Page 10 of Bullied Pregnant Mate (Silver Meadows Wolves #7)

When I wake up the next morning, the sun is high and bright. It’s still early, around seven, but I’m surprised that I slept at all. I thought I’d toss and turn all night, and watch the sun rise.

As I swing my feet over the edge of the bed, a groan of pain streaks through me. My muscles are knotted up, and all my joints are screaming.

Patrol really took it out of me. I don’t think I’ve exercised like that for years. Maybe I never have.

I wander slowly to the bathroom, stretching a bit as I walk and feeling my body begin to loosen up.

Probably didn’t help at all that I was twisted up with sexual frustration half the night.

Even though I have no idea how to face Alisa this morning, I’m still looking forward to it. There’s an awkwardness in me, now that I’ve seen her naked. I don’t really know how to act, but at the same time, I just want to talk to her, and be with her.

When I walk past her door, it’s closed. I can’t hear any noise from inside. I tiptoe past, not wanting to disturb her.

I’ll let her sleep in and have a nice breakfast ready when she wakes up.

In the kitchen, I get started on the pancakes and put the coffee on. Humming quietly to myself, I make an effort to be quiet so I won’t wake Alisa with a careless clash of pans on the stove.

I’ve always found cooking to be soothing, and I love doing it to give people pleasure. Often, at my all-night parties, I’d just start throwing together pancakes and omelets at three in the morning, and then my huge dining area would be full of drunk, half-passed-out friends.

Those were the days, huh? Everyone’s too grown up for that now.

Maybe I should grow up, too.

Before I get a chance to really contemplate that idea, a terrified scream rips through the silence.

I don’t even think, I just sprint towards the sound. Only at this moment do I realize that the big sliding doors leading out to the deck are wide open.

It’s Alisa! She’s outside!

I shift mid-run, hurling myself down the long deck by the pool. I see Alisa running towards me, leaping up the back steps and charging towards the house. She sees me, and her face immediately crumples with relief.

Don’t stop running! Get behind me!

As if she can hear my thoughts, Alisa keeps going. I hear her footsteps thudding on the wooden deck behind me as I leap down the steps into the backyard.

There are two wolves coming right at me, and I don’t hesitate for a second. I hurl myself at the one closest to me. We hit the ground in a pile of wrestling limbs and flashing teeth.

We roll across the grass, twisting around each other like snakes. I try to snap my teeth shut on his throat, but I’ve never been in a fight before, and the other wolf stays out of my reach. I start to feel very uneasy as I realize he could have gotten me several times, but he doesn’t make any direct attempt to injure me.

What the hell is going on?

I pull back from the other wolf, bounding away a few steps before I turn and face them. I expect the second one to charge me, but to my shock, he keeps his distance.

Both of them stare at me, and I recognize the big, black wolf I saw last night.

They can’t be Ancient Ones. They aren’t big enough. But I don’t know them.

Again, the familiar scent drifts to me. It’s maddening, almost recognizable, but I’m sure I’ve never encountered it before. I raise my head and sniff, trying to get more information. The moment I move, the other two turn and bolt into the forest.

I’m so shocked that for a moment, all I can do is stand and watch them go. I’m drawn to follow them, but more than anything, I need to find out if Alisa is okay.

If they’ve hurt her…

I turn and bound back to the house, running faster than I ever have in my life. When I reach the back door, I see her sitting at the table with her head in her hands. Fear floods through me.

She’s hurt!

I shift as I walk through the door, crossing the distance to her in three long strides. I put my hand on her shoulder gently.

“Alisa, are you alright? Come on, let’s take you to the hospital.”

“No, no, I’m okay,” she says. “Just completely out of breath.”

She looks up at me, and her beautiful pale eyes widen in shock. “Jenks, I’m not hurt, but you are! Oh my God, these wounds are bad! We have to get you some help.”

“I can barely feel it,” I say dismissively. “Besides, I’m a shifter. It will heal soon enough.”

I’m actually in a fair bit of pain since I’ve never really been wounded or been in a fight, but I don’t want Alisa to worry.

I’d also rather not advertise the fact that I’m not used to this. I want her to know I can and will protect her.

“I don’t believe you,” she argues. “Where do you keep your medical supplies?”

“There’s a kit in the bathroom. Seriously, it’s fine. You don’t need to worry.”

“But I am worried,” she says, standing up and putting her hands on my shoulders. “You sit down, and don’t move until I get back.”

She puts pressure on my shoulders, so I sit down at the table and watch her head down the hall. While she’s gone, I remember that I’m buck-ass naked and grab a spare pair of trunks from the cupboard at the back door that’s stocked with towels, swimsuit, and pool toys.

When Alisa gets back, her face is drawn with worry. I’m touched that she cares so much, but I hate seeing her this upset.

“Okay, you just stay still,” she says, opening the kit. She gets a bit of gauze and soaks it with mild disinfectant before wiping blood off my wounds as gently as she can.

