Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron)

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Here she comes!”

When I open my eyes, I see my father.

His hair is nearly all white and lines bracket his mouth and eyes. He’s still handsome. Still strong. But

he appears to have aged dramatically in the years I’ve been gone.

I sit up slowly.

I’m in a hospital bed. I glance to my right. Cameron is in a bed beside mine.

Across the room is Ashley.

The growl that comes out is feral.

My father steps back abruptly. It wasn’t directed at him, but let him think what he wants. He did nothing

that fateful night.

Nothing for his only daughter.

I know he wasn’t particularly emotional, but he was all I had.

“You look so beautiful,” he says.

My dad never paid me a compliment like this before.

His hand shakes as he reaches to touch my hand.

I tense.

He freezes. His eyes furrow like I’ve struck him.

But he doesn’t get to be hurt.

I am the one who’s hurt.

He takes the next step and clasps my hand. His fingers are cold but his grip is firm. Relief pours

through him. I can see it, smell it.

“I’m so happy you’re here. I can hardly believe you’re back.”

“It wasn’t by choice,” I tell him truthfully.

Cam’s father walks in. And his bitchy sister Claire too. I arch a brow at her.

Normally, she’d make some catty comment or give me a glare that would make me feel like gum

beneath her Prada shoes.

Instead she sobs. Big ugly tears ruining her makeup as she lurches toward the hospital bed.

Her arms sling around me and I’m hugged hard.

I’m too shocked to move.

When she draws back, she swipes her eyes hastily. She doesn’t say another word. No welcomes or

apologies. She just stands and nods and walks back out of the room.

Huh.

The Alpha nods once at me and then goes to his son’s side. He presses the call button, but it’s

unnecessary, Dr. Lee is already coming into the room.

“His color looks better,” Alpha Healmsworth remarks.

Cam looks a little flushed. But that might just be from our sex dreams.

He has that same, sated smile he’d have after we spent hours together tangled up in bed.

I want to tell myself that it doesn’t count. That what happened in that ‘other place’ just isn’t possible.

That it has no bearing on what we do in the real world.

Nala barks sharply.

Right.

I’m pregnant.

I decide to take that little nugget and tuck into a mental pocket. I can’t wrap my mind around the fact

that I’m back, or that Cam is what--in a coma?--or that we can connect in some other plane–one where

we can touch and feel and conceive a baby.

Deep breath.

Everyone is staring at me.

Dr. Lee comes over and examines my arm. “This wound is only partially healed.”

“Yes.”

“Have you shifted since incurring the injury?”

“Yes.” I tilt my head. “I’m sure my abductors relayed this information prior to my arrival.”

My father and Cam’s share an uncomfortable look.

Well, that’s just tough. We aren’t going to pretend things are peachy. Not after what they did to me. I

don’t expect Alpha Healmsworth to apologize–as the ruler of this pack, he can say or do whatever he

pleases.

“Before you arrived, while you were still in flight,” the doctor tells me, “Cameron flatlined. He was… for

all intents and medical purposes, dead.”

I gasp.

“Can you tell me what happened when you lost consciousness on the plane?”

Uh? Hours of mindblowing sex?

I wasn’t about to share that. “I, uh, think I was able to connect with Cam. Only it was more like a dream

or something.”

My dad’s eyes flare. He looks anxious… and sad?

“Can you try to communicate with Cam now?” the doctor asks.

I’ve never been much good at meditating. And I know nothing of channeling my thoughts or even how

to act like some sort of receptor to receive his.

“Just close your eyes and try,” Dr. Lee says. “Concentrate.”

I try to go back to that place, I probe my mind for a link… for some way to reconnect.

Mia, can you hear me?

Oh my god, it’s Eric.

I open my eyes and glance nervously at Cameron.

“Have you reached him?” Cam’s father asks. He watches me closely.

“No.”

Part of me is connected to a different Alpha. In what would normally be a mate bond. I’m pretty sure the

old alpha’s head might pop off his shoulders if I say that.

Are you all right? Eric asks.

I’m okay. Are YOU okay?

When I last saw him his home was besieged.

He laughs in my head. We’re fine.

I’m relieved.

I can tell you’re far. His voice flickers in and out of my mind like a phone call with bad reception. Back

on Healmsworth lands?

I make some humming sound.

Good. Get things sorted there. I’ll see you soon. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

He’s gone in the next instant.

And I’m left feeling…

I don’t even know what I’m feeling.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do what you’re asking.” I sit up.

“It’s all right, Mia,” my dad says.

The Alpha frowns. “Your presence has helped my son. I fear he may have died had you not joined with

him.”

I nod. “It’s true.”

He grunts. “It’s good that you’re here.”

That’s the closest to a ‘welcome’ or an ‘apology’ that I’m likely to get. “I’d like to get changed now.

Maybe have something to eat.”

“Of course!”

You never saw three males scramble so fast. My father trying to help me out of bed, Cam’s dad

hollering for food, the doctor calling for a nurse to help me bathe.

I want to be left alone, but my dad has one arm around my waist and the other holding my hand.

It’s hard for me to be this close to him.

A sob catches in my throat.

His eyes swell with tears.

“Dad, I, uh, I don’t have the strength for …”

He nods and pats my hand. I glance back at Cameron.

“Take a bath and eat,” Dr. Lee advises. “You can come back after.”

“He’d like that,” my father says.

I rub my head with my free hand. I can barely process the last–day?!

One minute, I’m in the arms of another Alpha, feeling like I was getting a second chance at happiness.

Then… everything unraveled.

Now I was home–no this wasn’t home.

Home was with my kids.

We push out of the medical wing into the open expanse of grass that forms the square. Our pack is set

up like the strongholds in the old countries, with buildings and the Alpha’s house and main halls all

flanking a big open space.

We’d hold feasts and holidays, dances and celebrations here. One giant pine is at its center. The tree

we’d all decorate come Christmas.

And there, beneath the tree are Jacelyn and Aaron.

They’re smiling and playing soccer with Morgan and Cam’s mom and some of the pack’s kids.

I stop in my tracks.

“I didn’t know, Mia,” my dad cries. “That you were pregnant.”

I’ve never heard him cry. Not over mom. Not over me.

“They’re so beautiful,” he whispers with awe. Tears stream down his face. “They’re so smart and

perfect. Little Jacelyn, she’s so much like you!”

He lets go of my hand. “Pop-pop’s here!” he yells and runs to intercept the ball and pass it to my

daughter. She laughs and giggles. Her pigtails bobbing as she tries to keep the ball moving without

falling.

He never joked or played a sport with me.

The stab of jealousy is sharp and I’m ashamed of it.

But what hurts most, the sheer terror and fear that sweep through my body at this idyllic picture.

Because the secret is out now.

These aren’t just my children–they’re Cameron’s.

And I know this pack will fight with fang and claw to keep my babies.