“Hold the door!” Jordan shouted as she rushed to the private elevator at the Fenrir Corporation’s headquarters in Manhattan. “Thanks,” she said gratefully to the woman waiting inside who held the button keeping the door open. “Thirty-three, please.”

“Running a little late this morning?” the woman asked, not in a malicious way, but more of a friendly, small talk manner.

“Yeah.” She caught her breath, then took a sip of her grande, extra-whipped cream, extra syrup caramel mocha. She needed this today. Well, apparently, she’d needed it every day for the last two weeks, plus three chocolate chip cookies for her after-breakfast snack. It took a while to get her drinks and food together as it was always busy at the independent cafe she liked to patronize. Checking her watch, she realized she was about ten minutes late. Damn.

The elevator dinged, indicating they had reached her floor. She nodded her thanks at the woman and then headed to the entrance to the lab. Security was tight there, and after going through the formalities, she breezed inside.

The area that had been destroyed during the accident was sectioned off, and Jordan tried not to look there as she set her things on the table where she had set up her new workstation. Seeing it would only remind her of the event that had led to this point in her life.

She bit her lip as she sat down. When was this going to end? When would every little thing stop reminding her of Jackson? When was she going to stop thinking of him every time she had a free moment? And when would that pain in her chest go away?

Her wolf moaned woefully. She didn’t even know it was possible for inner wolves to get depressed, but that’s what it felt like.

This is for the best, she told it. We just have to suck it up, buttercup.

Then she remembered that Jackson once told her those words, and she felt the sadness looming over her again.

She slapped her palms on the tabletop and took a deep, resigned breath. This really was for the best. I can’t be selfish, she reasoned. Austin would now have a father and a mother. A complete family. And that was all that mattered.

She did her best to put those thoughts aside and concentrate on her job. After all, that was what she was here for. Besides, being here in the lab helped distract her and pass the time. The hours breezed by when she was working, and soon it was nearly lunchtime.

“Jordan, can I talk to you?”

She startled, nearly leaping out of her seat. “Dr. Creed.” She spun her chair around. “Good morning.”

“You came in late this morning,” the pretty Lycan scientist said. “You’ve been coming in late for the last few days.”

“I know. I mean, I’m sorry.” She looked at her feet.

“It’s not just that.” Dr. Creed tapped a finger on her chin. “I just noticed … I mean …”

“Has my performance been unsatisfactory?” Jordan asked quizzically.

“Not at all. It’s good. Better than ever, actually.”

Jordan’s huffed. “Then what’s the problem?”

“I just noticed, you seem … different. Is everything all right?”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep the emotions from bursting out of her. Sobbing all over her boss while she was work was not professional at all. “I’m fine,” she lied. “Just dandy.”

“Jade! Jade, where the heck are you?” came a cheerful voice from behind Dr. Creed.

“Finally,” Dr. Creed said, her voice impatient. “Glad you decided to show up.”

The tall, gorgeous blonde Lycan approaching them was holding two baby carriers, one in each hand. “Sorry, got held up in traffic.”

Jordan recognized her as Meredith Jonasson, one of the members of the Alpha’s security force and Dr. Creed’s best friend. She came by regularly, and the two women often had lunch together.

“Hey, baby,” Dr. Creed took one of the carriers from her and cooed at the baby inside. “How’s my lovey today?”

“She’s been well-behaved all morning, of course.” Meredith raised the other carrier in her hand. “It’s this little pooper that’s been the problem.”

“What’s the matter with Cross?”

Meredith shrugged. “I don’t know, he’s been acting weird and finicky. You know he’s always been a calm baby, but this morning …” She shrugged. “Just baby moods, I guess.” She looked at Jordan. “Hey, J! What’s shaking?”

“Hello, Meredith,” she greeted.

“How’ve you been?” Meredith leaned over and narrowed her gaze at her. “Say … you look different. Are you wearing new makeup or something? Your skin looks fabulous.”

“Huh?” She touched her cheek. “No. I mean, I’ve just been doing the same thing.”

“Really? I mean, except for those bags under your eyes, you look positively glowing.”

“Maybe it’s the fresh Shenandoah Valley air,” Dr. Creed said with a laugh.

“Shenandoah?” Meredith’s brow raised.

“Yeah,” Dr. Creed began.

Jordan’s heart sank. She didn’t want to talk about Shenandoah. It would just bring back the memories.

“Does it have anything to do with the Lone Wolves?”

