LOGINWe ate together. Talked about things that weren't pregnancy-related. About books she'd been reading. About pack politics I was learning. About Uncle Cas's latest coven drama. Normal conversation between mates instead of constant medical discussions. And Rose—Rose relaxed. Laughed. Looked like hers
The Rejected Mate Nate pov Rose was four months pregnant now, and I could see the toll it was taking on her. Not just physically—though the baby bump was prominent now, making movement difficult and sleep nearly impossible. But emotionally. Mentally. She'd been so down lately. Crying over smal
"What?" "You're being too hard on yourself. Holding yourself to impossible standards. Expecting to maintain pre-pregnancy capabilities while your body is literally creating new life." He paused. "Rose, pregnancy is hard. Hybrid pregnancy is harder. You're allowed to struggle. Allowed to need help.
"But your responsibilities—" "Are being handled by Victoria and my other lieutenants. Rose, I'm delegating. Prioritizing. Choosing to spend time with family instead of buried in coven politics. That's—that's not sacrifice. That's choice." From the kitchen, I could hear Nate cooking. Smell food t
The Rejected Mate Rose pov I sat on the couch staring at my shoes with tears streaming down my face. They were just shoes. Simple slip-on sneakers that should have been easy to put on. Except my stomach—my small but definitely present baby bump—was in the way. I couldn't bend far enough to rea
Uncle Cas appeared. Carrying medical supplies and looking concerned. "Rose, I heard you're having a difficult day. I brought pain medication—vampire-safe, pregnancy-approved. And—" He paused. "And some information about hybrid pregnancies you should know." "What information?" Dread settled in my s
"And Vanessa?" I had to know. "Do you still have feelings for her?" "No." His answer was immediate, certain. "What I felt for Vanessa—it wasn't love. It was familiarity. Comfort. A fantasy I'd built up over years that had nothing to do with reality. When she showed her true nature, when she hired
"You don't," I admitted. "You can't know for sure. That's what makes trust so hard—it requires a leap of faith. But Emma, I can tell you what's different now." "Tell me." "Before, I took you for granted. Thought the mate bond meant you'd always be there no matter what I did. I didn't value what
My Cheating Mate Emma pov Three weeks. Jeremy had been unconscious for three weeks, and I'd spent nearly every day sitting beside his hospital bed. The nurses knew me by name now. They'd stopped questioning why the ex-mate who'd been so publicly wronged kept showing up with books to read aloud
I was slowing down. Losing too much blood. These rogues were fresh, trained, organized. And I was alone. The large rogue lunged again. I tried to dodge but my injured leg gave out. His jaws closed around my shoulder, shaking violently. Through the pain, through the blood and chaos, I saw Vanes







