All Chapters of Worthless to Priceless: The Alpha's Rejected Mate : Chapter 201 - Chapter 210

~Amelia~I was still on the living room floor, curled in Kaden’s lap, when the cramps finally started to fade. My breathing had slowed, but every inhale felt shaky, like my lungs didn’t trust the air yet. Kaden kept rubbing slow circles on my back, murmuring the same things over and over: “You’re okay. Baby’s okay. I’m right here.” I wanted to believe him. I really did.He carried me upstairs. He set me on the bed gently, pulled the covers up, and tucked them around me like I was made of paper. “Stay put,” he said, brushing hair off my forehead. “I’m gonna shower quick. Then I’m not leaving this room.”I nodded. “Okay.”He kissed my temple and disappeared into the bathroom. The door clicked shut. Water started running.Staring at my belly, I whispered, “I’m sorry I scared you. Daddy’s going to make sure nothing bad happens again.”The door opened again. His mother stepped in carrying a tray. Tea mug steaming, a heating pad already plugged in, a small bowl of cut apples and grapes, a

~Amelia~Kaden’s mom showed up at our door around noon with this determined look, like she’d already decided everything and nobody could go against her words.“I’m throwing a little thing for you this afternoon,” she said, not really asking. “Just some of the girls from the pack. Pregnant ones, new moms, a couple who’ve done this a million times. They’ll bring snacks, share tips, whatever. You need to start feeling like you actually belong here instead of hiding in this room all day.”I blinked at her, still in Kaden’s hoodie that basically swallowed me. “I’m not hiding.”“You kind of are,” she cut in, raising one eyebrow. “And it’s not good for you or the baby. Two hours. Garden patio. I already told everyone. Wear something cute.”She turned and left before I could even say no.Kaden looked at me after the door clicked shut. “You don’t have to go if you’re not up for it. Morning sickness is still kicking your ass.”I rubbed my stomach even though there was still no real bump, just th

~Amelia~Kaden woke me up early with coffee and a duffel bag already packed on the bed."We're getting out of here for a day," he said. "Just you and me. Pack a few things if you want, but I've got most of it covered. I need you to actually breathe for once."I sat up, rubbing sleep out of my eyes. "Where are we going?"He gave me that half-smile, the one that meant trouble in the best way. "It's a surprise. You'll see when we get there. Drink. Get dressed. We leave in twenty."Now I was more curious than ever. I threw on a short and his big shirt because I wanted to be comfortable. When I got downstairs his mom was waiting by the front door, arms crossed."Don't stay away too long," she said, looking straight at me. "And don't bewitch my son so he forgets to come back to his own pack."Kaden stopped in the doorway and gave her a hard stare. "Mom. Not today. She needs this. You don't get to make her feel guilty for wanting one day of peace."His mom huffed but didn't push it. She just

~Amelia~Kaden came back forty minutes later.I knew it was him before the door opened, the way Caleb's posture changed at the window, going from alert to just watchful. I was still on the floor with my back against the wall, knees pulled up, and I didn't move until the broken door scraped open and Kaden stepped through it.He was empty-handed.He'd shifted back already but he looked like something had chewed through him on the way, a cut running across his forearm, dried blood at his temple, a bruise already forming along his jaw. He didn't look at me right away. He looked at the floor, then the fireplace, then he walked past me to the kitchen sink and turned the cold water on.I got up. "You're bleeding.""I'm fine.""Your arm says otherwise."He didn't respond to that. Just stood with his forearm under the water, watching the blood rinse off, jaw tight. Caleb came in behind him and gave me a look over Kaden's shoulder, the kind that said let me get out of your way first. He set his

~Amelia~I changed outfits twice.The first was a flowy top and jeans, which I put on and then immediately took off because the top kept riding up over my bump and the last thing I needed was to walk into a pack meeting looking like I was about to ask someone to touch it. The second was a black wrap dress that was technically flattering but made me feel like I was trying too hard, so I stood in front of the mirror for a full two minutes pulling at the hem before I finally went back to the green dress I'd had hanging on the door the whole time.I turned sideways. My belly was noticeable now, not just to me, not that thing where you're convinced people can see it but you're not sure. It was actually there. Anyone who looked would know.Kaden appeared in the doorway behind me, already dressed, jacket on, looking like he'd spent approximately four minutes getting ready. He looked at me. Then at the pile of rejected clothes on the bed."I don't want everyone staring at my stomach," I answe