Page 7 of Forced Pregnant Mate

The idea of my brother getting hurt.

“Sam!” I turn around, trying to greet him with a smile. He’s got the same bright green eyes as me, but he has Father’s deep brown hair. Right now, those eyes are gleaming with anger.

“Lena, you shouldn’t have to put up with this—”

“I’m fine!” I say it too loudly, making a few people look over at us. I can see Sam’s muscles bulging under his shirt as he clenches his fists, looking right over my head at Father. When I spare a glance behind me, Father is glaring straight back. Kelly has a wide, satisfied grin, as if she’d love to see a father versus son brawl.

“Sam, please, it’s okay,” I say, begging him to leave it alone. He’s only a few years younger than me, almost ready to graduate high school. He’s doing so well, I know he’s going to get into a great college.

He can get away. He can be free!

That is my only wish—that Sam can get free of this nightmare. Deep inside, I don’t believe I can ever get free, but I still have some hope.

I secretly save a little from every tip, putting the money in an old jar under my bed. Once I get Sam out of here, then it’s my turn.

Sam is still glaring at Father, and it looks like they might still go at it. I put my hand on Sam’s chest.

“Please? Just go home. I’m okay.”

He looks down at me, and his face is twisted with an emotion somewhere between fear and anger. “I can’t stand seeing you get hurt.”

“I’m alright. Why don’t you get on home and study? You have a big test coming up.”

“Okay,” he says, turning around to leave. I know he doesn’t believe me, but he is, at the end of the day, my baby brother. He trusts me.

I took care of him pretty much by myself after Mom died. Once Kelly moved in and Dad stopped caring, all we had was each other.

“Well, if there was ever anyone more useless than you, it would be that lowlife right there,” Kelly snaps. “Look at him, waltzing out of here as if there isn’t work to be done.”

“I can finish, Kelly,” I say, turning back around to face her.

“You better,” she snaps.

As it gets later, customers begin to filter out and I get the bar cleaned and ready to open the next day. As I finish with the counter, I notice Dad standing at the end of the bar, watching me.

“What is it?” I ask warily. I even look around a bit, waiting for him to tell me I missed a spot.

“I was just thinking what a capable young woman you are,” he says. “You have done very well here.”

“Okay,” I mutter, wondering where this is coming from. “Thank you.”

“I appreciate you doing such a good setup for tomorrow, since you won’t be here.”

“What?” I can’t believe what I just heard.

“We won’t be needing you at the bar tomorrow.”

“I…” The words swirl around in my head. I’m so tired, I’m pretty sure I’ve misunderstood them.

“Thank you,” I say, walking over to Dad. “This means so much to me—”

“We’ll need to get you home soon,” he says, glaring at me. “You need to clean yourself up. You look atrocious.” He leans forward and sniffs, crinkling his nose. “Jesus. You smell like a deep fryer that got doused in whiskey. I need you to get home and get scrubbed up right away. Then a bit of beauty sleep wouldn’t go astray.”

“What are you talking about?” I mutter, my throat tight. He grins.

“Tomorrow, you’re meeting your husband! The Silver Meadows Pack want to make a marriage bond with us, and after some debate with the elders, we have chosen you as the lucky bride-to-be.”

“What?” I’m sure my throat is so closed now that no sound can possibly come out.

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