Page 34 of The Alpha's Bullied Pregnant Mate

“The way you handled Carla’s insults, the way you reacted to Fannar kissing you the first time I met you. Those incidents said more about you than you could know, but not enough. So I had to see you again. I had to know more about you.”

Isla set her glass down. She was starting to feel boxed in. This woman was driving somewhere, and Isla didn’t feel capable of keeping up with her. Everything that had led up to this point, she’d managed to control. The question was why? What did she want? “And what have you decided? What have you learned.”

The old woman’s eyes crinkled when she smiled. “Don’t look so nervous. Nothing bad, I assure you. On the contrary. I’ve decided that you would be an amazing mate for my son.

“Of all the women I’ve tried to convince him to give a try, I’ve seen more in your in three meetings than I’ve seen in the rest of them, combined. I promise you that I’m not simply trying to patronize you, but all I say to you I mean sincerely.

“I think you guys are meant for each other. While I admit that your history is a little ugly and that there are things that could have been done differently by my son, I still believe that he can show you the type of man that he is.”

Isla swallowed hard. This was too much for her and she wondered what was taking Fannar so long. How could they have hoped to trick this woman? They were players in her game, not the other way round. “And what type of man would you say he is?”

“You saw it for yourself, didn’t you? That little exercise, it had two purposes. You knew the boy my son was, but little about the man he has grown to become. I watched you when Lisa had her accident. I saw you flinch and grab the table top in anticipation. I saw you brace for a storm, as would have been expected of any proud and powerful man in the same situation.

“And I saw your reaction when he reacted differently. When he showed more concern for Lisa than his clothes. To answer your question, Fannar is a kind man, kinder than most. He wields his power carefully, almost as if it terrifies him, and he’s afraid of causing pain with it.

“At first, I never understood what he was so afraid of and why he showed so much caution. That was until I met you, and then I understood. He probably doesn't even know it, but you changed him. Set him on a better path. Isla, I know this would be hard for you, but I need you to focus more on the man in front of you today, not the boy who caused you all that pain.”

“How do I do that?”

“Give him a chance. Nothing drastic, just have an open mind. If there’s anything I know about my son, it’s that he would do anything in the world to undo what he did to you, if he could. But he can’t. None of us can.”

Isla noticed her hand trembling and she moved it off the table and held it tight in her lap. Her heart was racing in her chest and a sheet of sweat coated her forehead despite the cool weather.

She was forced to see a new side to Fannar, one that she’d been noticing, but had refused to confront. The possibility that he had changed had crossed her mind a few times but it felt wrong to admit to it so openly. But the proof of it was glaring for her to see.

Would it really be terrible for her to give him a chance? She was still angry about the bond mark he had given her, even though she had made up her mind not to tell him or his mother about it. Still, she couldn’t deny the truth of it. Fannar was a different person now.

“What do I do now?” Isla asked.

The matron got slowly to her feet and shrugged. “You pretend like we never had this conversation. You carry on as if nothing has changed, and you get to know my son for yourself. Not the person you used to know, but the man he has become. Or, you could walk away. Whatever you choose, I want you to know it’s your decision alone to make.”

A phone rang and interrupted the conversation. The phone was Fannar’s and Isla picked it up. “Thank you, Mrs. Agdluak. One more thing. How do I find him?”

“Down the hall to your right, end of the hallway, last room on the left.” She winked and walked towards the door. Over her shoulder, she added, “see you around, Isla Moon.”

Isla watched the woman leave and settled back into her seat. She was both amused and impressed, but mostly unnerved. She drained her glass of wine then left the balcony as well in search of Fannar as his phone started ringing again. She still couldn’t understand what was taking him so long.

***

She let herself into the room after the third knock. The door was unlocked and she felt uncomfortable entering his room without permission. The bedroom was massive with a high ceiling and a king sized bed in the middle of the room.

Everything was massive, as if the room had been built for a giant. Given how huge Fannar was, maybe it was. The bedroom was empty, but she could sense him. She felt a cool sensation in the back of her neck, and her wolf jumped around excitedly inside her.

Swallowing hard, she made her way slowly to the bathroom door. She entered the bathroom and was shocked again by just how large it was. There was a walk in shower on one end, and a jacuzzi in the middle of the room. Fannar was soaking in the jacuzzi, his eyes closed.

Isla took one step inside, and Fannar slowly opened his eyes. He watched her quietly, cocking his head curiously to one side. She wanted to turn around and walk away, but she was glued to the spot, watching him. She remembered what it was like to see him naked, how it had felt to have him inside her. The memories left her feeling weak and immobile.

“I… I’m sorry,” she stammered. “You were gone… Your, your phone rang… has been ringing—”

Fannar sat up, water pouring down his bulky shoulders and massive chest. In Isla’s mind, she could tell the jacuzzi could take two comfortably. She shut her eyes and swallowed hard. Never again. That’s what I said. I need to get the fuck out of here.

“Come here.” Fannar’s voice was barely louder than a whisper, but it boomed in her ears and ricocheted wildly through her insides like a loud sound in a canyon. It made her knees weak and she felt her insides tingle. She felt a line of liquid slide down her inner thigh. Fuck.

“Isla, take off your clothes, and come join me…”

Her hands were traitors, as were her legs. With her eyes closed, she pulled her sweater off the top of her head, and slowly unbuttoned the silk shirt she wore underneath. She opened her eyes and found Fannar watching her quietly, naked hunger in his eyes. Oh, fuck!

She undid the clasp of her bra and it tumbled down to meet the heap on the floor. She kicked off her boots, and tugged down her leggings and underwear. When she was naked, she heard a low, dangerous growl escape from Fannar. The sound both terrified her and aroused her at the same time.

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