“Sort of. It’s this new program Sebastian and the Alpha started. I’ll fill you in at lunch,” Dr. Creed continued, which made Jordan praise the heavens in relief.

“Oh, poop,” Meredith said. “I almost forgot to tell you. Daric called me on the way here. He’s stuck doing that errand for Grant. He says it’ll be at least another hour before he gets back.”

“Another hour?” Dr. Creed said. “But we only have an hour and a half for lunch. And we made this appointment weeks ago. Who are we supposed to leave the kids with? You know they don’t allow children at the spa.”

“I know, Jade.” She blew a tendril of hair away from her face. “He says he’ll make it up to us. How about we just head up to the cafeteria? You can have those lemon curd muffins you love.”

“I suppose.”

“I’ll watch them,” Jordan piped in.

“You will?” Meredith asked.

“Jordan, I couldn’t possibly ask you to look after two infants,” Dr. Creed said. “That’s not your job.”

“It’s lunchtime,” she said. “I’ll order some food from the cafeteria and stay here with the children. No trouble at all.”

“Oh my God, you’re a lifesaver, Jordan.” Meredith clapped her hands with glee. “I could kiss you.”

Dr. Creed looked hesitant. “Well, if you don’t mind …”

“Not at all.” She glanced at the two babies, both fast asleep.

“They just went down for their nap, so they probably won’t wake up for another hour or so.” Meredith handed her the two diaper bags slung over her shoulder. “And you’ll have everything you need here.”

“Call my cell, for anything,” Dr Creed said. “I’ll leave it on the whole time.”

“She’ll be fine, Jade,” Meredith assured her friend. “She’s a Lycan. Her wolf will have all those good mothering instincts.”

Jordan gave her a tight smile. “Right.”

“I’ve been looking forward to this all week,” Dr. Creed said with a sigh.

“Me too.” Meredith put her hands on her hips. “Good luck, Jordan. We’ll be back before you know it.”

“Have fun.” Jordan waved to the two women as they left before turning to the two baby carriers sitting on top of her desk. She wasn’t sure why she’d volunteered to watch over the children, but it didn’t hurt to score extra points with the boss now and then.

Deedee, she’d already seen a couple of times. The little girl was adorable, and looked just like Dr. Creed, except for her eyes. Although Meredith had spoken of her son before, this was the first time she’d actually seen the boy. After glancing over to check that Dee was asleep, she turned her attention to the boy.

Cross Jonasson looked to be about Dee’s age, maybe a little younger. He had wisps of fine blond hair across his forehead, and the cutest and chubbiest cheeks Jordan had ever seen. She couldn’t help herself as she reached over to feel the boy’s soft, smooth skin.

His eyes flew open, and she gasped in surprise. Cross gave her a toothless grin and giggled.

“Aww, you’re so adorable.”

Cross also had the most beautiful blue-green eyes. Meredith had brown eyes, so he probably got it from his father. Jordan was pretty sure she’d heard about him, though she couldn’t quite recall who he was.

“Are you hungry, baby?” she asked. “Do you want to play?” She searched around in the diaper bag for a toy of some sort and found an old wooden horse that looked to be handmade. “Here you go.” Cross laughed when she shook it in front of him, then stretched his arm to reach for it.

A loud rattling sound made her whip her head around. There was something vibrating behind her. Her brows knitted together as she watched the fifty-liter steel tank in the far corner wobbling back and forth unnaturally. “What the—” She sucked in a breath. Dr. Cross was doing some experiment with gases compressed in that tank. “Fuck!” The vibrations grew stronger and stronger. She knew what would happen next.

There was no way she would be able to take both children and herself to safety in time, even with her Lycan speed. So, she did the only thing she could—cover both children with her body as the room exploded around her.

Not again.

Jordan groaned as she opened her eyes. She was feeling a little woozy, but she was able to put the bits and pieces of what she remembered together in her head. Deedee and Cross. The explosion. Was she dead? Couldn’t be. There was no white light or clouds or angels around her. Just the smell of antiseptic and sterile white walls. She was in the infirmary again.

“Finally,” a deep male voice said. “I was wondering when you’d awaken.”

Something about the voice made her bolt up. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the stranger beside her.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with long blond hair tied back in a ponytail. She thought he looked like a handsome Viking. He was even wearing a loose white shirt. Maybe she was dead and this was heaven, and God had sent her this handsome Viking angel to greet her at the pearly gates. Sweet baby Jesus!

