Chapter 35

I felt almost normal by the time I walked into the kitchen the next morning. I’d gotten a prenatal appointment scheduled first thing, only a couple of minutes after the hospital opened, and having started that process made me feel much better. At least I was doing something to take care of the pup, even if I couldn’t fix things with the pack school.

I was still completely stuck about what to do, but I knew I had to try. But first, I needed to find some crackers and ginger tea, so I could try to function well enough for the rest of the day to figure out what my next move should be.

I stutter stepped to a halt as soon as I walked in.

Hunter was standing at the fridge with his back to me, rifling through it.

He was whistling.

I could tell from the tilt of his shoulders that he was relaxed, at ease. Just looking for something to eat after his evening’s exertions, I thought bitterly.

Or bringing Maya breakfast in bed. I gagged.

He spun around to face me. I must have made a noise.

“Oh, hi,” he said quickly. “How are you feeling?”

I nearly retched again. How dare he ask me how I was feeling when he’d just come from bed with another woman.

But then again, I still needed his help. I’d nearly forgotten why I’d gone to his room in the first place, distracted by catching them in the act, then by my fainting spell.

As much as I hated it, I still had to ask him to try to pull some strings on the Alpha Council for me.

“I need to tell you something,” I started hesitantly. His eyes widened as I started to talk, then narrowed as I reached the part about the meeting. I knew that look.

He was disappointed in me.

“How could you let this happen?” He asked, jaw tense.

I didn’t know what to say. I almost wanted to tell him about Maya’s smile and my suspicions, but stopped myself. There was no chance he’d believe me. Especially not after last night.

I wondered if it would do anything, even if he did believe me.

Somehow, I didn’t think so. Even if he thought she’d sabotaged me, I had a feeling he would protect her.

“Is there anything you can do?” I asked instead. “Anyone on the Alpha Council you can talk to? Someone who could pull some strings with the planning commission?”

“ I can’t,” he replies through thin lips. “I won’t jeopardize my position to cover up your error.”

“But it wasn’t—“

“I don’t want to hear it. Just find a way to fix it. Or else.”

Anger broiled under my embarrassment.

“Or else what?” I spat.

He didn’t reply, just turned on heel and left the room.

I panicked, then fumed. How could he be that insensitive, that unhelpful? It was the good of his pack, and he wouldn’t help me. I hardly thought they were going to kick him off the Council because he asked for help.

My chest deflated, and I looked down at my feet. What was I going to do?

Suddenly, I knew.

It wouldn’t fix this situation, but there was only one place I wanted to be.

I needed to go to and see the one person in the world who actually cared about me.

The smell of strong disinfectant wafted around me as I entered the long-term care facility. It was clinical and chemical, but still smelled like home, because she was here.

Grandmother.

I knocked on her door, and felt fear for a moment when there was no answer. But then there was a shuffling, and slow movement inside. She’d been here for years, in end-stage renal failure. She’d hung on for much longer than any of us or her doctors thought she would make it.

I felt my cheeks redden at the thought. I was still furious with Hunter, but I couldn’t deny it: his money had paid for the best facility and best care for one of the people I loved most in the world. Who knew if she’d still be alive without him.

The door opened.

She was smiling broadly, but looked much smaller than last time I’d seen her. Had she been that frail the last time?

“Hello dear,” she beamed, wrinkled face brightening. “I’m so glad to see you. Come in, please.”

She led me in, past the dialysis machine to the kitchen table, then began to fill the kettle.

“Let me, grandma,” I started to say, but she cut me off.

“No, no, I’ve been sitting all day—I’m strong enough to do one little thing for you. Instant coffee?”

“Yes please—” I started, then caught myself. “Um, maybe tea actually.”

I saw her body still for a moment, but she didn’t speak. She brought our drinks to the table one by one, and set them down with shaking hands.

She sat down and studied me. Her expression was all love and concern.

“You’re pregnant,” she said finally.

“How on earth did you know that?” I asked. There was absolutely no point in lying to her about it.

Besides, I found that I didn’t want to. I’d had enough of secrets for a while.

“As soon as I saw your face, I knew something was different. I was almost sure by the time I’d seen the way you walked to the table. And when you said ‘no’ to coffee, I was certain.”

I didn’t speak, just nodded slowly.

“Are you okay?” she asked, more softly. I couldn’t begin to express how grateful I felt that the first thing she said wasn’t about Hunter or anything other than me.

I started talking then, and was surprised to find that I couldn’t stop.

She made me more cups of tea as I told her everything: from Maya’s arrival through finding out about the pup—the attacks and Adrian coming back into my life—the pack school and Sean and my plans to leave. Plans that I couldn’t seem to put into practice, though I thought about little else.

She nodded along with my story, looking thoughtful and wise. She didn’t ask any questions or interrupt me for any reason. She must know that if I stopped talking before I was finished, I might not be able to start again.

I finally finished, and she scooted her chair closer to mine with a great effort. She ran her thin fingers over my forehead, brushing the hair away.

“And how do you feel about Hunter now?” She asked after a moment.

“I hate him and I still love him as much as I ever did.”

It was simple, when I put it like that. Simple and heartbreaking and impossible.

“I won’t tell you what to do. You’re smart and capable and I know that you can make the right choices here. But I’ll say one thing. Your loyalty isn’t to Hunter anymore. It can’t be. The only one you have to be loyal to is that pup. Whether or not you love Hunter, you need to find a way to get out. You need to be with someone who loves only you.”