Page 49 of Fated to the Warrior Wolf

“Talk to me, princess. I’m so sorry. I know it’s all false. I hope you know that. I donotcare what a couple of assholes think. You and this baby, you’re mine. And I?—”

“Stop, just stop,” she said on a broken sob.

I froze, scared to make it worse, because clearly, everything I said was wrong. Her shoulders were shaking with tears at this point, and I did the only thing I could think of. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.

It was stupid to bring her here. I should have gone back to my room, where we could den up.

She’s pregnant, you idiot. Of course she would want to feel safe for this conversation.

Leigh said something, but it was muffled against my chest, and I couldn’t make it out. I eased my grip, and she tried again.

“It’s all true. Gael, I’m so sorry, but it’s all true. I am a mutt.”

I froze, shock pulsing through me like a heartbeat.

What the fuck.What the actual fuck.

TWENTY-FIVE

Leigh

“Don’t youeversay those words again,” he snapped, and I cringed away from the fury in his voice.

This was it. I knew he’d be mad, and he was. The fury was thick in the air with his alpha dominance, buffeting me like a hurricane, even though the air was still and green and far too cheerful for this train wreck of a moment.

Goddess, I was never going tonotbe a screwup, was I? It was destiny. They were going to put it on my fucking tombstone.

Here lies Leigh Barnes, eternally screwed up. She lived to put her foot in her mouth.

He grabbed me by the shoulders and held me back away from him. He wore a grave expression, and I braced myself for the spitting rage.

I knew it well, with Marcus.

“You are my mate—the mother of my child—and I’m not going to hear anybody say slurs about you, not even you. Do you hear me?”

“I’m sorry.” I flinched back, and his face paled as if I’d slapped him. The lack of color made his scar stand out in sharp relief, and the wicked curve at the end of it on his neck mademe want to kiss away the pain that had left it behind. And the pain I kept carelessly inflicting on him.

“You’re sorry? Why… What could you possibly besorryfor?”

“For being a…” I quickly glanced up, then away. I wasn’t going to say it again. “I’m half-human, and you didn’t know. You should have, and I’m sorry.”

His jaw dropped. Like actually, physically gaped open in shock.

“Leigh,” he said, but I stubbornly studied my lap. “Leigh, for Goddess’s sake,look at me.”

I finally did, and I knew he could see the fear, plain as day, in the depths of my eyes. And just as clearly, I could see the pain in his. His touch remained gentle, which was a good thing.

Fated mate or no, if he was physically abusive, I’d leave. I wasn’t going to put my daughter in an unsafe situation.

“I knew you were half-human. I’ve known since Kane told us that he thought Brielle was his fated mate. I looked up every member of the Johnson City pack, and it was in your file.”

There was a strange buzzing noise between a whine and a high-pitched squeal.

“Leigh? Princess?” He touched my cheek lightly, as if I was going to faint on him.

“You knew?” I blurted, my brain struggling to come back online after it had been completely derailed by his revelation.

He nodded.

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