Page 137 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha King

That isn’t good enough, is the voice that answers me, which sounds a hell of a lot like my father’s.

I’m faltering at this crossroads—crumbling under the weight of my own indecision that is likely going to end with me losing Raine. Putting her through any of this isn’t fair, but neither is leaving her in the South where I’m more than sure she’s being treated poorly.

If she really has lost the baby, then that means Nyx is already using her as a breeder.

My stomach sinks at the thought while my wolf howls in anger at another male touching our mate.

If he’s doneanythingto her, I’m going to tear him limb from limb.

A hand grabs at my arm, nails digging into my skin hard enough that they’ll most likely leave impressions behind.

My head snaps down to look at Delilah, her face scrunched in frustration. “You’re not giving me much to work with, here.”

I shake my head forcefully. “Not here.”

That shuts her up long enough to get us as far away from the Soleus packlands as we can. There isn’t much out here in the way of abandoned cabins or old hunter’s sheds like we have back home, forcing us to retreat to the nearest human town.

I’ve never been a fan of surrounding myself with the other species that lives among us. Their noisy and bustling lives always have so much going on that they soon become overwhelming for shifters like us.

We’re used to our close-knit communities and the solitude of living far out in the country, without having to answer to any kind of authority that thinks of us as some backwoods cult.

Rumors like those are ones I never mind floating around, especially when it keeps those who don’t need to be wandering into our territory away from us.

With what little money I brought with us, I get us all two small rooms at a motel with outside entrances on the ground floor. As soon as the keys are passed across the counter at me, Delilah swipes one of them and tosses it to one of my enforcers behind us.

“You guys don’t mind all sharing, right?”

My brows rise at the suggestion, the other key clutched in my hand. If she actually thinks we’re going to be sharing a room together—

“Alright, great! Thanks!” Delilah grabs onto my arm and yanks me through the lobby, not bothering to wait for anyone’s opinion on our sleeping arrangements.

I growl out her name, attempting to yank my arm out of her hold. Unfortunately, she’s a lot stronger than she looks.

She finds our room quickly and snatches the key out of my hand to unlock the door, shoving me inside and swinging it shut behind us all in one fluid motion.

“We’re not doing this,” I say, reaching for the key.

She’s quick to dodge me, slipping right under my arm and dashing to the other side of the room with the key held up in her hand. “We’re staying up tonight and figuring out a plan, Aiden. I’m not going to sit around waiting for you to think of something when my best friend is literally less than ten miles from us.”

Despite her annoying approach, the desperation in her eyes is what stops me from forcing her out of the room. Sighing, I plant myself on one of the double beds and lift my leg up to tuck under the other one.

“The problem with Calloway’s request is that it’s impossible to fulfill without it backfiring on us. If I give myself up, he’s likely to use it against me and Raine. If I don’t, then he won’t release her.”

Delilah frowns, lowering her arm back down to her side. “You think she’d lie for us if we bring someone random to claim as her mate?”

Shrugging, I say, “Perhaps. But wouldn’t it be obvious when they aren’t? I’m sure he’ll smell the lie on her from a mile away.”

“True…” She sighs and sits down on the bed across from mine, turning to face me. “I can try to sneak in there and talk to her.”

That has me shaking my head immediately. “It’s too dangerous. You saw the force he brought with him to meet with us.”

“I can stick to the shadows,” she argues.

“There’s hardly anywhere you can hide, Delilah. This isn’t like the forests we grew up in. Out here there’s just desert and open space. You’ll be caught immediately. I’m not risking it.”

“But—”

“No,” I say firmly. “We’ll figure something else out.”

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