Unexpected Alpha (Gay M-Preg)

by Chris McHart

  D laughed. “Why do you always need me to give you this kind of ideas? You’d think you could do it all by yourself.”

  Anthony grinned. “That’s because you’re my annoying little brother. Sometimes you have good ideas, but not always.”

  D laughed but then became serious again. “But again, I think you’re doing really great with the pack. And if you can work with Gerome to change even more, that’d be a big deal. Father has always been careful not to have contact with other packs or circles, but I think that’s something you should change. There’s no reason to shut yourself off, and if everyone works together, this world can only get better.”

  “You’re absolutely right about that, and I’m definitely going to contact other packs. I’ll never close the borders like Father did. I think it’s time we all stick together.”

  “I think so too. So, and now I have to say goodbye because Ria just fell, and I think I need to comfort her.” Loud crying was audible in the background.

  That was something Anthony understood very well lately. When your kid cried, nothing else mattered. “Just tell me when you’re coming to visit, and tell Ash I said hi.”

  “All right. I’ll talk to you later.” D hung up on him, and Anthony stared at the phone for a moment. He’d called D hoping to get some answers. He had received answers, but not to the questions in his head.

  It took two days before D texted. They would come to visit on the weekend and stay overnight, just as Anthony had suggested. He replied and confirmed to D that they’d get everything ready, then he went looking for Josh. It was afternoon, so hopefully Josh was home and resting while the kids were with the young woman who was looking after them.

  Since he now slept in the afternoons, Josh’s face had a little more color and he didn’t seem to be quite so exhausted anymore.

  Anthony quietly unlocked the front door and sneaked into the bedroom. Josh slept deeply, having the covers pulled down, so most of his body was visible. He only wore boxers and slept on his stomach. Anthony looked at his mate, slowly getting hard. No matter how many times he saw Josh, it happened every time. He’d never wanted anyone as much as Josh – for such a long time.

  His eyes wandered over the almost naked body on the bed, and he noticed Josh had apparently gained a bit of weight. His body was still slim, but his hips were a little rounder, with small love handles. He’d noticed a few days ago that Josh’s stomach wasn’t as flat as it’d been before, but he’d blamed it on the fact that they’d had a huge dinner. If he looked at Josh like that now, though, he couldn’t deny it. He’d definitely gained weight. Even his ass seemed to be a little fuller and rounder.

  Somehow that made him even more attractive.

  Should he wake him up and tell him D and Anthony were coming to visit? He’d want to know for sure since Ash was his best friend. On the other hand, that could wait an hour, couldn’t it?

  Anthony stood there looking at Josh’s sleeping body before finally turning away. He’d wanted to tell him, but he couldn’t bring himself to wake him up.

  He turned around, closed the bedroom door, and sat down in the living room. He had some work to do, but most of it could be done from his cell phone. He’d wait here until Josh got up to tell him the news.

  Chapter 20

  Josh

  * * *

  Josh was looking forward to seeing D and Ash again. He texted regularly with his best friend, but he still missed him like crazy. Phone calls or texts just weren’t the same as seeing each other every few days.

  Sometimes life just worked out like this. He’d have to get used to not being around Ash, but still, it made him sad. It didn’t get any better no matter how much work he had. If anything, he wanted to spend more time with his friend, relax and just talk to him. They’d often just sat together, watching the children play while they just talked.

  Ash’s presence always relaxed him. They’d experienced so much together. Their friendship would last a lifetime.

  Josh checked the guest room they’d prepared one last time, and he made sure there were enough towels in the bathroom. Satisfied that everything was ready, he checked on the kids Sara was looking after then went on to the kitchen.

  Ash and D were supposed to be there in half an hour, and he didn’t know what to do to pass the time. The kids were busy, he couldn’t go to the guest house because the time was too short, and everything was ready. He rubbed his hand over his stomach. He was hungry again, even though he’d planned to eat less.

  That hadn’t worked. His hunger was just too overwhelming. He hadn’t lost weight at all, but gained some more.

  He tried to eat healthier things when the cravings hit, but even that didn’t always work. He really needed to get a grip on himself. His pants didn’t even close anymore, and he had to close them with a rubber band.

  Now he needed wider T-shirts to cover it. Normally he hated wearing clothes that weren’t body-hugging, but in this case it didn’t help.

  He either had to buy new clothes or lose weight, which was actually his goal.

  He waited nervously until Ash’s car showed up. Then he opened the front door and stood next to the car before Ash and D even got out. Ash slammed the door closed and threw his arms around Josh’s neck. He held him like he missed his best friend as much as Josh missed him.

  Josh fought against the tears forming in his eyes. He didn’t want to cry. He wouldn’t cry. Even though he’d missed Ash, crying was a bit too much. He swallowed once or twice and held Ash a little longer.

  “Do I have to get jealous?” D’s amused voice broke through their embrace.

  Josh raised his head. “Sorry,” he mumbled, then let go of Ash.

  “Just kidding.” D pulled him into a hug and held him, though not as long as Ash had done. D’s baby’s belly was a bit in the way, but they managed.

