Page 31 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
And it’s not just the pack war we have to worry about. Jarrod loves Rex. I can see it.
A soft moan rises in my throat, and I have to wipe my eyes again. I’ve never seen Jarrod so happy, and even though he has friends, freedom, and opportunities here, I know most of it is because of Rex.
If he betrays us like he did before, it will crush Jarrod. His heart will never survive it.
The idea of my little boy being hurt in this way makes me feel empty and cold.
It’s horrific that having his heart broken by Rex is the lesser evil here.
I wrap my arms around myself, willing my body to stop shivering. It’s even more important now that Rex and Jarrod don’t learn the truth. It would be bad enough for Jarrod to lose a father figure, and so much worse to lose his real dad.
I listen closely for a few minutes. Everything seems quiet in the bedroom. I come out of the bathroom slowly, seeing Rex sitting up in bed. I let my eyes just flick over him as I hurry to the bed and curl up with my back to him.
The tension in the room rises sharply, and I close my eyes, waiting to hear the sound of his voice.
He’s going to demand we talk. I’ll keep wanting answers—while hiding my secrets—and he’ll just dodge me. Neither of us will learn anything, and we’ll just keep fighting.
To my relief, Rex switches off the lamp and settles down, keeping his body away from mine as he pulls up the covers.
I try to clear my mind so I can get some rest, but my head is full of ugly thoughts. Tears continue to trickle down my cheeks, and every moment adds weight to my heart.
I don’t know what to do. I’ve never felt so trapped.
I slip in and out of sleep, troubled by dreams of running endlessly and never reaching safety, even though it always seems to be within my grasp.
Chapter 10 - Rex
I’m relieved when Scarlett gets straight into bed and turns her back to me. I hate that she’s upset, and I wish there was something I could do about it, but at the same time, I can’t take another verbal battle.
I won’t be able to handle much more of this. I’ll crack. Keeping the truth from Scarlett is harder than being tortured for information by a pack of rabid enemy wolves.
I listen to her breathing for a while, and she seems to relax. I can’t be sure she’s asleep, though, and my anxiety doesn’t go away.
We can’t go on like this.
The marriage is supposed to secure an alliance between the two packs. So long as we stay together, there is peace. After the chaotic history our packs have experienced, that should be enough motivation for us to stay together.
Except I know something no one else does.
I know that the Eccles pack is extremely dangerous, so much so that they are under investigation by the secret organization that exists to keep the entire magical community safe. For Wolf’s Shadow to be interested in them, the threat has to be extreme, and it’s even more unsettling that I was undercover for a year and found out absolutely nothing.
Either they were so paranoid, I had no hope of finding out their plans, or there were none, and it’s all rumors.
The case was still open when I left WS. I was told I’d be informed if any details were relevant to me. Since I’m technically retired, they can’t share mission specifics with me, but I’d benotified of any direct threat from Eccles or military movements from WS.
An even more disturbing feeling teases at my anxiety, stoking it up into actual fear.
What if Scarlett is in on it and always has been? What if she’s playing me?
The thought makes me sit up and look at her. She seems to be asleep, relaxed with her eyes closed, one hand moving a little as she murmurs in her sleep.
I can’t even imagine her keeping secrets from me, living a double life, and working toward some kind of hidden agenda. But I did it all the time, and I know it’s possible.
It seems even more unbelievable that she would expose Jarrod to danger in this way, but I can’t discard that idea, either.
If Eccles have extreme goals, they might go to any lengths to achieve them.
Suddenly, Scarlett twists in her sleep. She mutters something under her breath, and her eyelids flicker as she tosses back and forth.
