Page 17 of Forced Pregnant Mate

What more can he want from me? Do I even have any dignity left?

“I told you to move along,” Jack says. His voice is very controlled, and I know he’s having trouble keeping his cool.

“And I told you, I can’t do that,” Father answers. “Our family has a lot invested in this marriage, and if it isn’t consummated, it’s not official. I’m afraid I just can’t take that chance.”

Oh, Jesus! Fuck, no!

“What?” Jack hisses. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

Jack flexes his arms a little as he clenches his fists. I’m sure he isn’t even aware that he’s doing it. Father looks him up and down, and his grin widens a little.

“I am not going anywhere until I am satisfied that the bond has been fully sanctified.” He uses a low tone, somehow making the last word sound dirty. “It’s tradition for the parents of the couple to observe the consummation.”

“It’s an ancient tradition!” Jack snaps. “No one has followed this rule for at least fifty years. Why would you think it’s appropriate now?”

“Well, maybe in your pack, they didn’t,” Father replies. “But in ours, they do.”

“They do not,” I choke out. “You’re lying!”

“How would you know.” Father gives me one of those withering looks that make me feel extremely stupid. “You’ve never been to a pack wedding.”

He’s right, I haven’t. I’m starting to panic. I have no idea how to get out of this. Even though it’s our big day, I hadn’t really thought about what was going to happen with Jack after the reception.

Consummation. Makes it sound like a business contract.

The idea of being naked in front of Jack, having him touch me—and the rest—freaks me out so badly I can’t breathe. Father being outside the tent listening, maybe even watching, makes me feel like I’m about to faint.

“Look,” Jack says. “I will not allow this. I don’t care if it’s tradition in your pack. It certainly isn’t in mine.”

I can tell he’s struggling to keep his voice even. Refusing to consummate, as well as beating the shit out of the father of the bride, would definitely make it look like the Silver Meadows Pack aren’t taking the alliance seriously.

“This isn’t about your pack,” Father says. “You are becoming a part of our pack, so you should uphold our traditions.”

Even though Father sounds pretty confident, when Jack takes one long step towards him, he pales. The smirk disappears from his face, and his eyes go wide.

“I told you to move.” Jack’s voice is very low. He puts a hand on Father’s arm and gives him a little shove. “I will not be allowing this ancient and outdated tradition to occur, and I will call a meeting of all the elders right here and now if I have to.”

Father gulps, looking up at Jack. He doesn’t avoid his stare, but it’s obvious that he’s backing down.

“Okay,” Father mutters, moving away a few steps. “I won’t sit right outside the tent, if you’re going to be so sensitive about it. But you still have to sleep together in this tent before you return to your own pack. There needs to be some commitment to tradition.”

Jack frowns as if he’s going to protest some more. Father shoots me a look, and his eyes are so cold it feels like a dart hitting me in the chest.

What will he do to Sam?

“It’s okay,” I say quickly. I reach over and grab Jack’s hand, pulling him away from Father a bit. “I think that’s a good compromise. Members of both packs will be here all night, and there will be multiple witnesses to attest we didn’t leave the tent. We’ll stay, and we’ll do our duty.”

Jack grips my hand a little tighter and glances at me. I can’t read his eyes, but he still looks pretty upset. I look over at Father, hoping that I’ve given enough to appease him for now.

He smiles, and it’s the charming, warm grin that he uses when he’s fleecing someone. It’s horrible how easily he can manipulate people, even convince them he’s helping them when he’s actually robbing him blind.

“I think that will do fine,” he says. “I won’t be far away.”

Jack frowns and goes to say something else, but I squeeze his hand hard and walk towards the tent. He looks over his shoulder once more, as if he’s checking that Father really is walking away, then follows me.

I’m surprised that he gave in so easily, but maybe he is trying to make this easier for me. I know it took a lot of restraint on Jack’s part to hold back from a serious argument or even a fight, and I’m grateful for it.

Once Sam graduates, then things can change. Father can be exposed and punished for everything he’s done. I just can’t do it while my brother is in the crossfire.

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