  Josh was a little embarrassed that he’d clung to Ash like that. But right now, he was just overwhelmed, and Ash had been there and held him. He’d really missed him.

  “Good to see you!” Anthony’s voice interrupted them. He first embraced Ash, then his own brother. “How was your trip?” He didn’t wait for an answer, but looked at the back seat of the car where the two children were waiting. They looked curiously through the windows and Anthony waved at them.

  “The drive was calm, but I think they’ll be happy to get out of the car now.”

  “Then let’s take them out.” Anthony had already opened the car door and unbuckled Ian.

  D went to the other side and got Ria.

  Ash looked at Josh, squinted his eyes and looked at him from head to toe. He shook his head, then he nodded and kept staring at him.

  What was that all about?

  Yeah, he’d put on some weight, but it was weird that Ash looked at him like that.

  If Ash asked him how much he’d gained, he’d scream.

  “Why didn’t you say anything? I thought you’d call if something like this happened.” Ash sounded hurt.

  Josh raised his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

  “What am I talking about? The pregnancy. I thought you’d call me.”

  Josh stumbled backwards. A loud bang echoed through the air when Anthony slammed the car door.

  “Pregnancy?” Josh tried to understand the words, tried to figure out what Ash was talking about. “We have a baby, but he’s older. We adopted him, together with his big sister.”

  “I know that. That’s what you told me. But I thought you’d tell me if you expected one yourself.”

  “I’m not–“ Josh fell silent. Fucking hell.

  But it couldn’t be true.

  A loud roar broke through the air, but Anthony hadn’t shifted. He stalked closer to Josh, looking like he wanted to strangle him with bare hands.

  What was that about? What’d he do?

  “I thought we were together! How could you do that? How can you betray our relationship like that?” Anthony’s eyes were huge.

  “What?” Josh rai
sed his hands. What was Anthony talking about? “What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything!”

  “Who knows who else you fucked with! I thought we were gonna try to have a relationship, and all this time you’ve been fucking someone else behind my back? How many other men have you fucked? Is that why you’re always so tired? Because you sneak out at night to give your ass to somebody else? I should’ve known you couldn’t keep your pants on!”

  D stepped between them and stared at his brother – hard. “I think that’s enough now.”

  Josh didn’t wait to see how Anthony would react. He turned around and ran.

  Every single one of Anthony’s words had hit him deeply, like a knife in his heart, over and over again.

  Anthony thought he’d cheated on him?

  Anthony thought he’d let someone else fuck him and that he’d gotten pregnant from that? That hurt more than he ever thought anything could hurt. He hadn’t had anyone else since he’d met Anthony, and now Anthony accused him of getting knocked up by another man? His heart stuttered from all the pain. That was how little Anthony trusted him. He had no doubts about Ash’s statement, since best friends knew this kind of thing.

  It fit with the fatigue and weight gain. He’d never thought it’d be possible, and he didn’t know how it could’ve happened, but it sounded right. Too right.

  Josh ran without seeing where he was going.

  He passed the houses and entered the forest surrounding the village. He didn’t care. Nothing mattered when he thought about how little Anthony trusted him. He hadn’t asked, hadn’t even given him a moment to think about what might’ve happened. Josh was also shocked, and he hadn’t even had time to understand it properly.

  But Anthony had drawn conclusions immediately.

  False conclusions.

  Josh wiped his face, not surprised to find tears running down his face. Who wouldn’t cry if they were accused of something like that?

  What did he do to deserve this? He’d done nothing wrong. Heavens, he’d done everything to build a relationship with Anthony, and he was falling in love with his mate. If he wasn’t already there.

  The way his words hurt, he already was. He definitely couldn’t imagine being with another man. There was only one he wanted. Just one he wanted to spend his life with.

  And this man was immediately convinced Josh had betrayed him.

  God, it hurt so much. His heart was still beating, even though he couldn’t believe it. It felt torn. Broken. Just like his soul.

  He tripped, fell, but it didn’t matter. The pain in his knees and palms was nothing against how he felt inside. His head was empty, except for the words that kept repeating themselves. The hate, the anger in Anthony’s eyes. This complete bewilderment. And the fact that he didn’t even let Josh react. He hadn’t cared what might be an explanation as soon as he heard Ash’s words. He’d just assumed Josh would cheat.

  Josh ran. He ran until he couldn’t breathe, until his lungs almost hurt more than his heart. Almost, because they couldn’t hurt more.

  His heart broke.

  It was already broken.

  Anthony trusted him so little that he immediately jumped to the conclusion that he’d cheated. That was what hurt the most. He didn’t trust Josh at all, despite their past.

  Finally he sank to the ground, somewhere in the middle of the forest. Silence surrounded him. Nothing else, no noise, nothing at all.

  A part of him wished Ash or D had come after him, forced him to run slower, but on the other hand, he didn’t want to see anyone. He just wanted to be alone in his misery.

  He didn’t know how to go on.

  Everything he’d built up was broken.

  He had no future here, not in this village. Not in this pack.

