Page 95 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

“Are you serious?” she hissed for the second time since they had arrived. “You’re imprisoning a pregnant woman in the middle of nowhere?”

What about the pain she experienced when she was too far from him? She had known she would have to deal with it, but she hadn’t thought she would be so isolated. There would be nothing to distract her. Nothing to help her keep her focus away from her pain.

“I’m not imprisoning you; I’m keeping you safe. There’s a witch who wants to kill you simply because you're my... You’re the mother of my child.”

Jackson turned away and started to walk out.

“Once the baby is born, she won’t have any use for you.”

“But I can’t be out here by myself. What if something happens to the baby?”

“You won’t be alone. Someone will be watching the house, and I’ll bring someone over to help you around the house.”

Jackson was already at the front door as if he couldn’t wait to get rid of her. She clenched her fists and pushed her emotions down. She had been doing that since she’d walked out of the forest, and it had saved her sanity. Even the voice, the wolf inside her, was silenced. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was alone in her head, and she was grateful. That wolf would have been crying all over him.

But Jackson would never see her shed a tear for him. She had her pride and knew when she was not wanted.

“Is this why the pack kept getting attacked?”

“That wasn’t on you,” Jackson said. “But I do have a responsibility to keep my people safe. They come first.”

Ouch. She stopped and watched Jackson open the door. His people came first. If she hadn’t been sure before, she was sure now.

“After you’re settled here, I won’t see you again until the baby is born,” Jackson said. “I trust you to stay healthy and also deliver a healthy child. Tell the woman who will live with you if you need anything, and I’ll provide it.”

He was so cold. After everything they had been through, this was how he chose to end things?

“And my sister? When can I see her? She’ll be eighteen before the baby is born.”

“You won’t see her. But I’ll take care of her, don’t worry. If she shifts, I’ll take the appropriate actions.”

Her emotions had threatened to eat her up when she had gone for a walk that morning, and they were doing the same now. Anger. Pain. Confusion. Had she fallen in love with a man who could throw her away so easily?

“If she shifts, do not take her to your pack. She’s my family, not yours.”

Jackson paused as if that was even something he had to consider and then nodded. She didn’t need his permission to be with her family. Her fists clenched at her sides.

“I guess there’s nothing more to say, then,” she said, stepping back from him. “Have a nice life, Jackson King. Go and protect your people; I’ll be more than fine here without you.”

Jackson looked away from her, but there was no emotion coming from him. None at all. It was almost as if he was made of stone.

He could go and make his plans for his life, but she’d be damned if he was going to have any say in hers.

“There is one more thing left to say,” Jackson said, and her heart gave an involuntary flutter.

But he stopped talking.

“What?” she urged.

Jackson shook his head and then turned to the door again.

“Just spit it out, Jackson. Since we’ll never see each other again, what do you have to lose?”

Jackson turned back but still didn’t meet her gaze.

“You’re right. There should be no words left unspoken. It will be better that way,” he said, finally meeting her gaze.

His icy-blue eyes were full of something she couldn’t decipher.

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