Chapter 45

Adam

Alyssa has been acting strangely lately and I'm worried about her. My mate has been ill frequently, throwing up and lacking energy. She's also been avoiding me intimately, claiming she's too tired or not in the mood. But her secrecy and excuses don't add up. I know Alyssa better than anyone, and I can tell when she's hiding something from me.

Concerned for her health and frustrated with being shut out, I confront Alyssa today determined to get the truth from her one way or another. I find her in our chamber, laying in bed and looking rather ill again.

"Alyssa, we need to talk," I say, sitting beside her on the bed. She looks up at me apprehensively but nods, forcing herself to sit up.

"What's going on with you?" I ask. "And don't say it's just the flu or pressures of being guardian again. I know there's more you're not telling me. We're mates - we're supposed to share everything with each other. So please, just be honest. What's troubling you?"

Alyssa bites her lip, dropping her