Page 68 of Forced Pregnant Mate

Chapter 26 - Jack

Pulling into the driveway at home, I can’t wait to see Lena. Even though we’ve only been apart for a few hours, I feel like I’ve been miles away, and I need her in my arms again.

I open the front door and call out to hear. The house is pretty dark, and I’m confused. Surely she would have turned on the lights when she got up. I expected to find her getting ready to go to Silverton tomorrow.

I hurry down the hall, calling out to her as I go. When I get no answer, my chest starts to feel tight.

Calm down. She probably just went out with Gina or someone.

I want to believe it, but there is just something in the air. A sense of disturbance, tension, like the aftermath of a car accident.

I pull out my phone and call Lena. Immediately I hear her ringtone and follow it back out into the hallway. When I find her phone on the floor, my anxiety spikes.

What the fuck?

On the notification bar, there is a text from Sam saying he’s coming over. This confuses me even further—why would Sam come over, right after inviting us to Silverton?

Then, I turn towards the door and see what I missed on the way in. I didn’t think to look to my left when I entered the hall.

All the little porcelain animals Mom gave us as a housewarming gift have been knocked over. The little cat and the unicorn, Lena’s favorite, are on the floor.

My fear rises again, but this time, it doesn’t paralyze or consume me. Now that I know she’s actually in danger, all my energy has shifted to finding her and protecting her.

Immediately, I call Sam to ask why he sent the text. His phone rings out, and even though I’m not exactly surprised, it hurts me even more that he might be in trouble, too.

I head out into the driveway and stab at my phone to call Bailey. That’s when I notice the tire tracks in the lawn. They are wide and deep, but have left almost no imprint. Shitty, almost totally bald tires on a big heavy truck.

Peter.

“Hey, Jack,” Bailey answers. “What’s up, buddy?”

“We got trouble. Lena’s gone, and Sam isn’t answering. Peter’s got them.”

“Are you sure?”

“Hundred percent.”

“Shit! Get your ass over here. I’ll call Decker.”

I jump in Mom’s car, cursing the fact I don’t have my truck. Mom’s little hatchback seems to take ages to reach Bailey’s house, even flogging the engine as hard as I can. When I get to Bae’s, Ben, Cody, and Seth are out front on the lawn.

“Hey,” I say as I hurry up to them. “Thanks for coming, guys. I appreciate it.”

“Where else would we be?” Cody gives me a light punch on the shoulder. “You’re not just our beta, man. You know that.”

“Yeah,” I answer, relieved. “I know. Still, thanks for coming.”

“Just point me at the danger,” Ben says. “I’m all set to destroy this piece of work.”

“Yeah, all of us are,” Seth agrees. “So far, we’ve only heard stories about this asshole, Peter. I have to say, not everyone agreed with the marriage, Jack. Not after word got out about him.”

“I know,” I say, nodding. “It’s not like I was exactly happy about it, either. But she’s the only one I want, the woman I love. I think fate stepped in at exactly the right time to bring us together.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Seth says, smiling. “We’re here for you.”

“Where’s Bailey?”

“On his way out.”

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