Chapter 60
"Fatima," I said, pulling away from the kiss gently. "You know how I feel about this. Even without Jake, you and I would have never been anything more than friends." My voice was firm but kind. I had thought we’d resolved this months ago, the day I told her I was strictly straight. But I could see now that the feelings she had for me still lingered.
She nodded, her face reflecting disappointment, but also understanding. "I know," she murmured softly. "I just needed to get that off my chest. I didn’t want to die without kissing you at least once," she added with a playful grin, trying to lighten the moment.
I couldn’t help but smile. "You’re not going to die on my watch, Fatima."
She hugged me one more time before standing up. "Anyway, we need to get you some food. You and the baby haven’t eaten all day. You’re practically starving, and I won’t have that on my conscience!" she teased, but there was genuine concern in her voice.
I rolled my eyes playfully but knew she was right. "Fine! You win. It’s not exactly healthy to skip meals, is it?" I said, resting a hand on my stomach protectively.
"What would you do without me?" she grinned, crossing her arms, clearly pleased with herself.
"Whatever, woman," I replied with a laugh, standing up to leave the room. As we stepped out into the hallway, the guards resumed their silent vigil, trailing behind us like shadows.
We wandered through the hallways until we found the kitchen. It was vast, with gleaming countertops and rows of shelves stacked high with supplies. Several women were already there, busy preparing supper. I almost groaned—so much for having the place to ourselves. They barely glanced in our direction, continuing their work without a word.
Fatima nudged me and whispered, "Is this how things work here? Do we seriously have to share the kitchen with a million other people?" She exaggerated, her eyes wide in mock horror.
I sighed, shrugging. "It’s a pack, my dear. Everyone is family. We cook together, we eat together, we survive together. That’s how it’s always been."
"You’re absolutely right about that," came a familiar voice from behind me.
I spun around, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw who it was. "Sophie!" I exclaimed, throwing myself at her in a giant bear hug. "Oh my God, I missed you so much!"
She hugged me tightly in return, her laughter bubbling out. "I missed you too, Prisca! You have no idea how lonely it’s been without you here. It wasn’t the same at all."
Pulling back, Sophie held me at arm’s length, her eyes scanning me. "You look exactly the same...except your hair is even longer now! You should totally keep it like this," she said, playfully running her fingers through my long, dark hair.
I chuckled. "Now it's almost as long as yours! And your hair—it’s gorgeous, Sophie," I said, admiring her straight, blonde hair that now cascaded down her back.
Sophie’s laughter echoed through the kitchen. She glanced at the other women, who were now staring at us, curiosity piqued. "Out, all of you," she commanded. The women obeyed immediately, filing out in a neat queue.
Fatima cleared her throat dramatically, and I grinned at her. "Oh, how rude of me! Sophie, this is my friend Fatima. Fatima, meet Sophie. I think I’ve told you about her before."
Fatima’s eyes widened in recognition, and she smiled warmly. "Hi! It’s amazing to finally meet you in person. Prisca’s talked about you all the time."
Sophie raised an amused eyebrow as she shook Fatima’s hand. "Oh really? And what exactly has our dear Prisca been saying about me?"
Fatima laughed. "She said you were a total badass and that you brought great vibes whenever you went to the club together."
Sophie laughed loudly. "That sounds about right. I'm not surprised. It's good to meet you too, Fatima. Beta’s mate, huh? You two are going to be an amazing pair, trust me."
I beamed, thrilled that my two closest friends were finally meeting. "I’m so glad you two are getting along. But enough about me—what’s been going on since I’ve been gone?"
Sophie’s smile faded slightly as she sat down, motioning for us to join her at the kitchen table. "Well, where do I even begin? For starters, Bella is getting ready for the mating ceremony next week. And her mother? She’s pure evil. I don’t trust her father either, no matter how charming he seems. He’s definitely hiding something. And as for Jake, well…he’s changed. Ever since his welcoming ceremony, it’s like he’s gained more power. But it’s not good power, Prisca. He’s been putting all these strict rules in place, and it’s making everyone uneasy."
I frowned. "What kind of rules?"
Sophie sighed. "For one, he’s banned anyone from Avalon from leaving the territory without direct permission from him. It’s ridiculous! We’ve always been free to come and go as we please. And if that’s not bad enough, he’s placed a death penalty on even the smallest offenses. Someone gets caught stealing? They die. No trial, no second chances."
Fatima shook her head, her face incredulous. "That’s insane. Is he trying to become the next dictator or something?"
I leaned back in my chair, feeling a deep sense of unease. "I need to talk to him. He can’t just kill his own people or trap them like prisoners in their own homes. And what’s this about a mating ceremony? I’m back. I’m his real mate. How can this ceremony even be happening?"
Sophie looked at me with a mix of relief and determination. "I’m so glad you’re back, Prisca. Jake needs you. You’re the light in his life, the one thing that can bring him back to himself. And you’re right—we can’t let this ridiculous ceremony go on."
Fatima crossed her arms, her expression darkening. "Who the hell is this Bella chick anyway? And why is Jake even considering mating with her when you’re his real mate?"
I sighed, the weight of it all pressing down on me. "Bella was chosen to give him an heir because…well, because everyone believed I wouldn’t be able to. They didn’t think I could give Jake a child, considering the fact that we’re…different."
Fatima’s eyes flashed with anger. "I’m really starting to hate your Alpha, Prisca. I’m sorry, but he sounds like a complete jerk for letting all this happen to you."
Sophie nodded in agreement. "Trust me, I’ve been furious with him ever since you left. He went absolutely insane, sending thousands of men all over the globe to track you down. He was restless, Prisca, angry all the time. It was like losing you pushed him over the edge."
My eyes widened in disbelief. "He sent thousands of men to search for me, even though he was planning on replacing me with Bella?"
Sophie nodded gravely. "Yeah, Prisca. You should have seen him. He was relentless, sending out men day and night. It wasn’t until Dolly found you that he finally calmed down."
Fatima’s eyebrows shot up. "Wait, did you just say Dolly? Gorgeous girl, looks like she stepped right off a Vogue cover? Perfect body, flawless skin?"
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Yep, that’s her. She’s one of Jake’s top spies and best warriors."
I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and understanding. "I knew there was something off about her. Now it all makes sense. She kept disappearing on me. Turns out, she’s a werewolf too."
Fatima shook her head in disbelief. "This world, Prisca…I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it."
"You will," I assured her. "There are so many secrets here. But one thing is for sure: I’m not letting Jake mate with Bella. Not now that I’m carrying his child."
The room fell silent for a moment, until a voice cut through the stillness like a blade.
"What did you just say?" came a sharp, cold voice.
We all turned, startled. Bella’s mother stood in the doorway, her eyes glinting with malice.
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