Page 35 of Betrayed Knocked-Up Mate

"What—" She tries to sit up, wincing at the movement. "What happened?"

"Easy," James says, moving to check her vitals. "You took a nasty hit to the head. The fever broke a few hours ago, but you need to—"

"We need to move." The words come out harsher than intended, but time is running out. Through the windows, I can see Rosecreek coming awake—pack members moving with careful precision, watching the borders. Waiting for Kane's next move. "Kane's people will regroup soon. We have maybe hours before—"

"I'm not going anywhere." Camila's voice is rough but determined as she pushes herself upright. "This is my home. My pack. I won't—"

"This isn't a discussion." Alpha authority creeps into my tone without conscious thought. "Kane's already seen you. Already knows—" I cut myself off before I can say too much. "You're coming with me.Now."

Her eyes flash gold, wolf rising to challenge my command. "The hell I am. You don't get to order me around, Marcus. You lost that right five years ago."

"Camila—"

"No." She swings her legs over the side of the bed, ignoring James's protests. "You don't get to just show up here and start making decisions about my life again. I won't—"

Asher's voice cuts through our argument: “Marcus, if you’re going to leave, you need to leavenow.Aris’ team have spotted scouts out on the roads. You need to go south, and you need to go soon.”

I feel pummeled by the words, by their haste. I can’t lose focus, can’t crumble under the pressure. Elena's already moving to her computers, fingers flying over keys. “One of their guys, Zane, is pulling up a car.”

"How long?" I demand, already calculating escape routes, defensive positions, all the ways this could go wrong.

"Five minutes. Maybe less. Whatever you need, you can buy it out on the road.”

James catches my eye, his expression grim. "I can't move yet, but if I could, I’d pat you on the back and say goodbye right about now."

"We'll be alright," Elena says firmly, not looking up from her screens. "We’ll move east as soon as we’re able, try to meet back up with some of the others. You get Camila out before Kane's people—"

"No." Camila's voice cracks like a whip. "Why is nobody listening to me? I won't leave my brother, my pack—" Her voice breaks on the following words: “I just got my own pack, aren’t you listening to me?! I can’t go—”

"You have to." The words tear from my throat before I can stop them. "Kane doesn't just kill his enemies, Camila. He destroys everything they love. Everyone they—" I stop, struggling for control. "He goes after mates first. Potential mates. Anyone he thinks might—"

I’m saying too much. I know.

But Camila is too furious to listen, to digest what I’m letting slip. “You can’t make this decision for me,” she rages, face waxy in the sterile light, eyes flashing angrily. “You can’t just—”

Asher's voice carries from the doorway: “The car’s out front.”

"We need to go. Now.” I move toward Camila, but she backs away, eyes wild.

“No,” she snaps. “No, stop—”

"There's no time." I reach for her, wolf howling as she flinches away. "Please, Camila, don’t make this difficult—"

"They’re closing the main road on the north side," Asher reports tersely. "Marcus—"

"I know." The words taste like ash. Because this is exactly what I tried to prevent five years ago—Camila in danger, Kane using her against me, history repeating itself in the worst possible way.

She must see something in my face because her expression shifts, softens slightly. She’s about to beg, I know. Beg me to leave her alone. Beg me not to force her into this. "Marcus—"

“I’m sorry,” I rasp, and I mean it. “I’m sorry. There’s no other way.”

For a moment, just a moment, I see her resolve waver. Then, her expression hardens again.

“I’ll bite you,” she threatens, “I’ll kill you, I’ll—”

I move before she can finish or try to fight or run. My arms wrap around her waist, lifting her bodily as she snarls in protest. Through the pack bonds, I feel Elena's approval, James's relief, Asher's grim understanding.

"I'm sorry," I tell Camila as she fights and kicks andscreamsagainst my grip. "I'm so sorry. But I won't let him hurt you. Not like—"

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