Page 68 of Forced Knocked-Up Mate

I miss Lucy.

I have only been out of her presence for less than an hour, and I miss her more than I ever thought possible. The arrival of my pack, their acceptance of me—it’s by far the most moving thing that has ever happened to me. But I can’t erase Lucy’s tear-filled eyes from my mind.

As we come down the hill into New Hope, I realize Amanda was right.

I am not free. I miss Lucy too much to ever go far away, and now my connection to the pack means I must stay… or be forever outcast.

Even though I spent most of my life alone, far from the community of any pack, the idea of being alone again terrifies me.

I thought I could go back to the life I had before—my small, empty existence, where I had no fear and nothing to lose. But it’s too late. I have love, and I give love, and now I can’t live without it.

When we reach the main hall of town, we shift back to our human forms, and people come out with warm blankets and cloaks for us. They usher us inside, where food is laid out on the tables. Pots of warm cider and mulled wine bubble gently on the stove.

“Thank you,” I say gratefully as Jen hands me a cup of cider.

“You’re a real drama king, you know that?” she says, nudging me with her elbow. “Screaming up on top of the mountain like that. You almost woke the damn dead.”

“Sorry,” I mutter, blushing a little. “I honestly forgot I wasn’t alone.”

“And you never will be, ever again,” Rider says, coming up behind me and putting an arm around my shoulders. “It’s good to see you, but next time, just come and visit, okay? You don’t have to call the entire pack to attention.”

“Is that what I did?” I ask.

Caleb pushes his way through Jen and Rider and nods, looking up at me with his little fists on his hips. “You sure did. That was the call of a wolf in distress. Every able-bodied wolf must answer.”

“Shit,” I mumble. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Fiona says, joining us. “But come and sit down with me for a bit. I’d like to know what upset you so badly.”

“Don’t we all?” Jen grumbles, looking at me over the rim of her cup with suspicious eyes.

“Don’t even,” Rider warns, wagging a finger at her.

“What?” she asks, blinking innocently. “I’m not saying anything.”

“Not yet,” Rider shoots back. “Keep it that way, and let Fiona handle this.”

Jen gives a mock salute, and Fiona takes my arm and leads me to a nearby table to sit down. I sip the warm cider, letting the heat and sweet, tangy taste soothe me.

“I’m guessing this has to do with Lucy?” Fiona asks. “Is she okay?”

“Yup,” I say with a nod. “She’s fine.”

My confident words are followed by a wince as I remember my last look at her tear-streaked face.

“Okay,” Fiona says firmly. “Out with it. Tell me what happened.”

I sigh, hating the squirmy, guilty feeling in my guts. It’s exactly the kind of thing I’d usually run from—except I have a pack now, and if I want their help, I have to prove I’m a part of them.

“Her mentor came,” I begin, a bit hesitantly. “We went out to break the spell, but she said the tether was already broken. That the wedding ceremony worked and we could have left at any time.”

Fiona’s eyes widen in surprise. “So, why didn’t you?”

“I wish people would stop asking me that,” I mutter.

“It’s a fair question, Peter,” she insists. “I am your luna. If you will not listen to me as your sister-in-law, you will obey me as you would a superior. Tell me why you didn’t leave.”

“I’ve never done well with authority,” I growl.

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