Jamie took a deep breath, meeting her gaze steadily. "Now we start over, Katy," he began, his voice calm and resolute. "We focus on you and the baby." Your recovery is the most important thing. You're on bed rest, so we'll take care of everything here. You won't have to lift a finger."
Jayden nodded, stepping closer. "And we start answering your questions." All of them. There's so much we need to explain about us, about the mate bond, about what this means for you and our child. We won't keep anything from you ever again. We'll tell you everything, at your pace. When you're ready to listen, we'll talk. When you need a break, we'll give you space."
"We understand this is terrifying, Katy," Jamie continued, his golden eyes earnest. And we know we made huge mistakes. We should have told you sooner, handled it differently. There's no excuse for that. But we're here now. We want to be here, for you and for the baby. We want to show you that we're not a threat, that this is... a different kind of life, but it can be a good one. A safe one. With us."
Jayden finished, his voice laced with a raw honesty. "Our plan is to earn your trust back, Katy. Slowly. Every single day. Just tell us what you need."
Katy listened to their words, her eyes scanning their faces. The sincerity was undeniable, their promise to be open a balm to her battered trust. But the weight of everything still pressed down on her. The transformations, the sudden pregnancy, the very existence of a hidden world. It was all too much.
"I..." she started, her voice barely a whisper, then she looked down at her hands, picking at a loose thread on her shirt. "I'm scared," she admitted, the confession raw and vulnerable.
"This is all happening too fast. One minute I'm just... me. The next, I almost die, I'm pregnant, and you guys are... wolves." She looked up at them, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and desperation. "How am I supposed to process all of this?"
Before either Jamie or Jayden could respond, Katy's face suddenly went pale. Her eyes widened, her hands flying to her mouth. A guttural sound escaped her throat before she could even push away from the counter. Suddenly, she vomited all over the floor, a violent, involuntary expulsion that left her heaving and trembling, tears streaming down her face from the sheer force of it.
Jamie and Jayden reacted instantly, their practiced movements swift and synchronized. Jayden was at her side in a flash, his hand immediately moving to support her forehead, holding her hair back from her face. Jamie, without a word, grabbed a nearby towel and began to quickly clean up the mess on the floor, his movements efficient and utterly devoid of disgust.
Katy continued to heave, dry-retching after the initial expulsion, her body shaking uncontrollably from the effort and emotional strain. When the last spasms finally subsided, Jayden gently guided her head back up. His other hand was already wiping her mouth with a clean corner of the towel he pulled from his pocket.
"Easy, mate, easy," Jayden murmured, his voice a low, comforting rumble. He looked at Jamie, who had already finished wiping the floor clean. "Get her some fresh water, and maybe a cold cloth."
Jamie returned moments later with a glass of cool water and a damp washcloth. Jayden carefully helped Katy take small sips of water. The coolness was a relief against her burning throat. Jamie gently dabbed the cold cloth on her forehead and the back of her neck.
"It's okay, Katy," Jamie said, his voice soft and soothing. "It's just the morning sickness. It's rough, we know. But you're safe. We've got you."
"We're so sorry you're going through all of this," Jayden added, his golden eyes full of genuine regret. "We never wanted to cause you this much pain, physical or emotional". Just breathe, okay? "We're right here." He kept his hand gently on her back, a silent anchor.
Katy leaned into their touch, too exhausted and miserable to pull away. The physical sickness, combined with the emotional overwhelm, had utterly depleted her. She felt their steady presence, their quiet reassurance, a fragile comfort in the midst of her internal storm.
Without a word, Jamie gently scooped her up into his arms, just as Jayden had done earlier. This time, Katy didn't protest. Instead, she instinctively nuzzled her head into his chest,
finding a surprising solace in the warmth and strength of him. She felt the steady beat of his heart against her ear as he carried her back to the bedroom. He placed her gently on the bed, pulling the soft blankets over her.
