Page 39 of Betrayed Knocked-Up Mate

The words hit like claws across my chest. Because she's right, I know—I did this. Took her from her home, her pack, everything she's built. Just like five years ago, I'm making choices for her, thinking I know what's best.

But the memory of Kane's smile when he saw her, the way his eyes lit with recognition...

No. Better to have her hate me than watch Kane destroy her like he destroyed my parents.

"Take the bed," I say, forcing my voice steady. "I'll take the floor."

She doesn't respond; she just keeps staring out at the rain like it holds the answers I won't give her. The motel room feels smaller by the second, closing in with the weight of everything unsaid. Three days of this—of her justified anger and my desperate need to keep her safe warring with the pull between us that never quite went away.

The secure burner phone in my pocket buzzes, Elena's coded signal. Camila's shoulders tense at the sound, but she doesn't turn.

"Report," I say into the device, keeping my voice low, though I know her sharp shifter hearing will catch every word.

"James is stable." Elena's voice crackles with static and exhaustion. "Still weak, but healing. Kane's forces have fallen back to their temporary base, but they're watching the town. Waiting."

My fingers tighten on the phone. "Any movement toward your location?"

"Not yet. But Marcus..." She hesitates, and my wolf surges with protective instinct. "We think they know you’ve left. They’re probably tailing you. And we don’t have the forces to send out scouts to your path."

"So we’re on our own out here," I finish, the words tasting like ash. Through the window's reflection, I catch Camila's minute flinch. "How long until James can travel?"

"Two days, maybe three. Veronica's doing everything she can, but..." Elena's voice drops lower. "The weapon's residual effects on the pack still slow our healing. And Marcus? They hit another sanctuary pack up north. Six more lost their shifts. It’s… spreading."

Ice floods my veins.

Because this is what Kane does—systematic, patient, inexorable. Each attack perfecting his weapon, expanding his reach. How long until he finds us?

I try to imagine Camila without her shift, without the dark-furred wolf that flashes behind her eyes when she’s happy, when she’s angry, when she’s trying to figure her way out of a problem. It’s an image I can’t bear to hold in my mind.

"Keep me updated," I say shortly. "And Elena? Be careful."

She doesn’t make an affirmative noise. Just breathes for a moment, as if unsure what to say to that.

The line goes dead, leaving me alone with Camila's silence and the endless drumming of rain.

"Another pack?" she asks finally, still facing the window. "More people losing their shifts?"

"Yes."

She turns now, moonlight catching the gold in her eyes. "Why Kane's targeting your people? Why he's so determined to destroy everything you care about? You can’t tell me he’s just a madman. Sure, he’s hitting anywhere he can, but… hehuntedyou. I know what being hunted looks like, Marcus, and you can’t deny it, not to me.”

"Camila..."

"No." She stalks toward me, all predator grace and banked fury. "Don't 'Camila' me. You dragged me away from my home, my pack, mybrother,claiming it was for my own protection. The least you can do is tell me what I need protection from."

She's close enough now that her scent fills my lungs—gunmetal, sandalwood, and something wild that strains my wolf against its chains. Close enough that I can see the tiny scar above her left eyebrow, new since California. Evidence of all the battles she's fought without me.

"I can't," I grit out, but every instinct screams to tell her everything. "It's safer if you don't—"

"Safer?" She laughs, the sound sharp as breaking glass. "Jesus, Marcus, you’re a broken record. You’re the exact same man you were back then.”

"That was different."

"Was it?" Another step closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating off her skin. "Or is this just another example of Marcus Hillmarton deciding he knows what's best for everyone? Playing Alpha even with people who never asked for your protection?"

I hate to hear her talk like this, and I know myself well enough to know it’s because, on some level, I’m aware that she’s right. It’s awful, the things I’ve done to her. And I yearn to explain. I yearn to tell her just what he threatened to do to her all that time ago.

But would knowing do anything? Would it help, or would it only increase her fury, her hurt? It wouldn’t change anything in her mind, that I’m sure of. Either way, no matter what else you take into consideration, I broke her trust. I took away her choice. I didn’t explain why, just pushed her away.

---