Page 30 of Betrayed Kidnapped Mate

I sigh, clasping my hands together. I don’t want to tell Aris the truth about what happened, because I know it makes me look like a coward.

I was a coward.

“You know I went to college out on the West Coast,” I say, and Aris nods. “Well, I met Rosa while I was out there. It was more than dating—we were in love. I’ve never felt for another person what I felt for her. But back then, there was no mating bond. At least, I don’t think so. I don’t know if we were too young for it to develop or if I just didn’t know the difference between that and love.”

Aris pulls out a chair and sits down across from me.

“Anyway, Rosa is from there. Her father is the alpha of a huge pack—it spans all the way from Northern California almost down to the bottom of the state. There’s a small territory in the south of the state that doesn’t belong to him, but last I knew, he was trying to take it. Trying, also, to take stuff even more Southern than that. In Mexico. That would make him the first international alpha on the planet, which obviously comes with a lot of power.”

“I’ve never heard of a pack getting that big,” Aris murmurs, shaking his head, “how could he possibly control that big of a pack? Without a target on his back?”

“Oh, there was definitely a target on his back, but he wore it like a badge of honor. Amon is definitely an offense-as-defense kind of guy. That’s why he killed his brother—Rosa’s uncle. Because there was a rumor that the guy was considering taking over.”

Aris sucks in a breath, and I’m sure he’s thinking about how his dad used to tell him that one day they would have to duel to the death in order for Aris to take over the pack. It’s one of the last ancient traditions still hanging around from centuries ago, and part of it has to do with the natural order of things. There can’t be two alphas in a pack, and our blood requires absolute knowledge that our alpha is the strongest leader we have in order to defer to their judgment and guidance.

“Anyway, I only knew about these things when Rosa was willing to share them. Her mom fought tooth and nail for Amon to let Rosa attend college, but her time was running out. She was a semester away from finishing her master’s degree. It was just before Christmas break, and Rosa was studying hard for her finals. I would go over to her apartment and clean and cook for her to make things easier.”

Aris nods, like this tracks with what he knows about me.

“I was in the parking lot, outside her apartment, when Amon approached me. He said he knew that I was seeing his daughter, and that he would murder everyone she loved if I didn’t leave, right there, on the spot. He threatened to kill her mother, Olivia—anyone to make her hurt. I didn’t want that to happen, but back then, I didn’t think I was strong enough to overpower him. And even if I did—it’s not like I wanted to take over the pack. Everything happened so fast. I walked away.”

“And she was pregnant.”

“I had no idea. If I had known—”

“I know, man. I know you never would have left her. But it makes sense why she hates you like this—have you apologized to her? Explained what happened?”

“I feel like it won’t matter. She may just think I’m even more of a coward.”

“You won’t know until you try. And relationships are built on communication.”

We sit there quietly for a moment, then Ado asks, Are you coming?

“Okay,” I say, pushing up from the table. “Well, now that we’re done sharing our feelings, I’m going to go figure out who the fuck took my baker.”

Chapter 16 - Rosa

“Just grant me access to the internal systems,” Olivia says, using her most authoritative voice.

“I’m not doing that,” Byron answers, and I can hear the frustration in his tone. I almost laugh—I’ve had my fair share of being frustrated with Olivia over the years, but I don’t understand why Byron isn’t accepting her assistance.

“Clearly, you need my help with this.”

“I don’t need anyone’s help—I’m trained by one of the most highly sophisticated agencies in the United States.”

“Oh, yeah, the agency that had a major leak—with not one but two double-agents—that nearly led to wide-spread chemical warfare? That one?”

For the first time in nearly an hour, Byron is stunned silent. I have my head bent over my machine, watching as two substances are centrifuged together. I can practically imagine the smug look on Olivia’s face when she reveals to Byron that she knows about that.

Of course, she does—she gets into whatever databases and communication channels she wants. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s already scoured all the messages and communications of all the people in this pack, just to be safe.

I suddenly realized that Olivia could have found information about Bigby all these years. She could have known about his agency appointment and mission in Rosecreek. I wonder if she was keeping tabs on him. I make a note to ask her about it.

“Are you the one who did this? You hacked into the system? Just to mess with me? That serum is seriously dangerous—” Byron says, and I picture him pointing his finger at Olivia, picture her pulling her head back and scowling at him.

“Ha!” she laughs, her voice getting quieter as she turns away from him. “As though you actually think a woman is capable of getting through your precious firewall.”

“Stop saying that like I’m sexist, I am not sexist, I just—”

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