Page 25 of Bullied Pregnant Mate

Maybe if I had just dealt with my shit in the beginning, none of this would have happened.

Briefly, my thoughts turn to my mother, and I slam my mind shut like a steel trap.

Not ready to think about that yet. My journey of self-discovery doesn’t have to be that thorough. At least not right now.

As I hit the next tree line, my thoughts drift back to Alisa. I’m learning so many small things about her—the way she curls her hair behind her ear, bites her lip when she’s thinking, and tilts her head back when she laughs.

Yeah… I’m a goner. She’s enchanted me for sure. I want to know more, so much more. I can’t wait to learn every single little thing about her.

Suddenly, a new scent drifts into my nose. I’ve been immersed in the tang of pine against crisp ice for so long, the warm, dense smell hits me like a blow. Instantly, my whole body is on alert, and my hackles rise.

Is this it? Is it an Ancient One?

Even though I’ve never been on patrol or done any tracking, I feel like this scent isn’t strong enough to be one of the big, primeval wolves. Bae suggested their scent was different than an ordinary wolf’s, which I assume to mean blood, dirt, and bone layered over the usual wolf smell.

I raise my nose. The scent isn’t difficult to track. I push ahead to the next rise, where the tree line is thick as the ridge moves into the greater forest.

Is there something there?

It’s difficult to see through the swirling snow, but I’m pretty sure I’m being watched. The other wolf stays in the shadows while he checks me out. I don’t immediately recognize him, which is bad.

I should alert the others. Even if it’s a false alarm, better safe than sorry, especially with the way things are right now.

Even though my muscles tense up and my body trembles with the need to attack, I don’t move, and I don’t howl to the rest of the pack. While I’m watching, the other wolf blinks andmoves through the trees, deliberately letting me see him and the iridescent, glowing sheen of his blue eyes.

I definitely don’t know this wolf.

So why is the scent familiar?

I can’t deny it—something about this scent is known to me. I don’t understand how this is possible, but I’m reluctant to call the others here, just in case.

Just in case what? What the fuck are you going to do, ask him out for a drink?

I don’t get a chance to do anything because the other wolf suddenly turns and bounds away into the forest. I’m not sure what the rules are for patrol—if I’m supposed to chase him down or return for backup. I know I could howl and bring the nearest patrol here, but that could also alert enemies to our location and movements.

That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.

I turn and bound down the mountain, covering ground a lot quicker than I did on the way up. Soon, I see the lights of my house, and I jog into my yard and up onto the deck. I give myself a good shake to get the snow off before I go inside and grab my heavy robe from a hook by the back door.

My phone is sitting on the kitchen counter where I left it. I stare at it for a few seconds, wondering if I should call Bae.

But what did I even see? What would I tell him? Nothing happened; we didn’t fight. For all I know, he wasn’t even on our territory.

From what I’ve heard of the conflict so far, if this was a bad guy, he would have attacked me. There’s also the strange, familiar scent to consider. Maybe the wolf was one of ours, and he was just too far away for me to recognize.

I’ll just leave it for now. Plenty of time to think about it later.

I wrap my robe tightly around myself, going straight to the den so I can warm up. I’m eager to see Alisa, but when I get there, the couch is empty. Her book and blanket are still there, the book set face-down with the pages open. The woolen throw is rumpled as if she got up in a hurry.

Don’t panic.

I stand by the fire for a moment, warming my hands. Even listening as carefully as I can, I can’t hear her moving around anywhere in the house.

She wasn’t in the kitchen. Where else would she go?

I decide to check the whole house, jogging up to the east wing first. As I check each room, my anxiety rises. I can’t stop thinking about the strange wolf.

He better not have anything to do with this!

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