Halfway through the meal, Mia stood up.
"I have an announcement," she said, her voice shaking with excitement.
Everyone turned to look at her. James was beaming, pride burning in his eyes.
"I'm pregnant," Mia said softly.
My mother gasped, jumping up to hug her. "Oh, sweetheart! That's wonderful!"
My father grinned. "Congratulations, Mia."
"Who's the father?" I asked quietly.
The room went silent.
Mia's eyes widened. "What?"
"I asked who the father is," I repeated. "You don't have a mate that I know of. So who got you pregnant?"
"Olivia!" my mother snapped. "How dare you—"
"It's a reasonable question," I said calmly.
Mia's eyes filled with tears. "I... I was seeing someone secretly. He died in a rogue attack a few months ago. This pup is all I have left of him."
The lie rolled off her tongue so easily.
I glanced between my father and my mother. They looked very uncomfortable, avoiding my eyes.
And that's when it clicked.
They knew.
They all knew whose pup it was.
My own parents knew my mate was having an affair with my sister, and they were celebrating it.
"I'm sorry for your loss," I said flatly. "Congratulations on the pup."
James cleared his throat. "As I mentioned earlier, I'm hosting a celebration gathering this Saturday. A big one. All my business partners, investors, other alpha allies, and the Alpha Council will be there to celebrate this wonderful news."
My mother clapped her hands together. "How exciting! Mia, you'll need a new dress—"
"Already ordered," James said with a smile. "Only the best for... for Mia."
He had almost said something else. I saw him catch himself.
"Olivia, you'll need something appropriate too," my mother said, eyeing my black dress with distaste. "Something that shows celebration."
"I have plenty of dresses," I said quietly.
"Nothing suitable for a celebration," she countered. "Tomorrow, you and I will go shopping."
"I would rather spend tomorrow at the clinic with Alice."
My mother's expression hardened. "Olivia, that woman is dying. There's nothing you can do for her. But you can support your sister during this happy time."
That woman. Not even your foster mother. Just that woman.
"If you'll excuse me," I said, standing to my feet. "I'm not feeling well. I'm going to bed."
"Olivia, sit down," James said sharply, his alpha command pressing down on me..
"No." I growled out.
"I said sit down!" His eyes flashed gold briefly, his wolf surfacing.