Jaded Hearts
Chapter 98

Taylor

“Rise and shine, angel. It’s time for your appointment,” Matt quietly said.

“It’s not! I just fell asleep,” I pouted.

“It’s 9:00 a.m., sweetheart. You’ve been asleep for twelve hours.”

I peeled open my insanely heavy lids and looked around. What the f**k? Twelve hours?

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. After dinner at Tyson’s, we hung out for a few hours, and then you got tired. I brought you home, and you’ve been asleep ever since.”

“I can’t remember the last time I was this tired. Let me get a shower to try and wake up. Do I have time?”

“Yeah, we have time.”

After a long, hot shower, I no longer felt like I was going to collapse, which I was more than thankful for. Matt and Tyson were waiting for me in the living room, so as soon as I came down, we walked over together.

Luckily, Dr. Bennett was already set up in the room, so I didn’t have to wait. I walked in and began to get undressed. I knew the drill.

“Hi, Taylor. Congratulations on the wedding and the baby. Besides tired, how are you feeling?” she asked with a warm smile.

“The usual. Hungry and nauseous. I’ve got the trifecta going on here.”

“I’m sure. So, we think you’re about two weeks along?”

“Something like that,” I yawned.

She laughed and pulled over the ultrasound machine, then put on her gloves.

“Alright, let’s just see what we’ve got.”

Because the baby would be too small for the abdominal ultrasound, she had to use the wand, which was always uncomfortable. When she pulled it out, Tyson narrowed his eyes. This was his first ultrasound, so he wasn’t at all prepared.

“What the hell is that for?”

“They won’t all be like this, just the first one or two. Then it will be on my belly,” I assured him.

“It freaked me out the first time, too,” Matt chuckled.

She slid it in place and began to move it around. When the picture began to form on the screen, both the guys moved closer to take a look. I had to duck down under Matt’s chest to be able to see.

“Alright, you’re definitely pregnant. Here is baby number one, and … here is baby number two,” she said while pointing to the screen.

Twins. I wasn’t even surprised. I think I already knew.

“Two? Is that why I’m so tired this time?” I asked.

“Absolutely. Also, this little one here is slightly bigger than its sibling. I’m guessing this one is more than likely a hybrid, just due to the size. Hybrids are sometimes a little more demanding on mom, but growing two babies will always make you feel a bit drained.”

I laid back and closed my eyes. “One of each. How did I know?”

“What did you say, sunshine?” Tyson turned to me and asked.

“Last night, Morgan asked me who I wanted the father to be, and I said both of you. One of each.”

He leaned down and gently kissed my lips. “Thank you, baby. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

Matt began peppering k****s on my belly, making the doctor laugh.

“I see you’re in good hands, so I’ll leave you to get dressed. You’re going to need to take plenty of prenatal vitamins, which I’ll give you before you leave. They’ll help with the tiredness, and I’ll see you again in two weeks.”

“Wait! The hybrid will be bigger, so will I be able to give birth safely?”

“Yes, it won’t be an issue. And the gestation is the same; five months, so both babies can be born together.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

I got cleaned up, and once I had my vitamins, I headed up to the kitchen.

“How did it go?” Morgan asked when she saw us.

“It was perfect,” Matt responded brightly.

“Okay. What does that mean, exactly?”

“It’s what I suspected,” I said as I held up two fingers and took a seat.

“Nice!” She placed a plate of danishes in front of me, but before I could take one, Tyson snatched them away.

“You need real food, angel. Get some protein and vegetables. Then you can have a treat.”

I looked over at him, shocked, then to Matt, who didn’t look like he was going to take my side.

“Ugh! But I’m hungry!”

“Then I’ll cook, or someone else will. Mo, don’t sneak her any of those until she’s eaten. Got it?”

Morgan held up her hands and backed away. I was on my own.

“Oh, for f***s sake! Four and a half months of this? I just want a damn danish. Maybe some Doritos or ice cream. Anything!”

“Taylor, look at me,” Matt calmly said.

“What?!”

“You can’t just eat junk, and you know it. If you want those babies to be healthy as much as we do, then you have to cooperate. Just a little. Be reasonable, sweetheart.”

Damn him for being so sweet and sensible.

“How about a nice salad, then you can have a danish. Does that work?” Tyson asked.

What I wanted was pasta salad and pizza, but I knew that wasn’t happening, so I just nodded my head like a spoiled child.

“See? Compromise. We can do this,” Matt gave me a wink.

Tyson made a huge salad full of every leafy green he could replace, then he and Matt left to go to the meeting with Xander they were already late for.

“Stop being a brat,” Morgan said as she took a seat next to me.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, or would you rather I say, ‘stop being a b***h?’ Either one is accurate.”

“What’s your issue?”

“Tay, come on. You’re carrying both of their babies, babies they already love and care about. You can’t snap at them because they want them fed greens and protein over carbs and crap. Plus, that little Fredrick baby is going to drain everything you’ve got. You’ve got to put in good fuel if you three are going to be healthy.”

“You’re the one who gave me the freaking danish!”

“True, but I won’t be doing that anymore. I’m on the guys’ side; I don’t want to see you miserable because your body is depleted. So, stop being a brat, take your vitamins, and eat the damn salad. You’ve been stabbing at it for five minutes.”

“You really suck sometimes, I swear!”

* * *

Matt

“I hear congratulations are in order, you two,” Xander said when Tyson and I walked into his office.

“I would ask how you know, but new travels like the damn plague in this house, so thank you.”

“How’s she doing?” Kade asked.

“She’s exhausted. ‘Little Tyson’ is zapping all her energy, and she’s grumpy,” I replied.

