All Chapters of The Counterfeit Mate: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Florence POV: Florence Is Pregnant I wake up much later to find Tony, Shawn, and Todd standing around my hospital bed.I slowly sit up, pushing my hair out of my face as the three of them crowd in closer."Hey," Tony says, searching my face. "How are you feeling?""Like a hole getting filled up," I mumble, my head woolie."That's a good thing, right, guys? Isn't it?" Todd asks. Shawn's eyebrows go up. "What's a good thing?""She said she feels like a hole getting filled," Todd explains innocently. "It's good, yes?"Tony gives him a deadpan look. "She's not talking about the kind of hole you have inside your head, Todd."Todd flushes bright red. He looks like he's love to swing at Tony. I chuckle weakly, shaking my head. "Tony, you do this to Todd all the time," I say through a mouth that feels thick. “Please stop.” "I hate him," Todd mutters under his breath. He walks over to a chair in the corner. He picks up a plastic Tupperware container. He brings it over to the bed, holding i

Florence POV: Is Lucio The Father of The Baby?Now, how do I play this without coming off like one of those girls?Lucio likes me. He’s expressed subtle overtures in the past, but I blew him off. I told him off in no uncertain terms. Yet now, my brothers and Susie are sitting out in the living room, watching every single move we make. Nobody has said a word, but the silence is packed with silent accusations.I clear my throat, trying to keep my voice light. "Beta Lucio, would you like some tea?"He gives me a little squinting look, as if searching my face for hidden motives, before giving me a casual shrug. "Yeah. Sure."He leans against the door to the kitchen, a faint, polite smile on his lips.As I turn on the tap and run cold water into a small copper kettle, my hands shake. "Is Jason okay? He left the hospital while I was still out cold.""Yeah, he's good," Lucio replies. "He actually asked me to come over and make sure you're doing alright. You know, with Penny back at the es

Florence POV: Penny Gets Parental Adjudication Over Florence It's two days later. Two excruciating days of suspenseful confusion.I've spent a chunk of that time staring blankly out at the fields of ripening corn, and the rest of it avoiding my family’s mournful stares.This morning, I'm preparing to appear before the pack council to answer for the supposed misdemeanor of hitting my stepmother.I stand in my bedroom, staring at the summons letter, frowning at the charge: “Misdemeanor of hitting your stepmother.”"Dad, but this isn't true!" I complain, walking out into the hallway toward my father. "I didn't even touch her!""That's what you get for being such a stubborn child," he grunts, brushing past me. "Now get dressed. I'm driving you."I fold the paper in my hands. "No. I'll take myself."My father gives me a stern look. "Listen to me, young lady—behave yourself. Now, when you appear before the council today, you must say nothing about him. Nothing about him whatsoever."I sigh

Florence POV: Penny Is Innocent Of Magic?I sit up quickly, my eyes open wide with questions. My mind is racing through a barrage of thoughts and possible reasons why Isobel is here. I can't find any reason why. The only thing I know for certain is that, much like myself, Isobel is playing a losing hand in the desperate war for Jason's heart. I had him first, lost him to Irene, and now Isobel is in the race, trying to claim whatever is left of his affection. It's completely insane, love. I walk into the bathroom, splash cold water on my face. My eyes are still ringed with red. I dry my face and dust a thin layer of powder over my cheeks to hide the tear stains. Then I head downstairs.As I reach the bottom of the steps, Tony gets up from the kitchen table where he's assembling a sandwich. "Are you going somewhere?""Relax, Tony," I say. "I'm not going to kill myself."He slumps back into his chair as I pass by.I pull open the front door and spot Isobel standing across the street.

Jason POV: Isobel Wants A BabyIt is seven o'clock, and a moonless night hangs above. It cloaks the world in ink-black shadows.It’s a blessing, really.I park the Bronco under the dark overhang of trees. I sit in the quiet cabin and look out over the lip of the quarry ten yards away. My hands are tight on the steering wheel, praying she will show up. Hoping that Florence will somehow understand why I had to say no to her friend Susie earlier today.Everything I'm doing right now is to protect her from Penny’s traps.Penny wants Florence banished from the pack at all costs. And she is ruthlessly leveraging the council, our laws, and every archaic pack protocol she can get her hands on. Penny is smart. Oddly enough, she hasn't cast any dark spells on me since the incident. Though I've been extremely cautious with Lucio's constant vigilance. Yeah, I don't quite believe Isobel's investigation. I step jump out of the Bronco. Cool night air hits my face as I look up the dark, silent road.