Page 32 of Pregnant By the Alpha Wolf

I still feel cozy, but the feeling that I should be doing something only grows. I feel like I’m half asleep, somewhere between waking up or dozing off, and I’ve just remembered something I need to do…did I forget to run some data? Do I need to tell Rowan something?

Yes. I need to tell Rowan something.

I shouldn’t keep it from him anymore. I need to ask him what he’s hiding from me, what it means for our…

Baby.

Suddenly, a tidal wave of fear washes over me, and my hands fly to my stomach. I feel a dull ache, almost as if it’s far away or partly numbed, as my fingers brush over my skin. Where are my clothes? Why does it hurt?

“R-Row—” I force out. My voice feels strange, as though I can’t speak properly.

I feel a hand brush my cheek, and I already know it’s him. My mate. Rowan’s warmth seeps into my body, and I lean into his touch. “Shh, love. You’re okay now.”

“I’m not,” I mouth the words with very little sound coming out, and my eyes flutter open. The room spins, and my head feels like it’s filled with cotton wool. I blink a few times, trying to make out what’s in front of me. “I can’t see straight.”

Rowan leans down and kisses my forehead, his hand finds mine, and he holds me close. “Sara gave you something for the pain. You’ll be okay in a moment. Just breathe.”

Tears prick my eyes, but I try to concentrate on breathing and make sense of my surroundings. “I-I need to…we need to check…” I know I’m mumbling, but everything feels so mixed up in my head.

Rowan is kneeling beside me, his face etched with worry. “What is it? What’s wrong? Do you need more painkillers?”

I look down at myself, taking stock of the situation. I’m in some kind of gown, and there are sheets tangled around my legs. My skin feels clammy, and I suddenly remember. Rian. He attacked me.

“Rian,” I whisper, fear turning into anger as I think about him trying to hurt me. He’s the traitor. Rowan’s hand tightens on my arm.

“He’s dead,” he says simply. His voice is calm, but there’s a hint of something darker beneath the surface. “You’re safe here, love. It’s over.”

I shake my head, tears beginning to fall as I try to sit up but can't seem to move properly. Rowan helps me into a half-sitting position and supports my back with one arm. He then leans closer as he hands me a glass of water.

“Here, drink,” he says. “That bastard hurt your throat, but I can see you’re already starting to heal.”

“I need, Sara,” I say weakly. He nods and goes to move, but I grip his arm, “I’m pregnant. H-he kicked me so hard, Rowan…”

Rowan freezes, something akin to pure darkness crossing his features. It’s enough for me to drop my grip on his arm, my breathing faltering under his unwavering gaze. Seeming to notice my reaction, he reaches for me, his hand trembling.

“I shouldn’t have killed him so quickly,” he says so quietly it’s almost indecipherable.

He turns and leaves the room without saying another word, the door closing softly behind him. As soon as he’s in the hall, I hear a crash, and a strange low growl filled with emotion and rage. Moments later, Sara comes rushing into the room.

“You’re awake, thank god,” she says, touching my arm lightly. “Rowan has filled me in, sort of. He’s kind of on a rampage out there.”

I try to smile at the pack’s kind-hearted doctor, but the pain in my side intensifies again, and fresh tears burn my eyes. “He didn’t know,” I say. “Is he angry?”

“That’s one word for it. He’s going ballistic,” she says, and my blood runs cold; he’s that unhappy about the pregnancy. As if reading my expression, she gasps, “Not about the baby! He’s trying to get into the room to kill the hunter. The other alphas are having to hold him back.”

“He didn’t know,” I repeat sadly.

She rubs my arm, “It’s okay, Willow. Let’s just get you hooked up to some of these machines and check on the little one, okay? How far along are you?”

I open my mouth to answer just as the door opens. Rowan stands in the doorway, looking more disheveled than I’ve ever seen him, his usually groomed hair out of place and his clothes torn from an apparent fight. Behind him, I see Griffen in a similar condition.

“The hunter?” Sara asks them both.

Rowan walks toward me, taking my hand but remaining silent. “Alive until he answers our questions,” Griffen says. “I’ll go wait for the other alphas to arrive.”

With that, the door closes, and Sara continues setting up the machine. “How many weeks?” she asks again.

I can’t bring myself to look at Rowan as I answer quietly, “Eight to ten from the blood tests, and I checked the heartbeat last week in the lab. But I haven’t known long…” I say shakily. “I wasn’t expecting…”

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