Claimed by My Alpha Best Friends: A Surprise Pregnancy

At seven in the morning, Ella was awake before the alarm. She got up quietly, pausing by the children’s room on her way.

“Liam, Noah, Olivia, time to get up.”

“Five more minutes, Mom…” Her eldest, Liam, buried his face in the pillow.

“I dreamt about a unicorn!” Her daughter Olivia sat up, eyes sparkling.

Her youngest, Noah, was already smiling, his eyelashes fluttering.

Twenty minutes later, the kitchen smelled of toast.

“Mom, I drew a super spaceship!”

“Pass the jam!”

“I had it first!”

“Half each,” Ella expertly buttered the slices. “Aunt Lily is picking you up from school today. Mommy has to prepare the flowers for a wedding.”

“A real bride? Does she wear a white dress?”

“A very pretty white dress.”

“Can I go see?”

“Next time. Right now, get your backpacks.”

After dropping the kids off, Ella pushed open the door to Ella’s Garden. The bell chimed softly, and the scent of flowers enveloped her.

“Welcome. Please look around.”

“Ella, are my carnations ready?”

“Good morning, Mrs. White. All wrapped up.”

“The mint looks good. I’ll take two pots.”

“Mark, your basil from last week needs trimming.”

“These daisies… could we add something?”

“What about pairing them with freesia? The pale pink would go nicely.”

“Perfect!”

The phone rang at noon.

Ms. Blake? Is everything alright with the kids?”

“Just wanted to let you know Noah made a wonderful little house in crafts today. Said it’s for his hardworking mom. And Olivia has invited the whole class to the flower shop this weekend…”

“Yes, I know. You’re welcome to come too.”

“It’s truly amazing, managing all alone with three children.”

“They are my greatest joy.”

At three in the afternoon, the bell chimed again.

Ella, her back to the door, trimmed roses. “Welcome. Please look around.”

No response.

Only a heavy silence, and a suffocating pressure.

She turned around.

Three men stood in the doorway. After five years, she recognized them in an instant.

Ronan stood in the center, in a deep gray suit, his eyes like frozen lakes. Julian was on the right, blond, in a khaki trench coat, the corner of his mouth lifted in that familiar, faintly mocking curve. Caleb was on the left, in a black leather jacket, head bowed.

“Ella.” Ronan spoke first.

“Long time no see,” Julian said, his gaze sweeping the small shop. “Quaint.”

Caleb said nothing.

Ella’s hand moved to her stomach—even though it had been flat for years.

“This shop doesn’t cater to groups,” her voice was icy. “If you’re not buying flowers, please leave.”

“We need to talk.” Ronan took a step forward.

“I have nothing to say to you.” Ella retreated behind the counter. “Not five years ago, and not now. Get out.”

“It’s about the children,” Ronan said.

Ella’s breath hitched.

“We found out last week,” Julian said leisurely. “Caleb’s company is working on the children’s hospital project. He saw your name on the donor list. Taking three kids to the pediatric ward every month… how touching.”

“I didn’t mean to…” Caleb’s voice was faint.

“But you looked me up anyway,” Ella stared at him.

“We have a right to know,” Ronan said. “They’re our children.”

“They are not,” Ella’s voice came out through gritted teeth. “They’re mine. Mine alone.”

“Biologically speaking—”

“Biology means nothing!” Her voice rose. “You provided sperm, then vanished for five years. That doesn’t make you fathers!”

“We had reasons,” Ronan remained calm. “Back then—”

“I don’t care,” Ella gave a cold laugh. “I don’t care about your reasons, or where you went. My children have a mother. They have each other. They don’t need fathers dropping from the sky.”

“But they need Alpha fathers,” Julian stepped forward, the scent of whiskey in his pheromones suddenly intensifying. “Especially when they present. Do you know what happens to an unpresented child without guidance? Do you know how society views an unmated Omega mother and her mixed-blood children?”

“What I know,” Ella said, each word measured, “is that for the past five years, when they had fevers, when Noah had an asthma attack, when they woke from nightmares, when they asked me why we didn’t have a dad—you weren’t here. Now that I’ve built a life, you want to swoop in and claim it? Dream on.”

She pointed at the door. “Get. Out.”

The three men didn’t move.

“We’re not here to fight,” Ronan’s tone softened, but the command in it remained. “We need to discuss visitation, financial support, legal documents—”

“The law?” Ella’s laugh was even colder. “You want to talk law? Fine. Five years ago. Three Alphas. One fully-bonded Omega, incapable of giving sober consent. Should I get a lawyer to reopen that case? Should I show a judge the medical records? Should I describe in court what happened that night?”

Dead silence.

Caleb’s face was ghostly pale. Julian’s expression was gone. Ronan’s throat worked.

“We…” Ronan began.

“Get out!” Ella roared, her thumb pressing a button on her phone. The screen lit up, displaying 911. “Now. Immediately.”

A standoff. Ten endless seconds.

Ronan gave a slight, curt nod, turned, and pushed the door open. Julian looked at her one last time, deeply, then followed.

Only Caleb remained. “I’m sorry,” he mouthed soundlessly, tears welling in his eyes. Then he, too, turned and left.

Ella rushed forward, grabbed the door handle, and slammed it shut.

BANG!

The sound echoed through the flower shop. She slid down with her back against the door, breathing hard, and hugged her knees. Tears hit the floor.

Don’t cry. You mustn’t cry.

She looked up at the mirror. The woman staring back was pale, eyes red-rimmed, but her jaw was clenched, her gaze fierce.

She stood, washed her face, and looked at the clock.

Four-twenty. The children would be home soon.

She had to smile. She had to make the world look whole again.

She took a deep breath, forced the corners of her mouth up at her reflection. The smile was stiff, but the fire in her eyes hadn’t died.

She turned, picked up the scissors, and went back to trimming the roses.

Snip. Snip. Snip.

Each cut was clean. Precise. Final.