Chapter 485
I bite my lip as Jackson lowers me and my feet hit the ground, my eyes trained on my dad.
Dad studies Jackson for a moment longer before moving his eyes back to me. My breath catches for a moment but then he smiles, wide and beautiful, holding out his arms. “Daughter,” he says, reaching for me.
A little cry breaks from my lips as I dash away from my mate and into my dad’s arms. He gathers me up warm and tight against his chest, cradling me close, warmth and pride radiating off of him.
“You’re not disappointed in me, are you?” I murmur, the words muffled against his shirt. “Or mad at Jacks?”
“Baby, of course I’m not mad or disappointed,” dad says, rocking me back and forth. “You make your own path, trouble, and I’ll support you on it every step of the way. Are you all right? Are you happy?”
Dad pulls back a bit to study me and I look up at him, my shoulders bunched up, not really knowing how to reply. I glance back at Jackson who stands stoic, his hands in his pockets, waiting. “We’re…surprised,” I say softly. “But yeah – I think we’re happy. It’s good. It’s good, right?”
“It’s good,” dad says, beaming down at me with a wide smile, his beautiful eyes crinkled at the corners as he strokes a hand over my hair. “Two little grandchildren, all at once? Come on, how can I not be thrilled?”
I grin at him, liking that. “Are they going to call you Pop-pop?”
Dad roars with laughter, tossing his head back. I laugh with him, loving it. There’s really nothing like making my dad laugh like that – with total abandon. Such a rare feat. It fills me with warmth.
“We’ll figure that out later,” dad says, lifting his head and wiping away a mirthful tear. “Maybe they can just call me Dominic, so I won’t feel so old.”
“Oh, you can’t be old, Pop-pop,” mom says, coming over and beaming at us, holding out a glass of champagne for my dad. “I won’t let you. My magical healing on a cellular level is much better than Botox.”
“Yeah well, maybe Kingly Grandfather or a simple My Liege would be better to start,” dad murmurs, loosing his arms around me and waving the drink away. “Celebrations later. I have business to attend to.” He shifts his eyes back to Jackson, who is waiting.
“Bisniss,” Marigold whispers from her spot nestled between Jesse and Rafe on the couch. I grin over at her, reminded again that her clever little mind is well attuned to watch and listen to everything. But then I sigh, letting my dad go, stepping next to my mom. We both watch as dad crosses to his bedroom door, nodding towards it though he keeps his eyes fixed on Jackson, his demand clear.
Jackson takes a deep breath and only glances at me for a moment before following my father into the room.
“Oh geeze,” I sigh, a hand moving instinctually to my stomach. “Dad’s not going to make me a single mother, is he?”
“No, your father is very even tempered,” mom says, slipping an arm around my shoulders and giving me a squeeze. “He’ll just break Jackson’s arm. Nothing permanent.”
“What!?” I gasp, spinning my head to her.
“I’m kidding,” mom says, bursting into laughter and giving me a tug, leading me over to the couch. “It’s going to be fine! He’s probably just excited to have another dad to talk to for once.”
“He’s got Roger for that,” I murmur, my eyes straying anxiously back to the closed door.
“Yes, but Roger’s all jokes,” mom says, seating me down in her favorite armchair and then going to the drinks cart to fetch me a champagne flute of my own. “Dad’s excited to have someone serious to talk to.”
“Hey, I’m serious,” Rafe says, frowning up at mom as she comes back, balancing his champagne glass on his knee.
“Seriously boring,” Jesse says in a mock whisper, leaning close to Marigold and pretending it’s a secret. She giggles, looking up at him, clearly loving him a great deal already – as most children do.
“I’m not boring!” Rafe growls, glaring at Jesse. Then he spins back to mom and me. “Wait, I’m not boring, right?”
I just grimace, making his eyes fly wide.
“You’re thrilling, Meatball,” mom says, handing me my flute and lifting hers towards him. “But it’s Ariel’s day today. To our little trouble, and the little teeny double trouble that’s going to be here in six months!”
“To double trouble!” Jesse says, laughing and raising his glass.
“I’m interesting,” Rafe grumbles, still glaring at all of us even as he raises his glass. Marigold puts her hands up too, even without a drink, and we all laugh, lifting our glasses towards her and then to me in celebration.
I sigh, shaking my head, still not believing that any of it’s real as I lift my glass to my lips –
But as soon as I take a sip, I sputter it out.
“Sparkling cider!?” I gasp, spinning my head to glare at my mother.
“You are with child, Ariel Sinclair,” mom says, raising her eyebrows at me.