“How do you know that it’s mine that’s draining her? It could be either of them,” Tyson replied.

“Because yours is bigger.”

“I don’t deny that,” he said with a laugh.

“Haha. You know what I mean. Anyway, that’s the update. Hopefully, she’ll feel better in a couple of days.”

“I’m happy for you both; it’s a really beautiful thing. Let’s get down to business, so you two can go pamper our girl. Aires is on a plane back to London. The guard who’s been feeding her intel insisted that she come back tonight because something’s going down, but he wouldn’t say what.”

“That sounds shady. Like a trap,” Alexi stated.

“Maybe, but she can handle herself. I’m sure she’ll figure it all out,” Tyson said.

“My thoughts exactly. When she lands, she’ll check it out and get back to us. Training will continue tomorrow with the new maneuvers, and I expect you two to be there. You got a pass this morning, but unless it’s an emergency, we can’t miss any more sessions.”

“I’ll be there, Xan. Sorry about all this. It seems like I’ve constantly had something going on for a while now. I appreciate you giving me the time to sort it out,” I replied.

“You’re family, and so is Taylor, so don’t apologize for making sure she’s alright. Just wake your a*s up tomorrow morning and every morning after that and get to training.”

“Got it.”

“You too, Tyson.”

“Yes, Alpha,” he joked.

“That’s not a bad idea, you know. You should think about joining the pack. Your children will automatically be members because of their mother being our Gamma, but it would be nice if you joined us too. No pressure, just a thought.”

“I’ve thought about it a few times. I’ve always been on my own, so it’s a tough decision to make. Plus, I’m terrible at taking orders,” Tyson replied.

“I get it. You’re used to doing what you want when you want, but being in a pack isn’t all about taking orders. It’s bigger than that. You’ve been on the team an entire year and have blended with the pack seamlessly. I want you with us, but only if you want to be.”

“Give me a little more time to mull it over and talk to Taylor to see what she thinks. I’ll let you know soon.”

“That’s all I ask. What else have you all got for me?”

* * *

Tyson

Lying in bed with Taylor, I couldn’t make up my mind what I wanted to do about the pack.

“I know it’s a good idea, but bears are solitary. Besides our partner and cubs, it’s just us. I don’t know if I could relinquish absolute control of my life to someone else.”

“Xander isn’t going to control your life. Have you seen him try to control Matt or me? Or any member of the pack?”

“No, but won’t I have to pledge to put him and Alaia above everything, and blah, blah, blah?”

“Yes, that’s part of it. But if someone tried to hurt her right now, what would you do?”

“I’d snap them in half, no doubt about it.”

“See? You’d already risk yourself for her, and you jumped into a collapsing building to save our Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. What’s the difference?”

“I did that because I wanted to, not because I had to. That’s the difference, princess.”

“We all want to. The pack runs as a family, and you protect your family no matter what. I won’t force anything on you, but I think you’d do great things here.”

“I’ll think about it, baby, I promise.”

Taylor snuggled into my chest and started drawing circles on my bare skin with her fingertips.

“Tyson? Are you going to let your mom have a part in the baby’s life?” she asked.

“I don’t know, sunshine. She hasn’t spoken to me in years, not since everything with my dad happened. I think in a weird way, she did love him, and I took him away from her.”

“I think you should let her know. If she won’t take your call, send an email or a text. Just let her know you’re going to be a father, and let her decide what she wants to do with the information. If she ignores it, at least you tried.”

“Let’s wait until you’re a little farther along before I reach out. Is that okay?”

“If it’s what you want, then it’s perfect.” She yawned, and I felt her breathing begin to slow.

“Go to sleep, angel. We can talk more tomorrow after you’ve rested.”

“Mmm. I hope it’s a boy,” she whispered.

“What?”

“A son. That way, the next generation of girls will have a chance to have an incredible man like you to call their own.”

Before I could respond, I heard her soft snores. I pulled the blanket up and fell asleep thinking about my child, my parents, and what could one day be my pack.

* * *

The next morning, I was one of the first to arrive for training. It seemed that my talk with Taylor got my brain working, and as I slept, things became clear. These people were important to me. I had no intention of ever leaving and going anywhere else, and I’d do whatever was needed to keep them safe.

They were already my pack in my heart, and now it was time to make it official. When Xander arrived, I jogged over to meet him.

“What are you doing here already? I said be on time, not thirty minutes early,” he said.

“Early is on time.”

“I won’t argue with that.”

“I have a question for you. One last thing that’s lingering out there.”

“Okay, what’s up?”

“Have you ever had a shifter other than a wolf in your pack?”

“Morgan’s a bear,” He replied.

“Morgan can’t shift. It’s not the same.”

“Then in that case, no. Blue Moon has never had an active non-wolf shifter as a pack member.”

“So, how would it work with me?”

“The same way it works for everyone else. You’re putting too much thought into it. It’s Tyson the man that we want. The fact that you’re a bear is inconsequential at this point. Yes, your bear does come in handy and has saved our asses, but it’s not him who has forged the bond with the rest of us. It’s you.”

That was all I needed to know. “Alright. When do we do this?”

Xander smiled and pulled me into a hug.

“Let me go, man! We’re too damn big to be hugging and shit.”

He laughed and stepped back. “Sorry, I’m just excited for the pack; for our pack. How does tonight sound?”

“Works for me. Thanks for this, for all of it, really. I don’t think I’d have Taylor in my life or a baby on the way if you hadn’t seen past who I was and allowed me to stay on your territory,” I said.

“You earned it, and you deserve it.”