Page 57 of The Alpha's Forbidden Secret Baby

“She is not a witch.”

She stared up at him in surprise as everyone glanced at him, hanging on his every word.

“She’s something far worse. Only a monster is capable of birthing a demon and hiding him in the midst of us humans. She feigned innocence as he hurt our children. She allowed him to live among us as a human when he is a beast.”

He leaned in close, grabbing her by the face. “Tell us, Monster. Where is your demon-spawn. Tell us where he is and you will not suffer as much as you should for your sins.”

Rayla kept her mouth shut as her eyes roamed among the crowd. There was no one she could call to for help. No one to plead her case to. They all hated her and they would kill her if she did not escape. She could see it in their eyes.

Ralph’s hands tightened around her jawline, pulling on the skin of her face. “Tell us. Did you kill his father or is he one of them? A demon?”

“Answer us, Monster.” She felt a kick on her back that pushed her head forward. It was Martha. She noticed the intense satisfaction in her eyes when she looked back.

“You want to protect them? Don’t worry, we’ll get the information we seek out of you one way or another,” Ralph said, moving toward her with a wrapped object in his hand.

His smiling face leaned down, blocking her vision. It was the last thing she saw before darkness embraced her as she felt a sharp sting to the back of her head.

Chapter 17 - Xander

Xander swiveled in his office chair, head pressed against the headrest and his eyes closed as he thought about Rayla and Abel. In the past two weeks since he’s had them in his life, things had been great. More than great, even. It was exhilarating.

He still could not believe how lucky he was to have found them just around the time the Elders had begun to make another request of him. He had chosen to seize control of his love life and how his life went.

Being with the woman that he loved and having a son that had been born of that love was amazing, although a part of him still held regret for not being in Abel’s life during the early stages.

There was one thing that bothered him, however. While it seemed that everything was going smoothly, Rayla did not seem like herself. He could tell that she was hiding something from him as evidenced by the numerous times she’d jumped when he’d snuck up behind her.

She constantly hid her phone from him and always seemed to be on edge. That was not the Rayla that he knew. His Rayla was quick to address whatever bothered her as opposed to allowing herself to go over the edge.

Is anyone making her feel unwelcome?

His thought caused him to frown. He grabbed the arms of the chair as he ground to a halt, eyes laser-focused on a space in front of him. If he ever found that anyone in the pack had failed to accept her and was making her feel uncomfortable, they would have him to contend with. Not even the Elders could stand in his way.

Should I watch her? She’ll never have to know if there’s no problem.

Xander knew she wouldn’t like it if she knew he had watched her through the shadows. He could still remember the first time they talked about the shadows and what he could do with it. She had stared into his soul as she asked him if he’d watched her through the shadows before.

He stood up, shrugging off his suit jacket as he walked to the window. She did not have to know that he had watched. Besides, he could be saving her from a terrible situation if he did so.

Convincing himself, he walked back to his seat and stretched his hands on the wall until the shadows appeared. His brows furrowed as he watched her car speed out of werewolf territory.

“Where could she be going?” he asked to no one in particular.

He massaged his lower lip as he absentmindedly leaned forward, fully focused on her and what she was about to do next. He could only hope that she wasn’t heading to a place where he would not be able to see her.

Her car slowed to a stop and she turned into a car park. He leaned even closer until he could read the sign hanging above the building.

“Pawnshop? What could she possibly want with a pawnshop?”

Xander leaned back as he waited for her next move. His eyes remained on her as she stepped out of her car and did not stray when she stood there, seemingly contemplating what she was about to do.

Even from far away, he could tell that she was having second thoughts. She had her lower lip tucked between her teeth as she usually did when she was uncertain or worried.

Timed slowed as he waited for her to make her next move, and he heaved when she finally stepped into the pawnshop and was greeted by a woman who led her to the counter. He watched as another man approached her.

Xander looked around as she conversed with the man. While he was okay with spying on her, he drew the line at listening to her conversation. The last thing he wanted was to abuse his power and her trust.

His eyes returned to her when she slipped her hands into her bag and rummaged through it for a moment before bringing out the diamond necklace he’d given her.

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