He glanced at me. “I still do. I have since I first laid eyes on you as a baby. It’s almost as if…” His voice trailed off.
“As if what?” I prodded.
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I seemed to have forgotten what I was going to say.”
“Dr. Brighton did say you had a concussion,” I said, gently resting my hand on his head.
“No surprise. Seth nearly killed me.”
“But he did kill your parents, though,” I said. “I heard you talking in the library.”
“I had never considered it a possibility before. I knew that he wanted my position. He had attempted to overthrow me when I first took it up. The elders decided to simply send him away; he hadn’t hurt anyone that they were aware of, anyway, and he was young. Before he arrived here, I hadn’t seen him in three years. He had made a brief appearance, again tried to stir up dissent. When word got back to me, he fled, so you can imagine how surprised I was to see him at our door. It wasn’t until you mentioned the poisoned tea that things began to fit together in my head.”
He glanced away sadly, watching the branches moving out the window. “He was my only family, but I have to say, I’m happy he’s gone.”
A weight settled in my stomach, and I swallowed. I had to tell him. I had planned on waiting until he was healthier, more able to handle it, but I simply couldn’t keep it from him anymore.
“He may not be gone, Jasper,” I said.
He looked back at me, alarmed. “What?”
“I was trying to patch you up and figure out a way out of the woods. He dragged himself away while I was repairing you. The council came and brought us home, but when they went back and looked for him, they couldn’t find him. No body, not a trace.”
He shook his head. “I really thought you had killed him.”
“So did I,” I sighed. “I can’t imagine how he was able to get away.”
“We have highly advanced healing abilities,” Jasper said. “We heal far quicker than the average human. I should be up and moving around by tomorrow.”
“Don’t you dare!” I said. “I don’t care how quickly you heal, you’re getting as much rest as possible.” He smiled at me, but I grew quiet. “Are we safe from him?”
“I think he’ll go far, far away with his tail between his legs, pardon the expression. I would be very, very surprised to see him back here.” He rubbed his hand on my arm, and I was happy to note that he was getting warmer. “Even if he did, I promise I will do a better job keeping you safe and protecting you from him. I’m not going to give him the opportunity to hurt you again.”
We were both silent for a beat before he spoke up again. “I know that I’ve apologized about a hundred times now, and I know that I will never be able to apologize enough. But I can tell you there’s no way to accurately put into words how sorry I am for dragging you into all of this.”
“It’s not that, so much,” I said slowly. “It’s that you dragged me into all of this without telling me anything. You brought me into your world, but you didn’t give me the tools to defend myself.”
“I know. And I can’t apologize enough. You know that I love you, truly love you, don’t you, Christine?”
I gave a small nod, even though I was still unconvinced.
“I truly do,” Jasper said, begging me to understand. “Yes, I started looking for a wife because I needed to produce an heir. But seeing you again, I swear, I fell in love instantly. Though it wasn’t appropriate to act on it at your father’s funeral. In fact, had Annabelle not brought you, would have gone to find you myself.”
I shifted my body on the bed. “Here’s what I still don’t understand. Why do you need an heir by the time you’re thirty?”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t even get me started on that stupid rule. The council enforces it. It used to be twenty–eight, so we’re making progress, I suppose. They want to be sure that the alpha won’t die before he can produce an heir, although it’s ludicrous. People are living longer every day, and especially us wolves.”
I looked down at my belly. “What happens if it’s a girl?”
“I would request an extension,” he said. “The elders sometimes give them, unless they’re given a good reason not to. I assume that would have been Seth’s next move, had something happened to you. He would have gone to the elders, saying that I shouldn’t be allowed an extension. It doesn’t matter anyway. Our baby is safe. He’s doing just fine.”
I laughed. “You can’t possibly know that it’s a boy.” He seemed to wear a guilty expression, and I looked hard at him. “Can you?”
“You…smell different,” he said. “It’s hard to explain, exactly. You smell just a little less feminine. After a certain point, I can always tell what gender a baby will be.”
I shook my head. “That’s amazing.”
He still looked guilty, though, his mouth in sort of a grimace. “I have another confession.”
“Oh, dear.”
“I knew you were pregnant before you knew.”
