Page 9 of Knocked Up By My Fated Alpha
More importantly, had they found me? The Ivory Moon Pack’s unofficial search for me had expanded its boundaries these past weeks since, according to ancient pack laws, without the renouncement ofmy position of alpha heir, there could be no naming of a new heir. Naturally, that was only subject to change once I was dead.
Misha called in a big favor to get me this job and a new ID after I insisted on paying for the apartment she’d gotten me in the middle of human territory by myself. Right now, things were at a stalemate, but the moment I began to seek support for my return, my cover would be blown, and the tides would turn once again. For now, I was just trying to make my ridiculously high human rent.
“A new management will be taking over this company,” Martin informed me without preamble. “You will be working with the new CEO as his assistant.”
Oh. That was it? Relieved, I nodded. Suddenly thirsty, I reached for the glass of water in front of me only for it to slip right through my fingers, shattering across the floor.
“Are you alright?”
I heardMartin’s voice as though it was coming from underwater, the world slowing around me. I tried to speak, to move, but the ground rose up to meet me, and my world went blissfully dark.
I woke up slowly,the pervasive smell of drugs and disinfectant infiltrating my senses.
“What’s wrong with Raven?” It was Misha’s voice, heavy with worry.
“...low blood sugar…common in early-stage shifter pregnancy…”
My eyes sprang open. White walls. Blue scrubs. Misha at my bedside conversing with a doctor.
“Misha?” My voice was barely above a croak, but Misha heard me.
“Raven!” She sobbed, pulling me into her arms and holding me tight like I was about to disappear. “You’re awake.”
I tried to gather my words. “What’s wrong with me?” Those words I’d overheard before waking up must have been from a dream—nightmareif I was being specific. I passed out because I’d been skipping meals. That had to be it.
Misha stilled, refusing to meet my inquiring gaze, and the sick feeling in my gut worsened. It couldn’t be. “Misha?”
My best friend held me tight as she delivered the news that would upend my life. “You are pregnant.”
Chapter Four
Raven
The dreams always started the same way. With him.
His addictive scent flooded my senses, and the rough pads of his fingers stroked over my nipples, down my midsection, and over my hips, his touch intimate and all-knowing.
A stream of molten heat wound its way through me, my body tingling with anticipation. I trembled in his arms, my back against his front, my hips grinding helplessly against his hardness, soft whimpers escaping me.
His hand stilled the movement of my hips, the other around my throat, keeping me in a light but incredibly possessive grip. “Use your words,” he demanded, and a shameless sound of need left me.
I couldn’t composemyself enough to speak. I couldn’t do anything but tense as his fingers found and teased me, pulling away before I could reach that scintillating edge. “Please,” I begged, but it was already too late. He pulled away. Bereft and shaky with unbearable need, I turned to reach for the stranger, but he was gone like he’d never been there.
I blinked, and just like that, I was back in that forest like I hadnever left—back to the night I lost my parents. The abrupt scene change was so jarring that all traces of arousal left me instantly.
“Raven, you need to run.” Mom’s dark hair fell over her face, obscuring her expression, but her panic bled into her voice.
“No, I’ll fight with you.” I shook my head, ignoring the fear in my chest that threatened to paralyze me. Mom’s eyes flickered between gold and brown, her wolf grappling for dominance, but when she spoke, there was no sign of it.
“Then you will die,” she responded matter-of-factly as though we weren’t in the woods running for our lives but back at home where I was attending leadership training.
“The alpha heir of the Ivory Moon Pack would not make such a reckless choice. To fight, first, you must live.” Mom’s grip on my arm tightened as the howls of the wolves hunting us drew nearer. “You must live, Raven.”
I opened my mouth to protest, tears blurring my gaze, but the entire scene had shifted once more. The wolves were ripping into Mom, and Dad’s decapitated body was several feet away.
I screamed. It was a feral scream that ripped its way through me, sundering all in its path, and I… splintered.
When I bolted awake,my throat was sore from screaming. I kicked off my sheets and left my bed, knowing I wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep. Rather, I headed out for a run to clear my head before work.