Jayden moved immediately to the other side of the bed. Jamie, after ensuring she was settled, carefully lay down beside her, facing her, while Jayden did the same on her other side. They didn't touch her immediately, but their presence was a warm, enveloping cocoon. The low, masculine scents that were inherently them now filled her senses, a strange blend of comfort and the wild.
"We know this is terrifying, Katy," Jamie began, his voice barely above a whisper, his golden eyes earnest. And you're right. It is happening too fast. We never wanted you to experience any of this like this."
"We've spent our whole lives preparing for our mate, for this bond," Jayden continued, his voice equally soft, his hand hovering near her head, wanting to stroke her hair but refraining. But we completely failed to prepare you. And for that, we are so deeply sorry. More than words can say."
Katy lay still, listening, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. The anger still flickered, but it was overshadowed by the sheer exhaustion and the bizarre reality that these two men, these wolves, were now her only anchor in a world that had gone completely mad.
"The mate bond... it's instinctual," Jamie explained gently, his voice a steadying force. "It's why you felt drawn to us, why things happened so quickly. Our wolves recognized you immediately. And once that recognition happens, once the bond is truly accepted, nature takes its course, especially regarding... conception. It's not something we can control with our human minds, not entirely."
"And the baby," Jayden added, his voice carefully neutral, adhering to her earlier request. "It's human, Katy. But it will also be like us. It will inherit both. It will be healthy. We promise you that. We'll protect it, and you, with everything we are."
Jamie reached out, his hand slowly, hesitantly, brushing her hair back from her forehead. "We're not going to rush you, Katy. We just want to be here. To answer questions, one by one. To let you rest. To let you just be. We'll stay right here, okay? No more surprises tonight. Just... calm."
Katy finally turned her head, looking first at Jamie, then at Jayden. The vulnerability in their golden eyes, the raw honesty in their voices, began to chip away at the fortress of her fear. It didn't make sense, none of it did, but for the first time since she'd woken up in the hospital,
the crushing weight in her chest eased a fraction. She was scared, yes, but she wasn't alone. And perhaps, just perhaps, they truly wouldn't hurt her.
Her gaze lingered on Jamie's face, a complex storm of emotions swirling within her. The man who was also a wolf, who had carried her, comforted her. Slowly, as if compelled by an unseen force, she reached out, placing her hand gently on his cheek, her fingers tracing the sharp line of his jaw. His eyes, molten gold, widened slightly in surprise, but he leaned into her touch. Her heart thrummed, a strange mixture of residual fear and an undeniable pull.
With a sudden surge of a desperate, overwhelming need for connection, for some anchor in this new, bewildering reality, she pulled his head down. Their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss, unexpected and raw. It was a kiss of exhaustion, of fear, of a tentative surrender to the impossible. Jamie responded instantly, his arm wrapping around her, pulling her gently closer, a low moan escaping his throat. The mate bond surged between them, powerful and electric.
When she finally broke away, breathless, her eyes found Jayden's. He watched them, his own golden eyes alight with a fierce, almost agonizing intensity, a silent question in their depths. Without a word, Katy reached out for him, mirroring the gesture. Her hand cupped his cheek, her thumb stroking his skin, and then, pulling his head down, she repeated the gesture, initiating another deep, passionate kiss. Jayden met her with equal fervor, his lips strong and demanding, his free hand instinctively finding her waist, pulling her closer still. The bond thrummed, vibrating through her entire being.
As the second kiss ended, and they were all breathing a little heavily, a shared understanding passed between the three of them. It wasn't forgiveness, not yet. But it was acceptance. A profound, undeniable acknowledgment of the connection that bound them.
Then, almost as one, the twins both placed their hands gently on her belly. Their warmth radiated through her oversized sleep shirt, a silent, powerful affirmation of the life growing within her, a life they were all now undeniably linked to. The weight of their large, strong hands on her still-flat stomach was a startling, intimate moment of shared destiny.
