2#Stolen by the Alpha Wolf: Shifter Romance (Deliberate Theft) (2 page)

Stephany
held her breath.

“Why
are your breasts leaking already?” she shook her head.

“I
don’t think I’m pregnant.” It wasn’t possible. Maybe there were one or two…sort
of…signs, but it wasn’t possible. She hadn’t come into heat, so she couldn’t be
pregnant.

“Give
me another explanation then.”

Stephany
tried hard to think of something on the spot. She shrugged. “I’m sick.”

“You
called me here to ask my opinion on why your breasts are leaking. I think you are
preggers. Now tell me about the sex. Was it good? How did Lance manage to
convince you? How the hell have you guys kept it a secret?” She nodded her head
knowingly and giggled almost slyly. “I can tell I hit a nerve. You definitely
had sex. Now spit it out or I’ll go and ask Lance.” Tanya practically bounced
on her chair. Her eyes wide, the excitement palpable.

Stephany’s
heart sped up. “Don’t you dare. I don’t want anyone to know about this.”

Tanya’s
brow creased. She stopped bouncing and she put her hands up. “Wait just a
freaking minute, let’s go back to my question…why are your breasts leaking and
mine aren’t? You’ve only been acting weird since you got back from the wolves, so
you probably had sex soon after your return which means I’m further along and
mine aren’t leaking yet.” She pulled her robe open exposing one large, rounded,
ultra-plump globe. Mimicking Stephany’s own action earlier, her friend squeezed
on her nipple. “See, not a drop of blood in sight.” She frowned. “Why are your
boobs leaking milk and not blood?” Tanya shook her head, dark chocolate locks
flying about her face. Then her eyes widened and she visibly paled. Inhaling
sharply, Tanya tugged her robe closed and clasped her hands to her mouth. “Maybe
there is something wrong. We need to get you to one of the healers. You had
sex, you have leaking breasts but not with the usual blood. I’ll have Zane call
Lance.” Tanya pulled out her cell phone. “I’m sure you’ll want him with you
since the two of you are back together and all.”

“I
rutted with a shifter,” Stephany blurted. She couldn’t have Tanya call the
kings right now and if Lance found out…oh gods, this was a nightmare.

“Oh
my freaking god…What did those wolves do to you? You poor, poor thing.” Tanya
sobbed, a tear tracked down her cheek.

Stephany
completely froze when Tanya threw herself at her, cradling Stephany to her
breast like a child. “You were celibate, which means”—she made a tortured sound—“they
raped you, didn’t they? You’re pregnant with a…a…wolf.” Her friend was racked
with terrible sobs. “Oh, what you must have gone through. What you are going
through even now.” She pulled away, her face red and tear soaked. “Why didn’t
you tell me sooner?” Then she grit her teeth and shook her head really slowly.
“Don’t worry, Stephany. We will make them pay. Those mangy freaking beasts will
wish that they were never born.”

“Wait.
You have it all wrong.” Stephany pulled away. She couldn’t bear to see the pain
and anguish in Tanya’s eyes. “I wasn’t raped. It was consensual.” 

“Rubbish!”
Tanya squeezed Stephany’s knee. Sniffling, Tanya continued. “You’ve been
through a traumatic experience. It’s not uncommon for victims to want to
protect their attackers. To even empathize with them.”

Stephany
looked her friend straight on. “I wasn’t raped, Tanya.”

“Bull.
Shit—”

Stephany
cut her off, not wanting to hear another word. “Please don’t patronize me. I
was not raped. I fell in love, okay? I know I wasn’t with the alpha for long,
but I fell in love. We couldn’t get enough of each other and I miss him every
day.”

Tanya’s
mouth dropped open, her eyes bugged out of her skull. She made a squeaking
noise when she tried to talk.

“It
just happened. He is really amazing. A really good male and I think he fell for
me just as hard.”

Tanya
took a deep breath. “You can’t be talking about
the
alpha wolf. The male
that wanted to kidnap and rape me so that I wouldn’t be eligible to become a
vampire mate, leaving the covens without any heirs.”

