Page 21 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

“Why the hell are you interrogating our daughter?” my mom demanded. “She's been through enough today.”

My father's shoulders slumped, and he seemed to fold in on himself.

“I'm sorry, sweetheart,” he said and drew me in for a quick hug. “I'm just…terrified of what being pregnant with Gabriel's baby means for your safety.”

My mother's face drained of all color, and she put a trembling hand to her mouth.

“Oh…no,” she whispered as she looked at me. Her eyes widened with horror as if I'd just been set on fire before her eyes.

The back of my neck prickled, and my temples pulsed with fear.

“What are you guys talking about?” I questioned. “You're scaring me.”

My father took both of my hands in his and looked me in the eyes. Whenever my parents had to give me bad news, the job always fell to my dad. He was the more direct of the two.

“Honey, if anyone in our pack found out that you are pregnant with Gabriel's baby, you could get exiled from the pack,” my dad revealed.

If a wolf was exiled from their pack, they were made to live with the other Rogue wolves.

My heart stopped beating as fear gripped it. Flinching, I rubbed the scar on my arm, remembering the pain of sharp teeth ripping into my flesh.

“Our pack wouldn't do that to me!” I protested. “I've been attacked by a Rogue wolf before! I'm sure people will be mad, but Gabriel and I are Mates. Wouldn't everyone eventually understand why we, um, spent the night together?”

“I'm sure some people would understand,” my father allowed.

“So, why couldn't we just…I don’t know, hide the truth about who my baby's father is?” I suggested and cupped my hands around my stomach, still shocked there was a baby growing inside of me.

“Summer, if your baby looks even remotely similar to Gabriel or someone saw you two together, people will begin to ask questions. An investigation could take place, and with one paternity test, the truth will come out. And how would we even keep this from Alpha Everett? He's Gabriel's father.” My dad scrubbed a hand down his face as the weight of the situation settled on him.

“But why would I be exiled?” I asked.

“Honey, wolf law is firm on the fact that if a pack member knowingly puts its pack in danger, they will be exiled without trial,” my dad explained. “There have already been four deaths and numerous injuries to our pack members because of the Rogues. Each day, their army is growing. We think that our pack’s borders will soon be brought down by them if we don’t have extra protection.”

I must have still looked unconvinced because my father continued.

“Do you remember Mrs. Pierce? She was your third grade teacher for a month, and then Mr. Dawson replaced her.”

His subject change threw me for a loop.

“Yes,” I answered. “I was sad when she left. She was really patient with us kids, even when we were being a handful. Didn’t you tell me that she moved to another pack?”

“I said that to protect you, honey. Mrs. Pierce fell in love with a Rogue wolf that used to hang around our territory. He manipulated her into helping him get past our guards and the Rogue killed someone. Mrs. Pierce was exiled without trial and the Rogue that she thought loved her killed her the night she was exiled.”

I clasped a hand to my mouth and gasped.

“But it wasn’t her fault the Rogue had tricked her into helping him!” I protested. “Mrs. Pierce was just a trusting person. She was probably just lonely and wanted someone to talk to.”

“I agree with you, Summer,” my dad said. “I’m not telling you about Mrs. Pierce to upset you, but to warn you. It doesn’t matter what your intentions are, if the Elders think you put our pack in danger, you will be exiled.”

My mom let out a little sob and grasped my hand as if I were being exiled right this second.

“Since Gabriel's political marriage to the Alpha King's daughter will help protect our pack from the Rogues, some Elders might think that you knowingly endangered our pack. Gabriel might be exiled, too,” my father continued.

Just the thought of Gabriel living among the vicious Rogues made my stomach knot up with terror.

“Some of the Elders might decide to be lenient because of your Mating bond, but I can't take the chance of you being exiled. Your safety is our number one priority. Even above the pack, you always come first, Summer,” he assured me.

A horrifying image of Gabriel and me trying to defend ourselves against a horde of Rogue wolves burst into my mind.

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