Chapter 57
I woke up feeling like I was floating on air. The bed beneath me felt like it was made of the softest feathers, and my entire body tingled with a sense of well-being. It was an odd feeling because, after Jake bit into my mark, I usually woke up feeling the complete opposite—irritable, sore, and aching all over. I sat up, blinking twice to adjust to the dim light of the room. Darkness had already settled outside, indicating that I had probably been out for hours. A groan escaped my lips as I instinctively placed my hand on my belly.
Jake was reckless. Was biting me even safe for the baby? I felt good, better than ever, but that didn’t mean it was okay for him to keep biting into my mark while I was pregnant. The way he was acting lately—so domineering, so different—wasn't sitting well with me, but what bothered me more was the fear that he might be putting our child at risk. I had so many questions, and no clear answers.
Restless, I swung my legs out of bed and began pacing the room. I had been caught and brought back here by Jake—my frustratingly idiotic mate. He had always been strong, but now, there was something different about him. I could smell it, feel it, even sense it in the way he moved. His whole demeanor had shifted since he took up the mantle of being a royal. What did that even mean for us? For me? For our child?
My thoughts spiraled. The danger wasn’t just about me anymore. I had to protect the baby growing inside me, and if I wasn’t careful, Jake’s newfound power—or whatever this transformation was—might jeopardize everything. And then there was Fatima. She had been dragged into this world because of me, and now, I couldn’t afford to let anything happen to her either.
Fear twisted in my stomach as I imagined all the potential threats. I had enemies, some I knew of, and some I likely hadn’t even encountered yet. What if they found out about the baby? My heart pounded in my chest as a wave of anxiety washed over me. I needed to talk to Fatima, get her perspective. She always had a way of calming me down, making sense of things when I couldn't.
Determined, I left Jake’s room and began to trace Fatima’s scent through the winding halls. The familiar smell of her perfume lingered faintly, but another scent—a stronger, more dominant one—soon overwhelmed it. Jake’s scent. My wolf pricked up at the smell of him, unwilling to let me ignore it. Reluctantly, I found myself following his trail, my feet moving almost on their own accord. It led me down a long corridor and into the entrance of a large hall. The doors were slightly ajar, and I could hear voices. There was a conversation happening inside, and it sounded important.
"My Lord, you must understand, having a witch in Avalon is against everything we stand for," an elderly voice spoke, harsh and authoritative. "She is both a witch and a wolf, which makes her existence here even more problematic. Despite her being your mate, this cannot be allowed. Please, reconsider."
I froze behind the door, my breath catching in my throat. I carefully masked my scent, a trick I had perfected over the years, one even Jake hadn’t realized I was capable of. Eavesdropping wasn’t something I took pleasure in, but I needed to know what they were saying about me. I leaned against the cold stone of the doorway, listening intently.
"I am a hybrid too," Jake’s voice cut through the room, cool and controlled. "Will you banish me for it?"
"My Lord, this is different," the elder protested. "You were born to lead us, to be our Alpha. You are not a witch. You must see the distinction."
Jake’s voice dripped with authority, making it clear that the discussion was not up for debate. "As your leader, my decisions are final. My mate is not going anywhere. She was given to me by the Moon Goddess herself. Who are you to question the will of the Goddess? This meeting is over. There is nothing more to discuss."
There was a pause, and then a new voice chimed in. A woman’s voice—smooth and poisonous. "What about your promise to mate the red wolf? You must know that your commitment to her is critical in securing the alliance with the Scots. We are your family now. You cannot break that bond."
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up at the mention of the red wolf. My wolf stirred inside me, growling protectively. The thought of anyone coming between Jake and me made my blood boil. It didn’t matter that I was mad at him, that he had frustrated me beyond belief. He was still my mate, and these people were trying to tear us apart.
Jake’s voice remained calm, though there was a sharp edge to it. "The red wolf is not my concern. I will handle that situation in my own way. The arrangement for mating was made for the sake of producing an heir, nothing more."
The woman scoffed. "It’s not just about an heir, it’s about loyalty to the people. To the clan."
"I am loyal to the people, not to her," Jake growled, his patience wearing thin. "I am your Alpha, and you will not question my decisions again. Keep interfering, and I will not hesitate to remove you. Now, is there anything else?"
The room fell into silence, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I took that as my cue to leave before anyone noticed I had been listening. Silently, I retraced my steps down the corridor and resumed tracking Fatima’s scent. My heart sank as I approached her room and picked up the unmistakable scent of arousal. Fatima’s and Chris’s scents were intertwined.
I stopped just short of the door, pressing my ear against it to make sure she was okay. Her soft moans told me everything I needed to know. Fatima had let down her guard with Chris, something I hadn’t expected. My initial worry that she might be in trouble faded, replaced by a strange sense of relief. She had someone now, someone to protect her besides me. I should’ve been happy, but instead, I felt a small pang of betrayal. She had always been so adamant about not getting involved with wolves, about hating this world. Yet, here she was, giving in.
What now?
I decided to explore the rest of the mansion, anything to avoid running into Jake again. As I walked down the endless stairs—I swear there were a million—I couldn’t help but feel like a stranger in this place. Everything about Avalon felt foreign and hostile. Even the walls seemed to whisper that I didn’t belong here.
When I finally reached the courtyard, the night had settled in fully. A few people were gathered around, chatting, drinking, and laughing as if nothing in the world was wrong. I wandered toward a young girl, no more than fourteen, who was packing supplies into a basket. She looked up at me as I approached, and her eyes widened in shock.
"Witch!" she screamed, pointing at me with trembling hands.
Before I could react, a group of bulky men surrounded me, their growls echoing in the dark. I barely had time to defend myself before one of them grabbed my arm, twisting it painfully behind my back. I was slammed to the ground, face-first, with the man’s knee digging into my spine, pinning me to the dirt.
"What the hell are you doing in our territory, devil?" he snarled, his voice dripping with hatred.
My cheek pressed into the cold earth, and I groaned in frustration. "Get off me, you idiot! I’m Jake’s mate!"
But my words didn’t seem to matter. The men continued to growl and press their weight down on me, making it clear that no amount of reasoning would get me out of this. For the first time since arriving in Avalon, I realized just how truly alone I was.
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