PREGNANT AND BANISHED

Lana's Pov

I woke up slowly. For a few seconds, I actually thought I was back in my own bed. I expected to hear the birds outside my window and smell the coffee Jasper always made in the morning. I reached out my hand, expecting to feel the soft sheets of my home.

Then, I felt the rough texture of the blanket. I smelled that old, heavy scent of the pack house. My eyes snapped open. I rubbed my eyes hard, hoping it was just a bad dream, but the white walls of the lab suite didn't go away.

I wasn't home. I was in a cage.

Damn you, Asher, I thought. I hate you so much. I cursed him in my head, calling him every name I could think of. He was a thief. He had stolen my peace just because he felt like he owned the world.

I sat up and realized the side door was open. I heard voices. Happy voices.

I got out of bed and walked to the doorway. My heart sank. There was a small table set up in the playroom. My three boys were sitting there, eating a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, and fruit. And sitting right there with them, looking way too comfortable, was Asher.

I stood there and gulped. My throat felt dry, just how long does he plan to insert himself in places he is not even needed.

Asher looked up. He didn't have his suit jacket on, and his sleeves were rolled up. He looked like a normal dad, which made my stomach turn into knots.

But for a reason watching him like this made me feel some kind way, I want to blame it on my wolf.

"Good morning, Lana," he said. His voice was calm, almost kind.

The boys turned around. "Mummy! Look! The Alpha brought us real honey for the pancakes!" Jacob shouted, his face sticky with syrup.

"Good morning, babies," I said. I tried to make my voice sound normal for them.

Asher pulled out the empty chair next to him. "Sit down. You need to eat if you're going to work all day."

I looked at the chair, I didn't want to sit near him. I wanted to grab my kids and run until my legs gave out. But then I looked at my boys, they were smiling, they weren't scared. They were enjoying the food and the attention. If I made a scene, I would ruin their calm.

I nodded slowly and sat down.

The silence was thick. The only sounds were the boys clinking their forks against the plates. Asher kept watching me. I kept my eyes on my plate, moving a piece of egg around with my fork.

"Is the food okay?" Asher asked.

"It's fine," I said.

"We don't get bacon like this at home," Mathew said, looking at Asher. "Mom makes us eat a lot of green stuff because she's a doctor and uncle Jasper supports mum because everyone doesn't want mum on their bad side." Mathew said laughing.

Asher smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Is that so? Well, while you're here, you can eat whatever you want. I want you to feel like this is your home."

"But it's not our home," Lucas said. He was looking at Asher with a suspicious look. "We have a house with Uncle Jasper. When are we going back?"

I saw Asher's jaw tighten at the mention of Jasper's name. He put his fork down and leaned in a little.

"Well, Lucas," Asher started. "Sometimes, plans change. This place... it belongs to me. And since you are here with your mother, that makes you very special guests. In fact, you are more than guests, uncle Jasper is always welcome here, I'm not holding anyone from visiting."

I felt a cold chill. I looked at Asher, trying to tell him to stop with my eyes.

"What does that mean?" Jacob asked.

Asher looked at the boys, and then he looked at me. He had a strange look on his face. It was like he wanted to scream the truth right there.

"It means," Asher said, his voice getting a bit louder, "that we have a lot in common. More than you know. Did you know that I knew your mother when she was just a little girl? We grew up in this very house together."

"Really?" Mathew asked. "Were you guys friends?"

"We were very close," Asher said. He reached out and touched a glass of juice. "So close that if things had gone differently, I would have been the one-"

"Asher," I said. My voice was sharp.

He didn't stop. He was looking at Jacob, who looked exactly like him. "Uncle Jasper shouldn't have been part of the story, eventually you will understand. I look at you three, and I see so much of myself. It's almost like looking in a mirror. Don't you think it's funny how much we look alike?"

The boys stopped eating. They looked from Asher to me, then back to Asher. The air in the room felt like it was about to snap.

"I think," Asher whispered, "it's time you boys knew who I really am. I'm not just an Alpha. I'm-"

I stood up so fast my chair hit the floor with a loud bang.

"We need to talk," I said. I wasn't asking. I was commanding. "Now. In the other room."

Asher looked at me, he was thinking of fighting me for a moment. "Now." I said my voice firm.

Asher let out a laughter that didn't reach eyes. "I guess I will talk to you boys later, finish your meal and go play, your mother and I will be back."

Asher stood up and walked to the room. I looked at my boys.

I walked over to them, giving each of them a peck on the cheek. "Be good alright." They nod their head in unison.