Page 27 of Falling for the Werewolf
Chapter 9 – What a Tangled Web
Tommy recognized the picture of Amanda immediately. “Yeah, she’s the Alpha’s brat. Came in a couple of months ago. A woman like that sticks out, you know?”
“Did she say anything? Do anything?”
Tommy’s face became thoughtful. “She walked around like she was looking for someone. You must’ve hit the head or something, because you weren’t around. I asked if she was lost, and she just smiled and said she guessed she was.”
“And then what?”
“Then nothing. She left.”
“Did you happen to notice if she was anywhere near where I was sitting?”
“Yeah, now that you mention it. Plenty of empty seats at the bar that night, but she seemed interested in the one where you’d left your jacket.”
“What about me? Do you remember me saying or doing anything out of the ordinary?”
“You were pissed-off, I knew that. Worked your way through more shots than usual. Don’t think I’ve ever seen you that wasted. After a while, you handed me your keys and said you were going to sleep it off in the back of your truck.”
“Thanks, Tom.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“This whole thing smells like a setup,” Amos said as they headed back toward town, pulling out his cell phone. “Amanda could have easily slipped something into your drink, then waited for you in your truck. Ah, dammit, I forgot to turn this damn thing on. Uh-oh, Bess left me a couple of messages.”
“What now?” Jace asked as Amos listened, his face getting angrier with each passing second.
“Forget Amanda right now. Swing by Bess’s place first.”
“What the hell happened, Amos?”
Amos’s face was grim. “Amanda paid Dani a visit today and told her she’s carrying your kid. Dani went out for a walk, and Bess hasn’t seen her since.”
“Son of a bitch.” Jace pushed down on the accelerator as they sped back toward town.
* * *
Dani had no idea how long she had been walking. One foot just fell in front of the other while her mind churned, trying to wrap itself around the events of the last twenty-four hours. Was it only this morning that she had naively thought how perfect her life was?
She had been hurt when she found out about her ex and her best friend, but hadn’t she also felt some measure of relief? The kind that comes with the knowledge that you narrowly avoided something tragic?
Marrying Toddwouldhave been tragic. He was nice, handsome, and he had a good job. He treated her well—well, except for the sleeping with her friend part. They would have been content together, but never happy. Dani hadn’t known what true happiness was until she met Jace.
She knew it was crazy to feel so strongly about someone in such a short amount of time, but there it was. People could scoff at the concept of love at first sight; she might have joined in if she hadn’t experienced it for herself. Yet, here she was.
Losing Todd had opened new doors for her heart. Losing Jace would lock her heart in a dungeon for the rest of her life.
Believe in him. Fight for him, a tiny voice inside her heart told her.
Another voice, the much-stronger voice of self-doubt, whispered in her head,What if Amanda is right? She is his kind; you’re not. Oh, and let’s not forget that she says she’s pregnant ... with Jace’s baby.
Even if Jace had tried to end things with Amanda, he was still a member of the Kenner’s Mills pack. While Dani didn’t have an in-depth knowledge of pack hierarchy, she knew enough to know that the Alpha was at the top of it and had the power to make life difficult for Jace.
Unless Jace decided to pack up and leave, Amanda, and their child, would always be a part of his life. Could she deal with that?
Dani put her hand on her own belly. What if Jace had gotten her pregnant? They hadn’t used any protection. Even now, she couldn’t regret it. What would be the worst that could happen? That Jace would leave her with a part of him?
As devastating as Amanda’s bombshell was, Dani couldn’t really be angry with Jace. It wasn’t like he had willingly betrayed her, as Todd had. Jace hadn’t even known her until a few weeks ago. What did she expect? That a gorgeous, sexy man like him would have been waiting chastely on the sidelines for her to come along? The very idea was ridiculous. But it still hurt.
