Page 23 of Plus-Size Pregnant Mate

Upon arriving in Honeyville, I stopped at the fire station to see how everything was doing. All the guys were sitting around, and everyone was shocked when I walked in.

"Damn! Look who decided to show up. We were starting to wonder if you were ever going to come back!" Cayden said from his chair.

I rolled my eyes. "You think you can get rid of me that easily?"

Thomas smirked next to him. "You never know. Maybe Ayden wants a new beta."

I stopped and looked at them. I scowled. "Does someone want to challenge me?"

They all stopped, and Thomas's eyebrows went up. "Damn, someone's in a mood."

I frowned, knowing their point. I normally was perky and had plenty of jokes. But not today. I was on edge.

"How is that all going?" Lucas asked, looking away from his phone. "I'm going to guess she's the reason you're not yourself."

I wasn't. I knew none of them would challenge me. They were normally the guys who make others rethink when I do get challenged.

"It's fine. Miles is watching her. Is Ayden in his office?"

"Yeah." Lucas pointed.

I walked over, knocking on the door. I pulled it open to find Ayden behind his desk. His eyes snapped up towards me and then back down towards his paper. "Did you speed here?"

"A little," I said.

Ayden smirked, flipping his papers over. "Of course you did." Ayden pulled himself up. "I can tell you're nervous."

I frowned. "Is it that noticeable?"

Ayden shook his head as he grabbed his coat. "No, but I know you. Loosen up a little, and they won't."

We left and headed to a small building near the city hall. It was a space that was only ever used for meetings.

We each took a chair in the meeting room and waited for the others to arrive. "Come on," Ayden said, leaning back in his chair when he heard a knock.

When the door opened, I was a little surprised to see Ashley's folks walking in first. I didn't know they were invited, and the look on Ayden's face told me they weren't.

Logan stepped in after them. He was wearing a suit, his hair was slicked back, and when he adjusted his collar, I could see a watch that was made of gold flaunting his money.

It twisted my gut because I knew how he was going to play this. He wanted to look like the better choice.

I curled my hands into fists and Ayden glanced at me.

"Relax," he said through our connection. "This is an act, and I know that."

I took a deep breath while the other three took seats across from us. Logan even pulled out the chair for Addy.

"Where is my daughter?"

"Lovely to see you so concerned, Addy," Ayden said, but his voice wasn't sweet. He narrowed them on her. "Considering everything else."

"Ayden, we aren't trying to start anything." Harley quickly added. "We are here to settle this matter. Logan offered to marry Ashley, and she agreed."

Bullshit! If she was in agreement, she would have made a run for it when I took her to the cabin.. She wouldn’t have been so afraid.

"I don't think that's entirely true," Ayden said. "Because if it were, she wouldn't have stayed away."

"That's because he's holding her captive," Addy snapped, looking at me.

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