Chapter 206

Fiona

“How did it go?” Mrs. Denton asks, sipping at the cup of steaming tea I made for her.

“It was great,” I say and dig in my pocket. “They let us bring home these pictures. It’s a bit early but look at the little legs and the arms.”

Turning the printed image to her, I watch as her eyes go from an excited interest to a softer awe. She sits back in the chair, takes the picture gently in her fingers, and stares at the blurry image.

“Oh, I hope you cherish this moment,” she whispers. There’s a hint of sadness in her eyes as she looks up at me again and passes the picture back to me.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, honey. I just wish James and I had been able to have children,” she says softly, and I pause. I didn’t realize. Ethan said they never had kids, but I didn’t know it was something that wasn’t their choice.

As if she can sense my thoughts, Mrs. Denton raises her hand and smiles a bit, “It’s nothing to be sorry about, Fiona. I was injured at a young age and even though I healed, there were lasting effects. James and I came to terms with our loss a long time ago, and everything is fine.”

“Are you sure? I can put the picture awa—”

“No, I love seeing how excited you are. I’m sorry for dampening the mood,” she tells me by laying a hand on my arm. I study her for a minute, and other than the little bit of sadness, she still looks happy for me.

Still, I don’t want to dredge up unhappy memories for her, so I try to think of a way to move the conversation along.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” a woman says, making both of us look up.

Ethan’s mother and a younger, unknown-to-me, woman walk up to our table. I should have expected someone to interrupt us since we’re not exactly in a private area, but I’d hoped people would be nice enough to keep to themselves.

The two women glare at me before turning their catty sneers on Mrs. Denton.

“The two humans,” the younger woman hisses. “Of course, you would gather like germs here. You need to leave.”

“And why would we do that?” I ask, standing. I don’t like how they think they can order us around just because we’re human. This girl doesn’t even know me.

She scoffs and tosses her hair over her shoulder, staying silent like not saying anything makes her better than me. I turn and look at Ethan’s mother, and she still has that high and mighty tilt to her chin as she looks down her nose at me.

“Because you don’t belong here. No matter what spell you have on my son, sooner or later, he’ll drop you like the trash you are,” his mother snaps. Her nose wrinkles like she smelled something bad, and I roll my eyes.

Is she seriously still saying this? Every time I see her, it’s the same thing over and over. I’m still here, so she clearly doesn’t understand what’s going on.

“I don’t believe I’ll be going anywhere,” I tell her, crossing my arms over my chest, “At least, not anywhere without Ethan. You see, we’re fully mated. I don’t care what you think about me, but you need to leave me alone.”

“Leave because the only unwanted people here are you two,” Mrs. Denton says, stepping up to my back. I told Ethan that I wouldn’t let anyone push me around, and I stand by what I say. Not even his parents can bully me.

I want to be here, so I will do what it takes to stay.

“My cousin is clearly insane if he thinks you’ll make a good mate or Luna,” the younger woman says, and I realize why she looks familiar. She looks a lot like Ethan’s mom, which makes since they’re related.

“Well, it’s good that it’s his choice and not yours.”

Ethan’s cousin glares menacingly at me, mouthing something that I can only imagine is a threat. Like a child, I stick my tongue out at her, laughing when her eyes nearly pop out of her head.

With that, I take Mrs. Denton’s hand and walk out of the pack’s coffee shop. They don’t get to tell me how to live my life. They should realize that they’d be much happier if they let go of things that don’t concern them

“Hey, pretty lady.”

I whip my head up as two men suddenly stop in front of me, their rough appearances immediately putting me on alert.

The one on the left smirks while the one on the right reaches out to me.

“Don’t touch me,” I bark, stepping back and out of his reach. Now, he smirks. I glance around but find no one walking near me. Had I gone too far off the path?

The pack house should be around here somewhere, so I didn’t think anyone would bother me if I walked, but I was clearly wrong.

“Has anyone told you that you have the most intoxicating scent?” One of the men asks, and I pin a disgusted glare on him. I try to keep my eyes on both of them, but the other one circles me. I can’t keep both of them in my vision, and that thought sends a zip of fear into my gut.

“Leave me alone.”

I try to go around them, but again, they move in front of me, keeping me from leaving.

“Pregnant females shouldn’t be out alone without their mate. Someone may come and snatch you up, little female,” the dark haired one hisses, reaching out to touch me again.

Panic bubbles in my chest as I dodge his hand, but that makes me run into the other man. His hands clamp down on my arms painfully, sniffing loudly.

“Ripe for the taking.”

I nearly puke from his words, thrashing to get out of his hold.

“Fiona?! What’s wrong?” Ethan’s voice in my head makes me gasp.

“There’s two guys grabbing me!”

“Where?” The growl in his voice has me jerking even harder to get away.

“I-I don’t know. I was walking back from the coffee shop!”

A hand circles my throat, and I cry out, scared as the man drags me back.

“Who are you talking to, little female?”

“Her mate!”

Something slams into the man in front of me before ripping the man off my back. Ethan shifts as soon as they’re off of me, snarling and biting. His teeth sink into the first man’s leg, just before he releases and swipes sharp claws down the back of the other man.

As they fall to the ground, so do I. Tears pour out of my eyes and I cry, “Ethan!”

His wolfy head whips toward me, a growl falling from his snout as he runs to me, shifting midway and scooping me up.

“I’ve got you. You’re safe,” he murmurs as darkness takes over my vision.