AUDREY'S POV“Good evening, Jaxon.““Hi, Audrey.“ He was exhausted, and he sounded like it.“Do you want to eat? I can throw something together.““No.“ He yawned. “Just sit with me a bit.““OK.“ I put something on the TV, so the silence wouldn't be uncomfortable. He scooted closer, so he was resting his head on my shoulder.“Do you want to talk about it?““It's nothing. Just the monotony is getting to me. Doing the same thing every day can be very tiring.““Tell me about it.“ I sighed.“What do you use to entertain yourself?““In the middle of nowhere?“ I teased.“Do you want to come live in the pack house then? We can lord it over people together.“ It was a subtle invitation, but I dodged it.“I don't know the first thing about lording it over people. I'd cry if they didn't do as I said. I don't think that's a good quality in a leader.““It isn't.“ He laughed. Our position was intimate, and we were speaking in low tones. Magnus' gray eyes flashed in my mind and I suddenly felt guilty
AUDREY'S POV. “Audrey?!“ I thought I heard Jaxon's voice. “Jaxon? What are you doing here?“ I was happy to see him because I was dreading having to walk back by myself. “I stopped by the house, and I saw that you weren't back, so I thought I'd come walk you back.“ “Thank you.“ “Let's go.“ “Oh, lest I forget.“ I dragged Paul to Jaxon. “This is Paul. He was incredibly supportive today.“ I gushed. “Alpha Jaxon.“ Paul bowed respectfully. Jaxon didn't say anything. I noticed what caught his attention—me and Paul hand in hand. I quickly dropped his hand. “Paul. Thank your grandfather for me when you see him, yes." “Yes, Alpha.“ “Now be a good little boy and be on your way.“ I frowned at his demeaning tone, but I said nothing about it.I couldn't take it, so I said, What's on my mind? “You didn't have to speak to him that way.““What?“ I could tell I caught him off guard. “Paul. I wanted to introduce you to him because he was so supportive today when he didn't have to be, but the
ALEXA'S POV. If asked to recount the details of that afternoon, I wouldn't be able to give an accurate response because one minute I was whipping an insolent maid, and the next minute, it was as if a wolf leapt at me. It was not a wolf, however. It was Magnus. I tried tapping and wriggling out of his hand, but I was no match for his gigantic hand. His gray eyes had turned black, and I was seeing spots. I tried to turn, but my wolf suddenly seemed to be in a coma. “Alpha, please, you'll kill her.“ Words filtered into my ears, admonishing him on my behalf. “My Alpha, her death would cause more trouble than she's worth. It would cause war, and you just barely established your reign.“ His beta said: That was when he eventually dropped me. I took a much-needed breath of air, and I coughed violently. The maids made no move to help me. Only looking at me makes me gasp for breath in amusement. “Consider this your last warning.“ Magnus said it as if he just didn't try to kill me. “Mane's
JAXON'S POV“Do you want to go back to him?“ I asked quietly. I doubted if she heard me. “I…” she hesitated. Why was she hesitating? “You want to, don't you?“ My tone was accusing. “It's not like that.“ I could see tears run down her face. I wanted to console her, but I didn't. Not when she's considering going back to him. “What is it like, then?“ “I can't do it alone.“ She sobbed. “I have no idea of what to do with a baby. What am I going to do? I can't hide his baby from him forever.“ “You remember what he put you through, don't you?“ “I do, but maybe he'd treat me better now that I'm carrying his baby.“ My heart broke all over again at this news. She was carrying his baby. “He will, and can you guarantee that after you give birth, he won't revert to his old ways?“ She mumbled something incoherently. “Plus, Audrey, he's engaged to get married soon.“ I could see that she still loved him from the way her eyes widened at the news of his engagement. “I know.“ She muttered sa
AUDREY'S POV“Are you really not going to change your mind about working?“ Jaxon asked in a hopeful tone.“No, Jaxon. That's final, okay?“ We both found out that I was pregnant a week ago, and he insisted that I rest. I rested for a week to keep an eye on my reactions, and I stopped retching after food three days ago. Plus, I now have supplements to make sure I'm healthy.“I'm just worried about you and our baby.“ I didn't want to remind him that the baby was Magnus'. I didn't want to ruin the mood.“I'm okay, Jaxon. Thank you. I'll be off now." He even sleeps over now. I'm afraid he's getting too attached. I sound like an ingrate; thousands of single mothers would kill for someone to take responsibility for their baby, and here I am, not wanting him to get attached.There was just something unsettling about the whole thing. I pushed the nagging thought to the back of my mind. I'll worry about it later.“Audrey.“ I grinned and jumped into his outstretched arms.“Paul, it's so good to
AUDREY'S POV“Let her go, man. Where are you taking her?“ Paul's panicking voice was the first one I heard when I came to my senses.“If you say one more word, I'll rip out your tongue.“ Magnus threatened. I opened my eyes and tried to wriggle out of his arms.“Stay still.“ He commanded.“No. I'm going to scream if you don't let me down.“ I guess he doesn't want to make a scene because, surprisingly, he gently let me down on my feet.“What are you doing?““You ran.“ He accused.“I'm not yours to do with as you wish.““You are until I'm done. Now, you'll go back to your boyfriend and tell him not to say a word of this to anyone or else," he sneered.I didn't need to be told twice. I went back to Paul.“Who is he? Are you okay?“ He met me halfway.“I'm fine. I was just shocked by his appearance.““You don't look safe with him.“ He protested.“I'm fine. He won't hurt me.“ Physically, at least. “But please, don't say a word of this to anyone, okay?““Yeah, sure.““I got you, Audrey.““Whe
MAGNUS' POVThe satisfaction I felt when I first saw Audrey was long gone. It was now replaced with a consuming need to get revenge. To kill that bastard. I wanted to do this without any confrontation. But that boy toy of hers had to open his big mouth.“Magnus. This is madness. You have to stop this madness right away.“ She shrieked from the back.I can't believe she got pregnant. I know who's going to pay for this transgression of hers.“Shut up, Audrey. Shut up.““Just please listen to me, okay?““No.“ I said it stubbornly and kept driving. The weather was not looking favorable, and I want to get to my territory on time.“I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to."“Run away and get pregnant for my friend."“No. I did mean to run away, but...“Just shut up, Audrey.“You hurt me!“ “Not without reason. You betrayed me. What did you think would happen? I would come back, and we'd go back to the way we were. You rejected me, Audrey. I was at the lowest point in my life, and you turned your ba
AUDREY'S POV“Good girl. I knew you'd come to your senses.“ My father smiled in satisfaction.“What?“ His words weren't adding up, but I just wanted to save the love of my life.“I'm happy you agree with me. I'll see to it right away that he gets released.““Thank you?“ Somehow, it didn't feel right to thank him.“Anything for my daughter.“****PRESENT DAY“That was why I rejected you. I thought I was saving you.“His silence made me nervous. I don't know what he's thinking, and that worries me a lot.“Magnus ? Say something, please.“"I..." he stood up and paced the room. “I had no idea.““Yeah, that was the point. I knew you'd never agree to it, but I had to make sure you didn't get killed.“He kneeled in front of me and held my hand. “Thank you.“ Hearing those words from him triggered another round of tears.“For?““I do need you to let you know something. I think your father misled you on purpose. I was suspected of treason. There was no evidence. The punishment was to be banishe