Page 30 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter (Moonbound Mates #3)

PEACHES

I ’m adrift.

I burrow into my nest of Javi’s clothes, the bond wavering, my world collapsing in on me.

I close my eyes and zero in on his location, but all I can get is a steady, slow pulse.

At least I know he’s alive, but that’s cold comfort when I saw him go into the mess hall with a horde of alphas and an Angel.

I didn’t see him come out.

It’s been hours.

My nausea kicks back up again as I wait, and I’m forced to empty my stomach more than once. This can’t be good for the baby—and even as I think about that, it sends me reeling to consider that I’m pregnant.

I’m going to be a mom.

It’s strange and new and I wish I was excited because I love this kid’s father. Back at the den, I dreamed of something like this—of sharing this experience with my best friend, of sitting with my own baby and Charlotte and Maggie…but I’m just scared.

I have to protect her.

And Javi promised he would protect us both, even if it meant his life.

“Where are you, Javi?” I whisper to myself, going back to the window for what feels like the thousandth time.

It’s pitch black out, the floodlights off, the Heavenly Host ship still sitting on the deck.

I can only see because of my lycan senses, and even those are practically useless out here.

No one is even on the deck, still in the main complex of the mess hall.

They could be in there all night, and it’s connected to other buildings—the barracks for visitors and unmated lycan, my father’s throne room, and of course, the brig.

And somewhere in there is Javi, his heart thudding slowly.

My heart leaps into my throat when I see a group of people heading out of the mess toward the Angel’s ship, the creature flanked by his two big guards. I squint to make out their features, finding my father, Abel, a couple others I grew up with…but no Javi.

“Where are you?” I repeat.

Gideon shakes hands with the Angel and they say goodbye as I strain to hear them.

I can’t make anything out through the grimy old window, especially when I’m nervous enough that I hide my face.

I don’t want them to see me watching, and I definitely don’t want them to know I’m trying to listen.

I poke my head up again and watch as the Heavenly Host ship hovers over the deck, the Rig rumbling slightly… and then it zips off into the night.

The floodlights don’t come back on. I guess it must be protocol to leave them off out of courtesy to the Angels.

They don’t tend to like bright lights.

My father diverts course and heads toward the citadel, and I rush away from the window to pretend I wasn’t watching.

I sit down on the bed and dive under the covers, acting like I was sleeping this whole time like I was supposed to be.

Right on cue, I hear the doorknob turn, and he lets himself in unannounced.

“Esther,” he says, the usual hint of cruelty in his voice. “Wake up.”

I open my eyes and look over at him, pulling the blanket to my chin. He crosses his arms and leans against the wall, a sick smile on his face.

I don’t say anything.

I’ll keep following his rules until Javi is safe and back in my arms. I’ll do whatever it takes.

“You’re permitted to speak, Esther,” he says.

I nod. “What can I do for you, Prime?”

I can’t ask about Javi yet, no matter how much I want to.

As far as I know, he’s safe and has just been assigned to some silly task. His heart is still beating, after all, and I don’t want to attract attention.

“Hm…” he says. “Well, you can start my telling me how long you’ve been play acting at being obedient.”

I gulp, my eyes going wide. I’ve always been terrible at hiding my emotions, and now is no exception. Adrenaline surges through me, my wolf threatening to come out to play. In fact, she already has; my fingernails have turned to claws, piercing the sheets in my hands.

“I don’t…I don’t know what you mean,” I whisper.

His usual congenial smile drops, giving way to something horrible.

“Don’t lie to me,” he snarls. “Not anymore, you lying little bitch.”

I pull my knees to my chest, assuming a defensive position. I’m scared, yeah—but there’s a beast inside me that knows I’ll fight to protect the little life Javi and I made together. It gives me strength, reminding me that I’m not alone anymore.

I have a family to take care of—Javi included.

“Where is he?” I ask, emboldened by my lycan fury.

Gideon ignores the question, shaking his head.

“You know,” he says, “it’s funny—I was really starting to believe you were going to be part of our family again.

I thought I had my little girl back! So color me surprised when our guest arrives and shares with me that my daughter and my shiny new son-in-law are planning on stabbing me in the back. ”

He emphasizes those last four words, even gesturing like he’s being stabbed and someone is twisting the knife. I stare at him in disbelief, shocked by how ignorant he is even after everything.

I want to tell him he’s an idiot—that you can’t stab someone in the back when you were never their ally to begin with, that me and Javi were just trying to survive—but I have to stay on task.

“Where is he?” I ask again.

“That’s none of your concern, girl—though I suppose you’re allowed to know he’s alive,” Gideon says. “Because the Angel told me one other, very interesting fact…and that’s that dear Javier already knocked you up.”

The air drains from the room.

My knees go weak. I grip the edge of the chair to keep from collapsing, suddenly nauseous in a way that has nothing to do with hormones.

He knows.

Oh God—he knows.

Not just about the bond. Not just about the rebellion. He knows about the baby. The one I haven’t even said aloud yet. The one I haven’t let myself want , not really, because how could I possibly want something so fragile in a world like this?

I feel exposed. Stripped bare. Like he’s reached into my body and stolen something sacred.

Gideon paces in front of the door, hands on his hips, shaking his head like I’m the one who betrayed him .

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” he snaps. “Tell me the truth for once, Esther!”

Something breaks. Not a crack—something clean. Something hard. The fear doesn’t vanish, not really…but it crystallizes into something sharper. Hotter. More dangerous.

He thinks he can take everything from me—my voice, my dignity, my mate, my child —and I’ll just keep kneeling?

No.

“I’m telling you the truth right now, if you would just listen!” I cry out, swinging my hand toward him in frustration. “I love him and I want him back. Give him to me!”

Gideon stares at me in shock for what feels like an eternity. Then a slow smile appears on his face, cracking his jaw into a rictus grin.

“Finally, you’re honest,” he says. “How refreshing.”

The way he’s smiling makes me want to scream in rage at the same time that it scares the hell out of me. I drop my hands, my breath ragged, tears on the verge of spilling down my cheeks.

“Please,” I whisper. “I’m begging you.”

Gideon chuckles to himself and starts pacing again, his hands on his hips. He glances up at me, then to the door, then back again. He takes in the sight of me—what’s obviously a nest, Javi’s clothes positioned around me.

“You’re just like your mama,” he says. “Should’ve known from the beginning that you needed to be broken. She was a bad influence.”

I close my eyes and the first tears stream down my cheeks.

Gideon laughs.

I’m not even in a position to defend her. I have to get Javi back first.

“My first instinct was to take lover boy and give you to Abel instead,” Gideon says. “You’re already pregnant—and Abel knows how to treat a woman, unlike that no-good mercenary you’ve shacked up with. But now…no. I think I have an even better idea.”

I bite my lip so hard it bleeds, copper mingling with salt.

“Please,” I ask—one last, desperate appeal for mercy. Gideon grins at me again, his blind eye boring into me.

“You sit tight, sweetheart,” he says. “I’ll be right back.”

And with that, he leaves me alone with my thoughts…and with the baby I have to protect.