Page 44 of Her Shifter Babe

Stacey

I COULDN’T BELIEVE he’d found me. I couldn’t fathom why he’d even come. Jamie was a power-hungry, selfish, abusive, controlling asshole, and I was shaking like a leaf knowing he now knew exactly where I was after all these months. “H-he’s going to take me,” I stuttered to Tommy as he put an arm around my shoulder to prevent my escape toward the back of the house. “I don’t know how he found me.”

My world had turned upside down in the blink of an eye. One moment I’d been blissfully happy and was finally feeling like I wasn’t in a dream, but that I’d actually found my real Nirvana. Now... I was in Hell again. But even worse, my beautiful world was being ripped away from me with each passing second. It didn’t escape my notice how upset David looked about all this. Thankfully, Tommy was acting a lot more calm and rational.

“I have to sit down,” I breathed, staggering over to the chair at the dining table and dropping into it with a thump. The baby was squirming up a storm in my belly—no doubt reacting to my emotions—and my heart was pounding in my chest like I’d just run a fucking marathon.

Who was I kidding? I wasn’t running any kind of race, I was in goddamn survival flight mode, Every instinct I possessed screamed at me to make my move before Jamie made his. I needed to get out of here, and fast.

I can’t go back. I won’t!

I looked up at Tommy. “I need to go. Can you please take me to the train station?”

Tommy sat down and reached out for my hand, his gaze earnest and placating. “Hold on a second, Stacey, take a deep breath. You’re not going anywhere.”

“I have to!” I said, my growing panic evident in my shrill tone. “Didn’t you hear David? Jamie thinks the baby’s his, and if he gets hold of me...” I shook my head, unwilling to contemplate the thought any further. “No. I won’t go back. I can’t.”

Jamie was a classic narcissist and an emotional vampire. He’d lured me into the relationship in the beginning with his gorgeous face and sweet promises of true love and a beautiful, luxurious life. But within a few short years I’d found myself isolated from everyone I’d ever known and utterly powerless.

And, of course, it was all my fault. I hadn’t run sooner. I’d allowed him to mow me down like clover on the curbside—but I wouldn’t let him do it again. I’d learned my lesson the hard way. And while I still had my wits about me and courage left in reserve, I wouldn’t go with him. I shook my head again.

No. I won’t go back. My daughter will never know what it’s like to live with a man like Jamie. I’ll make sure of it.

A soft growl that sounded just like a dog’s caught my attention. It seemed almost pained or upset... and far too close for comfort.

“Is that coming from inside the house?” I asked, gripping my belly tightly, as though I could save my baby from everything that was going on out here.

“Oh, no,” Tommy muttered. “Fuck it! I knew this was going to happen.” He got up and walked over to the doorway that led into the foyer. “You idiot,” he admonished.

Who is he talking to? Did David let a dog in the house?

The growling grew louder, and I hefted myself up to my feet and moved behind a chair.

What the hell is going on?

Tommy glanced back at me, his expression apologetic. “Stacey, sweetheart. I’m sorry you had to find out like this. We were waiting to tell you after the birth... when you and the baby were safe and well, but it seems we’ve missed that chance.”

I frowned at him, not comprehending. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I need to get out of here. Jamie will come back soon, and he’ll bring his lawyers.”

Proving emotional abuse and financial control was so ridiculously difficult. How could I possibly convince them that I’d been trapped in that toxic marriage and that I hadn’t had sex with Jamie for months before I’d left? I’d feigned sickness and thrush and done other things to keep him happy. But there was no way he was the father.

No way!

Tommy turned fully toward me. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re our mate, Stacey, and that’s our baby. You can’t take her away from us, not now. Please,” he begged, pleading to my common sense.

I’d certainly be safer with my boys, but the fact remained that this location was now compromised, and I could be removed by force or the law if it came down to it. My nose burned with emotions, and impending tears pricked at my eyes. “But David said”

“David’s an idiot!” Tommy spat.

A warning growl came out from somewhere behind him in response.

“He’s an insecure, emotional idiot that loves you, Stacey. Trust me, he doesn’t want to lose you any more than I do.”

I swallowed hard against the tears. “But he thinks the baby is Jamie’s... he won’t believe me, and I can’t...” I couldn’t stay with a man who didn’t trust me, who didn’t really love me. You couldn’t have love without trust and that was a simple, undisputable fact.

“Stacey, listen to me. I love you And David does too. And although I completely trust you when you say that baby is mine, it also doesn’t matter to me. I want you and would raise your child as mine, no matter who’s it is, anyway. Okay?”

I nodded in sheer disbelief, gulping hard. His declaration was just too heartfelt, and I felt more than unworthy of it. “Okay,” I whispered as I swiped at the tears on my cheeks, trying desperately to believe what he was saying. Tommy meant it, I was almost certain. “But David...”

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