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“No, it’s not your fault..” She said, going to the stove top to put the kettle on. “He’s been different since we arrived back here.”
She took a tea bag out of the packet and popped it into her cup, the one she favored the most, with roses and flowers painted on the outside.
When she twisted around, there was a secret smile on her face. “Maybe we should leave? Go travel around the country. See Alaska. What do you two think?”
“Ah...” Kyle glanced at me, panic clear in his eyes.
We’d talked about this as well and come to the same conclusion, it wasn’t the smartest move to try and travel at the moment.
I walked over to Monique, whose hopeful tones would have fooled almost anyone else. Not me. She wanted to stay, but she also wanted to be happy.
“We could, if you really want to. But running and hiding isn’t healthy, for you, or the baby. Plus, I’m pretty sure you want to build a life here with Xander and his pack, don’t you?”
She pressed her luscious lips into an indignant thin line.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, I thought so. How about we get Kyle to start introducing us to some people, get out there again?”
Monique nodded, but sniffed as though holding back tears.
“Or maybe we could go away for a few weeks?” Kyle said. “A short vacation would be nice. And I’ve never seen Alaska.”
I glanced over at him. “That wasn’t what we discussed the other day.”
“The other day I didn’t know she was pregnant.” Kyle said, then his lips quirked up on one side. “Though I should have. She’s had an unusual smell for a week now.”
Monique scowled at him. “What do you mean?”
Kyle chuckled and raised his hands. “I don’t mean it in a bad way. You just smell... different.”
The sliding door to the bathroom opened and a freshly washed and half-dressed Xander stormed out.
I automatically stepped closer to Monique, wanting to shield her from whatever vitriol was coming her way.
Xander noticed the move and sighed heavily. “I’m not going to hurt her. I just wanted to ask what the news was. I’m sorry I was an ass before.”
I stared at him to assess whether he was serious about his apology, and once I was sure he was contrite, I moved out of the way. But I didn’t go far, I leaned against the wall near the kitchen and watched him approach Monique.
Xander ran a shaking hand through his hair before walking closer. “I’m truly sorry my pack hasn’t welcomed you the way we thought they would, Monique. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Monique reached her arms out to him and the big stupid wolf went right to her. He swept her up into his arms and carried her to the couch, where he sat with her in his lap, her head cradled under his chin.
I moved closer, anger making my hands clench and my jaw tighten.
We don’t belong here. We should go.
“Monique wants to go away for a while,” I told him, not waiting for her to speak. “I think she needs a break, for her health more than anything.”
The wolf shifter didn’t rise to the bait, nor did he get angry like I expected him to. Instead, he pulled back as Monique looked up at him and asked. “Are you okay? What’s happened?”
She cupped his face and told him the news. “I’m pregnant.”
“You’re...” Xander’s eyes went wide, then a big, stupid grin split open his face. “You’re pregnant? That’s fantastic! Oh my god.”
He pulled her closer, kissing her lips, her face, her hair. Holding her tight and showing the same enthusiasm we had.
Damn it.
I sat down on the couch opposite them, feeling strangely trapped once again. No place to go. Nowhere to turn. I couldn’t leave Monique now, and yet she was tied to this man, to his pack. To the possibility of lifting a curse we still knew very little about.
