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36

Adrian's POV

The late afternoon sun filtered through the blinds of my office, casting long, golden shadows across the room. It was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the soft rustling of papers as I reviewed the latest reports. But my mind wasn't on the documents in front of me.

It was on her.

Bethany.

She'd been in my thoughts more than I cared to admit. There was something about her that I couldn't shake, something magnetic that kept pulling me in despite the chaos surrounding her. The moment she walked into my life, everything had shifted. And now… now I couldn't stop thinking about her.

But something was wrong.

I'd seen her earlier today in the hallway, and she hadn't looked like herself. Her usually bright eyes were dim, her steps unsteady. She'd brushed it off when I asked if she was okay, claiming she was just tired, but I wasn't convinced.

She wasn't just tired.

I tapped my pen against the desk, the sound breaking the silence. What if it was more than exhaustion? What if something was happening to her?

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling as memories of our time together resurfaced. The way her skin had burned against mine, the soft gasps that escaped her lips, the way her body had fit so perfectly against mine. There was no denying the connection we'd shared, no matter how complicated it made things.

But what if that connection had consequences?

The thought hit me like a freight train, and I shot upright in my seat. No. It couldn't be.

Could it?

The dizziness. The sensitivity. The subtle shifts in her energy that I'd been too preoccupied to notice.

Was she pregnant?

The possibility sent a wave of emotions crashing over me—shock, fear, and, beneath it all, a flicker of something I couldn't quite name.

Hope?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I needed to talk to her. I needed to know the truth.

I got up and left the office, searching for her.

I found her in the library, tucked away in a corner with a book in her lap. She looked up as I approached, her expression wary.

"Adrian," she said softly.

"Bethany," I replied, sliding into the seat across from her. "We need to talk."

She frowned, closing the book. "About what?"

I studied her for a moment, noting the faint flush on her cheeks and the way her hand trembled as she set the book aside.

"How have you been feeling?" I asked carefully.

Her brows knit together. "What do you mean?"

"You've seemed… off. Dizzy, sensitive. Are you okay?"

Bethany's eyes darted away, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "I'm fine. It's nothing."

"It's not nothing," I said, my tone firmer. "Bethany, you need to tell me what's going on."

She hesitated, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. "I've just been feeling a little… off lately. That's all. It's probably stress."

"Stress doesn't usually cause heightened sensitivity," I said, leaning forward. "Bethany, are you sure you're not—"

I stopped myself, the words catching in my throat.

She blinked at me, her confusion morphing into realization. "You think I'm… pregnant?"

I didn't answer right away, my gaze fixed on hers.

"I don't know," I admitted. "But if there's even a chance—"

"There's not," she said quickly, cutting me off.

I raised an eyebrow. "You're sure?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she looked away. "I… I don't know."

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. "Bethany, we need to figure this out. If you are…"

She didn't let me finish. "I'll handle it."

"Handle it?" I repeated, my voice rising slightly. "Bethany, this isn't something you can just handle on your own. If you're pregnant, we need to—"

"I said I'll handle it," she snapped, standing abruptly.

Her sudden movement made her sway, and I was on my feet in an instant, steadying her before she could fall.

"See? This is exactly what I'm talking about," I said, my frustration evident. "You're not okay."

Bethany pulled away from me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I just need some time, Adrian. Please."

I wanted to argue, to press her for answers, but the look in her eyes stopped me. She was scared.

"Okay," I said softly. "But if anything changes, you tell me. Promise me, Bethany."

She hesitated, then nodded. "I promise."

Mason's POV

Bethany had been acting strange.

I'd noticed it over the past few days—the way she seemed to drift in and out of focus, the way her hand would shoot to her temple as if warding off a headache. She'd always had a fiery spirit, but now she seemed… dulled. Like a spark that was struggling to ignite.

And then there was the energy.

It was subtle at first, a faint ripple in the air around her that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. But it was growing stronger, more pronounced. It wasn't just her omega energy—it was something else. Something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

And it wasn't just me who'd noticed.

"She's different," Mateo said as we watched her from across the room. She was sitting by the window, her gaze distant.

"Obviously," I muttered, sipping my drink.

"No, I mean really different," he pressed. "Have you felt it? The shift?"

I didn't respond, but my grip on the glass tightened.

"She's tied to this," Mateo continued, his voice low. "Whatever's happening, she's at the center of it."

He wasn't wrong. Bethany had been a catalyst from the moment she'd walked into our lives. First, the heirloom, and now this.

But there was something else. Something that had been gnawing at the back of my mind.

Adrian.

The way he looked at her, the way he hovered whenever she was around. It was subtle, but I knew him too well to miss it. There was a connection between them, one that went beyond casual acquaintances.

And now, with Bethany's strange behavior, I couldn't ignore the possibility.

"Do you think he's involved?" Mateo asked, as if reading my thoughts.

"Adrian's always involved," I said darkly.

Mateo smirked. "Jealous?"

I shot him a glare. "This isn't a game, Mateo. If Adrian's tied to this, it complicates everything."

"So what are you going to do?"

I didn't answer right away, my eyes fixed on Bethany.

"Watch," I said finally. "And wait."

Mateo arched a brow. "That's it?"

"For now," I said, though the words felt hollow.

Truth was, I wasn't just going to watch.

I was going to find out exactly what was going on between Bethany and Adrian. And if he'd done anything to endanger this family, there would be hell to pay.

I stared at her for a moment longer before walking away and going to where I knew Adrian would be right now. The study.

He was leaning against the desk, his arms crossed as if he'd been expecting me.

"Mason," he greeted, his tone neutral.

"Adrian," I said, stepping closer. "We need to talk."

"About?"

"Bethany," I said bluntly.

His jaw tightened, but he didn't look away. "What about her?"

"Don't play dumb," I said, my voice low. "I've seen the way you look at her. The way you hover. What's going on?"

Adrian's expression didn't change, but I could see the tension in his posture.

"She's under a lot of stress," he said carefully. "I'm just keeping an eye on her."

"An eye?" I repeated, my tone dripping with skepticism.

"Yes," he said firmly. "She's part of this family now, whether you like it or not."

My eyes narrowed. "Is that all she is to you? Family?"

Adrian didn't answer right away, and the silence spoke volumes.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Adrian," I said, stepping closer. "If you're hiding something—"

"I'm not hiding anything," he interrupted, his voice sharp.

"Then tell me the truth," I demanded. "What's going on with her?"

He hesitated, and for a moment, I thought he might actually open up. But then he shook his head.

"Stay out of it, Mason," he said, brushing past me.

I watched him go, my fists clenching at my sides. That bastard, hiding things from me and deciding what he wanted me to know, and what he didn't. I ran a hand through my hair. I was going to find out what they were hiding no matte what.