“You’re right—most of these are healing,” she says. “This gash on your shoulder is a little deep, but otherwise, they barely touched you.”

“Hmm,” I mutter, distracted by the feel of her warm fingers on my skin. Her touch is soothing and thrilling at the same time.

I’d love to relax and enjoy this, but I’m too anxious about those two wolves.

“Who were they, Jenks?” Alisa asks. “Were they from Decker?”

“I don’t know,” I mutter, wondering how much I should tell her. I don’t want to scare her or upset her, but at the same time, she’s my wife. She deserves to know everything, and I could really use her support.

Last night, it was just a fleeting glimpse. It could have been anything. But today, they’re at my house, targeting my wife.

“Alisa,” I say, sighing, “I don’t really know what to do about this situation. I mean, I know I have to tell Bae, but I’m not sure what’s going on.”

“Well, of course you have to tell Bae. This kind of attack is exactly what they’re watching out for, isn’t it?”

“It’s not just the attack,” I answer. “There’s more to it.”

“Well, by all means, tell me,” she says, sitting down next to me. She turns her chair so she can take my hand. “If you want to confide, I’m ready to listen.”

I look into her beautiful, crystal-like eyes, and I feel something deep in my chest.

I’ve never had anyone in my life I could really trust before.

“Okay,” I reply. “Last night, I saw one of those wolves. When I was out on patrol.”

“Do you know them?”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so. They definitely aren’t from our pack. I lived in Silverton for a bit and worked in the main bar, but it doesn’t mean I know everyone there. Sure, it’s a small town, but plenty of people live out in the hills. Those wolves could be from there.”

“They’re our enemies,” she replies. “You have to tell the others.”

“I know. But here’s the thing. He didn’t attack me last night.”

Alisa frowns. “Why? Isn’t that the whole point of patrol, to check out if the enemy wolves are around? Surely, they came here to check our defenses. Maybe he just didn’t attack because he was alone.”

“Maybe,” I agree. “It’s not like I’m good with this kind of stuff. I probably should have reported it to Bae right away, but I wasn’t sure if it meant anything. Then after I got home, I… I, ah, got distracted.”

Alisa smiles and even laughs a little. We look into each other’s eyes, and a feeling of warmth grows between us. I smile back, and it seems like we are perfectly in sync.

When I reach up to stroke her cheek, she jumps a little in her seat. I take my hand back, a slight ache of disappointment in my chest.

She’s not ready yet, and that’s okay.

“Why were you outside so early?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Oh, there were some great witchy vibes coming out of the forest,” she answers. “I didn’t sleep well, so when I was up early, I just went straight out. I was feeling really good until the wolves showed up.”

“Did you feel anything? Like, from a witch’s point of view, was there anything strange about them?”

She shakes her head. “I thought they had to be from our pack. It’s not like I’d recognize anyone in their wolf shape, and I can’t identify by scent like you can. It wasn’t until they attacked me that I realized they had to be our enemies.”

“They really attacked you?”

“Yes,” she says a little indignantly.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to come out as if I don’t believe you, because I do, but they didn’t attack me. Between the two of them, they could have ripped me apart, but they didn’t. I thought if they approached you and you got scared and ran, maybe they weren’t really hostile.”

“No, they definitely were,” she confirms. “Both had teeth bared and were snarling at me. I could sense the threat coming off them in waves. They definitely wanted to hurt me.”

“But not me,” I say. “What the hell is going on here?”

Alisa shakes her head. “Something much deeper than pack politics, that’s for sure. This isn’t a random visit.”

“I agree. I don’t even know how to explain this to Bae.”

“You’ll have to,” she says seriously. “This is something they need to know for sure.”

“Yeah, I know,” I say with a sigh. “One day as a fully responsible pack member, and this is the kind of deal I get stuck with. I knew this stuff would be complicated.”

She smiles, squeezing my hand. “At least neither of us got hurt. That’s the only thing that matters.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Alisa sits up a little, looking over my shoulder. “Is that pancake batter I see?”

“It sure is,” I answer, chuckling.

“How about we have breakfast before we get going?”

“I think that’s a great idea,” I agree, standing up.

“I should finish it,” she protests. “You got all banged up.”

“All healed already,” I answer, doing a little spin so she can see. “My wounds are gone. Besides, they didn’t even want to hurt me. You had to run for your life.”

“Okay,” she says with a cheeky grin. “You’ve convinced me. Just let me know if you need any help.”

“I won’t need help. You just wait right here, and I’ll bring you some coffee.”

“Jenks,” she says softly. I turn around and she’s staring out into the forest, a strange, still look on her face.

“Yes?”

“We need to be careful from now on. All of us.”

The tone of her voice spooks me more than the blank look on her face. I hurry to make the coffee, wondering what she can sense out there, and what it means for us.