Page 73 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

“He’s an ex,” Mary said. “Definitely for the best.” Her voice wobbled on the last word.

She hid it by drinking water.

Hudson let the silence sit for two beats before he asked, “What do you want from us?”

Mary’s hands stilled in her lap.

What the fuck! I looked at him. He realized how it sounded at the same moment Mary did.

Mary set down the glass with careful hands.

“Nothing,” she said.

“Mary,” I began.

“No, it’s fine. I just thought I should let you know. About the baby, I mean.”

Hudson’s jaw tightened. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know I’m too young for you both. I know you can’t hurt your son. I just thought you had a right to know because…”

She had turned our fear into her rejection.

“Mary,” I said, but she kept going.

“My sister Maeve is being a pain in the arse. She wanted me to let the fathers know. Her alphas are very involved in everything, and her life is hers. This one’s mine.”

“You think we don’t want this because you’re young?” I asked.

Her cheeks flushed. “You just said as much.”

“We were worried.”

Mary’s fingers reached out for the fork. “Yes. About my age.” She shoved a piece of cake into her mouth. Nodding. “This is good.”

“No. We’re worried about taking advantage of you.”

“Same result from my side of the table.”

That shut me up, which was only fair.

Hudson leaned forward slightly. “I worded that badly.”

“Very businesslike. In fact you could’ve been a lawyer. Here’s the paperwork, sign here.” She shoved another spoonful of cake into her mouth and chewed angrily around it.

“Mary.”

“Don’t.” She dropped her fork, then picked it up again. “You don’t even have to be in the baby’s life. At least I can go home and tell Maeve I let you know.”

The food arrived.

Nobody spoke while the waiter set bowls and plates in front of us. Mary pushed the plate of chicken salad to one side and continued to eat her cake.

“You need protein.” I pushed the chicken salad closer to her.

She glared at me. “I don’t need an alpha…” She glanced at me and then at Hudson. “Or two. I can do this alone.”

“Eat one piece,” I said, ignoring her rant.