Page 54 of Claiming Xan
It definitely didn’t hurt that he was cute as fuck—and oddly sexy, even with his growing baby-bump. Whatever pheromones his pregnant body was pumping out wasdefinitelydoing it for me. We’d been going at it like rabbits.
Or maybe my wolf was just insatiable when it came to Xan Howell.
“Got everything you need?” I asked when he came strutting over to me with his shopping haul in tow. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah, but these bags are sooo heavy,” he whined. His shoulders slumped forward, as if the weight of the shopping bags was too much for his small body to take. I suppressed my snort—just barely—and swooped in like Prince Charming, deftly taking the bags from his grasp.
He gasped in delight, his hands flying up to cup over his mouth. “You’re my big, strong Alpha! Coming to my rescue.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are such a brat.”
He flashed a wicked smile. “You love it. Thanks, babe. I really am tired. Trying on clothes is a workout when you’re preggo. Never would’ve guessed it.”
He laughed and stroked both palms over his tummy, his expression taking on a sudden gentleness. “Worth it, though. Just means I’ll have to work out extra-hard after it’s born to make sure I don’t retain the baby weight. Gotta keep my boyish figure, after all.”
“Xan.” I growled the word in a timbre that had him freezing, his head popping up to stare at me. “You’re gorgeous, no matter what. Don’t let something as silly as weight define you. You’re more than that.”
A soft pink blush crept over his cheeks, but he smiled at me. “Aww… Thank you, River. That’s sweet.” He glanced away, shrugging it off. “C’mon, let’s go. I’m getting a little hungry.”
“You’realwayshungry,” I replied knowingly.
“I’m eating for two now!”
Smiling, I took his hand in mine and we walked down the sidewalk together, towards where Xan parked his car. We were nearly there, when suddenly?—
“River? I-Is… Is that really you?”
A hauntingly familiar voice reached my ears. It made my blood run colder than ice. Everything inside of me, every muscle, seized as if shocked, and I staggered to a halt.
No. It couldn’t be.
Shopping bags falling from my hand, I wheeled around to face none-other than the woman who signed off on me years ago.
My mother.
For a moment, I could only stare at her, my eyes wide and my jaw slack. Shocked. Stunned to silence as I took in her bedraggled appearance—rumpled clothing, disheveled hair, crow’s feet and wrinkles—and then rage erupted fiery than any volcano. It burst through me, snapping taut.
This bitchsoldus. This bitch sentenced us toyearsof cruelty at the hands of mad scientists. My face twisted in a sneer as she cried out my name.
“RIVER!” She lurched forwards on a sob, reaching out to me with both arms outstretched. My stomach bottomed out. I shoved her away from me, hard enough that she toppled backwards.
“Don’t fucking talk to me, bitch!” I screamed. “I have NOTHING to say to you!”
“W-Wait!” She scrambled to her feet, her hands up and in front of her, a sign of peace, but I felt anything but peaceful. “P-Please, let me explain?—”
“I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP!” I shoved her again, then changed my mind at the last minute and grabbed her shirt collar to yank her closer, my wolf snarling and bristled, yearning to tear out her throat for her betrayal.
“RIVER! STOP!” Xan’s voice was among the din of the crowd we were gathering, gasps and murmurs as I began to shake my mother like a rag doll.
“Do you haveanyidea what theydidto us? DO YOU EVENCARE?I don’t even want tolookat you! You’re a fucking monster!” I snarled, my voice ripe with pain and rage. “SELLING YOUR CHILDREN?”
“River! Please!” she wailed.
“RIVER! STOP!” Xan grabbed my arm, but I paid him no heed. My gaze cut holes into my mother’s soul as I pulled my fist back, my hand balled up, ready to punch the living shit outof her, but Xan snagged my wrist and jerked it back down. “NO. Stop. Let her go. Now!”
My wolf was right beneath my skin, so close I could feel the hairs prickling and stabbing me. He was snarling and vicious, but Xan’s words seemed to reach him—reachme—and I used what was left of my energy to shove my mother away from me. She sobbed as she hit the ground, covering her face with her hands.
I wheeled away, panting hard. Xan yanked on my arm. “Let’s go. Now. Please, River, leave her. Just let it go. It’s not worth going to jail over. Please. I need you with me.”