“His
name is Ward,” Stephany half whispered.

“Did
I mention the part about raping me?” Tanya clenched her fists. “Mating me
against my will?”

“Ward
would never have raped you…never.” Stephany held her friend’s gaze, determined
to clear Ward’s name.

Tanya’s
brown eyes were wide. “Why did he send his wolves? The way he looked at me that
day from across the fence was with such hatred. Like he wanted to hurt me.” She
shuddered.

Stephany
pulled a lock of hair behind her ear. “It wasn’t directed at you. He has a bit
of a problem with the kings…it’s not something I want to get into right now.
Trust me please when I tell you that he is not the type of male that would have
hurt you in any way.”

“He
wanted to kidnap me…it’s the whole reason you were taken in the first place. The
alpha had you kidnapped when he couldn’t get to me. You’ve lost your mind,
Stephany. How could you rut with an evil monster like that?” Her eyes had narrowed
and her brow was creased.

“He
isn’t evil or a monster. I was kidnapped by accident, I wish you would listen
to me. You know me, Tanya. Do you truly believe that I would be with a male
after all this time if he was the way that you are describing?”

Tanya
didn’t respond.

“Answer
me.”

Tanya’s
stance softened. She breathed out softly. “I don’t know.”

“Ward
is a
good
male. One of the best I have ever met. I didn’t know him for
long, but I can safely say that he would never have done those things. He is sorry
that he joined with the elves. Sorry he trusted them at all.”

Tanya
looked thoughtful for a second. “That can’t be.” She shook her head. “Brant and
Zane mentioned that King Katar had said that he should never have trusted the
wolves. He blames them. Stated this was all their plan in the first place.”

“I
believe Ward.”

“Oh
my, you are smitten. It is affecting your ability to think rationally.”

Stephany
had grown to love Tanya. She was full of life, enormous fun, a great friend,
she could be trusted with a secret, but even though she was world wise, she
could also be really naïve. Right now, Stephany felt like giving her a good,
hard shake. Instead, she took a deep breath. “You’re right.” She paused, “I am
smitten, but I am also still very capable of rational thought. I haven’t seen
Ward in two months. Don’t you think some of the fog would’ve lifted by now?”
Tanya inhaled, intent on answering, but Stephany didn’t give her a chance.
“Ward specifically said that he trusted someone on the side of the elves. He
was definitely talking about a specific person. That person talked him into the
whole fiasco and then betrayed him by backing out. Ward had no reason to lie. I
believed him. He was…is a good male, I fell for him. Hard.” The last part came
out in a whisper. It was difficult to admit these feelings.

Her
friend nodded. “Oh, honey.” Tanya squeezed her arm. “Are you going to tell him
about the baby?”

Stephany
felt her blood turn to ice. A heavy weight settled on her heart. She shook her
head. “No. I will need to tell Brant…”

“That’s
fine, hun. You know that we are all here for you. The coven might be a little
shocked at first, but they will get over themselves. The child will be
welcomed.” Her eyes widened and her eyebrows raised. “I just realized. We’ll be
pregnant together and raise our children together!”

Stephany
put a rein on her own emotions. If she started crying now, she might never
stop. “No, we won’t. I am not physically able to birth a child.”

“There
must be some way. Surely…” Tanya turned pale. “What are you saying?”

“My
pelvis is too narrow, my hips too close together. I have been advised that I
would never be able to birth a child. My own mother died while birthing me. It
is a miracle that I survived, and that was only because of the quick thinking
of the birthing mother who cut me from her womb, using a silver blade, while my
mother took her last breath. Most infants die from the silver that poisons the
mother’s blood. I somehow managed to survive its affects. Like I said earlier,
it is a miracle.” Stephany swallowed hard, watching tears roll down Tanya’s
cheeks. Crying could be infectious, she needed to work harder to keep herself
under control. It wouldn’t do to fall apart.

“I’m
so sorry, Steph. I never knew. I’m a terrible friend. What happens now?”

“I
need you to help me inform the kings. They will take it badly.”

