Page 22 of Broken Pregnant Mate
I think about her when we were kids, always checking out books from the library that talked about other places, whether that was just Ambersky—a place not so different from our own—or something much further, like Hysopp or evenother continents. She’s always gotten excited about the idea of exploring new places.
She’s a free spirit, a wanderer, not someone who would want to be tied down to a role like that. In a break from the conversation, she looks to me, her eyes wide and questioning.
I have no answer to give her. I can’t believe I’ve gotten us into this situation.
I’m already struggling to prove to the Ambersky that I’m a decent guy, and here I am, lying to them. I do my best to redirect the conversation, then they’re leaving and giving Emaline their phone numbers, then she and I are alone again.
“Wow,” she says, bringing her hand to her head. “That was a lot. I, uh—I’m going to try these on in the bedroom.”
She lifts the bag of clothes, smiles at me, then turns and walks in, closing the door behind her. The moment it’s shut, I let out a breath, already feeling the strain of resisting her.
Her heat hasn’t even started yet, and already I want to follow her in there, lie on the bed, watch her try on the clothes, run my hands along her body.
After a moment, I turn and jog down the stairs until I’m on the landing outside, where she won’t be able to hear me. I pull my phone from my pocket and dial the alpha leader.
“What’s up?” Dorian answers immediately. “Everything okay?”
“You have any jobs for me?” I ask, glancing up at the window through which I can see the jam basket from Kira. “I’m, uh—thinking it might be a good idea to let Emaline adjust a bit.”
“Sure,” Dorian says, something curious in his tone, and for a second, I think he might push, ask why I would want toleave right after getting Emaline back. I’m relieved when he just says, “I’ve got something for you.”
Chapter 10 - Emaline
When I come back out of the bedroom, wearing a dress from the bag that fits me surprisingly well, I find Aidan sitting on the couch with a duffel bag in his hand.
“Hey,” I say, the word startling out of me at the sight of him there. His head snaps up toward me, and for a second, I catch the quick flare of his pupils blowing wide, before they regulate again. It makes my pulse flutter.
“Hey.” He stands and clears his throat, then takes a step toward me, gesturing toward the bedroom. “Mind if I…?”
“Oh—” I take a step to the side, letting him through the doorway with plenty of space so he won’t have to brush against me. “Sure. Sorry, I didn’t realize—”
“No, it’s okay.”
Things are awkward between us. After all these years, and talking in jail, things are uncomfortable. I clear my throat and step into the bedroom after him, watching as he pulls open the dresser and starts to pack things into his duffel bag.
My heart sinks.
“Are you going somewhere?”
“Dorian just has a job for me,” Aidan says, not lifting his head to look at me as he puts folded shirts, shorts, and underwear into his bag. My face flushes, and I look away at that last one, even though it’s not a big deal.
“I—” I stop, swallow, gather myself. “I can find somewhere else to stay, Aidan, you don’t have to be put out on my account.”
“No.” Aidan turns, and I think he hasn’t realized how small his bedroom is, how close we are the moment he turns to me. His throat moves, his eyes darting down to my lips for a moment before finding my eyes again. “Your heat is coming soon, Emaline.”
Now I really am flushing. I take a step back, running awkwardly into the door with my back, so it bounces off the wall with a slight crack, likely pushing through the plaster.
“Sorry,” I wave my hands like little birds, feeling flustered suddenly. “Sorry, I was—”
“Hey.” Aidan steps closer to me, his voice calm, and when I look into his eyes, I get that feeling I always got as kids. That everything is going to be okay—that he’s going to look out for me. “It’s alright, Emaline. I just think it might be better for both of us if I’m not around when you have your heat. We’ll get you all set up here, make sure you—” he pauses, and now his cheeks are flushed. “Make sure you have everything you need.”
I open my mouth to say that if I’m in heat, I’m going to needhim, then I remember—I may feel like he’s my mate, but he’s already told me I’m not his. Which means I’m probably just projecting the feeling from loving him through childhood.
Which means Aidan is leaving right now because he wants to remain true to hisrealmate. The one who’s waiting for him somewhere, and who probably wouldn’t like the idea of him being with someone like me.
As much as I want him to stay, I realize it’s going to hurt more if I get to have him, only for him to leave again.
I’ve had heats alone before.
