Page 94 of The Alpha's Uncovered Mate

Maya pales, but she doesn't give up. "You can't get pregnant unless he's mated you."

"It was a fluke." I laugh bitterly. "My wolf and I are not connected in the traditional sense. I was given an aphrodisiac. I did my research, Maya. He was able to knock me up because of the potency of the drug.”

Maya closes her eyes briefly. "He must care for you. Adam, that is."

"In his own way, he does," I mutter. "But his ambition to become Alpha is far greater than his feelings. He's willing to strip me of my dignity to keep me with him. No better than a sex slave."

"Did you hear him say that exactly?" Maya persists. "Did he say he was not going to release you from the blood debt?"

I give my friend an incredulous look. "You wanted me to stick around and play twenty questions with him? Maya, do you understand the situation I'm in? He's engaged to another woman! He plans on marrying her. He has the upper hand in this situation. You want me to go back to him, pull up a chair, and ask him to clarify what he meant? You think I didn't know what he was trying to say? For God's sake, Maya! His own friend understood what he was saying."

Maya flushes, looking embarrassed. "Sorry."

I shake my head, burying my head in my hands, letting the silence surround me for a couple of long minutes. Finally, I mutter, "I don't want to be in this situation. This isn't some deliberate plan. I've never been with a man, Maya. He was my first. He was my first for a lot of things. I think I fell in love with him. He had me convinced that he loved me too. He keptreassuring me that he would handle everything. But as he did so, he began isolating me from the outside world. He wanted to hide his engagement. I don't know what else he was hiding. My heart hurts, Maya. It hurts with every breath. I am not enjoying this situation. But I have to protect myself. And I have to protect this child within me."

I look up to see her bow her head, looking ashamed. "Sorry. I was just trying to help."

"I know." I sigh.

"No matter what happens," Maya suddenly says, grasping my cold hands, "Tony and I will always be there for you."

I give her a small smile and suddenly, I look around. "I thought you were living with your sister. Why isn't she here?"

It's Maya's turn to look downcast now. "She didn't approve of Tony, especially the twenty-plus year age gap. We fought, and she went to stay with some friends."

"I'm sorry." I give her a sympathetic look.

"She doesn't understand that Tony's the first guy who's ever made an effort to court me properly. Wolves our age just want to go to clubs, get in bed, and then ghost you for months. I want someone dependable, and I'm a little old-fashioned myself. Tony treats me like I'm so precious to him. He brings me flowers and takes care of me. He sometimes drops over lunch for me, and we go out for lovely dates. He took me on a carriage ride the other weekend, and then we went boating. He also taught me how to fish. These things matter to me. Spending time with him is important to me. The other day, I found him reading a bookseries I love, although he's not fond of the genre. He said he wanted me to have someone to discuss the book with."

My lips curve softly at the look in her eyes. "You're in love, aren't you?"

"Madly so," Maya breathes. "I know my sister will never approve of him, but he really makes me happy. I don't want to let go of that happiness."

"You shouldn't." Despite my circumstances, I'm happy for her. "You hold on to Tony with everything you have. I'm glad you two met and that you're doing so well together."

Maya squeezes my hand. "I wish the same happiness for you, Cynthia."

Searching her eyes, I know she means it.

"Everyone's happiness is different." I cover her hand. "I may not find happiness with my mate, but I'll find it in my freedom. Losing Adam hasn't broken me, Maya. I've overcome bigger obstacles than this. I won't break. Don't worry about me. My freedom is my happiness. And if I don't get my freedom in life, then the one I can get in death is equally satisfying."

Maya's lips press together into a thin line. "Don't say that. You'll live, and so will your child."

I smile fiercely. "I certainly hope so."

Our conversation is interrupted when the front door opens and we hear footsteps. Both of us get to our feet, and Tony enters the kitchen first, followed closely by a white-faced Lydia.

She takes one look at me and says, "Are you okay?"

I nod.

She glanced at Tony. "I need one moment with Cynthia."

Tony seems to have expected this, or perhaps she told him in the car already because he just nods and ushers Maya into the other room. When the door closes behind them, Lydia meets my gaze. "I am willing to swear a blood oath to keep your secret."

I study her, taken aback. "Why? I thought you would try to convince me not to go through with this. Why are you trying to help me?"

"First of all, because I owe you my life. If you hadn't warned me that day, I would be dead right now. And second, because I was never able to help you. I should have stepped in the moment I realized the dynamics between you and Jonathon were all wrong. I should have sent in the footage of Norman's attack on you to the Investigative Force. I should have pressed you more for the truth."

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