“You don’t have to do that.You can keep working at the ranch, and besides, I need to ...wait to make sure.”
Astrid frowned.“To make sure what?”
“That you’re not pregnant.I didn’t use any protection last night, and you could be pregnant.”
She wanted to put her hand on her stomach.How stupid was this?She had fallen for a guy who saw her as a convenience, and now he wanted to keep an eye on her in case she was pregnant.This is what her life had come to.
How she kept from crying was beyond her.The pain was crushing her, but she ignored it.
The logical part of her brain was telling her to go back and do her job.To get over this.People had sex and moved on all the time.She could do this as well.The alternative was admitting she had messed up to her parents, and the town knowing something had happened.She didn’t want that.
She stepped out of her parents’ home and ignored Lord’s waiting truck, instead opting to walk back to his home.This time, Astrid was going to be different.
****
Two Months Later
Astrid was not pregnant, and another full moon was approaching.
Lord felt his wolf.It was a Friday, and the full moon was next week.
Ever since Astrid had gotten her menstrual cycle, she had been a changed woman.Life with her was different.The food was amazing, and the men had nothing to complain about, but Astrid was different.
First, she was never around when he was.If he entered a room, she left.She never spoke to him.In the past two months, the only time he heard her speak was if she didn’t know he was there.She talked to Blake and the guys, but never to him.When he did stay home, she avoided him.
He figured she couldn’t keep this up, but she somehow managed it.Christmas had come and gone, and her parents had extended the cruise to last over the festive period.
Like Thanksgiving, Astrid had gone to her parents’ place to spend the time, only returning when the ranch hands had so she could cook for them.He hated it.
Astrid had left to go out dancing.He didn’t know if it was to go out doing actual dancing, but she’d gone to the freaking bar, the only bar in town where wolves and humans mingled together.He just knew that was not going to end well.
“Fuck!”He wasn’t paying attention to what he hammered, and slammed it on his thumb.Dropping the hammer, he looked at his thumb, and it was red but not broken or bruised.
He needed to get his head in the game.
“You okay?”Blake asked, coming into the barn.
“Yeah, I’m fine.I thought you left,” Lord said.
“I called the wife, told her I was going to be a bit late tonight.Figured you needed someone to talk to.”
“I don’t talk.”
“Come on, Lord, everyone can see a difference in Astrid, and you’re not exactly handling it well.”
“There is nothing to handle.She has her own life and I have mine.”
Blake sighed.“Fine.You’re happy with the way shit is, that is up to you, but just so you know, someone else is going to realize that Astrid is a keeper.She’s a damn good woman, and you want to keep being an asshole, that is up to you.”
“What the fuck do you want from me?”
“I want you to be happy.Astrid makes you happy.I get it, you’re happy being a lone wolf and not needing anyone, and you can do everything on your own.I get that, but don’t you want to be happy?Didn’t it feel good to be with Astrid?”
“Don’t talk about her.”
“You’re so freaking stubborn.You can’t even see that you and her are meant to be together.You know what, fine.I’m sure you would be happy with her being with the Enzos of the world, or any guy that will marry her and settle down.Living near her, knowing what you could have had, but no longer can, because you’re a stubborn asshole.I tried.”
And with that, Blake stormed out of the barn, and Lord heard him go straight to his truck and angrily pull out of his driveway.
