Page 42 of Betrayed Pregnant Mate

“Putsky,” I say, eyes meeting Aris’s. His flash with approval, which makes me sit up a little straighter. I may have been gone for years, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still like getting approval from the alpha.

“Alright,” Aris says, nodding at Rafael to continue.

“Like at the old agency,” he says, “I’m on the vampire task force. I am not part vampire, if such a thing did exist, but I do have remnants of the vampire venom in my cells, and am immune to the venom. If bitten by a vampire, I wouldn’t die.”

“Like Veronica,” Rosa says, touching her chin.

“Exactly,” he says, “because we went through the same experience.”

He goes on to explain everything he said to us to the whole group. I notice his hands shaking now, and wonder if it’s from the pot of coffee he drank, or if he has some social anxiety.

“I believe the vampires targeted the Rosecreek pack, helping to place Varun in power, because the pack was in a very particular state of weakness at that time, having just lost both the alpha and the rising alpha.”

Aris winces across the room, ever so slightly. He’s moved on from everything, I’m sure, but wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll always carry a certain level of guilt with him over what happened to the people of Rosecreek in his absence.

I can relate to feeling guilty for something you’ve done for the rest of your life, no matter how many times people tell you it isn’t your fault.

“So far,” Rafael continues, oblivious to the look on Aris’s face. “I haven’t been able to figure out the reason for the current attacks. It could be an effort to take our Veronica, who poses a unique threat, or could be a way to regain control of the serum, or power. Rosecreek has quickly become one of the country's most powerful and influential packs, especially with your strong tie to the large California pack.”

“That pack will be breaking back into smaller packs soon,” Aris says, “as a way to dilute that power.”

“Still,” Rafael says, “as you know, it’s rare for alphas to even form alliances in the first place. Too much pride, or so I’m told. That makes Rosecreek special, which may also be making it a target.”

We all sit quietly after that last sentence lands.

“A target?” Linnea says, her voice small, and Aris reaches out, putting his hand in hers.

“So, what do we do about it?” Bigby asks, shifting in his seat. He glances at Rosa, who looks fiercely back at him. They look like two people stopping at nothing to defend their home.

When I look at Veronica, she already has her head turned in my direction, and she turns up her eyes, searching mine as soon as they catch.

“I can add to that,” Olivia says, standing and moving toward the smart display on the other end of the room, behind where Aris is sitting.

“Go ahead,” he says, and we watch as she connects her tablet to the screen, starting something up.

“I’ve been monitoring #vampire on social media very closely,” she says, “despite some people claiming it’s a waste of time.”

I fight not to look over at Byron, but Veronica does, not understanding the dynamics at play here. Then, she glances back at me, and I smile down at her, trying to show her with my face what I mean.

I’ll tell you later.

Okay.

She stares up at me, her eyes wide and round. She brings her hand to her mouth, and I sit, stunned, staring back at her. I haven’t been able to project to anyone in so long, I just assumed it was an ability I had lost. I assumed it was yet another thing that the serum had taken from me. But I just sent that to her.

And she sent something back.

What the fuck, she sends, and I grin. She brings her other hand to her mouth now, her eyes so wide they’re practically in her hairline.

I want to bend you over the bed later, I send, and I see her cheeks turn red, watch her cross her legs, clear her throat, and turn her attention to the front of the room.

When I reach out under the table, groping for her hand, she finds mine, and I have to breathe through the feeling it gives me. Even this woman's most mundane affections make me feel like I could do a backflip.

“…uptick in vampire activity, especially in the Minneapolis area, but also in every major city. These trends are encouraging young people to go out, who are vulnerable to vampires. I believe this is a particular campaign run by the vamps to encourage more reckless behavior among college students and teenagers.”

Murmurs move around the table as Olivia finishes her little impromptu presentation, sitting back down at the table.

“We should round up the new trainees,” Bigby says, and Byron says, “This would be a good time to increase surveillance.”

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