Tanya’s
lip wobbled. “Are you going to die?” She started crying again, using her hand
to wipe away the falling tears.

“No.”
Part of her wished that she could. Deep down inside, she had wished to fall in
love and to have a family. To feel her womb quicken with life. To birth a child
that would fill her days with happiness and laughter. She took a deep breath.
“We need to inform the kings because they are the only ones that are able to
give permission to perform an abortion.” Her voice hitched at the last word. A
fist clenched her heart. What choice did she have? It was that or sure death
for both her and the child.

“No.
You can’t.” Tanya looked at her with eyes filled with horror.

“I
don’t have a choice. Do you think I want to destroy this child?” Her voice was
high pitched, so she paused for a few beats before continuing. “If I allow this
pregnancy to proceed, then there is a very good chance that I would end up
dead. The child would have even less chance of survival. Even if I chose to
give my own life for that of the child, there is no guarantee. Odds based on
previous statistics are that both of us would die. A C-section with a silver
blade is the only way and silver for new-borns is like the kiss of death. Like
I said earlier, it is a miracle that I survived my own birth.”

“What
if they used a regular knife? Why does it have to be silver? There has to be a
way.”

“Don’t
you think we haven’t tried everything? Our species is slowly dying.”

Tears
kept falling down Tanya’s cheeks. “I don’t understand.”

“We
heal too quickly. Even if a device is used to hold the wound open, we heal
around it. Silver keeps the wound from healing but it poisons the blood and
because of that the infant perishes.”

“Natural
birth is the only way?” Tanya sniffed holding a wad of tissues to her nose.

Stephany
nodded. “Which is not an option for me. The most likely ending will be death
for this child. I have no other choice but to terminate.”

“I’m
so sorry, Stephany. I can’t imagine.” Again she unconsciously clutched her
belly in a protective manner. “Know that I am here for you. I’ll hold your hand
through everything. If there is anything you need, any time, you tell me.” She
blew her nose into the tissues.

Stephany
nodded. “Like I said earlier. I want you there when I tell the kings. I am
nervous about their reaction, especially Brant’s.”

“You
tell me when you are ready. I’ll arrange everything.” Tanya gave her a tight
smile. Her eyes were red rimmed and her nose was running.

“It
needs to be soon. I was thinking tomorrow morning. Although there is still time,
I want to have the procedure within the next day or two.”

Tanya
nodded. “No problem. I will book the boardroom.”

“No.”
It came out a little harshly. “I would prefer it if I could come through to
your tower. I worry about someone overhearing. This stays between the four of
us.”

“You
know you can trust me.”

“I
know.” Stephany tried to smile, but it only made her hurt more inside.

“Let
me run you a nice bath. The baths you ran for me always helped soothe me whenever
I was going through a tough time with Brant and Zane.” She squeezed Stephany’s
arm. “Let me do the same for you.”

“No…”
Stephany shook her head. “Don’t be silly. I’ll be fine.”

“Bull.”
Tanya stood and made her way to the bathroom. “You are going to let me take
care of you for a change.” She glanced back. “If there is anything you need,
you just ask.” Her friend disappeared into the bathroom. There was a sound of
water running. Within a few minutes, Tanya put her head around the door jamb.
“Your bath is ready.”

Stephany
scented lavender. “Okay, thank you.” Stephany stood and waited to let Tanya
out.

“Hello!
I said the bath was ready.”

“You
don’t have to stay.” Stephany had hoped for a little alone time. She needed to
come to terms with…her pregnancy. No, not her pregnancy, her pending abortion.

“You
need to talk some more. I don’t want you to be alone at a time like this. I’ll
stay for a bit.” The human was only trying to help.

Stephany
nodded as she walked to the bathroom. Tanya made herself comfortable on the closed
lid of the toilet. Toeing off her low heels, Stephany removed her blouse which
she folded and placed neatly on the vanity. Next, she removed her bra and undid
the clasp on her skirt. She had to suck in her breath because the button was
tight. She folded this too and placed it on top of the blouse. Off came her
stockings and panties next, which she placed neatly on the growing pile.