“I’m like barely with child! Oh, come on, a sip in celebration isn’t going to hurt them!”
“Mommy wants her liquor,” Jesse whispers to Marigold, his eyes wide with pretend worry. Goldie’s mouth circles into an anxious little ‘o’ as she turns her gaze to me.
“Nope!” mom says, absurdly cheerful. “None! And no caffeine either – you’ve got to be healthy, Ari –“
“No coffee!?” I squeak, horrified. Rafe grins at me, delighting in my agony as I slump dramatically back against my chair. “I’ll never make it. I’m not prepared for this.”
“You’ll be fine, cupcake,” mom coos, petting my hair back from my forehead. “We’ll get you some nice herbal tea.”
I groan and then hold my glass out towards Marigold. “Here, Goldie, this is for you. You like apple juice, right?”
Her eyes flare with interest and Marigold hops off the couch, trotting over to me, her hands reaching for the glass. We all watch with interest as she takes her first sip of the drink, her eyes opening wide with joy as the liquid hits her tongue.
I laugh, gathering my little girl up into my lap for a cuddle as she takes sip after sip of the drink, clearly enjoying it even though she doesn’t quite know what to do about the bubbles.
“When you going to break it to her that she’s going to get some siblings?” Rafe asks, grinning, leaning forward to peer at his new niece.
“I think you just did you idiot,” I say, laughing a little and petting Goldie’s hair even as I glare at my brother. “She’s right here. She listens to everything.”
“Oh, she doesn’t know what siblings means,” Rafe says, waving a dismissive hand and taking a drink of his champagne.
“Siblings,” Marigold murmurs between sips, smiling down at the glass, proving us both right. I grin, watching her.
“I guess Jacks and I will do our best to break it to her whenever he gets out of there,” I sigh, turning to look at the door to my parents’ bedroom, anxiety running through me. I mean, I know that dad isn’t going to do anything horrible, but still…Jacks has been through a lot lately. I just hope dad goes easy on him with whatever it is he wants to say.
“Oh, he’ll be fine,” mom says on a happy sigh. “And in the meantime, I get my baby girl all to myself without Jackson being all Alpha and possessive. Come on, trouble, let’s do that health scan so I can ensure you’re fit to carry my grandchildren.”
“Okay,” I say, shifting in my seat to lean closer to my mom, smiling a little as her warm lavender light begins to spill all over me.
Jackson walks to the center of the large bedroom before he turns toward the Alpha King, straightening his shoulders and slipping his hands into his pockets. His wolf stands steady in his soul, his snout low to the ground, watching, wary.
Because as much as Jackson’s pretty sure the King means him no harm…Jackson is well aware that he did just accidentally impregnate the nation’s eldest Princess. Second in line to the throne. And that…there might be consequences for that.
“Well?” Dominic Sinclair asks, prowling after Jackson and stopping about three feet away, the two Alphas squaring off, power and dominance radiating from each of them. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
Jackson goes a bit still, dread coiling in him. Because…god damn it, Dominic wants words? Words are the thing he’s least good at. Jackson narrows his eyes, a little confused. “Sir…should I have something to say?”
Dominic stares at Jackson for a second before his face breaks into a smile. “Nah, it’s okay, Jackson. You can relax. I’m just putting you through your paces a bit for fun. It’s not every day that your daughter gets pregnant and you get the opportunity to scare the living daylights out of her mate.”
Jackson exhales a long sigh, letting his shoulders relax, his head hang a bit.
Dominic laughs, stepping forward to clap a hand on his shoulder.
“Consider me paced, sir,” Jackson murmurs, raising a hand to rub at the bridge of his nose for a moment. Then he drops his hand and raises his head, meeting the King’s eyes. “You’re not angry with us? With…me?”
“You’re a good kid, Jackson,” Dominic says, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “I’m not angry with you. You’ve demonstrated yourself to be a strong and faithful mate to my daughter, dedicated to her happiness and safety. And beyond that, you’re a good addition to the family. I can’t ask for more than that. There’s nothing wrong, ever, with two people who are so clearly dedicated to each other bringing a child into the world.”
Jackson nods slowly, a little frown taking his mouth because… “Well, then why the private chat?”
“Because,” Dominic says, patting his shoulder once more before dropping his hand to his side. “You’re good to Ariel, and good for her. But I want to see you do right by her.”
Jackson raises his eyebrows, honestly surprised. “Am I…not doing right by her?”
Dominic smirks at Jackson, waiting for him to put the pieces together.
