Chapter 122: TWO HEARTBEATS
KEISHA’S POV
"Twins."
The word echoed in my head long after Doctor Fenn had said it.
For a few seconds, neither Lyra nor I reacted. We simply stared at her as though she’d spoken a language we didn’t understand. Then, almost instinctively, my hand drifted to my stomach. It rested there without me thinking, my palm flattening over the place where two tiny lives had somehow already made a home inside me.
Two pups, not one.
Holy...
I hadn’t even had enough time to process the fact that I was pregnant, and now I was being told there were two babies growing inside me. The realization was beautiful... and terrifying all at once.
Because those two lives carried a truth I couldn’t tell anyone. A dual bond.
My smile faltered before it had fully formed.
"Keisha?" Lyra’s voice pulled me back.
I looked up to find her watching me closely, the excitement she’d worn only moments ago fading into concern. "What is it?" she asked. "You don’t look happy."
"I am happy."
"You don’t sound like it."
I forced another smile. "I’m just... overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting twins."
"I don’t think anybody expects twins." She laughed softly before reaching over to squeeze my hand. "You’re going to be alright."
I nodded, hoping she couldn’t see the guilt sitting behind my eyes.
If only it were that simple.
Doctor Fenn finished writing a few notes before handing me a small pouch of herbs and supplements, explaining how they would help with the pregnancy. Lyra immediately took them from me as though I’d somehow manage to lose them before we reached home.
"I’ll make sure she takes every single one," she promised.
Doctor Fenn chuckled. "I believe you."
We thanked her and headed toward the door, but just as Lyra reached for the handle, Doctor Fenn cleared her throat.
"Keisha... would you stay for a moment?"
I paused and Lyra glanced between us before nodding. "I’ll wait outside."
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving the clinic unusually quiet.
Doctor Fenn waited until she was certain we were alone before folding her hands on top of her desk. Her expression had changed completely and she looked serious.
"I don’t mean to pry into your private life," she began carefully, "but I think you already know why this pregnancy is different."
I lowered my eyes. "I do."
She nodded as though she’d expected that answer. "From what I told you during your first examination and what I’m seeing now again, these pups were conceived through a dual bond. It’s uncommon, but not unheard of."
"I thought so."
Doctor Fenn studied my face for a long moment before speaking again. "Have you discovered who induced your heat?"
"No," I admitted quietly. "I’m working on it."
"And the second bond?" she asked with remarkable gentleness. "Is it someone you trust?"
I looked up in surprise and she offered me a reassuring smile. "You don’t have to answer if you’d rather not. I only ask because pregnancies like yours can become... complicated. Knowing both fathers allows me to monitor the pregnancy more carefully."
A lump formed in my throat because I wanted to tell her. Of everyone in this pack, Doctor Fenn was probably the one person I believed would keep my secret, she had never judged me.
Even so... "I’m sorry," I whispered. "I can’t."
Her smile never disappeared. "I thought you might say that."
"I’m not trying to be difficult."
"I know." She reached across the desk and gave my hand a reassuring pat. "Whatever your reasons are, they’re yours. Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"If anything changes— anything at all —you’ll come to me immediately."
"I promise."
"Good." She handed me the pouch of medicine she’d set aside earlier. "Now go before your sister barges back in here convinced I’ve kidnapped you."
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "She probably would."
"I’m certain she would."
Still smiling, I thanked her once more before stepping outside.
Lyra stood exactly where she’d promised, arms folded impatiently. "What took so long?"
"Just a few extra instructions."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but let it go.
The journey back to the annex was quieter than the one to the clinic. Every now and then Lyra glanced at me with a smile that seemed impossible to contain, and each time she did, I found myself touching my stomach again.
Twins.
I still couldn’t believe it.
By the time we reached the annex, the sun had begun to down down behind the trees, bathing the estate in soft golden light.
We had barely reached the front steps when another familiar voice called out.
"There you are!" Nadia hurried toward us carrying a large covered basket in both hands. "I’ve been looking everywhere." Her eyes immediately dropped to my face. "Doctor Fenn said everything’s alright, didn’t she?"
"She did," Lyra answered before I could. "Keisha is perfectly fine."
"Good." Nadia let out a relieved breath before lifting the basket. "I brought dinner. Becca insisted neither of you should cook tonight."
The delicious smell drifting from beneath the cloth made my stomach rumble and Nadia laughed. "I’ll take that as a compliment to Becca’s cooking."
She looked at me again, her expression softening. "And before either of you argues, I’ve decided Keisha is staying with me for a while."
"What?" Lyra frowned.
"She’s pregnant now. Someone has to take care of her."
"I am someone."
"I mean... someone responsible."
Lyra placed a hand against her chest dramatically. "Did you just insult me?"
"I merely stated a fact."
"I’ve been taking care of Keisha since she was little."
"And you’ve done wonderfully," Nadia admitted with a grin. "But now she’s carrying twins."
Lyra froze. "You know already?"
"Doctor Fenn told me. She called saying I should take care of her well."
Eventually, after much reluctant bargaining, Nadia admitted defeat when Lyra refused to back down.
"Fine," Nadia sighed. "She stays with you."
"I thought so."
"But I’m visiting every day."
"You can visit."
The argument finally dissolved into laughter.
Balancing the basket between us, we turned toward the front door, ready to forget the day’s chaos over a warm meal.
We had taken barely two steps when the sound of approaching footsteps stopped us and all three of us turned to see someone unexpected waiting for us.
Vanessa.