Page 54 of Bullied Pregnant Mate

"It's the truth," he said. "Everyone did, including your brother. I just went along with it."

"That doesn't make it right."

He winced, looking away for a second before he nodded. "I know. If I could go back and change it, I would, but I can't. I was trying to fit in and be who everyone said I should be. And with you being my mate…I…" He ran a hand through his hair. "They weren't my best years."

I looked at my soup, stirring it with the plastic spoon Lucas had given me. I hated thinking back to those years and how I was just surviving.

"Your wolf was small…and I wanted someone that was strong."

"I am strong," I snapped.

"Before," he said, holding my gaze. "Because Gina…your wolf was just small and fragile. Everyone knew it. You shifted late. You could hardly keep up with things. You were weak and fragile before."

I bit hard onto my cheek. I hated thinking about it, hating thinking back to the person I was.

"But you're not now. And I think everything that happened made you stronger. Each remark, each prank, and each push made you what you are today. It gave you a different kind of strength."

I felt my heart twist, and I tightly held on my spoon. "And you think I'm still small?"

He shrugged. "Your wolf is small, but I'm sure she's changed over the years."

My wolf snapped angrily, and I ground my teeth. I knew he hadn't seen her recently. How did he know what she looked like now? She could have changed. She hadn't, of course, but that wasn't the point.

His eyes softened. "There is nothing wrong with being small."

"But, there is everything wrong with it," I growled.

"In our home, yes, but here." He shook his head. "No, they believe that strength means your wolf's size."

"And what do you think?"

Lucas was quiet for a second before he added. "I'm learning that there are a lot of things I didn’t know and had to relearn when I moved here."

I thought about how different this pack was from ours. This pack was calmer and more forgiving. No one glared at me when I walked down the streets, and everyone was helpful. It had put me on edge, and after being here so long, I found myself enjoying it. I didn't want it to change, but a small part of me, a scared part, was waiting for everything to fall apart.

I looked back at my soup, stirring it up. "Before…you told Chris your folks don't even know where you live. Is that true?"

He went silent for a moment before I looked back at him, and I could see mixed emotions in his eyes. He nodded. "Yes."

"Are you not close to your folks?" I always remembered him being the perfect son. Their family was perfect in every way. I was a little shocked to hear him say that his folks didn't know much. That wasn't the vibe I got.

Lucas was silent for a moment before he sighed. "I have a relationship with my folks, but that's it. I get along fine with my mother but very rarely speak to my father unless my mother asks me to."

"Why is that?"

His eyes looked cold, and his jaw clenched together. "You weren't the only person drowning, Gina. No, I wasn't hated by people, but I was tired of constantly having to be the perfect person."

I wondered what that was like. But the thought disappeared as quickly as it came. I took a bite of my soup and leaned back in the chair.

"I mean it when I said you've done well for yourself."

My eyes flicked back at him.

"You've made a good life for yourself. You should be proud of what you've accomplished."

I felt a blush roll over me, and I scowled. "You're only saying that to…" I stopped remembering the last time I said that. And he responded with, when am I nice?

I swallowed. Lucas didn't just say things. He said things he meant. "Thank you."

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