“You…what?”
He sighed. “It’s the scent, again. I know it sounds so strange, but we have heightened senses, scent included. I could smell the change in your body when you became pregnant, but I couldn’t bring it up without essentially freaking you out.”
“I would have thought you were completely mad,” I agreed. “Wait, is Dr. Brighton a werewolf as well?”
“He is. I hired him because he’s a wolf, and he specializes in lycanthropic medicine.”
“Is that why he has always been so sure the baby is healthy?”
“Exactly. Both he and I can hear the heartbeat, although he’s better at interpreting what the heartbeat means than I am. He also knows that you’re having a boy.”
“A boy,” I whispered, cradling my stomach. “I can’t believe it.”
“Lowell Arthur Wolfric,” Jasper said.
“I love it,” I told him. “It’s perfect.” Then I froze. “That means…”
“He’ll be a werewolf, too,” Jasper confirmed. “He won’t begin to turn until sometime in puberty, just like Daniel.”
I paused for a moment. “What about everyone else? All the men’s wives, the princess, do they know?”
“I can’t speak for everyone, but for all those I’m aware of, yes.”
“Annabelle knows?”
“Yes,” he said.
I nodded, looking down at my hands, trying not to show my betrayal.
“Don’t be upset with her,” Jasper said. “She was acting under my orders not to tell you. She wanted to, though. She begged me every day to be honest with you.”
“So why weren’t you?” I asked. “Why did you keep all this from me?”
He bit his lip, thinking. “I suppose I imagined that I was protecting you. In my head, if you didn’t know about these things, they couldn’t hurt you. I was wrong, of course. So, so wrong. I think, too, that I was being selfish. I was worried that if you found these things out, you would flee, that you would run away and never see me again.”
I almost had run away, so I couldn’t fault him for that thinking. “I honestly don’t know how I would have reacted if you had told me in another way,” I admitted.
“It doesn’t make my deception right, though. I was putting my need for you ahead of your needs. I was scared that I would lose you if I told you these things, so I pretended they didn’t exist, that we could be a big happy family despite these secrets.”
I moved over so I was sitting next to him. I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling his warmth radiate through my body. Things were not going to be easy. Jasper had a long recovery ahead of him, and I didn’t know that I would ever fully get over the pain of being deceived. Nothing was what I thought it was. My life had radically changed, but as I lay there, cuddling with my husband, a little baby boy curled up inside my womb, I knew that we could make this work.
I took Jasper’s hand in mine, our fingers intertwining. I planted a light kiss on his bare shoulde
r, then rested my face there, skin against skin.
“We still can be a big, happy family,” I promised.
THE END
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SNEAK PEEK
Chapter One
I stared off into space as Bridget rummaged through my wardrobe.
“Let’s see,” she muttered. “Here!”
She pulled out two dresses in a flourish of fabric. “What do you think? I thought the colors were nice. Perfect for Christmas.”
“They’re lovely,” I said.
She held up their hangers. “But which do you like better?”
I squinted my eyes and took a look. The skirt on the cranberry dress hung a little straighter, but the white lace neckline stretched higher. The emerald dress held a sheen in the light, and the skirt swished around it.
“What’s the red one made of?” I asked. “Velvet?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And what’s the green one?”
She examined it. “Taffeta, I think.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I’ll do the red.”
“Good! I like this one better anyway. I think the color will be stunning on your complexion.”
“Thank you, dear.” I smiled, but I wasn’t paying her much attention. I watched the fire crackle in the fireplace and the snow drift past the window. I just couldn’t seem to focus on choosing an outfit for the party.
Bridget hung the red dress on the outside of the wardrobe then turned to me. She was quiet for a moment, her mouth twisted like she was considering something. Finally, she spoke.
“May I be bold for a moment, ma’am?”
I looked at her in surprise. “Of course you can, Bridget. You should know by now that you can always speak your mind with me. Lord knows, I need someone in this house to be honest.” I muttered the last part under my breath, and she didn’t seem to hear. Bridget came and sat down next to me on the bed.
“You’ve been a little different as of late,” she said. “Granted, I’ve only known you for about eight months now, but ever since you came out of the forest you’ve been very quiet and withdrawn. Is everything all right?”
