Page 19 of Bullied Pregnant Mate

Wendy rolled her eyes at me. "I still can't believe you are marrying her."

"Fake," I said back, making sure to be clear about it. Though my wolf growled, disliking the entire idea.

"Fake or not, you are marrying her for real. So, you might as well give her a ring worth wearing. What about this one?" Wendy pointed at a silver ring, and I scowled. I didn't feel it was nice enough.

I knew it was wrong, but I figured if I spent enough on the ring, maybe it would make up for half the shit I did when I was younger. I wanted her to look stunned when she saw it, and I wanted it to shine on her finger, proving a point to Chris when he saw it.

"No."

Wendy scowled. "You've said no to half of the ones I've pointed at."

"Because they are all bad."

The seller across the counter made a noise, and Wendy elbowed me. I ignored him, not bothered.

"What about going another route?" Ashley spoke up from the other side of the store, lounging in a chair. She was pointing at some necklaces that were hung by the window.

"No, it's got to be a ring," I said. "And you're not helping. You've been sitting there since we got here."

Ashley shrugged. "I never said I would be helpful. I said I would come mostly just to witness you. Who knew you could get flustered."

"I'm not flustered," I grumbled, looking at the seller. Do you have anything else… I don't know more."

Wendy tapped her nails on the glass. "What exactly are you looking for?"

"I'll know it when I see it," I said, not even sure if that was true.

The seller moved, walking away, and Wendy turned to me. "So, what is it about her that made you decide this? Besides the fact, she's your mate."

"Yeah," Ashley piped in. "Detail. Because I was told you rejected her. Why offer to marry her now?"

I rolled my eyes. "She's just…" I didn't have words. I didn't really know why besides the fact it felt right. I wanted to make up for what I'd done and maybe get us somewhere besides where we were. "Because I want to."

Wendy made a face, and Ashley rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Lucas. For once, just give us a little emotion besides your cold exterior. Were you in love with her?"

"No," I said calmly. "I just know Gina hasn't had it easy, and I want to help. She deserves it. Our pack isn't… nice to small or weak people."

Wendy raised an eyebrow. "Weak?"

"She's the smallest wolf in the pack. Behind in everything. She shifted late, she is slow, her wolf is very timid, and she had no chance of winning any matches."

Ashley shrugged. "You don't have to be big to win a fight. Sometimes small gives you advantages."

"That's not how our pack looks at it," I said just as the seller came back holding a gold ring. It was in the teardrop diamond ring, with smaller diamonds going down the band. It was simple yet stunning.

"That's the one," I said, not even caring what the price was. I slid my card towards him and looked at Wendy. "She wants to settle down here, and I'm helping her."

"That's sweet and all," she said, waving a hand. "But have you thought about what happens after? If she's your mate, are you so sure you can just let her go?"

I wasn't, but a small part of me was hoping I wouldn't have to. I wasn't sure what I wanted, but I knew I wanted her to be happy. And maybe I could be a part of it.

After paying for the ring, I headed home and found Gina working from the couch in the living room. She was typing on her computer, her eyes glued to the screen. She didn't even look as I arrived.

I paused at the coffee table, seeing she had made a mess in the living room. I bite my tongue, half tempted to ask what the mess was about.

She finally looked up. "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were here. I was working." She looked at the files and the folders scattered around the space. "I didn't have enough room in my bedroom."

"I got you a ring," I said, pulling the box out and placing it on the coffee table.

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