“You’re probably wondering who I am.” Blue-green eyes stared at her. “My name is Daric.”

She knew that name. And those eyes. “You’re … the warlock.”

“Yes.” His lips turned up at the corners. “First, let me thank you for saving my son.”

“Cross! And Deedee!” Panic gripped her. “Are they okay?”

“They are unharmed,” he said. “As are you.”

“Huh.” She looked down at her arms, then cupped her body with her hands. She was all in one piece. She sighed in relief. “Oh, thank God! I thought—”

The door slammed open. “Daric! Is she awake?” Meredith rushed into the room, Dr. Creed and her mate behind her. She ran right to Jordan and embraced her. “Thank God you were there during the accident!” she sobbed. “I don’t know what I’d have done if anything …”

“You saved Deedee, too,” Sebastian said in a somber tone. “I owe you one.”

Jordan scratched her head. “Er, what happened? I’m pretty sure I didn’t cause the accident this time.”

“No, it’s not your fault,” Daric said. “I’m afraid that my son is to blame.”

“Cross?” Jordan was confused. “How could a baby cause an accident?”

Daric tsked. “There are still many things we don’t know about what the hybrids are capable of.”

“Hybrids?” she echoed.

“Half Lycan, half magical children,” Dr. Creed continued. “Cross is a hybrid. Like your Alpha’s daughter.”

“Oh, right,” she said. Her cousin married Lara Chatraine, a witch from the New York Coven and they had a daughter, Elise, who was not much older than Cross and Dee. “But I don’t understand how a baby could have caused the accident.”

“I believe my son may have released a burst of power and shorted the lab equipment,” Daric said. “It’s highly unusual for an infant warlock but not unheard of. I’ve cast a simple binding spell to stop him from using his powers until he’s old enough and have had the proper training.”

“Uh, that’s great. All resolved then.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Ack! Where are my clothes?” she exclaimed as looked at the drab hospital gown she was wearing.

“They were burned in the explosion,” Dr. Creed said. “We can—” She stopped short. “Jordan, you don’t know, do you?”

“Know? Know what?”

Dr. Creed and Meredith looked at each other before the latter spoke up. “Jordan, that explosion would have killed anyone. Even a Lycan.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” Dr. Creed said. “When you shielded the children, the only reason all of you survived is because you’re pregnant. With your True Mate’s child.”

Preg—

“Hold on!” She raised a hand. “I’m what?” Her head buzzed as a wave of dizziness threatened to overwhelm her. She gripped onto the thin, paper-like sheets. “I can’t be pregnant. I’m on birth control.”

“That only proves our point, I’m afraid,” Dr. Creed said. “True Mate pairings always conceive the first time, unless you used condoms.”

Oh, shit. Of course they didn’t. Jackson had shifted from wolf form, and she wasn’t exactly the type to carry condoms when she went on random walks.

“Honey, it’s the only explanation.” Meredith put a hand on her arm. “I know it’s confusing. We can get a test if you want.”

“But the fact that you’re still here is proof,” Dr. Creed said. “When the rescue workers found you, they said you didn’t have a scratch on you.”

“I …” Oh, God. She was pregnant. With Jackson’s baby.

“Well?” Meredith asked. “Who’s the lucky man? Husband? Boyfriend?”

Lucky, indeed. “I … he …” She felt her cheeks prickle with heat. “Please, I can’t do this right now.” Her throat was burning with tears.

“Wait.” Dr. Creed let a sharp gasp. “He doesn’t know, does he?”

Jordan didn’t move a muscle, not wanting to deny it or reveal who the father was. She was afraid to even speak.

“This ain’t right.” Sebastian stepped forward, his hands curling together. “Your man needs to take responsibility for this.”

“Jordan,” Daric said in a gentle voice. “Don’t worry. You are safe here. The New York clan, as well as the San Francisco clan will take care of you and your child. There is no need to fret.”

When he placed a hand on her shoulder, she felt a strange zing across her skin. What the …

Daric cleared his throat. “I think we should leave now,” he said. “Jordan needs her privacy.”

“But we can’t just leave her by herself,” Meredith protested. “The poor girl is pregnant and all alone. She—”

“Min kjære.” He took his mate’s hand in his and shot her a meaningful glance. “We should go. Our son needs us.”

Meredith looked like she wanted to protest, but changed her mind. “All right. We’ll head out. But,” she turned to Jordan, “you contact us if you need anything, okay?”

