It felt like years before Cara came out. Alaric and I shot up waiting for her to tell us we could go into the room and see our mate.

"You can go in now." She gave us a small smile. I didn't want to lose hope with that small smile she gave us, but I couldn't help my heart drop. I'm sure Alaric the same.

We both rushed in seeing Nova on the bed. Tears streaming down her cheeks making us think the worst. Alaric and I didn't hesitate to rush to each of her sides closing her in between us. Nova sobbed and fisted her hands on each of our T-shirts holding us close to her. Eli standing off to the side watching us with Cara next to us.

"Baby." I started not wanting to ask, but I had to know. Alaric wanting to know as well. This only made Nova cry even more than before.

"She's in a bit of shock." Eli stayed. "Nova and baby are completely fine. Cara took her blood and did an ultrasound to make sure everything was okay. And it is. Pup and mum are safe and healthy."

"Thank fuck." Alaric muttered kissing Novas face all over. Relief washed over me as I did the same.

"We're okay." Nova sobbed out. "We're okay."

"You're okay. So is the pup." I nodded rubbing my hand on her flat belly, Alaric doing the same so we could both feel close to our mate and pup. "Why was she bleeding?"

"Stress. Whatever happened isn't good for Nova to be around nor the pup. If it causes her this much stress then it's not worth putting them through it." Cara replied. "But bleeding can be normal throughout pregnancy especially this early where it could be a clear out. But due to the amount I would put it down to stress."

"Okay. Thank you so much." Alaric told her.

"It's what I'm here for. Let me know if there's anymore then bring her back, if not carry on as normal." Cara said. "What actually happened anyway?"

"We went to see Ryan and Eli. It had been a while so we thought Nova would want to see her parents and siblings, get her out of the house. When we told Ryan and Eli that she was pregnant Kobe kicked off." Alaric explained.

"He went to hit me but missed and got Nova instead. She fell and hit her belly on the chair." I finished off. "But everything is fine right? No problems or anything like that?"

"So far everything is fine. The foetus looks great for its size and everything thing else looked as it should. I'm not sure if her falling on her belly will cause long term problems to the baby, but we'll do everything we can to make sure this pup is healthy as can be. I promise you that." She replied.

I nodded and looked back at my crying mate. She had her head resting on Alarics chest with her eyes closed. "Sleep doll, you're safe here." I told her. She nodded and rubbed her cheek on Alarics chest a little before stopping and letting out a breath.

"Lay with me, please." Nova looked up at Alaric. He nodded and sat on the bed letting her lay on his chest again. A sigh of relief left my lips as I sat down next to the bed watching my mates take a nap together. Alaric is always Novas nap buddy, whenever she sleeps throughout the day she will always cuddle Alaric. But at night she likes it when we both cuddle her. My guess is that it makes her feel safe and content with us both either side of her.

It didn't take long for both their breaths to even out and their heartbeats to steady before I knew they were both asleep. The day taking its toll on them. Eli sat next to me on the chair while I held both of my mates' hands so I could feel close to them. The hand holding Novas resting on her belly letting me feel close to the pup as well.

"I'm so sorry for what happened." Eli started. "I don't know what's gotten into him."

"You keep him away from my mate and pup. If I see him near her I'll kill him. Son or not, Eli, I will rip his throat out. He could've of cost me a pup, not just me Alaric and Nova as well. He deliberately went to hit me knowing I had nova right next to me, yet he still did it. I refuse to let her be near him, especially now she's carrying the pup." I told him.

"I know what he did was wrong, Karter but you can't keep Nova from her brothers." Eli sighed.

"Brothers? When has any of them boys been brothers to her? Kobe and Jax especially. They do nothing but bully and belittle her and it's not fair. Nova doesn't need that in her life anymore. More so when the pup gets older, I will not have my son or daughter copy their uncles and treat their mum like that. I won't tolerate it and neither will Alaric."

"Karter, don't make any irrational decisions here. Please." He cried softly. "I want my little girl to know she has a home to come to, she can't do that all the time you shelter her from her brothers. She won't feel welcome."

"I have to do what's best for my family. And right now her not seeing Kobe seems what's best. He hurt her, Eli. She almost lost her pup because of him. That's not okay in the slightest. I just think he needs to think over what he's done and stop bringing my mate down. She's gone eighteen years with it, now with the pup on the way she shouldn't have to do it anymore."

"Okay." He nodded. "I need to get back anyway. I have to make dinner for the younger ones. Tell nova I love her and I'll come and check on her tomorrow. Mind link me where you'll be?"

"Of course." I nodded. "See you tomorrow Eli. I'm sorry if I sound like an arsehole, I just don't want my mate to lose her pup."

"No, I understand completely. I'll give to time, but Ryan and I will come and see her tomorrow with the younger boys."

