Page 34 of Betrayed Pregnant Mate

“Right,” Linnea says, clearing her throat. “If you can believe it, I don’t really want to think about this stuff right now, so let’s move the conversation back to you and Percy. Is there a reason you don’t want to be with him?”

“Are you forgetting that he kidnapped me?” I say, before I can think better of it.

Rosa raises an eyebrow, and Linnea explains again, “Veronica was one of the humans Percy kidnapped back before she realized she was a shifter. Apparently, they also knew each other before.”

“I mean,” Rosa says thoughtfully, twisting a lock of blonde hair between her fingers. “I guess, technically, Bigby kidnapped me, and we have a pretty good thing going.”

I take a breath. I’ve already worked through the whole kidnapping thing, but I can’t tell them the real reason I’ve been distant with him, except for just an hour ago. It’s too embarrassing to admit—that I was desperately, hopelessly in love with him, and he left me in New York City, alone.

That I was easy for him to leave.

That thought reminds me that I asked him why he left last night, before the weird moment where we shared that memory together. I’d completely forgotten why I went to his door—because I thought that if he could explain it, could tell me why he left, and if it was a good enough reason, I might be able to look past it.

“Do what you want,” Rosa says, when I’m quiet for too long, “but living in the same apartment as him? And not giving in to those urges? It’s just going to get worse until you guys give in.”

I stare at her, my breath coming quick when she says something to Linnea, then turns to leave, her white lab coat swishing around her thighs.

“Wait,” I say, and both women turn back to me. “What about—those shifters who aren’t mated, and get the blood-bond. Do they feel those urges?”

“No,” Linnea says, shaking her head. “It’s more contractual. It’s—”

Everything else she says is muffled by the roaring sound in my ears. I want to ask if it’s possible for a shifter and a human to be mated, but I’m afraid that will give me away.

But if it’s true, if Percy is my mate, and we’re blood-bonded, that means that if the vampire venom works through his system and kills him, I’m going to die, too.

“Excuse me,” I say, turning and walking to the nearest trash can, before vomiting violently inside.

Chapter 16 - Percy

The party is in full swing by the time I manage to arrive. I affix the little number I was given to my chest and look around. The entire town square is crowded with Rosecreek residents, people in costume, and hundreds of tourists, marveling at the commitment to fully turning the place into a Halloween haven. The decorations are incredible, and I know it’s because of Linnea’s efforts.

After what happened between Veronica and I, and the knowledge that I really could have hurt her, I had to take some time away. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, like I’d let her down once again. Despite what everyone had told me, I had put her up on that counter and put her in that position, even though it could have killed her.

There was something deep inside me that told me it wouldn’t. I knew it wouldn’t, instinctively, but that’s not enough—I can’t stop hating myself for even allowing the possibility of it. If she didn’t hate me before for everything that’s happened between us, surely she hates me now for taking off after what must have been the worst sex of her life.

I went down to the lake, staring at the water and breathing, forcing my body to calm down. And the worst part? It hadn’t helped; it had barely touched the need and want and desperate, clawing arousal I felt for her. I just wanted to wrap her up in my arms and take her to my bed, keeping her there until the feeling went away.

But before, I thought I couldn’t because it might hurt her. Now, I think I can’t because there’s no way she even wants to look at me. By now, the realization of what a monster I am has probably sunk in—I was willing to kill her, just for a fuck.

That’s not true, something in my brain says, but I push it away. I don’t want to bargain with myself. I’m here because Linnea told me to come, and because it was an order from Aris.

And because, if something happens to Veronica while she’s here, I will never forgive myself.

“Seriously?” someone says, and I turn around to see Linnea, dressed like a pirate, giving me a sour look, her lips pursed.

“What?” I ask, scratching my arm, but I know what.

“You came as a werewolf?” she says, rolling her eyes. “I told Aris this was going to happen. He never listens to me.”

“I’m pretty sure all he does is listen to you,” I mutter, but she’s already turned away, marching through the crowds of tourists, apparently looking for Aris so she can rat me out for choosing a lazy costume.

As I watch her go, my gaze drifts to the stage, where a local band is playing their rendition of “Somebody’s Watching Me.” It’s an eerie song, and as my eyes are drifting over the crowd, I see Veronica dancing with Rosa and Olivia.

Wearing that fucking vampire costume.

I take a breath, remembering when I came up the stairs earlier. I’d felt like an animal, so out of control, when I saw her in that dress, that I couldn’t see straight. It didn’t help that Veronica was basically screaming fuck me with her eyes, which roamed over me more than once.

Shaking my head to clear it, I push through the crowds, moving toward Bigby and Byron, who I spot on the outskirts, leaning against a building and drinking something from black paper cups.

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