Dr. Creed reached out and squeezed her hand. “You’re not alone, Jordan,” she said. “You have us. I promise you, whatever you need for you and the baby, you’ll have.”

“Like I said,” Sebastian added. “I owe you one. Big time. If you want me to burn this deadbeat to ashes, just say so.”

“Sebastian!” Dr. Creed admonished.

“What?” Her husband shrugged.

Jordan felt the overwhelming emotions taking over. She couldn’t breathe. She wanted all these people out of here. She wanted to be out of here. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I really need to be alone now.”

“All right, we shall leave you. Come along, everyone.” Daric herded everyone toward the door. Before he left, the warlock flashed her a knowing glance. “Do not fret, little ōkami. All will be well.”

The door closed shut before Jordan could ask him how could be so sure everything would be all right. And how he knew that endearment. Ōkami was Japanese for wolf and her father’s nickname for her. Well, it didn’t matter now. Nothing else mattered.

She threw herself back down on the bed. Pregnant. The word rang in her head, over and over again, but it still didn’t feel real. Tentatively, she placed a hand on her belly. Then, she started to cry. At first, it was just tears streaming down her cheeks, but then it became full-on sobs. This was a total disaster.

And no one could know. Lycan children were treasured in their world. With their numbers dwindling, every child was welcomed, regardless of parentage. Illegitimate children were accepted into the fold, sometimes even raised with their legitimate siblings.

She couldn’t do that to Jackson, and certainly not to Austin, not when she knew there was a chance for him to have a real family. Jordan and her baby would just tear them apart. Besides, she wasn’t fit to be a mother. Even Jackson told her so.

Her wolf came out of nowhere, ripping her up from the inside. Protect … don’t hurt …pup.

“Jeez,” she said aloud. “Shut it. I’m not going to do anything!” How could it even think she would do anything to harm their baby?

She let out a long sigh. There was nothing she could do now. And, since she wasn’t hurt, they couldn’t keep her here. She just wanted to be home, in her crappy little studio in Bushwick and just forget all this happened.

The next day, Jordan was sitting at home in her pajamas, eating cold Chinese food from a takeout box when she was interrupted by insistent knocking on her door. She wanted to scream “Go away!” but whoever it was must have really wanted to see her because they would not stop knocking.

“Fine.” She put the box and the chopsticks down, wiped her hand on her robe, and marched over to the front door. She considered looking through the peephole before opening the door, but apparently, she was invincible, and not even a homicidal maniac could kill her. “What do you—”

Her chest tightened, an invisible grip squeezing around her rib cage.

It couldn’t be.

She shook her head. The man standing on the other side of the door may have looked like Jackson, but she could tell he wasn’t. Even if he didn’t have that scar down his cheek, she just knew. Her wolf knew too, and it yowled in disappointment.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

Jordan realized there was a woman there beside not-Jackson. “You do?”

The pretty brunette gave her a smile, her light brown eyes friendly and warm. “Uh-huh. You can tell, right? It’s not him.”

“How did you—”

“I’m Evie,” she said. “And this is my husband, Connor.”

“He’s … he’s …”

“Jackson’s twin,” Evie finished. “I’m guessing he never mentioned he had a twin. Jordan, may we come in?”

Though she was speechless, she stepped back anyway to let them inside her apartment. “I’m sorry, I haven’t cleaned up.” Oh, God, there were tons of takeout boxes all over the living room. And the kitchen. And on the floor. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

“It’s all right,” Evie said. “We don’t want to take too much of your time.”

“Yes, I’m quite busy, as you can see.” Ugh, her stupid mouth again. “Sorry, it’s my defense mechanism.”

“Jordan, would it be okay if we just get to the point?” Evie asked. “About you being pregnant with Jackson’s baby.”

Her shoulders sagged. “Fine.” It was time to face the firing squad. “But how did you know anyway?”

Evie chuckled. “It’s a long story, but Daric knew because he touched you and saw it in a vision.”

“He did?”

“Yes. He can do that with almost anyone. And so, he told Meredith, who happens to be Connor’s adoptive sister.”

She glanced at Connor and then Evie. “Hold on. You’re going to have to explain this all to me.”

“We can, but like I said, it’s best we get straight to the point.” Evie pursed her lips. “Why did you run away from Jackson?”

“And why haven’t you told him about the baby?”

