Pregnant With Four Alphas' Babies: A Reverse Harem Romance Chapter 66: What Happens Next?

*Mark*

This room should stop being called Eli’s room as it's become our meeting place. We may as well call it the common area now.

“Are you okay, baby?” I ask Rose, who is sitting with us in the room.

“Yeah,” she responds and averts her eyes. Kelly whispers something to her, and they giggle.

“Care to share the joke?” Tristan prods.

“You wouldn’t get the joke. It’s a woman thing,” Kelly says snidely.

I can see something is bothering Rose, but I am not sure this is the right time to be pushing her to divulge her fears. I hope to get a chance to talk to her alone soon. As I continue to look at her, I try to mentally visualize what a mix of our DNA will look like. I have no doubt our child will be adorable…. I have no uncertainty that any child she bears will be breathtaking. If any of the children resemble her, that will mean those children will be stunners.

“So what do you think will happen now that the four of us actually impregnated her?” Eli’s voice cuts into my musings.

“That’s a great question. Do you think the king will have no choice but to declare all four of us winners?” Tristan asks.

“Perhaps we could all share the throne. We have shown how we are able to share the most valuable prize with grace,” Reece adds.

I shake my head and say, “Knowing the king, he will not allow that to happen.”

“Then what will happen? Will he call off the challenge then?” Eli asks.

“I have no idea. All I know is that he has invested so much time into this whole thing already. Calling the challenge off would be stupid,” Reece argues.

“Maybe Emily will just have to choose who she wants to marry amongst the four of us. I think she would pick Reece if that would be the case,” Tristan teases.

Reece picks up a napkin and crumbles it before throwing it at Tristan. “Why would she choose me?”

“Because you are sooo cute–cute enough to eat. Be careful though, she might just literally eat you. That woman is evil, and I wouldn’t put cannibalism past her,” Tristan states.

We all laugh at this, but Reece doesn’t seem to like being the butt of the joke. “I would rather jump off the nearest roof if she chooses me,” I throw in.

“You are going to be a father, Reece. How can you be planning to go AWOL on your baby already? Some baby daddy you’ll be,” Tristan utters.

“Maybe she will choose you, Tristan. She looks like the kind of girl who enjoys a bit of ‘S and M.’ Agh, look at that. The two of you have something in common,” Reece pushes back.

“Hell, no! I would never marry that witch even if she was the last woman on earth. I would rather be eaten alive by piranhas. Besides, I am already taken,” Tristan says and winks at Rose. She in turn gives him a sweet smile that melts my heart. I realize then that I really miss her.

“We are all taken. The king will have to find another way to break the tie,” I declare.

“You do realize whatever method he comes up with to solve this whole thing will still mean one of us will have to marry Emily?” Eli points out.

“I don’t want to be the unlucky bastard. What would happen to the three of us who will end up not having the displeasure of being Emily’s forever after?” Reece asks.

I shrug. “As long as we get to keep our children and Rose, I am fine with that.”

“Y’all are idiots. The four of you might contend about keeping each of your children, but how do you think Rose feels?” Kelly asks.

We all turn and look at her. We exchange confused glances as she seems very irate, yet we all seem perplexed as to why.

“We don’t mean any disrespect to Rose. I mean, what did we say that is wrong? We all love Rose and don’t wish to be with any other person but her. What has gotten your thong in a fancy bow, my lady?” Tristan blurts out.

Kelly groans, reaches down, takes off her sandal, and throws it at him. I marvel at the way she aims as it would have hit him square on the mouth had he not moved slightly at the last second.

“You are such a jerk! I mean you would be okay keeping each of your children because all you have to lose is one child. Rose is the mother of all four; losing even one of those children will destroy her.”

My heart races as I now understand why Rose is looking the way she does today. This is, granted, a celebratory moment, but for Rose, the pending notion of having to give up even one of her children to Emily is unimaginable.

I move forward and crouch in front of her. “You do know we will do all we can so that you don’t lose any of your children?” I reassure her.

She looks at me, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears; they are laced with unmasked pain and fear of the uncertain future. I search the vocabulary in my head to try and find the right words to assure her of our loyalty to her and the children, but my word bank seems empty. I look up at the other three for help.

“Little flower, I will die before I let anyone take those children from you,” Tristan confirms.

A tear rolls down her rosy cheek. I reach out to wipe it, and the sight of her tears undoes me.

“We will all fight to ensure you aren’t separated from the children,” Tristan continues.

“Will I be separated from any of you?” she asks in an almost whisper as her eyes dart to each of us in succession.

“As for me, it will take more than Kelly’s impeccable aim with her shoe to separate me from you,” Tristan announces and crouches beside me.

“I don’t think you will get rid of any of us that easily, baby,” I assure her, and the other men nod and hum their agreement.

“Even if she gives birth to four fish, right?” Kelly says. Rose sniffles and laughs. I look at Rose, wondering what this whole fish thing is about.

“I love you,” Eli declares and sits on the couch’s armrest next to Rose.

“Promise?” Rose asks.

“Promise!” Eli says proudly and picks up her hand before kissing the back of it.

“Everyone who loves Rose, say ‘Aye’!” Tristan shouts.

“Aye!” we all chorus.

“Aye,” Kelly shouts and leans over to give Rose a side hug.

“You promise your feelings for me won’t change? Even if the babies can’t shift into wolves? What if they shift into squirrels?” she ponders aloud.

“The chances of that happening are very slim, but I know we will love you and them either way. Even if they shift into Chihuahuas,” I tease and she beams down at me.

I lean over and nuzzle her nose with my own. “We got you, baby.”

“Thank you,” she says, and I can hear her exhale ever so softly.

“Would any of you care for a snack? To show your support for the mother of your children, how do pickles and peanut butter sound?” Kelly asks.

We all give her hard stares. I wasn’t about to eat that foul food combination before and can’t do it now.

“Nope, I’m full.” Eli is the first to respond. We all start coming up with one excuse or the other about why we can’t eat the offered snack.

“You do know it’s because of y’all’s babies the poor girl is eating that? The least you could do is show your support,” Kelly declares.

“I think I am allergic to peanuts,” Eli exclaims.

“No, you’re not, brother,” she challenges.

“Shh!” Reece says.

“You aren’t getting out of this that easily,” Kelly scolds.

“No, it’s not that. I think there is someone at the door.”

We all get quiet so we can hear. The sound of shallow breathing and then faint rustling just outside the door hits our ears. It seems someone has been eavesdropping on our conversation.

I jump to my feet and head for the door. I storm into the hallway and see Emily’s hastily retreating form. The witch!

Without a second thought, I follow her. I think it’s time I had a word with ‘Queen Grimhilde.’