The discussion had left Ann's head pounding and the thought of every scenario that could happen from Bartholomew's actions all those years ago just made it worse. By the time the discussion wound down, her body was aching, her back throbbed and her legs burned despite the fact that she had picked the most comfortable chair in the room. She wiggled her foot in front of her and looked down at the swelling slowly accumulating around her ankles.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" She swore softly as Maeve snickered.
"Beautiful pair of cankles you have there Queenie. Maybe we should get you some ankle warmers to hide them..."
"Fuck off Maeve." She snarled.
Adam caught her grimace and was instantly at her side, fussing like the overprotective Alpha that she didn't have patience for right now.
"You're overdoing it again," he muttered, helping her to her feet.
"I'm fine," Ann said as she tried to push him away, but her protest sounded thin even to her own ears.
"You're pregnant with multiple Alphas, Ann. You're not fine. You're exhausted." He insisted as he held her hands firmly in his and steered her towards the door, offering apologies to Bartholomew for the sudden exit as they left, not even bothering to waiti for her answer.
"Do I need to carry you there myself?" he growled as his eyes flashed dangerously, "Because that sounds pretty tempting. I'm sure I can put you to sleep far easier than you think."
Normally she'd welcome the opportunity to enjoy every inch of him, but today? Today there wasn't a single chance in hell that she could find the strength for that.
The bed welcomed her like an old friend, and the moan of appreciation that left her lips as the softness cradled her sore body was almost sinful. Adams eyes sparked at the sound, but she batted his hand away wearily.
"Not now Adam..I can't even…" she murmured as she curled to her side and her eyes closed to the thoughts of the discussion about Greyson and his family running through her head.
Adam sighed softly as he watched her breathing slow as sleep pulled her under.
"You really need to listen more, my love." He muttered to himself as he took his place at the bedroom desk and opened his laptop.
He could work in here while she slept. Just to make sure that she was safe and put his paranoid wolf's mind at rest.
It wasn't long before the faintest brush of fingers across her shoulder pulled her from her sleep.
She blinked into the dim light of the room, disoriented, until Adam's quiet voice reached her.
"Ann. Wake up, my love."
She frowned up at him groggily.
"Is something wrong?"
"There better be something wrong," Maeve snarled…"I almost had my jaws around that hunk of steak…" she faded off into a mournful howl as she threw herself sulkily back in the corner.
His lips quirked upwards, oblivious to the conversation between Ann and Maeve.
"Nothing's wrong. You've got a call, that's all. It's Lexi."
That woke her more effectively than a bucket of ice water being thrown over her.
Ann pushed herself upright and threw the blanket off that Adam had obviously placed over her while she slept, her pulse skipping excitedly.
"Lexi?"
Adam nodded, handing her the phone with a grin.
"She says it's important."
Ann swiped at her face with one hand in an effort to remove the last traces of sleep from her and took the phone with the other, her voice still thick with sleep as she answered.
"Lexi! Oh my days I thought you'd never call!"
"Sorry, Queenie," Lexi's familiar voice teased on the other end, "I've been a little busy."
Relief swept over Ann so hard that her throat tightened.
"Busy? You couldn't have dropped a text or something? I thought something terrible had happened!"
Her voice cracked, and she cursed herself for sounding so raw.
"Cool your beans, mama bear, I'm all good," Lexi soothed, the smirk obvious even over the phone. "Well, apart from the overly ridiculous antics of my mates, of course."
In the background Ann thought she heard Allan's low rumble and Greyson's sharper growl. She smiled despite herself.
Lexi continued, "Listen, there's some stuff you ought to know…"
Ann sat straighter, exchanging a quick glance with Adam, then turned her attention back fully to the call.
Lexi walked her through everything that had happened at the Crystal Pack. The defense talks, the stance of the Lycan kingdom, the dangerous run-ins with Greyson's brothers. Ann felt her stomach sink lower with each detail, and Adam's hand tightening around hers when the names of Greyson's estranged family were mentioned.
Maeve growled lowly at the potential threat that his brothers posed, but Ann kept her voice steady despite knowing the bombshell that waited for them when they returned..
"Brad will probably be visiting at some point to discuss this," Lexi added. "I'm sure it's just an excuse for his wolf to check on you and make sure you're okay though."
Ann sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Of course it is."
This time Adam didn't just mutter. His growl was sharp and loud enough for Lexi to hear.
"Sorry for the background ranting," Ann said quickly, shooting Adam a look. "I put you on speakerphone and… well, you know. Male wolves and their possessive angst."
Adam's jaw clenched, but he didn't back down.
Lexi's laugh came warm and bright. "Yeah, I know all about that…"
Ann smiled faintly at the sound, but Lexi's next words drew her back into the weight of the conversation.
"There's not a lot we can do about this situation here for now. Brad will discuss the diplomacy shit with you and I promise I'll try my best not to rip the Lycan Kings heirs a new arsehole. Does that sound fair? I do want to make sure the baby is safe, though."
Ann's hand went instinctively to her stomach, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Lexi chuckled softly as if she could see through the phoneline.
"I'll tell him to bring his mother and the baby too. Hopefully by that time he'll have got a name for the poor mite."
Despite herself, Ann laughed at that, imagining Lexi's exasperated expression. "Fine," she said, softening. "Once you're done with the final recommendations for the defenses of his pack, you three should head home. We have plans for the Dark Moon Pack that you're going to be integral to, but I want to discuss it with you face to face first."
She let a note of mystery linger in her words and Lexi picked up on it instantly.
"Oooo, more intrigue and mystery? Our lives haven't had enough of that just lately," she teased.
Ann giggled, unable to stop herself. The sound felt good, easing some of the heaviness that had sat on her chest for days.
But when the laughter faded, a silence settled between them, heavy and aching.
"I really do miss you, Lexi," Ann whispered suddenly, her throat tightening. "I miss you so much."
There was a pause, and then Lexi's voice came back, cracked and raw in a way Ann had never heard before. "I miss you too, Queenie. You and your sassy little wolf."
Tears stung Ann's eyes, and she pressed her hand harder against her belly as if to steady herself.
"I've allocated you a room at the Palace," she blurted out quickly. "Just so you know. And I intend to have a wing built for you and your boys. You don't have to live here, but it's there if you need it. No pressure at all."
For a long moment there was only silence on the other end. Ann held her breath, worried she'd said too much.
Finally, Lexi's voice came back, so soft Ann could barely hear it. "I'll be home soon. Take care of yourself, Ann."
The line clicked off and Ann sat silently for a moment, staring at the phone in her hand.