Page 10 of Forced Pregnant Mate

Her strawberry blond hair is loose, flowing in damp tendrils around her face. There are a few dead leaves and twigs clinging to the fine strands. She’s wearing loose jeans and an old faded sweater that doesn’t look very clean, and there is a smudge of dirt on one cheek.

I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life.

As I stare at her, fully aware I’m being rude but powerless to stop myself, I see her eyes filling up with tears. I can feel my arms flex in response.

I will protect you. I was born to protect you!

Peter yanks on her arm again, breaking our look. When I flick my gaze over to him, he’s staring right at me with a cruel, sharp grin. Yeah, he recognizes me, alright.

I hope he remembers with great clarity how I handed his ass to him when he tried lying right to my face!

“Good morning!” Peter announces as if we’re meeting at a formal high tea and he hasn’t dragged his daughter here at the wrong end of an ox plow. “I apologize for being late.”

He takes a couple of steps towards the table, dragging Lena with him. Belle stands up suddenly, as if she wants to tear him to pieces right here and now.

Join the club.

“I just wanted to bring the bride to meet her new husband-to-be,” Peter says in that glib tone. He’s looking right at me with this weird stare. He really doesn’t like me, but it’s obvious he has a personal stake in the alliance.

So far, everyone is too shocked to respond, even Bailey.

“She’s a virgin, you know!” he announces. His tone has changed a little, getting rougher with a country drawl to it.

I guess he can’t pretend to be a human being for very long.

“Lena is the best candidate for the arranged marriage,” Peter continues, dragging her a bit closer. “She’s completely untouched, submissive, and… ah, attractive.”

He spits out the last word as if he doesn’t quite believe it.

I take my eyes off Peter for a second to look at Lena. She’s staring right at me, her big, deep green eyes shining out of her pale face. She looks like a wounded angel, and I want to rush over there and beat her father into a bloody pulp to make him let go of her.

Even though she’s looking at me with a heavy dose of fear, I can also see hope.

Maybe she wants me to rescue her.

I shake off that thought. I’m sure after I rejected her, she won’t want me anymore.

“Peter,” Decker says, shaking himself out of his stupor. “Get out. Now!”

“But I was just bringing Lena to—”

“I told you last night! The decision has not been made yet. How dare you walk in here uninvited and embarrass all of us in front of—”

“My family is from the founding wolves!” Peter hisses. “We have always held a high seat on the council. If I want to come to the meeting, you can’t stop me!”

“That may be so,” Decker replies. “But bringing your daughter here and presenting her in this way is completely out of line. I told you last night that the decision had not been made. The choice is not yours alone.”

Peter glares at Decker, and for a few seconds, the air seems to sizzle between them. When Decker moves to go around the table towards them, Peter throws up a hand.

“Okay, okay. We’ll go. Don’t get your damn balls in an uproar.”

Peter turns around and yanks on Lena’s arm hard enough to make her stumble. I almost leap from my chair but manage to stay still. I keep my eyes on her until the door swings shut.

The room is full of a deafening silence. Finally, Belle says softly, “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I also apologize,” Decker says. “Peter Andres has become a major problem the last few months. We strongly suspect he’s involved in criminal activity, as well as instigating violence within the pack. I am currently looking for a way to have him kicked off the council, possibly even out of the pack.”

“Hasn’t this person been in trouble for a very long time?” I ask, barely able to control my voice. Bae gives me a look, and I just shrug.

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