"Okay." I smiled a little at him, which he returned and left the room. Leaving me and my mates in a comfortable silence knowing our pup was going to be okay.

As soon as I got home, I went into the kitchen to see Ryan, Kobe and Jax sat around the table. Kobe's face slowly healing, but with the hit Karter got on him, it'll take some time for his face to heal.

"Dad-," Kobe started.

"Don't fucking talk to me." I spat out. "Go to your room. Now."

"Dad. Tell me she's okay, please."

"I said go to your room." I raised my voice.

"Tell me if novas okay." He shouted a little, tears forming in his eyes.

"She almost lost her baby, Kobe. How do you fucking think she is?" I growled. "Go to your room."

"Kobe listen to your dad." Ryan said, his voice calm while mine trembled thinking what could've happened to my daughter.

"You can't be serious, dad. I nudged Nova a little and all of a sudden I'm the bad boy. Karter literally beat me black and blue." Kobe argued.

"And your sister hit her belly. Do you know what can happen to pregnant people who hit their belly? Kobe they can miscarry. And because you can't be happy for your big sister she got hurt and bled because of you. She almost miscarried her baby because of you. Karter had every right to do what he did, and if I'm being honest I'm shocked you're still alive right now. So you should be thanking Karter, instead of hating him because you should be dead. What you have against them is done, you're finished saying anything towards Nova, you don't get a say in what she does with her mates because it's none of your business. Go to your fucking room, now." I shouted at him.

"If he's such the perfect son, then make him your son. I'm only looking out for Nova because she doesn't understand shit. How can you take his side every time he hits me. I'm your son, not him. You should side with me." Kobe argued.

"Not when you bully and belittle your sister. Nova is an adult and can look after herself. She's been with Karter day one who has watched her every move to make sure she's safe and protected. Why can't you see that he's only trying to do what's best for her. And now because of that, you are no longer allowed to see Nova for the foreseeable future. I hope you're fucking happy because Jax now can't see her, Karter doesn't want any of you boys seeing her because of you." I glared at him.

"What the Fuck? He can't do that can he? I can still see her can't I? Dad I can still see nova, right?" Jax looked at me tears forming in his eyes and his voice shaking.

"No. And I think that's what's best for your sister. She doesn't need stress throughout her pregnancy." I muttered.

"Fuck you Kobe. I fucking hate you. I shouldn't have listened to you, you fucked me over. Fuck you." Jax shouted at his brother crying about his sister.

"Come here." Ryan stood up and hugged our son to his chest where it muffled his sobs. "It'll be okay, you'll get to see her."

"He fucking did this. I hate him."

"I didn't mean to hurt her. Dad I'm sorry, I never wanted to hurt her." Kobe looked at me.

"You need to go to your bedroom and get out of my sight. We'll talk about this tomorrow." I told him. He nodded then slowly walked past me and up the stairs to his bedroom.

"I'll take you to see her tomorrow, okay." I went over to my son and mate where I smoothed down his hair. "It'll be okay."

"I'm so fucking sorry dad. Kobe told me to say all that to her, I didn't know it hurt her. I thought it was a joke." Jax looked up at me.

"I'm not the one you have to apologise to baby. It's Nova you have to say sorry to." I sighed.

"We can see her tomorrow?" He asked and I nodded. "I'll do it tomorrow."

"Okay." I smiled softly at him to which he hugged me before going up to his bedroom.

"What are we gonna do with him, huh?" Ryan sighed and pulled me to his chest resting his chin on top of my head.

"Fuck knows. I'm so tired of the arguments and Nova getting belittled but them. I don't trust anyone with my children other than us, but I'm so fucking glad Nova has Alaric and Karter. I know they'll protect in ways we can't."

"Yeah I know. We'll have a talk with him tomorrow and make sure he stops. This crossed the line and needs to stop before it gets even more worse." He sighed.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"How's my baby and that grandpup of ours?" He asked.

"Good. Stress caused her to bleed but nova and pup are healthy. She had a scan today and some tests to make sure. But both are absolutely fine." I looked up at him.

"Good." My mate smiled. "And you giving me that look, it isn't going to happen. We're too old now. We literally have our own pack." He chuckled.

"But they're so cute when they're little." I sighed with a smile. "It was worth a shot. Maybe you could get a vasectomy so there's no more pups." I suggested.

"Yeah. I'll look into it with a doctor. I would say Cara but I don't want her looking at my dick. That's for my mate only." He smirked.

"I would love some mate time, but I need to make dinner for the pups." I told him.

"All fed and put to bed. We have at least an hour of mate time before one of them interrupts us." Ryan smirked.

"Okay." I nodded with a smile leaning up to kiss him. Ryan deepened the kiss and picked me up by my thighs holding me up by my arse, his hands kneading every so often.

"Bedroom." I whispered against his lips getting a nod and my mate walking to our bedroom to make love to me.