The Alpha’s Forced Mate
Chapter 18

Veronica

Guilt riddled my body as I crawled under the sheets. And nausea. And heartache. And every other shame-related emotion in the book. If I tried to hold any more, I would surely burst, making a mess for the maids to clean.

Like I hadn’t already done that in the library and the den.

A shaky breath deposited me on top of the blankets. Rich silk cradled my body as I stared at the ceiling, wondering if Blake knew about the scar on my side. Was that why he was so quiet and distant at dinner?

Desire overwhelmed me.

But if that was the case, then what about that k!ss?

No suspicious man in his right mind would have dared k!ss me like that if he thought I was a killer. And even if he didn’t suspect me, he would still be curious about the scar. Any normal guy would have inquired about it.

Blake hadn’t.

That was how I knew he questioned my intentions. Hell, even I was questioning my intentions at this point. Nothing I had done made sense. Yet I felt completely helpless in my situation.

My hands smoothed over my belly. That clump of cells was dividing and multiplying by the second. It wasn’t much right now. But soon it would become something. And that something would become an even bigger problem.

He wants kids, I thought. That’s why he got so upset with me on the porch that morning. And why else would he have a trial based entirely on how we get along with children?

A series of panicked gasps erupted. Unexpected fear laced my body as I tried to get a hold of myself. Freaking out wouldn’t get me anywhere, but it didn’t seem like my body understood that. It was the only thing I had left to do—lie in bed and worry about the days to come.

What was I going to do?

What was he going to do?

I shot up from the bed. I have to replace Melvin and then I have to leave.

Renewed intention encouraged me to pack a small bag of clothes. After throwing some toiletries into the sack, I changed into black jeans and a tank top. My typical hunting boots went on next. As nice as it was to have a huge closet of clothes, I didn’t need them. Not where I was heading.

Which was practically nowhere.

It would be hell clearing the perimeter with those floodlights. After that, I would have to face an endless darkness stretching in every direction. It was Beaufort Creek, of course, but it was also an isolated estate that didn’t border any towns. Beach or highway—those were my options.

And I didn’t exactly have a boat, so that meant I’d have to take the highway.

Cameras were everywhere. I had to assume as much after discovering the ones overlooking the second-floor balcony. Blake probably had someone tracking my moves. It was safe to assume that wherever I went, cameras would follow—and that watchful bear would be shortly after.

I stood in front of the vanity and took a few cleansing breaths. The phone was useless. Raymond wouldn’t want me back after my failed second attempt. And failed third and fourth attempts. Without his nephew around, he would surely flail and want someone to blame.

That would be me.

I gazed at my stomach in the mirror. More thoughts raced through my mind about a potential future with Blake. A big house like this needed to be full of life, not death. He deserved to replace peace and happiness, especially after losing his father to a horrible accident. I wasn’t doing him any favors if I stuck around.

But I wasn’t exactly being generous by taking off either.

Irritated by my insecurities, I flipped around and searched the room for an out. Places as old as this mansion were sure to have secret tunnels and passageways. Though the blueprints weren’t exactly clear about that, I gathered intel earlier from a couple of maids who had slipped behind a painting and disappeared.

A few portraits hung in the room, none of them big enough to hide a doorway. In the corner sat a privacy screen. It would have been too obvious a place—and that was why I went directly for it.

The useless screen slid aside easily. Beyond it was a small chair sitting next to a strangely placed portrait of a wolf howling at the moon. Moonlight spilled around the onyx black wolf, revealing a garden scene that was all too familiar.

I smiled. The gardens—perfect.

With strained effort, I managed to pull the portrait away from the wall. An impression in the shape of a door inspired me to slide my hands along the panel—until part of it clicked. The panel popped outward with a soft whoosh and released the dank smell of moist earth.

I bit the inside of my cheek. Shadows deepened beyond the doorway. It was either get lost in a maze within the house or face the heat with Blake. Death seemed to wait at the end of both pathways. Which one would make me feel more in control?

A glance over my shoulder revealed I was alone. If Blake had made good on his reassurance that there weren’t any cameras in the room, then no one would realize I was gone. Not until it was too late.

I just hoped that would give me enough time to get out.

Hope had never tasted so sweet. Once I stepped into the tunnel with a flashlight, the panel shut behind me, sealing it with a resolute rush of air. Concrete met my boots and lined the walls that held torches. None of them were lit, of course, but they must have been at one point. Perhaps before Blake was born.

Many secrets were hidden within homes like these. As much as I wanted to explore the tunnels, I had to replace my way out. Using my nose led me through a few adjoined tunnels, carrying me toward a floral aroma thickened by mud. That had to be the gardens. That meant I was getting closer.

My light flooded the tunnel ahead. Though darkness shrouded my form, fear didn’t come as easily here. I had already faced so many trials—losing a fake mate, getting pregnant by said fake mate, and then being discovered as his would-be assassin. Was he planning my death right now? Or was he upset over the whole thing?

I shook my head.

You don’t even know if he knows, Nica, I scolded myself. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t even do anything.

But that was the problem. He didn’t do anything.

He had dinner with me. He k!ssed me. He said goodnight.

