Chapter 78

“What about you? How has maternity leave been treating you?” Harvey sent her a pointed look, his eyes travelling down to glance at the top of her stomach which was nothing compared to the size it had been the last time that he had the pleasure of running into her.

“Well, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m no longer pregnant.” She laughed softly as he feigned confusion even though it was apparent that she had already given birth. While she was still carrying around some pregnancy weight – the swell of her stomach was curvier than it had been before the surrogacy – it was no longer evidently protruding.

“Really? I didn’t even notice.”

Anastasia threw her head back and laughed, once again reminded of the fact that they shared a very similar sense of humour.

“I’m not sure if I should be offended or not.” A mock frown played on her lips, unable to contain the amused twinkle in her eyes.

Harvey chuckled and held his hands up in surrender.

“How are you doing?”

“What exactly do you mean by that?” She cocked a questioning brow.

“Now that you’ve given birth, how do you feel?”

Anastasia took in a deep breath before exhaling slowly, having been asked this question a few times now by a few wolves around the pack and even a few humans around town that had been aware that she had been acting as surrogate for her friends.

“I feel a mix of things.” She found herself admitting honestly. “While I’m really happy and ecstatic about the fact that I was able to help my friends like that and I knew from the very beginning that I wouldn’t be keeping the baby, it feels strange coming home without him.” She murmured quietly. “But that’s expected and it’s actually easier now than it was in the lead-up to labour.”

Harvey nodded in understanding, a soft look in his eyes as he watched her attentively, hanging off her every word as she spoke quietly.

“I know that it was far from easy, even if you knew it would be this way coming into this, so if you ever need to talk, I’m more than happy to lend a listening ear. Even if you need something to distract you, I’m still your man for that.”

“Thank you.” Anastasia whispered, genuinely grateful for the kind and thoughtful gesture.

The moment he reached a hand across the table and placed it down on hers, squeezing gently, her whole body tensed up and a grimace played on her lips. As much as she wanted to brush off his hand and wipe away the feeling on her thigh, Anastasia forced a smile on her face.

Logically, there was no reason as to why this was wrong, or why she shouldn’t let Harvey, a man who was clearly interested in her and believed herself to be worthy of his time and affection, hold her hand. Just because her own mate didn’t want her didn’t mean that no one else ever would.

As the seconds passed, she found herself relaxing under his touch and the tight, forced smile on her face soon began to relax, but before she could squeeze his hand back in signal that it was fine and she was returning the sentiment, a loud bang sounded from the front door, sounding almost as if someone was trying to break in.

Anastasia flinched while Harvey’s body froze and he jumped to his feet, but before either of them could investigate further, another loud bang sounded against the door but this time, it was followed up with a voice, too.

“Anastasia!”

Harvey turned his head sharply to glance at her. “Do you know who that is?”

“Unfortunately, I do.” She sighed and nodded her head, before wiping her mouth on a napkin, dropping it carelessly down on the table and marching out of the kitchen and toward the front door.

As she yanked it open with a deep scowl on her face, Anastasia was met with the glorious sight of her mate, the last person that she had expected to see tonight.

Even though she was still angry at him, she couldn’t help but exhale at the mere sight of him, her body relaxing, not even realising that she had been tense or carrying around a heavy weight these past two weeks. As she was met with the dark gold of his eyes, glistening green flecks in them, she couldn’t control her eyes as they travelled down over his broad shoulders, muscular chest that moved up and down quickly as he breathed heavily. The more her eyes travelled down, the longer she held her breath until finally, a high-pitched squeak passed her lips and she was quick to avert her eyes, having not expected to make direct eye contact with his cock that was currently saluting her despite the evident anger and rage that was pulsing through his body.

“Why the fuck are you naked?” She questioned him a quiet whisper, very aware of the fact that her very much naked, hot and angry mate was standing in front of her while she was enjoying dinner with a wolf that was a little more than just a mate. “And why the fuck are you hard right now?”

“What? No hello?” Marcellus chuckled darkly as he slipped past her into the house, not bothering to wait for her to invite him. Or give her the chance to slam the door in his face, for that matter.

“You can’t be here right now. You need to leave” Anastasia murmured in a desperate plea as she rushed after his naked ass down the hallway, reaching out to clasp her fingers around his wrist, trying to tug him back even though there was no doubt in her mind that he possessed far more strength than he did.

When she tugged on his wrist again, he decided to humour her by coming to a stop at the end of the hallway, only a short distance away from stepping into the living room and being able to spot Harvey whom she had left at the dining table in the kitchen.

“Marcellus? Did you hear me?”

Ignoring her question, Marcellus turned his head to glance at her from over his shoulder with hooded eyes which were still that deep gold which both scared and enthralled her at the same time. “Why don’t you call me Mars?”

“Because I don’t know you like that.” She huffed and rolled her eyes, hating the fact that he had purposely avoided her question. “Did you hear what I said earlier? You can’t be here right now. You need to leave.”

“Why do you want me to leave, my little spitfire?” He chuckled darkly, turning around so she was now greeted with the sight of both his heads, giving her his utmost attention. “Have you got something to hide?”

Anastasia barely had time to gulp and think of a lie as Harvey ventured out of the kitchen to come to a stop behind Marcellus, glancing at her with a puzzled expression on his face from over Marcellus’ shoulder.