Hannah’s POVThe worry etched on his face softened as he offered me a gentle smile, one that reached his deep blue eyes, making them sparkle with warmth. His expression was so sincere that it momentarily melted the tension between us.“Hannah,” Xavier began, almost as if lost in thought, murmuring my name softly, like a chant. There was something mesmerizing about the way his deep voice wrapped around each syllable, making my name sound almost sacred.I hated to admit it, but there was a fluttering in my stomach—a knowing sensation I hadn't felt in a long time—just from hearing him say my name over and over again.He turned toward me, his eyes still holding that warm glint, and introduced himself. "I’m King Xavier Bonnet. But you can call me Xavier."The title hung in the air, heavy and imposing, but I didn’t react the way he seemed to expect. His smile faltered, his brow furrowing as a shadow of doubt crossed his face.He must have assumed I’d already heard the rumors about him—dark,
XAVIER’S POVPregnant? The word echoed in my head, a cruel, harsh reality that twisted my gut with disbelief. My breath hitched, and for a moment, I felt the world tilt around me.Pregnant. Hannah said she was pregnant. I struggled to process it, to believe that she could possibly be telling a lie. She was pregnant? It didn’t make sense.I knew my mate didn’t want me, but lying about being pregnant just to push me away? That seemed too cruel, even for her. A mix of confusion and anger bubbled up within me, threatening to spill over.“Pregnant?” My voice was barely above a whisper, laced with an incredulity even I could hear. I grabbed her arm before I could stop myself, pulling her closer.My eyes searched hers, desperate to find some glimmer of deceit in those wide, frightened depths. “What do you mean, pregnant?” My voice dropped, deadly low, as I tightened my grip.The tremor in her breath didn’t escape me as she swallowed, clearly trying to muster the strength to respond. “Let me
HANNAH’S POVMy body trembled as I crouched in the cold, damp corner of Xavier's bathroom, knees pulled tightly to my chest. The tiles beneath me were icy, soaking through my clothes, but I barely noticed. All I could think about was the way Xavier's eyes had blazed with anger, his voice like a whip cracking through the air. I had expected him to be upset, but not like this—not this raw, consuming fury.I wiped at the tears streaming down my face, my hands trembling. “What have I done?” The thought of him forcing me to abort the baby clawed at my insides. I pressed my hand to my stomach, as if I could somehow protect the tiny life growing inside me. The very idea of losing this child—my child, no matter who the father was—was unbearable.“Maybe I should have kept it a secret,” I thought, biting down on my lower lip to stop it from trembling. “Maybe I should have waited longer... until I was sure.” But it was too late now. The truth was out, and I was at Xavier’s mercy. I could only ho
HANNAH’S POVAs Xavier gently guided me back to the bedroom, emotions stormed inside me. His touch was soft, full of care—each movement speaking of concern. But beneath that tenderness, I sensed something more—a possessiveness that made my skin prickle with unease.I was grateful for his care, but the intensity he carried left me wary. When he tucked me into bed, his hand brushed mine, and a shock of electricity ran through me, leaving a flutter in my chest that I couldn't quite place.Was it fear? Attraction? The confusion fogged my mind, making it hard to think clearly. Before I could untangle the mess of emotions, Xavier's voice broke the silence."Sleep," he commanded, his eyes locking onto mine with fierce protectiveness. "Don't be afraid. I'll be watching over you, sweetheart."I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. Unease curled in my stomach, but exhaustion weighed heavy on my eyelids. I didn't know what to make of Xavier's silent watch as he walked over and positioned himsel
Xavier’s POVI watched as Hannah’s eyes filled with tears, each one threatening to spill over. Her voice trembled, quivering with the weight of emotions she could barely contain. I could see the pain etched in every line of her face, and it twisted something deep inside me, making my chest ache for her.My protective instincts roared to life—fierce and unyielding. How could anyone hurt her like this? I couldn’t fathom the depth of what she had endured—betrayal, rejection, a fight for survival that left scars not just on her body but on her very soul.As Hannah spoke, her words halting and heavy, I felt an overwhelming connection to her. There was something so raw, so incredibly brave about the way she faced her past, even as it tore her apart.I admired her strength, her resilience, the way she didn’t break despite everything. I wanted to reach out, to wrap her in my arms and hold her close, to tell her that she and her unborn child would be safe with me—that nothing would ever hurt h
Hannah’s POVAs I pulled back from Xavier's embrace, a sense of calm washed over me. His words, his touch, had soothed my frazzled nerves, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly safe.I looked up at him, his deep blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. I saw the sincerity there, the promise to protect me, and I knew I could trust him.Xavier's fingers brushed against my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. "I'll always be here for you," he whispered, his voice low and husky.I nodded, offering him a smile. The rest of the day drifted by in a haze. My thoughts were scattered—a jumble of memories and half-formed plans. When I finally crawled into bed, exhaustion pulled me under almost immediately, but when I awoke the next morning, I found myself alone.The bed, vast and cold, felt emptier than it should have. My eyes swept across the room and toward the couch, searching for Xavier’s familiar presence, but it was empty.Disappointment
HANNAH’S POV“I’m Xavier’s mate,” I repeated, my voice firm.She raised an eyebrow. “You? A weak werewolf like you? I don’t think so. Xavier is a powerful Lycan, and he would never choose someone like you as his mistress, let alone his mate.”I felt a surge of anger at her demeaning words but kept my cool. “I assure you, I am his mate, whether you believe me or not.”The female Lycan’s lips curled into a mocking sneer, her eyes narrowing with contempt. "Even if that were true, which I highly doubt, there is no claim mark on you. Xavier would never leave his mate unmarked. You’re just a pathetic little werewolf trying to claim a connection to someone far superior to you.”My heart sank, realizing that she was right. I did not bear Xavier’s mark as he had yet to mark me, but that still didn’t give her the right to talk down to me. I stood as tall as I could, meeting her gaze with all the strength I could muster.My voice was steady, though inside, I was trembling. "I don’t need to prove
XAVIER’S POVAt Hannah's request, I allowed my features to settle into a more serious expression, my gaze locking onto hers. Her eyes, usually so full of light, now reflected a deep concern that sent a jolt of worry through me. The subtle lines of worry etched into her forehead told me something was off—something that had been gnawing at her in my absence."What’s wrong? Did something happen while I was away?" My voice softened, dropping to a gentle tone as I tried to coax the truth from her.Hannah hesitated, her breath catching as if she were weighing each word carefully. Finally, she took a deep breath, the rise and fall of her chest mirroring the tension between us. "I—I went out of your room," she started, her voice faltering. But before she could continue, my instincts flared, and I interrupted, unable to suppress the panic rising within me."You did what?" My voice was sharper than I intended, the fear I felt twisting my words. "Hannah, I thought I told you to stay here until I