When he had rejected my offer, part of me knew it was because he was afraid to be alone with me. That was how I knew the cameras weren’t inside my suite. Coming inside would mean he wouldn’t have eyes in the sky watching his every move.

Grief made its way up my throat. A sob rattled my resolve, causing me to cover my mouth. I was nearly clear of the tunnels. Breaking down now wouldn’t do any good. I couldn’t afford any distractions.

My thighs twitched as my entrance throbbed with desire.

His rugged voice, husky with desire, came unbidden to my mind, Are you distracted?

The flashlight hit the ground. A few curses flew from my l!ps as I dropped to my knees and snatched it up. Light swept over the concrete ahead of me. A door came into view. I was almost there.

I swallowed hard. I was distracted. He’d done that on purpose. He must have known I didn’t know what I was doing. Insecurity took over. He was making fun of me, wasn’t he?

A million different explanations whirled through my head. When I reached the door, tears were trickling down my cheeks and my neck. They soaked my shirt. They slithered between my breasts.

This wasn’t the time or the place. I could cry about it later after I handled my little problem. And then, I could get on with my life.

Whatever the hell that meant.

Rust caked the handle of the door. The circular knob g*****d when I tugged it, the edges of the door sticking in the frame. I gave it a few frustrating tugs. “Come on.”

The wood wheezed. Cool air billowed around the edges, exciting me. Freedom was just on the other side. With a door as loud as this one, someone would surely notice my attempt to escape. And then they would send the hounds.

Or the wild cats.

If I can just get the door loose, I thought nervously. I can make a break for the trees.

B***d rushed through my limbs, adrenaline amplifying the longer I fought with the door. Frustrated tears flooded my face as I yanked repeatedly, praying to the ancient shifter gods that I would live to see another morning. That was all I wanted—freedom.

That was what I deserved after everything I had been through.

The rusty knob gave way. I flew backward as the door popped loose, revealing an ivy-covered set of stairs leading to the grounds above. Crickets chirped joyously beyond the shadowy staircase, inspiring me to lunge forward.

Screw closing the door. I had to run.

The sound of my heart pounding in my ears deafened my senses. My wolf leaped to the surface once I cleared the stairs and forced me to shift, ripping my top and jeans in a matter of seconds. Frightened paws carried me toward the trees where I knew I could hide under the cover of night for a little while. Just enough to evade that bear and his team.

A roar sounded from the gardens behind me.

No such luck.

It didn’t look like I was going to make it.

My bag banged against my back as I bolted forward and broke into a sprint. A haunting howl erupted from somewhere beyond the trees, leading to a chorus of howls that rang out all around me. Through the rush of my heartbeat, I knew I was being chased.

I was being hunted. And I would surely be caught.

It wasn’t a matter of if anymore. It was a matter of when.

My plan dissolved as I raced through the trees. The moonless night gave me a small advantage as I darted through bushes, lunged over boulders, and maneuvered around tree trunks. Another roar echoed behind me, making my b***d run cold.

That was a bear. He was getting closer.

My paws dug into the earth, slipping every so often on wet patches of soil. Critters ran out of the way as wings fluttered above, the entire forest aware of the chase now happening in their midst. I ran as fast as I could while focusing on the path ahead, blindly racing through the darkness.

Was I heading in the right direction? Or was this a trap?

Everything caved in on me at once as I realized I wasn’t thinking straight. I had never bothered to locate my so-called best friend. I’d not even spared him a thought as I made my escape. What kind of pack member was I to forget about the man who’d tried to do my job for me?

He probably did it to save me, I considered tearfully. He’s always taken care of me. And how do I repay him? By abandoning him.

Ragged huffs drew close behind me. Too close for comfort. I doubled my effort and blasted through my exhaustion to make it through the forest. It wouldn’t be much longer. Either sand or tar would be on the other side. I could figure it out from there.

The trees parted and spat me out on a dirt road. A quick spin around hardly revealed which way the road led. This might be toward the pack homes or away from them. Without any signs or traffic, I couldn’t tell.

I was trapped.

This was the end of the road.

There was nothing I could do about it.

Spent from my attempted escape, I collapsed to the ground on my belly, hiding my nose under my paws in a show of surrender. A few animals broke through the trees—a bear and two wolves—who growled when they set their sights on me. The bear approached me slowly, sniffing curiously while I kept my nose hidden.

I whimpered when he pawed at my ear.

With a satisfied huff, he stepped back, allowing an onyx wolf to step forward. Icy blue eyes peered down at me, curious and hurt all the same.

This had to be Blake.

I expected him to bite my scruff, claw at my face, or even ram his head into my side to assert his dominance. Most alphas were prone to such behavior with betrayers. The situation we found ourselves in was no different other than the fact that I was pregnant.

You can punish me however you see fit, I thought. I’ll take it.

The wolf recoiled slightly and then lowered his head, leveling his gaze with mine.

Blake’s voice came through my mind as clear as day, I heard that.

I shot up from the ground and projected, You can hear me?

But there was no time for his response. The bear swiped his massive paw at my head, effectively knocking the lights out of me. No dreams came this time. Nothing but the cold darkness of my betrayal remained.

After all, it was what I deserved for betraying Blake.