The change was subtle, a light honeysuckle scent that Gage remembered from being around other pregnancies. Gage could tell Luke was as shocked as he was. Luke’s dark skin didn't reveal his emotions as strongly as Gage’s did, but Luke’s eyes were wide and darting as he thought through Gage’s statement. Gage knew they were both wondering the same thing: how? They had been careful. 

"How did you know?" Gage asked Alice. She was across the room from where Luke and he had been sitting, and he hadn't been able to smell the change until he buried his face in Luke’s skin.

"I've always had a stronger sense of smell than most."

That had to be one hell of a sniffer.

"I take it this is a surprise to both of you?"

"Of course," Luke snapped. "We used—" he cut off and Gage was certain his cheeks were burning, though his skin hid the fact more mercifully than Gage’s.

Alice nodded, as if she finished the sentence for him anyway. "One of the things we shifters have to keep in mind is that when we get excited, it's hard to keep our wolves in check. For instance, if you're not in complete control, your claws extend, and next thing you know there's a tiny rip and you have twins on the way."

"Oh, Mom, no!" Cole covered his eyes. "I did not need to know that."

"I hope Jess's pregnancy was a little more planned," she countered sarcastically.

"I'm sure it will be," Cole said, and then he registered what she said. "Was? Are you saying...?"

Now Alice looked a little embarrassed. "I don't normally stick my foot in everything the way I seem to be doing this morning." She sighed and waved Cole away. "Go confirm with your mate. At least Dare and Evan got to break the news to us the normal way." The last was muttered to the side, and Dare and Ethan smiled at each other.

Gage turned back to Luke, who seemed to have gathered some of his composure. "Why don't we sit?" he recommended.

"That, that would be good."

They sat back down and Gage kept Luke's hand wrapped in his. A child. That...it did change things. He just wasn't sure what yet.

There were suddenly excited squeals from the kitchen and then Sean came bolting out, his brow furrowed with annoyance. "I wish she wouldn't do that," he muttered. "It hurts my ears."

"Aren't you excited about having a nephew?" Evan asked.

"Or niece," Dare corrected. "And he's getting at least two."

Sean's eyes fell on Gage and Luke. "Oh, so you know now too?"

"Wait, you knew already?"

Sean shrugged.

"For how long?"

"Since my first vision of you and Luke? I was waiting for it, so I knew for certain when his scent changed about a week ago."

Gage flopped back on the couch and covered his face with his hands. 

"I think we need some drinks," Alice proclaimed. "Samuel, would you mind?"

Minutes later, Cole and Jess had rejoined them and they all, except Sean, Jess and Luke, held highballs of whiskey. Luke had declined with a sad sigh, eyeing Gage’s glass enviously. "Should I not drink?" Gage asked. "It hardly seems fair if you can't."

"No, one of us should have some liquid courage for the rest of this conversation."

With his reassurance, Gage downed his drink in one gulp. It burned like hell and he waved away Samuel's offer of a refill. One glass would calm his nerves, two...? He shouldn't be making any decisions on two. Maybe in his college days, but he rarely drank anything more than the occasional beer now.

Sean had known Gage was going to be a father for over a week and hadn't told him. Longer than that, if they started from his first vision. Sean had seen something that might relate to their parents' death and hadn't told Gage. What else wasn't he telling Gage?

Gage’s hand found Luke's and they twined their fingers together. Even if Luke was reeling as much as he was, at least they were reeling together.

"Sean." Gage felt strangely calm, as if he was the hurricane, but he existed in the eye of his own storm. Everything around him, everything he knew was being pulled to pieces, being torn apart, and this small center of rationality and calm was all that was left. "Is there anything else you think you should tell us?"

Sean’s eyes darted around the room, realizing everyone was looking at him. "I, uh. There's some stuff I'm not certain about. But I did have a dream about someone breaking into the house. I don't know if it already happened, or if it will happen, or if it was just a dream, though."

Luke leaned in to Gage. "Do you think that could have been what Mark was doing today?"

"It would make sense. But I don't think he actually got in the house."

Sean shook his head. "No, it was definitely in the house. They were in the living room and kitchen for a long time, and then both of our bedrooms. I don't think they took anything, they just were there. I'm sorry, it's really foggy."

"No, that's fine, Sean," Alice interjected. "From my understanding, visions and knowings are tricky, wisp-like things. You're doing wonderful. We do need you to promise to tell us anything else you see, though, okay? Don't wait for us to come to you, asking. I know it's hard. You've had to keep this a secret a long time. But you can tell your brother even the smallest bits and pieces. And if he feels comfortable with it, you can tell me, if it's easier." She looked to Gage for permission, which surprised him. He was used to orders and commands from his alpha. Maybe she treated Gage differently because he wasn't part of her pack. 

"Absolutely. Feel free to tell Alpha Williams whatever might help, Sean."

"Now, your options." Alice turned to face Luke and Gage once more. "Do you intend to mate?"

She certainly didn't start with an easy punch, did she? Gage looked at Luke with a question in his eyes. "I...think so?"

He smiled, amusement sparking in his dark eyes. "That may be the worst proposal I've ever heard."

Dare barked out a laugh. "Has Jess told you the real story of how Cole proposed then?"

Cole lobbed a pillow at Dare, who caught it before it hit Evan's face. "Shut up, Dare."

"It wasn't that bad!" Jess protested.

"Bad enough that you made him propose again before you said yes." Dare used the first pillow as a shield as Cole threw another at him.

"Children," Alice warned, and the brothers ceased their pillow war, pointing fingers at each other that seemed to promise retribution later on. 

"It's not a proposal," Gage said. "More a...query of interest?"

Luke narrowed his eyes. "That sounds like a technicality. But consider me interested."

Gage bent down and kissed his nose.

"Well, maybe I was getting ahead of myself on decisions. First things first, I think you need to go back to the house, Gage, to make a deeper search and see if there's anything amiss. Then you have several things to decide. And you should know that my offer to join White Falls is still open."

"Thank you." Gage swallowed past the knot in his throat. "But what if leaving Cherry Creek to join you starts some kind of pack war? Mark has shown resistance to my guardianship of Sean already. He won’t be happy with me trying to take him from the pack."

Alice sniffed. "Unless I'm seriously mistaken in my evaluation of Mark's character, I don't think it will. But if it does, we'll handle that when we get there. So that is something you will need to decide. When and if you plan on mating is another thing. Do you feel safe with Sean continuing to attend school? Do you feel safe continuing to live in your current house? Do you have any suspects in your parents' death other than your alpha?"

Gage’s head was spinning as it tried to catch and think through even one of her questions.

"Please, don't try to answer them all at once. I'm sure these are all questions you've been struggling with for a while, in some shape or another. My recommendation is to take some time with your family and talk things over. I will gather what information I can on seers and the current affairs of the Cherry Creek pack. And then maybe we can reconvene over dinner? I also suggest that you not go back to your house until you've had time to look over it."

"You can stay with us, of course," Jess offered.

“Do you have to work tomorrow?” Gage asked Luke. “I’m going to call in sick for Sean.”

“I might as well call in sick too. It might not even be a lie.

"Thank you," Gage said to Jess, then repeated the words quietly for just Luke.

"You should be familiar with the backyard from the wedding, if you need to take a walk. If you would prefer to rest, we have plenty of spare rooms, and Jess can show you one."

"I think a walk would be nice," Luke said, and Gage agreed. The idea of stepping outside for a fresh breath of air sounded calming.

"Thank you for everything," Gage said to Alice as they stood. 

"Go on, now," she said, shooing them out the door. "Dinner will be ready when you get back."