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“I'm going to hear about this from Arlene.”

“Probably.”

He laughs. We sit on the edge of the training grounds, catching our breath. For a while, neither of us speaks. Then I look at him.

“Feel better?”

Alpha Rylan stares ahead. “Yeah.”

I nod. He rubs a hand over his face.

“Darian…” I wait. “There's something I haven't told you.” Alpha Rylan tells me about Elise. About the pregnancy scent he recognized on Selena. About the moment he realized Elise had been pregnant when she died. He looks down at his hands. I understand exactly how he feels. We lost our pup in our previous life, and we lost Damian and Darlene right in front of us… as a wolf… an alpha… and a dad… It’s devastating when you realize you couldn’t protect your pup… your innocent pup.

“I didn't know.” His voice is quiet. “I didn't know she was carrying my pup.” I don't interrupt him.

“When I recognized that scent on Selena, it all came back. Elise. What happened to her. What I lost without even knowing it.” He takes a breath.

“And then I started thinking about Selena. Our pup. What could happen if I made the wrong decision. If I trusted the wrong wolf.”

I look at him. “That's why you kept adding guards.” He nods.

“That's why I kept trying to control everything around her. I thought if I could remove every possible danger, I could keep them safe.”

“And the Former Gamma?”

His jaw tightens. “They knew exactly where to push.” I wait. “I wasn't worried about you embarrassing me or making me look weak. I was terrified that trusting the wrong wolf would get Selena and our pup killed.”

I look toward the training grounds, then back at him. “You should have told me. If anyone knows how you feel it’s me. Remember… I was reborn too.”

“I know.”

“You should have told Selena.”

He lowers his head. “I know.”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Alpha Rylan, I understand why you're afraid. But you can't protect your mate by making every decision for her.”

He looks at me. “And you can't protect the pack if you stop listening to the wolves trying to help you.”

He nods slowly. “I know that now.”

I sit back. “Good.”

He looks at me for a moment, then lets out a breath. “Selena's probably going to kill me when I get home.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”

“The pillows.”

I stare at him. “What pillows?”

He rubs a hand over his face. “She's been collecting them. Pillows, blankets, and I don’t know what else. She keeps arranging everything, and every time I try to move something, she gets upset.”

I look at him. He looks back. “What?” I close my eyes.

My wolf starts laughing. Oh, this is good. Remember when Arlene was carrying Damian.

“Don't.”