Page 27 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

“Right,” Winnie giggles. “No big romance, but you got pregnant?”

“Well, I never said there wasn’t some… interaction,” I reply, not able to stop a grin. “We were alone a lot in the empty library, and sometimes we met after school or on weekends.”

“Sounds like a very in-depth research project,” Winnie remarks. “What details were so vital that they had to be discussed over a weekend?”

“Well, obviously, I was helping him with more than one class,” I say. “We both know Galen’s never been that bright.”

Winnie cackles with glee, clapping her hands. “I fucking love you! The next family gathering is going to be a fire. I just know it.”

“I don’t expect I’ll have this kind of wit in front of the entire Ramses family,” I say with a sad smile, losing my edge. “They’re one of the main reasons I left town, after all.”

“This is it!” Winnie squeals, tapping her knuckles on the table. “This is the juicy stuff I was after. How did you end up leaving town, pregnant with Galen’s baby?”

“I was planning on leaving, anyway,” I correct her. “I had my own plans. I’d been fooling around with Galen a little, and one night, it went too far. Neither of us was really serious about our relationship, which is good because he knew his family would never accept me.”

Winnie narrows her eyes at me as if she knows she’s getting a heavily edited version of the story. “Hmm,” she says. “Okay. So, you just left, not knowing that you were pregnant?”

“Yes,” I say firmly. “Like I said, it was just a bit of a fling. I did ask Galen if he thought of becoming more, but when he opted out, I was totally fine with that. So I went my own way and found out I was pregnant a couple of months later. Since neither of us had been that serious about the relationship, I didn’t think it was worth tracking him down to tell him. I figured Galen wouldn’t really want to be involved with a baby, anyway.”

“But something is going on, isn’t there?” Winnie asks, still looking at me with that eager gaze. “The matching on Porter’s might have been random, but it wasn’t a mistake.”

“We both had needs we needed to satisfy,” I answer, smiling. “It was just a very odd coincidence.”

“Oh, wow, so we’re back to the artful dodging, are we?” Winnie cocks an eyebrow. “It’s okay. All your secrets are safe with me.”

“Of course they are,” I say with a sly grin. “Because I haven’t told you any.”

Winnie giggles. “I’m more than happy to perpetuate the story that Galen was pining over you for years, until he finally tracked you down and found you with a son he never knew he had, swept you away to marry you, and never let you go.” Winnie wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, making me giggle. “No one else knows about Porter’s,” she adds. “Nor should they.”

“No,” I agree. “They shouldn’t, and neither should Nico.”

We sit in silence for a few seconds until Winnie shrugs.

“I like that story,” she muses. “I think it will drive the town nuts. But if you don’t like it, I can tell them something else.”

I sigh. “I don’t know. It sounds a bit corny. If I start saying it, no one will believe me.”

“That’s why I’m going to do it,” Winnie says, smiling. “Coming from me, it’s a whimsical tale of romance. What do you say, Clara?”

I think for a moment about my long, lonely years by myself, struggling to raise my son and missing Galen. I also remember every smirk and nasty comment directed my way, and how much it would screw with all of them to find out they were wrong.

“You know what, Winnie? Go nuts.”

Chapter 8 - Galen

Satisfied that Nico is happily playing with the other kids and confident enough to stay there on his own, I head back towards the park benches. I see Winnie and Clara still chatting at the picnic table. I don’t know if I’m happy about that or not.

I want Clara to be accepted by my family and have friends, but she and Winnie together, thick as thieves, could be the ultimate torture for me!

Yet, though I know the two of them could find many creative ways to make my life a living hell, I can’t stop grinning as I cross the park towards them. Both of them are smiling and laughing together, and Clara looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen her.

“Here he is, the man of the hour,” Winnie announces when she sees me approaching. “How’s the kid? You didn’t lose him in the woods, did you?”

“Winnie!” I groan in exasperation. I shake my head quickly in response to Clara’s panicked look. “It’s perfectly okay,” I say. “He’s playing with some of the other kids, and I think it’s good for him. Other parents are watching them, and they’ll call me if there are any problems. I have to go back to the council meeting. And I need you to come along, Clara.”

“What?” she says with a frown. “Why?”

I sigh, shaking my head. “They just want to discuss ongoing plans for our union and how it affects the pack. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know earlier, but I was hoping to get out of it.”

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