24
He nodded. After the amputation, he rarely went out. It was his first solo trip since his injury. He encountered many problems: stairs, sidewalks, hills.
But all his exhaustion vanished upon seeing me.
His wolf, once proud and strong, now felt diminished, weakened by the scars of his body and his failed past. He was nervous but hopeful.“Rosie, that child is not mine. Can you forgive me?”
The wolf inside me was calm, distant, no longer responding to the longing in his voice. It had already found its alpha, and that alpha was Jake.
His wheelchair suddenly rolled backward. Jake appeared, displeased.
“Mr. Grant, what are you now? Rosie’s ex, Wanda’s official partner, or a disabled man seeking sympathy?”
Grant was speechless. Jake continued, “You’re trying to steal my mate! Do I have to remind you that Rosie is married? You’re being a homewrecker! Have you no shame? And don’t tell me you’re not the one who offered to do IVF with another woman before your wedding…”
Grant’s face flushed. He interrupted.“Stay out of this. It’s about me and Rosie!”
Jake scoffed, his wolf growling lowly in his chest, a warning to Grant. I spoke.“That’s ridiculous. Jake’s my mate, and you’re bothering his fated mate. Why should he stay out of this?”
Their reactions were different. Jake sat next to me, savoring what I just said. He looked really happy.
But for Grant, my words were a blow. His wolf wanted to fight for me, but it was no use–Jake was the Alpha now, and nothing could change that. His face paled in disbelief.“You’re defending him? You…”
A baby’s cry interrupted him. He remembered why he was here. I had a daughter with Jake. Jake’s blood, Jake’s scent–the bond was complete.
He realized he had done something really wrong. I patted my daughter, and then glared at him for waking her. As my daughter stopped crying, I asked him to leave.
“You’re not welcome here, Grant. Go.”