  He’d go back to the city and take Leon and Hanna with him, because they were his children. Anthony shouldn’t try to take them away from him. At the moment they were safe with the babysitter, but later, when he went back to the village, he’d get them.

  Ash would be willing to go back to town today and take him with them. They’d have to squeeze together, but it would work. If not, he’d rent a car somewhere. That wasn’t a problem either. As long as he could leave this cursed village.

  He’d have to build a new life for himself in the city, but he had enough money, so he wouldn’t have to work. His job would be to offer his two children and the third, unborn, a family.

  Absently, he stroked his belly. He had never thought it possible, but now it was clear. Somehow, he’d managed to get pregnant.

  How had it happened? He had no idea.

  It was actually impossible, but it had happened. Even if he’d created life with a man with whom he never wanted to talk to again, it was also his child. It’d remind him how happy they’d been together.

  Josh leaned against a tree and closed his eyes. Soon, he’d go back and prepare everything to leave this village.

  And no one would stop him. Not even Anthony. If he tried, he’d face a tougher opponent than his father.

  Chapter 21

  Anthony

  * * *

  “Josh, wait!” Ash called after Josh, but Anthony barely noticed.

  Blood pounded in his ears and he saw red. He’d been led on. He’d been betrayed by the man he loved, the man he wanted to spend his life with. Who knew who he was sleeping with behind his back?

  It had to be a vampire, probably right before their mating, because he’d hardly had any chances afterward. Or had he? This tiredness during the day? The long hours he supposedly spent in the guest house? Who knew who he was fucking during that time?

  Anthony didn’t know if he would’ve smelled it if another man had touched Josh, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t need any more proof. The proof was there. Ash had confirmed it. It hurt more than Anthony could’ve imagined. He’d really assumed they’d spend their lives together. He was determined to do everything he could to make Josh happy.

  And now it turned out everything was a lie.

  “Are you out of your fucking mind?” Ash yelled at him.

  Anthony blinked to concentrate on his mate’s best friend. He bared his teeth and stared at the smaller man. “What the hell do you want from me? Have you known about this? Were you in on this?” He growled deep in his throat, a sound he’d never heard before. It sounded like a rumble, like his panther would break free any moment. Anthony felt it just below the surface.

  He wanted to go after his mate and make sure he was okay. That was so sick. He never wanted to see this man again, and he certainly didn’t want to make sure he was okay.

  “Did you set this up? Was this your idea? Or his? Did you really think you could tell me this was my child?” He took two steps, getting closer to Ash and noticing D approaching. He was halfway between Ash and Anthony, looking ready to fight him.

  Seriously? His own brother thought he had to protect his mate from him? How ridiculous was that?

  D didn’t know what this was about. He couldn’t understand why Anthony was so upset. That had to be it.

  “D, it’s alright. I got it.” Ash spoke quietly but firmly.

  D tensed, then he nodded slowly. “Don’t think you’re even gonna touch him.”

  The threat was clear, but Anthony didn’t plan on it. Not yet.

  For now, he wanted to know who else was involved. Then he wanted to hide somewhere and lick his wounds – all by himself. He knew why he hadn’t wanted a mate. Even though it had gone well in the beginning, this incident confirmed how right he’d been with his initial decision to not have a mate.

  Ash also seemed to have calmed down, since he continued quietly, “How can you assume that Josh betrayed you? Do you have any idea what you just threw at his head? He’s carrying your child, Anthony. The child is not from another man. It’s yours.” Ash took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. His fingertips were pointing to the floor, and he was apparently waiting for something.

  “It can’t be my child. We don’t father
children, never have, never will. We’re shifters. No man in our pack can conceive a child with another man. It has to be from someone else, no matter what you tell me. And don’t think I’m gonna believe that you didn’t know anything about this. The fact that you’re now immediately claiming it’s my child only makes you more suspicious.”

  “It’s your kid.” Light appeared at the tips of Ash’s fingers, but it immediately disappeared again. Ash’s entire body was tense, ready for an attack. “I didn’t know until I just saw him. His aura has changed. It’s mixed with yours. That’s not from the mating. I saw him after that. It was different. The child already has its own, and it clearly bears your signature. I can feel it. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I can assure you that you just chased your mate and your unborn child into the forest.” Ash breathed deeply again and closed his eyes. “What you’ve done is unforgivable. D and I will go find Josh now, and we’ll help him leave this village. I think you should get used to the fact that your mate won’t be living here from now on, just like your unborn child. And the way I know Josh, he’ll also take the other two with him. And honestly? I’ll help him. Because you disappointed me more than I ever thought possible. I never thought anyone like you would be capable of coming to this kind of conclusion.”

  At the end of his speech, Anthony only heard the disappointment in Ash’s voice. But he couldn’t believe it. It was simply impossible that this was his child. It couldn’t be.

  He, too, had calmed down a little and looked around. No one else had noticed their fight, and he was ashamed that he’d gotten that loud. His pack members didn’t need to see him lose control. That was something he never wanted to do. On the other hand, it was all too understandable.

  No matter what Ash told him, he didn’t believe him. It couldn’t be his kid. That in turn meant Josh had betrayed him. And that was unforgivable.