#Chapter 4: By His Side

Third Person POV

"You shouldn't have hurt our mate. What is wrong with you?"

Kade's wolf, Ghost, had just confirmed what Kade had been suspecting for five years: Samantha, the girl who had caused his parents to die and his sister to go mad from the brutal rape she'd endured, was his mate.

Of course, Kade had wondered on many occasions before if Samantha was his mate. He could never sense her wolf, but sometimes, during those nights when he brought her to his bedroom…

He couldn't help but feel a deep and profound connection to her despite his hatred.

On more than one occasion, he had even wondered if the reason why he kept calling her to his room—and why she always came, even if they loathed one another—was because she was his mate.

But he had never been absolutely certain. Not until now, at least.

Not until he scented her wolf for the briefest of moments, sensing both their mate bond and the pup she carried within her.

Samantha was Kade's mate. And she was pregnant.

It should have been a joyous occasion for any wolf, especially an Alpha that still had no Luna or heir, but all Kade felt was festering, bitter hatred for her. Samantha had ruined his life. Now his parents dead and his beloved sister broken.

The once intelligent, beautiful girl he'd called his sister was now a shell of her former self who could barely string two coherent sentences together without having a meltdown. Her episodes sometimes lasted for days—thrashing and screaming and hallucinating about the men who had broken her.

And it was all Samantha's fault.

Kade despised his mate with a burning passion. And yet, seeing the look of despair in her eyes as she stared up at him was unbearable. Kade didn't want to protect her, but he also couldn't help but notice the sudden urge not to hurt her.

"You must protect the child, if not her," Ghost insisted. "Put aside your hatred for one moment, Kade, and do what's right."

What's right.

What was "right" felt like throwing her into the cells right now and letting her rot down there for hiding so much from him. She really thought she could slip away without him ever knowing that she'd kept their bond and their child secret? What else did she have planned?

But Ghost was right; Kade couldn't let his pup suffer because of its mother's sins.

Internally, Kade felt a tide of panic threatening to overwhelm him. But he controlled his voice as he said, "It's no matter. I know the truth now." He dropped to a crouch beside Samantha, who shivered and scooched backwards until her spine hit the wall. "And now that you're pregnant, you belong to me. I wasn't going to let you go before, but I especially won't now."

Samatha's mouth parted wordlessly. The look in those blue eyes of hers was equal parts horror and resignation.

Kade slowly stood and turned to his Beta. "Take her to the doctor at once."

And without another word, he stormed out of the room.

…

"Mom…? Dad? Alpha Kade just pulled in."

Serena pointed at the sleek black car that had just parked in the driveway, and her parents came running. Indeed, Kade climbed out and began walking up the path with short, quick strides.

Serena's heart thudded as she rushed to the foyer and briefly smoothed her hair down in the hallway mirror before flinging the door open.

"Alpha Kade!" Serena trilled, smiling warmly. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Kade's expression was cold and calculated. Serena resisted the temptation to twist her hands nervously as she stood in front of the Alpha who was both terrifying and incredibly handsome. That square jawline covered in dark stubble ticked as he looked at her.

"I need to speak with your parents," he said gruffly.

Before Serena could reply, her parents appeared behind her. "Alpha Kade," her father said, bowing respectfully. "Please, come in. Margaret, why don't you go prepare some tea—"

"No need." Kade seemed to have no intention of setting foot in the house. "I just found out that your daughter is pregnant."

Serena and her family went utterly silent. Samantha was… pregnant? Surely it couldn't be Kade's child—Kade would never—

"Apparently it's mine," Kade went on as if reading their minds.

A wave of jealousy washed over Serena so intense that it nearly made her knees buckle out from under her. Kade and Samantha had slept together. For how long had this been going on? They didn't love each other, did they?

Samantha and Kade might be friends when they were kids, which made Serena jealous of Samantha, but Kade should've hated Samantha now after what happened five years ago.

Serena had always heard of Kade as becoming an aggressive and ruthless Alpha after what happened five years ago, not the type to make sweet love to anyone—especially not Samantha. And yet Serena had seen the way Kade looked at her in his office.

He'd looked at Samantha like he actually cared, even if only for a moment. It almost seemed as if the brutal, cold Alpha exterior was starting to crack and reveal something soft and tender underneath.

And now Serena wanted him all to herself even more.

Margaret immediately stepped forward and touched her husband's arm. "Jack, if I might have a word…?"

Serena's father nodded, and Kade agreed to wait on the porch while they spoke in private. Behind the closed door, Jack whirled on Margaret. "Is it really his?"

Margaret furrowed her brow. "I guess so. But Samantha—"

"If it's true, then Samantha probably became pregnant against her own will," Serena blurted out, turning to her parents. "She shouldn't be around him. It's not safe for her or the baby."

Jack's throat bobbed. "But he already threatened to remove Stoneridge from his protection. Our pack is small, and with all the rogues out there, we need Crescent Hollow. If we take Samantha back, then we'll all be doomed."

"Then send me in her place. If he really wants an heir, I can give birth to his child instead," Serena straightened with a cool smile, even though her mind was racing.

Serena's parents' eyes went wide. "No, honey, you can't—" her mother began, but Serena cut her off with an award-winning grin. The same grin that always got her whatever she wanted.

"I'll be fine, Mom. Kade told us the slave punishment is over. Besides," she assured her, "you know I've always had more charm than Samantha ever had. I'll win Kade over in no time and you won't need to worry about me. Plus you can bring Samantha home and get the care for her that she needs."

Margaret and Jack exchanged wary looks. But finally, after a long moment, Jack nodded. "I think it's worth a try. Besides, Samantha has always been a fuck-up. This pregnancy will only make matters worse."

Margaret wrung her hands, considering. "I just won't want her or her child to be unsafe…" She glanced at Serena. "But I don't want you to get hurt, either, darling."

"Like I said, I'll be alright. In fact, I'll have Kade wrapped around my little finger before you know it. Just let me talk to him."

Margaret still looked uncertain, but finally agreed. When they opened the door, Kade was still standing on the front steps with his arms folded over his chest. Just the sight of those enormous biceps bulging beneath his shirt was enough to make Serena's mouth water.

To think that soon, he would be hers… All she had to do was play her cards right.

"Margaret just told me something," Jack began hesitantly, glancing at his wife. "I wasn't aware of this, but apparently Samantha told Margaret this morning that she was pregnant with another male's child—that she's been seeing someone in Crescent Hollow for some time."

Kade's face blackened.

"Due to her betrayal, we think it's best if we take her back," Margaret said.

Serena beamed and stepped forward. "But if you're willing, Alpha Kade, I'll take her place. Let me become your Luna—your mate. And I swear I'll bear as many children as you desire…"

But Kade wasn't listening. He was already turning and bolting down the stairs and back to his car, ignoring Serena and her family's words.

All Serena and her parents could do was stare in shock as he peeled out of the driveway with a screech of tires.