Filed to story: The Wolf Prince’s Fated Love
“Usually outdoors? I would be working in the clinic and then come to out in the woods, in a field. Once, I was in a vacant lot downtown, clutching a handful of weeds.” She hung her head, covering her face with her hands. “I’m so sorry. I should have told you guys. I know that. It’s just?-“
“Embarrassing, I get it.” I kept my voice upbeat. “You don’t know us that well yet, but believe me, we’ve all got weird shit.”
Her head snapped up at that, her nose wrinkled in confusion. “You all sleepwalk?”
“Well, no, but…” I looked around and then realized far too late that everybody else’s secrets weren’t mine to share. “Nobody’s perfect. Especially not me. So, don’t sweat it.”
Shay wrapped an arm around my shoulders, silently supporting as she shot a venomous glare at Gael.
Dirge chuckled and chimed in, “I was feral until a few weeks ago when I found my fated mate.”
He wasn’t ashamed of his baggage.
That made one of us.
But Gael was impervious, staring with his arms crossed like a vengeful statue that could have been plucked from the top of this castle.
Okay, so we didn’t all have shit. He was pretty perfect, except for the part where he hated my guts.
“It’s too early, and Brielle, I’m guessing you don’t have a way to analyze this yourself here, right?” Reed gestured for Olivia to pass him the vial, which she did without a peep.
“No, I don’t. I’d love to, but no.”
“Okay, well, if everyone agrees, I’ll get with Cristian and have him send this to the same discreet lab that analyzed your mother’s blood work, Kane?”
Kane nodded gravely, eyes glued to the single, magically enhanced drop left clinging to the inside of the glass.
“Perfect. You can all get some rest, and Olivia-Oli-would you like someone posted at your door to keep you from sleepwalking out again? This is a new place, and we’d hate for you to be hurt.”
“It’s probably for the best,” she said, shoulders straight, but a tear trailing down her cheek.
“I’ll take care of it,” he murmured, patting her on the shoulder before heading off down the hall with the vial to find Cristian.
“Come on, mate. Back to bed with you, and everyone,” Kane said with a hint of alpha dominance, casting a glance at the rest of us. “Tomorrow’s a busy day, so rest while you can.”
A busy day? We’d just gotten here. He was probably going to be dragged into dozens of political meetings, since everybody and their brother wanted a piece of him now that he was high alpha, but me…
I shook off the melancholy at the idea that nobody needed-let alone wanted
-me. That wasn’t helpful. And as my pack mates began to disperse, I realized that this was the opportunity I’d been waiting for, my chance to talk to Gael alone, without someone or something interrupting us.
He was already halfway back to his room when I called out, “Gael, wait!” I winced as my voice cracked awkwardly on his name.
He froze, hand on the doorknob and shoulders hunched under his extreme desire to be any fucking where but with me. But I couldn’t let that stop me; I needed to apologize and explain. So, I waved off the hovering Shay and Dirge, both of them watching with concern from their own door. Shay’s lips were pressed into a tight line when Dirge finally coerced her through the door to give us a moment. He kissed her on the head and then took up a position in front of Oli’s door, pointedly facing away from us in the best semblance of privacy we were going to get.
When silence fell over the hall once more, I drew a fortifying breath.
“I need to apologize and explain,” I started, then abruptly stopped as he whirled on me.
“You don’t owe me any explanations. You’ve made it very clear that we’re not together, and we didn’t talk about exclusivity.”
“Well, yes, that’s true, but… I’m not that person who just…” I stopped, frustrated tears trying to escape. Damn, pregnancy hormones sucked. “That’s not who I am.”
Gael shrugged one shoulder, but I felt it to the core of my being like a slap. He was indifferent. One careless, cruel statement from me and I’d shattered any chances I had with him. And he’d been trying, before. Before I shoved him out of my life and slammed the door in his face.
A tear escaped, but I angrily swiped at it. I didn’t want him to feel sorry for me, not now. I was trying to explain, not get some twisted pity for the poor sobbing pregnant chick.
“I-“
“I want a paternity test.” He cut me off, apparently out of patience with my stammering and emotions.
The blood in my veins turned cold, and I swayed backward, shocked even though I shouldn’t have been. I’d told him I was with another man. Of course he wanted a paternity test, but?-
“Brielle says it’s safe, a simple blood draw. I’m going to follow up tomorrow and see about getting mine drawn. All I need is for you to provide a sample.”
“Okay,” I whispered, no fight left in me.
This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. I squared my shoulders, forcing myself to try again, even though it felt like he’d hollowed me out without even trying. “But Gael, I didn’t, I haven’t
… I was just angry at you, and?-“
“And after the results come back, we’ll know. And if it’s not mine, you’ll never have to see me again.” His voice held a cold finality, and with one nod, he slipped inside his room and shut the door.
It.
My eyes fell closed at the pain. I should have pounded on the door, blurted it out. Forced him to hear me. But I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t bear the way he looked at me for one more second.
I barely made it into my own room before the waterfall of tears began, leaning against the back of the door as I slowly sank down to the plush carpet. And once they started, they didn’t stop.
TWELVE
Gael