Page 7 of Betrayed Kidnapped Mate

“Lots of reasons,” Olivia says, her voice sounding sleepy. She’s pulled the hoodie a little higher and has snuggled back into the seat. “Her mom’s house was there. It’s our home. We wanted to raise Kaila near her home. Also, it’s not like we were flush with money, especially in the beginning. Rosa had to abandon all her accounts. We got out with a bit of cash, but we had a baby to feed. It took a while for us to get on our feet.”

My stomach twists with guilt. I open my mouth to ask Olivia another question, but when I look over at her, she’s already fallen asleep.

Chapter 4 - Rosa

“Get your fucking hands off me!”

I’m screaming. I know I look insane, but I don’t care. I kick my legs and arms, squirming, trying to get free. The only thing I want is to be back on my own feet, in control of my own body. The last thing I remember is Bigby apologizing, panic coursing through my veins before I tried to reach Kaila but didn’t make it in time.

The man carrying me jerks like he might drop me onto the cobblestone, and I still clinging to him so he doesn’t drop me on my ass. The last thing I need is an injury, so I can’t escape.

“Okay, okay,” he says, and I’m even more furious when I feel a chuckle rumbling through his chest. “I’ll put you down!”

After a moment, he manages to get me on my feet. I look around wildly for a moment before spotting Kaila, still sleeping, in Olivia’s arms.

“Oh, thank god,” I say, going to her and gathering Kaila against me. Several shifters are standing around us, and I step away until my back is against the Jeep.

“What is going on?” I ask.

“Rosa,” Olivia says, “this is the Rosecreek pack. They’re going to help us.”

I’m looking around, and I see a bunch of men. One short, with thick black hair, his arms crossed. Another with bright blue hair. The man who was carrying me clapped his hands together. Instinctively, and by the way, everyone defers to him, I can tell he’s the alpha.

“Well,” he says, looking behind me. “She’s feisty, huh?”

I whirl around to see Bigby standing behind the Jeep. He’s just like I remember, even eight years later. So, so huge.

Even with his size, Bigby has an intelligent look to him, like you can tell his roots go deeper than most. When you ask him a question, he thinks about it before answering. He’ll do research on any topic, just to know more about it. Every philosophical debate we had in college comes rushing back to me, and I remember the way it felt to connect with someone like that, to feel like our innermost selves were compatible in a way I’d never felt before.

His size is the first thing a stranger would notice about him, but I’m not a stranger. My eyes roam over his close-cropped hair, the new, white scar across his cheek. The stubble on his strong jaw.

He’s wearing a t-shirt for Rosecreek Days and a pair of cargo shorts. His entire outfit is rumpled, which I realize is because he hauled the three of us all the way back from California in his car.

Bigby takes a step forward, and I hate how my eyes take him in, from his massive biceps to the slight flex in his calf.

When I first met him, his size was comical. And then, later, straddling him in bed…

I shake the thought from my head. I absolutely can’t be thinking about him like that. This man just kidnapped my daughter and me. If he was someone I used to know, he isn’t anymore. And my number one priority is making sure Kaila and I are safe.

“This is abduction!” I say, raising my voice. I feel Kaila shifting in my arms and drop my volume, not wanting to frighten her. My shoulders are starting to strain from the effort of carrying her, and I hope she wakes up soon so she can walk on her own. We need to get out here.

“Kaila,” I say, tapping her cheek gently. “Come on, baby, wake up.”

“Rosa,” the Alpha says, stepping toward me. I try to step back, but my back is already against the Jeep. Luckily, he seems to register my discomfort and doesn’t move closer. “We just want to help,” he says, but I know better than that.

Kaila stirs again, but I can’t wait for her to get on her feet again. I turn, moving as fast as I can with Kaila in my arms, which, admittedly, isn’t that fast. I race for the line of trees behind the buildings, thinking we might make it if I can get out of their line of sight.

“Rosa!” Olivia calls after me, but I don’t stop. I can’t. The only thing that matters is getting Kaila and me to safety.

And then, suddenly, Bigby is in front of me.

“Don’t make me grab you,” he says, his knees bent like he’s a fucking middle linebacker, and I’m a running back. That would make Kaila the football.

I force my brain to focus.

“Move,” I say, trying to imbue my voice with as much venom as I can.

“Rosa,” Bigby says, his eyes boring into me so intensely that I have to blink and look away. I can’t stand to look at him.

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