Page 6 of Fated Despite the Moon

Caleb's eyes never left Makayla. "I believe you."

Logan chuckled then hugged their dad before turning back to Makayla. "I'll see you the end of the week. Welcome home."

Her brows furrowed. "Wait. You're leaving me here?"

The three men looked at each other.

"Not here," said Jeremiah. "You can't stay with me. How would that look? A young pregnant female in my house? No. You're going with your betrothed, Caleb."

Caleb saw the wheels turning in her head as she looked between the three of them. Her gaze fell on Caleb, her unhappy expression making his gut twist.

"Caleb?" She gave him the once over as if inspecting an inferior prom dress.

Logan bro hugged Caleb, and then headed out the door.

"Yes," said Jeremiah. "Caleb is the one who offered to take you on." A hard-protective edge came into his father's voice. One Caleb recognized all too well. His father was a good and benevolent man, but speaking against his family or his pack wasn’t something he tolerated-at all.

Her gaze went to the door. "I just thought…"

"Logan will lead our pack after I am gone. He couldn’t possibly take on a female in your… situation. And not to be indelicate, my dear, but not many wolves would. Caleb is a strong, loyal man and the hardest worker I’ve ever known. You are fortunate he agreed to this."

Caleb didn’t want it to start like this. “Dad—”

"Well, if I'm such a burden why did you agree?" Her eyes burned with anger and shame.

"Because it's the right thing to do," Caleb spoke up. Left to his dad, things might very well spin out of control until Makayla refused the marriage and ran.

She gripped her teacup so tight he feared she’d crush it; and if that happened his mother would lose it.

The front door opened. "Hello? Where is everyone?" called Caleb's mom.

"We're in the kitchen," his dad replied.

His mom entered, her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail and her clothes covered in dirt.

"Hi. Sorry I wasn't here when you got in but I ran late at the garden center. Spring planting is huge with people up here." She crossed the room and took Makayla's hands in hers. "I won't hug ya, but look at you. All grown up. You're what? Twenty-three now?"

"Twenty-five," Makayla replied.

"Twenty-five. My gosh how time flies." His mom shook her head. "So pretty. Just like your mama."

"Thank you." Makayla's voice held a subdued nature.

"Well okay then, let's get on with this, I have stuff to do today," said his mom.

"Get on with what?" asked Makayla.

"The bonding," replied Jeremiah. "It is the first of three rituals to mate you and Caleb. First comes the bonding. Then the turning. And finally the mating. Usually they are done all in the same month but as you are with child and cannot turn, the rest will have to wait. This, however, can be done now. It will bond you with Caleb and make sure all the other males know they are not to pursue you, and females are not to pursue him."

She stared at Caleb, her face paling. "So, we won't actually be getting married until after the baby is born?"

"That's right."

Caleb's chest tightened, and his wolf growled. It was written all over her. If she didn't have to marry him today, it gave her time to figure a way out of the rest of the ceremony.

* * *

This was notthe wedding Makayla had ever dreamed she would get. Standing in a huge log cabin living room wearing a pair of black slacks and a silk blouse, surrounded by flannel shirts and jeans.

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