“And so you shall have a child.” The wolf’s voice penetrated my ears. “With Alec.”
My head snapped up toward him. That rabid mutt was out of the picture completely, and now his chances to win Isabella had rocketed to the roof.
I couldn’t give her what she wanted unless a fucking miracle happened and I could impregnate her sick womb now, but that only meant she couldn’t turn on Halloween or the infant’s destiny would be at risk.
Alec could, but he was too jealous to stay.
That left her one option. That smirking wolf over there that had just waltzed in, still playing the Good Samaritan.
“Kayden.” She threw herself into his arms. “How long have you been here?”
He took in a deep breath. “Long enough to hear everything.”
I was too consumed by my fury to detect his smell or hear his pulse.
“Where’s Alec?” she asked.
His ugly brows hitched. “Don’t worry. He will be back.”
She fiddled with her thumbnail. “You don’t have to lie to me. I know he’s left. He doesn’t want to be a part of this anymore. Why would he when there’s always the next life, right?”
“I know my brother. His stubbornness and temper get in the way sometimes, but he always comes back to his senses.”
I rolled my eyes, fed up with the charade. “I’m going out.”
Finally, she left the wolf’s embrace, and I regained her attention. “You’re leaving me, too?”
I savored her beautiful face and stroked her hair. “No, my love. I will fight for you till the last second, even if I know I’ve already lost. I just need a walk.”
“To sink your teeth into something?” Kayden taunted.
“YES! Another moment of listening to your bullshit, and thatsomethingwill be your neck.”
“Now who’s talking bullshit? In your dreams, Bloodsucker.” His disgusting voice trailed behind me as I blurred out.
CHAPTER 32
BELLE
The only sun I’d felt on my skin for weeks was through the bay windows. Now, it speckled my face and dress as I strolled down to the clearing I’d only heard of from the boys.
Joshua and Kayden prepared a picnic under the willow tree. Sandwiches, coffee, bourbon. The brown bears were chilling on the other side across from us, rolling in the tangle of grass and wildflowers. It was so beautiful. Peaceful. I even saw a female deer, and out of respect, none of the beasts hunted her.
“Thank you for this. I really needed to go out,” I said.
Joshua cradled my hand in his palms and planted a soft kiss on it. “Anything to bring back your beautiful smile.”
“You look so beautiful in that red dress. Reminds me of the first day we met in this life.” Kayden pecked my cheek.
I chuckled, feeling the rivalry between the two, and blushed at the memory; that red dress of my birthday was barely on me when we met.
My gaze trained on the bears. They looked so cute, playing together, rubbing each other’s bellies. “How are they your brothers?”
“Bear father, wolf mother,” Kayden answered.
“Is that possible?”
“Yes. We come from an ancient clan of shifters that only breed in twins. Each original parent had chosen their spirit animal and adopted them as their inner beasts. Their children carry the gene. When cross mating happens, which is quite popular in our clan, each twin has the beast of either parent.”
