Chapter 5

Whispering erupted again.

The other pack members had obviously noticed Hunter’s familiar and protective treatment of Maya. And his coldness toward me.

I couldn’t believe it had been only days ago that I was worried about their speculations on my relationship with Hunter.

Elle caught my eye and stepped forward. I was sure she was about to challenge Hunter—to make some grand pronouncement about what I deserved and how I should be treated.

I shook my head imperceptibly in her direction.

There was no point in her getting into trouble. It wouldn’t make any difference.

I felt a bitter sting in my chest, like my heart was being encircled with barbed wire. Still, I said nothing.

I remained silent and straight-backed as we walked to Hunter’s car.

“Would you like the front seat?” Maya asked me quietly.

“Oh no, all yours,” I replied kindly. Being closer to Hunter would soothe her. I didn’t want her to be upset. Or intimidated by me.

The backseat was better for me anyway. I needed to collect my thoughts.

I leaned my head against the glass and closed my eyes.

Maya immediately started chatting about everything she was seeing. I didn’t open my eyes, but could imagine her bouncing in her seat and pointing out the windows as she spoke.

She was more naive than I realized; she asked question after question. It all reinforced my feelings that she was sweet and innocent, and that none of this was her fault.

What did surprise me were Hunter’s replies.

He was patient. He took in every word she said, answered every question.

I’d always known him to be quick, brusque, and decisive. If he understood the gist of what I was saying, he would often cut across me and respond without letting me finish.

His tone was always commanding.

The soft patience was jarring. With my eyes closed, I could almost imagine the voice was coming from someone besides my husband.

I smiled bitterly. I guessed I’d been wrong about the mate bond. I’d always underestimated its importance, written it off as an outdated or misguided belief. I’d judged everyone who took it so seriously.

But maybe there was something to it, if he was talking to her with such kindness.

A loud crash rent the world.

I jolted at the noise, then felt my body flung to the side as the car veered.

The sleek black body of a wolf had just leaped onto the windshield.

Rogues.

We were under attack.

My breath quickened and the top of my head went numb in panic as I watched them swarm around us, teeth baring and sinewy muscles rippling.

Hunter steadied and stopped the car, his jar clenched and expression deadly serious.

“Prepare to fight,” Hunter spat at me as he changed forms.

I did the same, though I didn’t know what he expected from me. I wasn’t trained in combat. I felt my body shift, a tingling amorphous feeling as my limbs lengthened, eyes narrowed, body became its powerful wolf form.

I could see, and hear, and smell more clearly.

My heightened senses only made it more terrifying as the rogues wrenched open the door.

Maya’s door.

They were all loping in her direction. Were they targeting her, specifically? And why?

She hadn’t changed forms--maybe didn’t even know how yet. I waited, certain that Hunter was going to leap across her and attack. Drive them off, like I knew he was capable of. I could barricade us in the car and protect Maya while he handled things.

Instead he pulled Maya tightly into his arms and slipped out the driver’s side.

He’d lost the element of surprise, not to mention the use of two of his powerful limbs for the fight as he cradled her in his arms.

I tensed and followed him out of the car as the rogues advanced menacingly around toward us.

At a silent signal, they attacked. Most of the huge wolves flew at Hunter. I saw him turn his back to them to protect Maya, their powerful claws carving deep cuts across his back.

But then one was advancing on me.

I froze.

He snarled as he lunged at me.

I rolled to the side, trying to remember my defense training.

But his next attack struck true.

I yelped, blinding pain cutting across my cheek and down my ribcage where his claws had found their mark.

I swerved to dodge his next blow, but then he was on me again. His eyes were narrowed and he let out a bark that was half-laugh as he struck me again. There was a blinding pain in my wrist.

I fell this time, my head finding the hard concrete of the ground. My eyes swam.

I looked up, expecting to see Hunter coming to help. Expecting him to notice me on the ground.

He was looking the opposite direction, still clutching Maya tightly in his arms, still fighting one handed.

Blood was streaming down his back.

Blood was streaming from my forehead into my eyes, compromising my vision.

But as quickly as it started, they were gone.

***

I held myself in half consciousness until we made it to the hospital, though I was in and out of awareness.

My mind railed against what had just happened. Why were they there? Why did they seem so focused on Maya? Was she okay? But why did Hunter hold her instead of fight? How did he fail to notice me struggling, being injured again and again?

I blinked my eyes open, looking across from the gurney they’d put me on. I could see Hunter past the hands of the doctors and nurses who were assessing my injuries.

He was standing at Maya’s bedside. A nurse was beside him, hand at his elbow, beckoning him to lie down. Blood still streamed down his naked torso.

“I don’t care who’s on call and who’s not,” he growled. “I want the best doctor for her. Get him. Now”

I closed my eyes and let myself slip under.

It’s not like Hunter would notice anyway.

The doctor Hunter had dismissed as second best was standing over me with a clipboard when I woke.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Okay, I think. My side, and my head—”

‘Yes, you have a minor concussion and some lacerations, but you were lucky. And you broke three ribs, but don’t worry. The baby will be fine.”

I blinked. I must have misheard.

“The what?”

“You’re pregnant,” the doctor said softly. “You didn’t know?”

“I’m not. It’s impossible.”

We always took precautions. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be.

“We can already see the shape of the fetus. And we ran additional tests. You’re pregnant, and we expect the pup to be fine.”

I couldn’t breathe.

Was it the injuries to my ribs, or the stunned shock radiating through my injured body? My injured, pregnant body.

I didn’t want this.

But the reasons I didn’t want it weren’t what I thought they would be.

I hadn’t thought I wanted to be a mother. It had never been something I yearned for.

But now, I didn’t want to be pregnant because of what might happen to the baby.

I remembered that section of the prenup well.

If I had a pup, it belonged to Hunter. Regardless of our situation. Regardless of where I was. If he was with Maya, I might not get to have any role in the child’s life.

I touched my stomach, gently. Could I feel something there?

Could I give my child to someone who didn’t love its mother?

My jaw clenched as I reached a decision.

I couldn’t.

And I wouldn’t.

Nobody needed to know about the pregnancy. I could hide it, and get the baby away. I had to.

I flinched as Hunter swept into the room.

“Pup?” He said immediately, deep frown lines across his scratched face.

I sat up straight in bed, pulling the covers up to my chest, shoulders tensing.

How much had he heard?