Page 51 of Rejected Pregnant Mate

That fact was still so absurd to me that a giggle bubbled up to my lips. He'd rejected me as a mate and then married me. The entire world felt upside down.

"What's so funny?" Scott asked, giving me a strange look as he joined me at the table.

I shook my head, trying to stop giggling. "Nothing. Just thinking."

He raised a brow, looking amused. "Thinking about what?"

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "Well, it's just...we're married now, but I don't even know if you like me or not."

His expression turned serious. "You're my mate, Nayeli. Of course, I like you."

My face warmed, "No, I mean..." I struggled to find the right words, but I felt too nervous. Unconsciously, my hand drifted to my belly, but Scott didn't notice. "Things don't always have to stay the same, right? Packs can grow, and people can change..."

Scott looked up at me while cutting his salmon. "Mhm."

I was babbling, but it was too late to stop. "I just mean...not everything that's always been has to keep being, you know? That sounds like nonsense, sorry. I guess I'm trying to say unexpected things happen all the time, but strong relationships can adjust and thrive."

Scott set his fork down slowly. "I like things the way they are," he said, calm but not unkind. "It's simple right now. Easy."

My heart thudded in my chest as I felt my stomach fall to the floor. Things couldn't stay the same. The bond needed to be broken, and he needed to know I was carrying his child. But I didn't want things to change...

I nodded once and forced a smile. "Of course. That makes sense."

The rest of dinner went normally, but inside, I was unraveling. My throat felt tight and my eyes were stinging, and I had no appetite. After fifteen minutes of pushing the fish around my plate I excused myself to go to the bathroom before I broke down into a million pieces in front of him.

But I didn't go to the bathroom. I went back to my guest room and silently shut the door behind me, locking it. I hadn't slept in the guest room in days, having spent my nights in Scott's arms, but all of my spell stuff was still here.

I sank to the ground, my hands covering my mouth as tears rolled down my face. I'd done this to myself. I knew this was only supposed to be temporary. Scott and I were simply supposed to coexist and enjoy each other while I learned to use my magic properly.

But just like the first time I realized he was my mate, I'd been a fool. He'd rejected me once, and it was just a matter oftime before he did it again. Scott was kind and amazing in bed, but never once did he indicate he wanted a mate, a family, or a future with me.

The pregnancy hormones weren't helping me get myself under control, either. Each time I caught my breath, I only ended up sobbing more. I felt raw as I pulled my knees to my chest, resting my forehead on them. "Get it together, Nayeli. You know better."

No amount of logic could convince me to calm down. Of course, he liked things the way they were. Easy. Simple.

Well, if that's how he wanted it to remain, I'd make sure it stayed that way.

Working off of panic and the feeling of spiraling, I dug out my spell supplies and sat up for the bond-breaking spell for the third time. I was rushed, messy, not measuring things, or making sure to draw my runes perfectly. It didn't matter. I'd learned to pull on Scott's Alpha strength to increase my magical capabilities, and I was about to put that power to the test once more.

This time to separate us, so things could keep being simple, just the way that Scott liked them.

I poured every ounce of my hurt and fury into the spell, chanting until my palms glowed and my hair started to whip in an impossible wind. It hurt, which was new, but that was because I was pushing hard and fast to get it done. Scott would feel me messing with the bond, and I only had minutes to accomplish my goal before he stopped me.

In a frenzy, I forced my magic to wrap around the bond just like before. Darkness came alongside the light, and I made no effort to stop it, not with how short my window to do the spell was. I needed all the power possible, light or dark.

My bones ached, my skin burned, but I kept chanting. Power screamed through me like a cyclone as I pulled hard. I had to make it stop—the pain, the unrequited feelings, the dream of a family.

I hadn't even paused to think how dangerous the spell could be while I was pregnant, but it was too late. I was in the final stretch.

I'd never felt this much power before, but I wouldn't stop. I couldn't.

I didn't hear Scott's footsteps, but I felt him through the bond, maybe for the last time. He knew what I was doing, but he was powerless to stop me. I heard his fist pounding on the door, "Nayeli!"

No. No, no, no.I pulled at our pack bonds and drank in Scott's own strength, using every ounce of energy I had left.

The last thing I remembered was the sound of splintering wood before the explosion. Then, my magic reached its crescendo, and the bond snapped.

Chapter 20 - Scott

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