Katy lay between them, the exhaustion of the day and the unexpected comfort of their presence lulling her. The feel of their hands on her belly was heavy, grounding her in this bizarre new reality. The terror was still a hum beneath the surface, but for the first time, curiosity began to win out.
She lifted her head slightly, looking at Jamie, then Jayden. The question had been gnawing at her, a strange, almost childlike wonder amidst the chaos. "So, what do wolves do in a
She lifted her head slightly, looking at Jamie, then Jayden. The question had been gnawing at her, a strange, almost childlike wonder amidst the chaos. "So, what do wolves do in a day?" she asked, her voice soft, barely a whisper in the quiet room. It was a simple question, yet it opened the door to their world, a step no one had expected her to take so soon.
The twins exchanged a look, a shared warmth passing between them, then both chuckled, soft and low, a sound that rumbled gently through Katy from either side. It was a sound of relief, of affection, and of genuine amusement at her sudden, pragmatic curiosity.
"Well, Katy," Jamie began, a smile in his voice, his thumb gently stroking her side where his hand rested on her belly. "A lot of what we do is pretty normal, just like any human. We run our businesses—""Annoyingly large amount of paperwork," Jayden interjected dryly. But then there's the other side. Our daily runs, often as wolves, for training, for patrols, just to feel the wild. We hunt, sometimes. We teach the younger wolves. There are pack meetings, sometimes shifting in circles, sometimes just talking things through. We train our senses, our instincts. We try to stay connected to nature, to the forest."
"We spend a lot of time outside," Jamie added. "We're more attuned to the cycles of the moon, the shifts in weather, the rhythms of the land around us. And with the mate bond..." he paused, his gaze softening on her, "a lot of our day is also spent thinking about you, making sure you're okay, feeling what you're feeling."
"Essentially," Jayden concluded, his voice a comforting murmur, "we live two lives. One foot in the human world, one in the wild. "It's a balance. "And now," he said, his gaze dropping to their shared hands on her belly, "our days will revolve even more around that balance, and making sure our world fits with yours, for all three of us, and for our baby."
Your business?" Katy asked, her voice still quiet, but her eyes now holding a hint of genuine curiosity, pushing past the overwhelming nature of their existence. "What kind of business do you run?" she clarified, focusing on the more "normal" aspect they'd mentioned.
Jayden's smile widened slightly. "We own a chain of tattoo shops," he explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "We've got about a dozen of them now, spread out all over the world."
Jamie nodded. "It's a good way to stay connected globally, to have eyes and ears in different places. And it's a skill that translates well across our... abilities. "We have steady hands, good vision, and an artistic flair when we choose to focus on it."
"Well, that explains the tattoos," Katy thought aloud, a faint, wry smile touching her lips. The pieces were starting to fit, however bizarrely. She remembered their intricate, almost lifelike tattoos, the way they seemed to move and flow on their skin. It suddenly made perfect, terrifying sense
A new question, both thrilling and daunting, formed in her mind. She looked at them, her gaze still direct. "Will I meet more wolves?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of apprehension and dawning curiosity.
Jayden's hand, still on her belly, gave a gentle squeeze. "In time," he chimed in, his voice calm and reassuring. "When you're ready, and things have cooled down a bit more. One thing at a time, love." His golden eyes held a promise of future revelations, but also a clear signal that they wouldn't overwhelm her.
Jamie nodded in agreement. "There's a whole community, Katy. Our pack. They'll be eager to meet their Luna, but we'll introduce you gradually. Only when you feel comfortable."
