KeileighBack in the safety of the bedroom I had grown used to staying in, I began to think again, my thoughts the only company I had at the moment.The velvet bag sat on the vanity table, waiting for me to open it. I stared at it for a long time before forcing myself to look away.“This is just so complicated,” I whispered out loud, feeling the pressure around me tighten.First the two Alphas had brought me trouble and conflicted emotions, especially Ryker. Now Roman.My own childhood best friend… had confessed his feelings for me.And… what did I feel about it? What COULD I feel about it, when I didn’t know if I could ever love or trust anyone romantically ever again.A voice proclaimed in my head lid and clear, ’But this was ROMAN we’re talking about. Not some other guy who you don’t know from a young age. Roman has always brought you comfort and you never had a reason to not trust him, right?’I closed my eyes briefly and let out a deep sigh. Opening them, my eyes were drawn once
Ryker“She’s here, Alpha Ryker.”The maid that had announced Keliegh’s arrival left just as quickly with a bow as I nodded at her. I saw Keileigh step in through the door looking around in wonder. She lad likely not been in this part of the mansion before and it pleased me to be the first one to show it to her.My eyes flitted over her body briefly - she looked absolutely radiant to say the least. But my wonder was quickly accompanied with disappointment as soon as I noticed she wore a simple silver necklace to go with the dress.I thought of the gold jewelry I had picked out for her and wondered if she hadn’t liked it after all. Had she just been acting to be nice when she let me get it for her?I masked my emotions with a smile and reached out my hand to her as our eyes met.“I hope you had a good rest,” I said to her, taking her small delicate hand and leading her to the table where a feast lay for us to eat.The mate bond that we shared burned brighter in my chest more than ever.I
KeileighI avoided Alpha Ryker the next morning, and stayed in the room the entire time.Kara must have figured out that I hadn’t had breakfast because she arrived in my bedroom sometime after breakfast was normally served, with a maid carrying a tray of food for me.Even as the older woman stayed for the entire duration of my eating, ordering the maid around to clean, she didn’t give me any news from Alpha Ryker to my surprise.Had he really… forgotten about me already? Or had he been hurt by the way I had practically brushed him off the last part of the dinner?I felt guilty once again - an emotion that seemed to always accompany me every time I pushed Aloha Ryker away.But I couldn’t help it, I tried to defend my actions of the previous night.I had been overwhelmed. I didn’t know what to do then. It was all so confusing to be in the same room as Alpha Ryker because he made me feel like he cared when I knew… I just knew that he actually didn’t.I let out a sigh as Kara left with th
Ryker“How is she?”I aimed my question at Kara. Having returned from an early morning training and attended to pack duties later that morning, I could finally have space to think about the most prominent subject on my mind. Ergo, Keileigh, my one and only mate.She hadn’t come for breakfast this morning, and I didn’t feel the need to push her. Yet that didn’t remove my worry for her from my mind. The way she acted hot and cold sometimes was very confusing, and her mood had switched during dinner, leaving me wondering what exactly I had done wrong.I had never needed to think about any woman the way she plagued my thoughts endlessly.“She’s had breakfast,” Kara replied to me, and I could tell she had questions on her mind. She was always a curious person and wiser than many assumed a maid was.However the question I was sure she would ask was one I had no answer for just yet.What was wrong with Keileigh? I didn’t know.I nodded to her.“Keep an eye on her,” I instructed her. “If she w
22Chapter 29: Seeds of DistrustKeileighI could relax a little after Alpha Ryker’s words but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel awkward.How did he find out I was pregnant?It wasn’t hard to connect the dots; Roman was the only soul I had told about this.I was almost afraid to ask but I had to.Alpha Ryker let out a sigh which almost sounded resigned to my ears, and he said, “Keileigh, cannot lie to you. I did tell Roman to spy on you.”Hearing that solidified a feeling inside me and I didn’t like it. It was unease, and now I was wondering about all my interactions with Roman.“However,” Ryker continued with certainty in his voice. “I only did that because I wished to know more about you. I don’t regret that I had to resort to those methods.”I didn’t know what to say and could only nod.At least he was honest, I thought. Roman hadn’t been honest about being a spy on Ryker’s behalf.Of all the things I expected to be confronted with this morning, my pregnancy wasn’t one of them.“Thank
RykerHe could sense the weariness in his mate’s voice and felt bad for her. He HAD confronted her over a secret that she kept from him, but she must have done so to protect herself from any horrible reactions.He reached out to cil her cheek and her e yes s flickered to meet his. She looked fragile, like he would break her if he put too much pressure under his grip.“Why would I be angry when another man deceived you?” He asked her. “You don’t have to worry about that at all, Keiliegh. Trust in me a little, alright?”She swallowed, and nodded in response. I could still see uncertainty in her eyes.I reckoned it must have been a hard thing for her to trust in anyone, and a part of me wanted to know the full story behind it. The man that had got her pregnant, had he hurt her somehow?My mind was filled with various thoughts all linked to the one thing that Roman could tell me. If only I knew the identity of the man, perhaps I wouldn’t feel this burning curiosity.I dropped my hand, and
ArnoldI grit my teeth at Ryker’s response to my goading hum.“That girl isn’t deserving of my time, or energy at all,” I all but spat at my twin brother who still looked quite tense. “If you must know, Selene had been quite upset about you not coming to eat breakfast or dinner with us. And you aren’t even making an effort to spend time with her.”“And?” He sounded so fucking biase about the situation, and he ran his hand through his hair with a sigh. “Do I look like I care what Selene feels? In the same way you don’t have time or energy to spend on Keileigh, the same can be said for me even thinking about Selene right now.”“Well, I care even if you don’t,” I growled at him. “And I will NOT take no for an answer brother. I already asked Kara and she told me that the girl is already having her dinner in her room. This means you have no choice but to join us.”Ryker sighed again,poking exasperated to say the least. I could tell he was probably trying to think of an excuse.But before
Chapter 32Ryker:The way to Dane’s cottage on the outskirts of the pack was quiet and filled with nothing but the sounds of nature. I had chosen now, when it was dark and silent, to come here because I didn’t want anyone to find out I was here in the first place.As I neared the small cottage I heard a soft sound of a woman singing, and a baby’s cry.A smirk tilted my lips up as I approached the cottage, and deliberately let my feet make as much noise as possible.Soon, I knew he would come out to see who it was disturbing his family’s peace.And true to my predictions, he did that. I spotted the dark silhouette of the man in the porch, stepping out from the cottage and meeting me halfway before stopping, as he recognized me.“Alpha,” the gravelly voice of Dane met my ears and he bowed deeply.“At ease,” I ordered the former warrior. His cane supported his weight and he looked every bit as harmless as a regular elderly man, but I knew he was once the most powerful warrior who helped