Page 56 of Fated to Her

He nods toward his hands, and I look down at his rough clawed hands, pushing my shirt up to reveal a bump. How have I not noticed that? No wonder I feel different when I move. I place my hands on it, the skin smooth but hard.

Eli runs his hands over it, amazed, making sure to keep his claws away from my skin. He leans forward, running his tongue over my hard little bump. I look months pregnant, not a couple of weeks.

“Told you. You would wake up, and bam, baby bump,” Emery chuckles, and Cyrus gets up, walking over. He leans over the lounge, his hand outstretched before placing it on my bump. His eyes flicker red, and Eli looks up at him.

“Ours,” Eli tells him.

“Go get dressed so we can go,” Cyrus tells him, and Eli removes his hands from my belly and trots off.

Cyrus walks around the couch before pulling me to my feet. “Come, we should leave soon,” Cyrus tells me, and I look to Maverick, who sends me a wink.

“We are going with you?” I ask him.

He nods.

“He agreed?” I ask, looking at Cyrus.

“Yes, under a few conditions,” Cyrus says.

Maverick growls. Cyrus shoots him a look.

“What conditions?” I ask, glancing between them when Emery speaks up.

“Eli challenged my father for Alpha. That’s why they were fighting when you came out. Dad doesn’t agree.”

“It’s my pack,” Maverick says.

“Well, you have been challenged, old man, so suck it up,” Emery tells him, dropping her hand on his shoulder.

“Challenged?” I ask, peering at Cyrus just as Eli saunters out.

“Yes. When we get there, I’ll challenge him for the position,” Eli growls at his father.

“So, you will fight for it, then?” I ask, horrified they would fight their own family for a pack.

“Yes. They will either fight to the death or until one submits,” Cyrus says, which scares me more. Eli would never submit to his father, so that would mean his death if Maverick wins. The same with Maverick; he doesn’t come across as one to give up.

“What? No, you can’t,” I tell him.

“Don’t worry about me, love. It won’t even be much of a challenge,” Eli says, and Maverick growls, getting to his feet.

“If you think I’m just going to hand my pack over, boy, you have another thing coming.”

“I know you won’t hand it over, Father. That’s why I’m going to take it,” Eli snaps back at him.

Emery rushes out, standing between them. “Settle down, save it for the arena. My apartment has suffered enough. You want to kill each other? Fine. But not in my house,” she says, placing a hand on both their chests. They growl at each other but turn away.

They can’t be serious.

Chapter 17

• Adeline •

We have been in the car for eight hours, following behind his father’s Mercedes. Eli and Cyrus take turns driving. My back is aching from sitting in the same position for so long, my neck is stiff from leaning on my arm against the window. Eli gently brushes his hand down my back, making me look at him.

“When we get to the forest, there is no drivable path. Cyrus is going to have to carry you,” Eli tells me.

I groan at the thought. I hate running. It feels unnatural and makes me queasy when my surroundings blur into one wall of color.