Connor’s voice was so like Jackson’s it made Jordan’s heart hurt. She thought she had shed all the tears she could in the last twenty-four hours, but it seemed she still had more. “I … I don’t know!” She sobbed. “I mean … I just can’t.”

“Can’t what?” Evie asked.

“Ruin his life. Or Austin’s!”

Evie’s face was a mask of pure shock. “Excuse me?”

“Jackson doesn’t want me.” Oh God, saying it out loud made her feel worse. Every time she closed her eyes, she only saw Jackson and Liz kissing. “He’s already chosen someone else.”

“Who?”

“Liz! That’s who.” She wiped the tears with the back of her hand. “She’s perfect, don’t you know? She rides horses, loves the outdoors, doesn’t have weird allergies or germaphobia. She’s also gorgeous. Like a fucking Victoria’s Secret model with legs ’til Kansas. She’s the one he wants.”

“What?” Evie sounded shocked. “No way. Absolutely not. Oh, Jordan.” She pulled her into an embrace.

Jordan sniffed, trying not to get snot all over Evie’s pretty blouse. “That’s kind of you to say, but I saw them with my own eyes.”

“Well, you better get those eyes checked.” Evie released her and then gripped her shoulders tight. “Jordan, I chat with Lily on the phone every day. Now, uh, it’s probably our fault Jackson was even considering Liz.” She glanced at her husband, who shot her a look that said, I told you so.

“It is?”

“Yeah,” Evie said sheepishly. “She and I were trying to find a mate for Jackson. And a mother for Austin. This whole corporate retreat thing seemed like an opportunity to do that. I, uh, may have influenced the Alpha to send some eligible women up to do the retreat.”

“Oh.”

“And you were a last minute addition, right?” Evie laughed at Jordan’s nod. “This True Mate thing … funny how you don’t know what it’ll lead to. But I digress. Jordan, Jackson doesn’t love Liz. He doesn’t even want her in his territory. Apparently, she had some awful things to say about Austin.”

“Among other things,” Connor growled.

“Anyway,” Evie continued. “Jackson hates her. Austin hates her. In fact, according to Lily, all he talks about is you.”

“He does?”

“Yeah. She says he’s always, Jordan this or Jordan that around the house.” Evie chuckled. “Now it makes sense.”

“No it doesn’t.” Jordan looked down at her hands. What had she seen that day? With Liz and Jordan kissing? Did he have a third evil twin lurking about, kissing women?

“Look,” Evie said. “I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding. You need to call him and talk it over. Clear this whole thing up. You’re True Mates. I can’t even begin to tell you how special that is.” She gave Connor a warm smile.

“I …” Could she do it? What if Evie was wrong? “I don’t know.”

“Do you love him?”

The question came out of left field. Did she? “I’m not sure. I mean, I’m not even sure I can be a mother.”

“Lady, you saved three children in two weeks,” Connor huffed. “If that ain’t being a mom, I don’t know what is.”

“It’s not that,” she said. “I don’t know how I feel.”

A flash of disappointment crossed Evie’s face. “Just … will you think about it?”

“Are you going to tell him?” Jordan asked. “About the baby, I mean.”

Evie looked up at Connor, then back at her. “We have to.”

She knew it was inevitable. Unless she ran and hid out until the baby was born, news would get out eventually. “Just … give me a couple of days, okay? I just need to think about what I need to say to him.”

“The words are there.” Evie pointed to her heart. “You just need to pick up the phone and tell him.”

She wasn’t even sure she could do that. “I won’t make you lie to him for too long,” she promised. “I just need to be the one to say it.”

“I totally understand. We’ll leave you be for now.” She turned to her mate. “Let’s head back home.”

Connor put an arm around her and led her away, Jordan following behind them. She murmured a good bye before she closed the door, then braced herself against it as her knees trembled.

So, Jackson and Liz weren’t getting together. Relief poured through her. But, did she love him? Hell, did Jackson love her?

She shut her eyes. All she could see was Jackson. Smiling at her, teasing her. Making love to her that night. She felt so free, so cherished. It was the closest thing to flying she’d experienced.

She gasped, realization flooding right through her. “I’ve been an idiot.” She did love Jackson. All this time, she’d been afraid. S0 afraid of how different they were and how it wouldn’t work out, that she’d been too blind to see what was there all along.

“Crap!” She had to go tell him now. Her wolf yowled its agreement, and she chuckled. “All right, all right. Hold your horses.” There was no time to waste, though a shower was definitely in order. As she ran to the bathroom, she began to plan.