Page 43 of The Alpha's Forced Pregnant Mate

I didn’t pull away immediately. “It wasn’t easy. Following the bond was like tracing a single strand of spider silk in the bright sun. It was there and then it wasn’t, over and over again.”

Julian paused, looking to make sure Laura was out of earshot before murmuring, “There’s a way to cement the bond and it makes it a lot more concrete. If you returned my mate bite, we’d be able to sense each other to the ends of the earth. But you won’t do it, so I won’t ask.

I knew what he was talking about, but hearing it put so bluntly made me annoyed. “I’ve told you a million times—"

“That you’re going back to the Silverfangs when this is over. Trust me, I know. Just…think about it. I won’t mention it again, but think about it.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek, then turned to follow Laura to the car.

I stood there for a minute, my skin tingling where his lips had brushed over it, and my thoughts spinning. The more time I spent with him, the more I wanted to stay. But I couldn’t. If the demons disappeared off the face of the earth tomorrow, Julian would go back to being my enemy in a flash…wouldn’t he? And what he was asking for, giving him my mate bite, that was serious. It was a lifelong commitment. I’d be tied to him forever.

It was too much to think about right now’ so I shook my head and followed them. We had to get Peter home, and it was a long drive to the Red Canines.

Chapter 16 - Julian

It was nearly 11 pm when we made it to the border of Danny’s territory. Naomi had called Whitney earlier and told her that Saul would meet us on the edge of town to get Peter, but Danny’s mate must have heard how bone-tired Whitney was because she called back not long after and asked to be put on speakerphone.

“I’m speaking for Danny—Julian’s old apartment is just as he left it, and you and Julian are being given a one-time allowance to sleep there for the night before leaving in the morning. Consider it repayment for saving Peter, he says. But if you aren’t gone by morning, the Red Canines will force you out as violently as necessary.” I could hear the disdain in Naomi’s voice when she spoke the last sentence, but she didn’t hesitate to relay her mate’s words.

“We’ve got Laura—"

“If Laura doesn’t want to share the apartment with you two, we have a card on file at the Holiday Inn a mile down the road.”

Whitney bit her lower lip, glancing at me, “Julian?”

Naomi’s words had started a storm inside of me. My old apartment. Longing hit me like a truck. The place where I’d first lived independently, the symbol of my place as a valued member of the pack. I hadn’t been back since I’d left to form the Reckless Stalkers.

It was stupid to let myself get hung up on it, but the fact that I’d been given permission to come back, even just for tonight, made me feel like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. “Yeah,” I managed, my voice sounding weird to my own ears. “We’ll take it. Thanks, Naomi.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. I could almost hear the wheels turning in Naomi’s head, but she didn’t ask any questions, thankfully. “No problem. There’s a spare key under the flower pot at the back of the building. Let yourselves in and be gone by 7 am tomorrow.” She paused, then added, “Danny told me to tell you to stay away from our house, or he’ll tear your head off.”

I laughed. “Tell Danny he’s welcome to try.” I heard a growl on the other end of the line, and it was a fight to keep the smirk off my face. “I know he means well, though, and we won’t go near the house. Promise.”

Naomi sighed, sounding exasperated. “You two are ridiculous,” she huffed, then hung up the phone.

Whitney looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “What was all that about?”

“Nothing. Let’s just go.”

We pulled into the gas station where Saul was already waiting, his arms crossed as he leaned against his old truck. His face was full of animosity for me, and I took a step back when I felt the magic pouring off of him. The human Red Canine witch was a different breed than Faye or even Whitney. No one could touch Faye in terms of raw power, but Saul wasn’t afraid to dip his toes into dark magic when it suited him, and that made him unpredictable.

We’d gotten along fine when I was a member of the pack, but things were much, much different now, and Saul’s loyalty to Danny ran deep.

“Traitor,” he said to me in greeting, pale eyes narrowed before he turned to the girls who were helping Peter out of the SUV. “Whitney, Laura. Thank you for bringing Peter home to us.”

“Of course,” Laura said, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “No one else would have been able to get to him so fast.”

Saul nodded, his jaw tight. “I’m told I need to drop you off at the hotel, too, Laura, so let’s get a move on. Peter needs to be in bed and I need to examine him for any lingering demonic effects. Let me help you get him into the truck.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but Whitney stepped aside and let Saul take her place before she grabbed my hand and squeezed hard. I shut up.

Saul didn’t acknowledge me again as he and Laura got Peter into the front seat of his truck. Laura slid into the back and Saul closed the door before turning to me. “Danny doesn’t want you in the territory, but you have a place to sleep tonight because you brought Peter home. That’s the only reason.”

I nodded. “I’ll be gone by morning.”

“Good.” He didn’t say anything else, but instead got into the truck and drove off.

I sighed, leaning against the SUV. “Well, that was fun.”

Whitney crossed her arms, leaning against the car next to me. She looked as tired as I felt, and I knew the events of the day had worn her down. It made me want to protect her, even though I knew she didn’t need it.

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