Katy took a shaky breath. The idea of meeting two hundred wolves was staggering, almost as terrifying as the initial revelation itself. But their quiet, firm assurances, and Jayden's casual endearment, somehow made it feel less like a threat and more like a distant, inevitable step. She closed her eyes, trying to absorb the enormity of it all. Her life, irrevocably changed, now included werewolves, a mate bond, and a baby that was both human and... something else. It was overwhelming, but for the first time, she wasn't completely fighting against it. She was just... processing.
after a long moment of silence, a new thought, both anxious and profound, surfaced in Katy's mind. She opened her eyes, looking at both their faces. "When will the baby first change?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, the question laced with a mixture of fear and reluctant wonder about the child growing inside her.
Jayden and Jamie exchanged a look, a flicker of something solemn passing between them before Jayden answered, his voice gentle but firm. "It varies, Katy. Every wolf is different. Some show signs very early, even in childhood, a heightened sense of smell or hearing, faster healing. But the first full shift usually happens around puberty."
"Sometimes earlier if there's extreme stress or a strong emotional trigger," Jamie added, his gaze softening as he gently squeezed her hand where it rested on her belly. "But typically, it's a gradual process, and the first complete transformation is a significant milestone around their teenage years. We'll be there to guide them through it, both of us."
"We'll explain everything, Katy," Jayden murmured, his hand settling more firmly on her still-flat abdomen. "And we'll make sure our child is safe, always."
Katy listened, her mind reeling with the implications. Her child, a teenager, suddenly transforming into a wolf? It was still terrifying, a concept utterly alien to her human understanding. Yet, hearing their calm, reassuring voices, feeling the solid warmth of their
hands on her, a different emotion began to bloom. It wasn't full acceptance, not yet. But it was a fragile seed of something profound.
She turned her head slightly, looking first at Jamie, then at Jayden, their golden eyes unwavering. Her voice was thin, almost imperceptible, a mere breath. "I trust you," she whispered, the words a raw, vulnerable offering, laden with everything she had endured and everything she was beginning to let herself believe. It was the hardest thing she had ever said, and the most significant.
After a long moment, Katy stirred, the comfort of their presence easing some of her physical discomfort, but her body still felt sticky and unwell from the morning's ordeal. "I... I feel gross," she admitted, her voice soft. "Can you... help me shower?"
Both twins immediately shifted. Jayden was already helping her slowly sit up, while Jamie pulled back the blankets. They moved with a seamless efficiency, gently supporting her as she carefully swung her legs over the side of the bed. Each step was still painful, a sharp reminder of her recent surgery, but with the twins carefully escorting her to the bathroom, supporting her weight between them, the journey felt less daunting.
The bathroom was large and modern. They guided her to the spacious walk-in shower. Jayden carefully turned on the water, adjusting the temperature to a warm, soothing spray. Once it was just right, they helped her step in, mindful of her bandaged side.
The warm water immediately began to work its magic, easing her aches and washing away the last remnants of nausea. Jayden positioned himself in front of her, his strong arms gently supporting her, taking most of her weight. Jamie moved behind her, reaching for a soft washcloth and soap.
They took turns, moving with a tender, almost reverent care. Jamie gently washed her back and arms, his touch light and thorough, the soap fragrant and clean. As he rinsed her hair, letting the warm water cascade over her scalp, Jayden, still supporting her in front, looked down at her face. His golden eyes, filled with an intensity that made her breath hitch, met hers.
"I love you," Jayden whispered, his voice deep and raw, a profound declaration that seemed to vibrate through her very bones.
As Jamie finished rinsing her hair, he leaned in, his warm breath ghosting over her ear. He gently, deliberately, crept up to her ear and whispered, "I love you, Katy..." And then, before she could even process the words, he planted a soft, lingering kiss on her neck, a tender gesture that sent a shiver, both of pleasure and disbelief, through her.
"I love you both too," Katy whispered back, the words tumbling out, heartfelt and raw, her own admission of the impossible truth that had taken root in her heart. She leaned into Jayden's supporting arm, her head falling back slightly as Jamie's fingers gently massaged her scalp. In the steamy warmth of the shower, surrounded by the men who were her captors, her protectors, and now, impossibly, her loves, a new chapter began.