All Chapters of I Rejected My Mate To Protect The Pack: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

First Blood Mickey pov The attack came at dawn, when the city was still wrapped in the quiet hush that preceded the morning rush. I had been in the kitchen making coffee, enjoying the domestic peace of our first week as fully mated partners, when every supernatural sense I possessed suddenly screamed danger. "Lily, get down!" I roared, diving toward the living room just as the first sniper's bullet shattered the window where she'd been sitting moments before. Glass exploded inward like deadly rain, and Lily hit the floor hard, My body covering hers as more shots followed. Through our bond, I felt her terror spike, but underneath it was something new—a fierce determination that hadn't been there before our mating. "How many?" I asked, my voice steady despite the chaos. My enhanced hearing picked up movement on multiple sides of the building. "At least six. Professional shooters by the spacing and coordination." My eyes began to glow as my wolf surged forward. "They're using

Precious Cargo Lily pov The search for Sarah Martinez had been going on for eighteen hours when I first noticed the change. I had been poring over warehouse blueprints with Elena when a wave of nausea hit me so suddenly that I had to bolt for the bathroom. "Lily?" Elena called after me, concern evident in her voice. "You okay?" I emerged a few minutes later, pale but trying to smile. "Just stress, I think. This whole situation with Sophia, the hostage..." I trailed off, one hand unconsciously moving to my stomach. Elena, who had been part of Mickey's pack for over a decade, tilted her head and studied me with the enhanced senses all werewolves possessed. Her eyes widened suddenly. "Lily," she said carefully, "when was your last cycle?" The question hit me like a thunderbolt. I had been so focused on the threats, the attack, the ongoing crisis that I hadn't even thought... But now that Elena mentioned it, I was late. Very late. "Oh God," I whispered, sinking into the nea

The Weight of Guilt Lily pov I woke to the gentle afternoon light filtering through our bedroom curtains and the familiar scent of Mickey's cologne on the pillow beside me. For a moment, I felt peaceful, protected by the warmth of our bed and the steady pulse of our mating bond. Then memory crashed back like a cold wave. The warehouse. Sarah Martinez. The convoy of reinforcements bearing down on them. My own body betraying me at the worst possible moment, consciousness slipping away just when Mickey needed me to be strong. I sat up too quickly, my head spinning as I tried to orient myself. The last thing I remembered was calling Mickey's name as darkness closed in around me. Now I was home, safe in our bedroom, wearing one of Mickey's t-shirts instead of the tactical gear I had been dressed in. "Easy, little one." Mickey's voice came from the doorway, gentle but strained. He crossed to the bed in quick strides, his hands immediately checking my pulse, my temperature, his en

Guardian's Vigil Mickey pov The clock on the nightstand read 2:47 AM, but I remained wide awake, propped against the headboard with Lily curled trustingly against my side. Her breathing was deep and even, the exhaustion of the day's events having finally claimed her despite the lingering stress of Sophia's escalating threats. My enhanced vision allowed me to see her clearly even in the dim moonlight filtering through our curtains. One of her hands rested peacefully on my chest, while the other had fallen to rest protectively over her stomach—a gesture that had become unconscious since learning of the pregnancy. My golden eyes tracked the gentle rise and fall of her abdomen with each breath. To most observers, there would be nothing different about her appearance. But my supernatural senses picked up the subtle changes that marked the beginning of our child's development—the slight alteration in her scent, the faint but unmistakable second heartbeat that called to my paternal i

Heartbeats and Threats Mickey pov Three days after the possible sighting, I found myself pacing our living room with an energy that had nothing to do with security concerns. Lily was napping in our bedroom, exhausted by another morning of intense food cravings and the increasing demands her pregnancy was placing on her body. "Elena," I said suddenly, turning to my pack member who was monitoring surveillance feeds from our couch. "I have a favor to ask." Elena looked up from her laptop, noting the unusual tension in her Alpha's posture. "Whatever you need." "You still have access to portable medical equipment from your EMT training, right?" "Of course. Why?" Elena's eyes sharpened with concern. "Is Lily experiencing complications? Should we call Dr. Martinez?" "No, nothing like that. It's just..." I ran a hand through my hair, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. "I want to see our pup. Really see them. And with Sophia still out there, I'm not comfortable taking Lily t