Page 18 of Rejected Broken Mate

I tried to think of any tricks I could to soothe him, knowing there was nothing the ER would do. Ashley had explained it was all part of the process and that it sucked.

I tried to think about what the doctor had told us and how it came in waves. It would set, and we just had to power through it. It broke my heart to watch him in pain. I think I cried just as much as Michael did last night.

I chewed on my lip, wondering if I should tell Miles the truth about Michael. He seemed to be a different person than who he was when we were in school. And he would understand all this shifter stuff so much better than I could.

But a small part of me still wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready for the truth to come out.

There was a soft knock on the door, and I pulled my eyes up, spotting Ayden. He gave me a sympathetic smile. "You look tired."

I nodded, looking down at the papers in front of me. I'd been staring at them for the past hour. "I am…Michael wasn't doing well last night, so neither of us got any sleep."

"So, I'm guessing you don't have the report for the month?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm sorry. I'll have it by tomorrow. I just.."

"Don't apologize," Ayden said, sitting across my desk. "I know how it is. I was at the ER, too, remember."

I softly smiled. "How is Poppy doing? Has she finally stopped jumping off your staircase?"

He smiled, and I could see the joy in his eyes. "Good. And she's paused jumping off the stairs for now. She is more eager about Wendy being pregnant and the thought of being a big sister. "

Wendy told me a couple of days ago that she was expecting, and I was over the moon for her. Ayden and Wendy seemed to have a perfect relationship.

"I imagine she is." I rubbed my hands together. "How do you handle all this? Because I feel that I'm sinking."

Ayden leaned forward. "I'm not alone. I have Wendy. Everyone needs someone, even if it's just a friend to lean on."

I felt embarrassed suddenly.

Ayden titled his head. "I know you've been doing this for a while, which makes me wonder why. Why isn't the dad in the picture?"

I smirked. "Because I'm a strong, independent woman?" I said sarcastically.

Ayden smirked. "Even a strong, independent woman needs a hand every once in a while."

I looked down at my hands. I hadn't told anyone who Michael's father was. I could hardly tell myself the truth.

"Can you keep a secret?" I asked, looking back at him. "Being the Alpha, I'm sure you have to."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I can."

"You can't tell your wife." I quickly added.

He made a face and shrugged. "That makes it a little more complicated."

"I never told the man that I was pregnant."

Ayden raised a single eyebrow. "Was it from a relationship?"

I decided to be honest and nodded. "Yeah, but…a complex one."

"Did you find out before or after the breakup?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Does that matter?"

Ayden nodded. "It does."

I blew some air out. "Before."

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