Page 60 of Cruel Alpha Bully

My love for Gina swells in me, and I sidle up against her as we run. She barks happily, nudging me back as we race towards the snow-covered plain.

When we come out from the cover of the trees, a full moon hangs low above us, turning the snow into a field of glittering diamonds. I throw my head back and howl, all my power, all my emotion, and my love pouring through that long, triumphant sound.

Beside me, Gina howls, too. Even though the sound is full of joy, her voice falters, and she looks unsteady on her feet. Before I can move to check on her, she suddenly collapses.

I shift so fast, I barely feel it. Gina has shifted back as well. When the body takes a bad shock or injury, sometimes the wolf reverts back to human immediately.

“Gina!” I cry, gently shoving her shoulder. She doesn’t even stir.

Frantic, I check her pulse and listen to her breathing. Her vitals seem okay but uneven. I shake her again.

“Gina? Please answer me. Please wake up.”

Her eyelids flicker, but she doesn’t wake up.

I gather her in my arms and hold her tight to my chest as I begin to jog through the forest. I have scouts all over the place up here, as well as Jack patrolling. It won’t be long until I run into someone, and then we can get Gina off the mountain as quickly as possible.

The only time in my life I was as scared as this was when the enemy pack attacked us and I wasn’t sure if I could protect Gina from them. She is my world now, and without her in my life, I would have to live every day to my last with a shattered heart.

Chapter 21 - Gina

The first sensation I am aware of is warmth. I’m wrapped in something very soft and extremely comfortable. The light beyond my closed eyes is very bright, making me not want to open them.

What happened?

The last thing I remember is running with Bailey, the cold air in my face and the breathtaking sight of moon-shimmered snow.

When I try to move, it feels like I have bricks attached to my every limb. My joints are aching, and my muscles refuse to move.

I open my eyes slowly, groaning a little at the effort. When I see the clear, white, fluorescent lights and the bright sun angling through the side windows, I realize where I am.

I’m in a hospital! What happened to me? Is my baby okay?

I try to sit up, but my body quickly lets me know that’s not going to happen. I feel dull. Helpless and confused.

“Don’t try to get up, Gina. You need to rest.”

“Bae?” I ask, turning towards the sound of his voice. To my shock, he’s sitting right next to me, watching me with a closed expression. His usually bright eyes are dark and cold, and I swallow down a nervous gulp.

Does he know?

“Why didn’t you tell me, Gina?”

I hang my head, looking anywhere but into his face. I can’t bear the hurt I can see lurking deep in his gaze. If he was animated, yelling and upset, I might be able to take it better, but this quiet, defeated look is cutting me to the bone.

“I haven’t known that long, myself. I was just figuring out how to tell you. Also, I saw Jill and—”

“And what?” Jill asks from the doorway. I look up in shock to see her standing there, leaning casually against the wall, a catty smile plastered across her face.

“What is she doing here?” I ask, swallowing down a lump of pure sorrow.

“She found me walking out of the woods with you passed out in my arms. She drove us to the hospital,” Bailey says in a clipped tone.

I look away for a moment, closing my eyes. This is too painful to bear. All of those happy moments Bae and I shared over the last few weeks were a lie. Every single one. It’s Jill he really wants, and the entire pack has been hiding it from me.

“Gina, you need to talk to me,” Bae says, his voice growing more heated, and I turn to look at him. “I don’t want to cause you any more stress, but I need you to explain yourself.”

“What happened?” I ask, changing the subject. “Is the baby okay?” I put my arms around my belly, wishing I could feel something, but I know it’s too early to feel the baby move.

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