.

“Ama, are you sure?” Uncle Mike asks me.

“I know you are living here, but we don’t want to push you into anything that you are not ready for. This could just be hormones,” Uncle Will tries to advise.

“Well, the other day, Asa scented me like a father would his pup tofort me. And it got me thinking that my own father never even cared. I’m sorry. I am overstepping. I should have talked to you both first before springing this on you. Forget it. Forget I said anything,” I say quickly as I try to escape from Cal’s grasp.

“Amalie,” Uncle Mike says sternly, causing me to freeze.

Great, now I’ve done it. I should have left everything alone. It was perfect. I opened my mouth and screwed up. I always screw things up.

“Ama, you are not in trouble,” Uncle Will says as hees to kneel beside me. “We want to make sure that you are okay with everything. You just found out for sure that you are going to have a baby. We want to make sure that you are okay with this. Asa will understand if you do not want him as a father figure and I understand as well. You do not have to do anything that you are ufortable with.”

“We know that you have been starved of affection for almost your entire life. You might just be

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Chapter 159 Amalie

I nod my head. “If you are all okay with this, I would prefer to have you as family,” I sniffle. Great, I’m about to cry again.