“Oh, yes,” I sighed. “I’m sure it’s just the pregnancy emotions.”
It was a lie, and the irony of craving honesty while being dishonest myself wasn’t lost on me. However, the pregnancy seemed as good of an excuse as any, and I didn’t want to, or didn’t know how to, be transparent with Bridget. To sell it a little better, I rested my hands on my belly and felt a slight movement as the baby rolled around.
“I suppose that’s understandable,” Bridget said. “When Mary was pregnant, she was an emotional wreck.”
“Mary? The girl with the short hair?”
I had spent one night living on the streets of Ervine, a city just outside of London. It wasn’t a pleasant night, as Mary had stolen all my things, but it was how I had met Bridget.
“I didn’t realize she had a baby,” I said.
Bridget shifted her gaze from mine. “She lost the baby just a few months into her pregnancy.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t,” I reassured her. “I’m already nervous. There’s a genetic condition that the baby could have. I’m more worried about that than losing the baby.”
Bridget shook her head. “Forgive me, ma’am, but quite frankly, that’s ridiculous. Isn’t it better to have your baby alive, even if it does have a genetic condition?”
Guilt settled in my stomach. “You’re right,” I admitted.
She gave me a small smile. “I’ll take care of your clothes for the party. Why don’t you go see how Annabelle is coming along downstairs?”
I was grateful for the out she had given me. I nodded, standing up from the bed. Bridget went back to my wardrobe, reorganizing my gowns, while I slipped out the door.
As I started down the staircase, warmth blossomed in my heart. It was a warmth I always got around Christmas, no matter how desperate my situation had been. Garland twisted around the banister, and a tall tree stood, magnificent, in the middle of the entry hall. Candles glowed in every perceivable nook and cranny that wasn’t stuffed with pine boughs. I marveled at the beautiful work the staff had done to decorate the house. Perhaps my situation had changed rapidly from last year, but the air still held the familiar aura of Christmas.
I crossed under an archway marked with mistletoe and made my way into the ballroom. This party was meant to be different than most we had held here at Wolf’s Peak. Not a garden party; there was too much snow. Not a dinner party; we would be inviting too many people for that. This party was meant for guests to mingle and socialize throughout the first floor of the manor. We had debated closing off the ballroom entirely, to discourage a formal atmosphere, but ultimately we had set up a few tables around the piano.
“Hang that just a little higher,” Annabelle directed to a man hanging garland and tinsel. She turned when she heard me approach the ballroom. Her hands were on her hips, and she was squinting at the decor. “What do you think, Christine?”
“Beautiful,” I said. “It feels like Christmas.”
“Well, it is a Christmas party, so that’s sort of the point,” she said. “Did Bridget help you choose a dress? I would have done it myself, but—” she gestured to the ballroom, in various stages of decoration.
“It’s quite all right. We chose a red one, a sort of cranberry color. It’s flowy so it will give me plenty of room here.” I looked down at my protruding belly.
Annabelle came over and gave me a side hug, resting her other hand on my bump. “Have I told you yet how adorable you look pregnant?”
“Not today.”
“Shame.” She shook her head. “Just, what, a month?”
“Just about. The doctor estimates the beginning of March.”
“Your first one is usually late anyway,” she sighed. “Daniel was born two weeks after the doctor had said. I felt like a whale.”
I smiled, but silence fell between us, seeming to engulf the room.
“Where is everyone?” I asked, trying to break it. “It seems quiet in here. Did they all leave?” We’d had a full table at dinner.
“The men are in the library,” Annabelle said, gesturing haphazardly at the doorway. “They’ve been in there for at least an hour, so I would think they’ll be done soon.”
“Fantastic. I was hoping to grab a book before bed.”
“It’ll probably be awhile until I’m in bed,” she said. “I’ve still got loads to do.”
“Can I help with anything?” The party was being held in my home, but unsurprisingly, Annabelle had taken the reigns when it came to planning.
“Oh, I’m all right.”
“Really, Annabelle, I insist.”
She sighed. “Christine, you need your rest. You can’t be climbing on things to try to hang up decorations and staying up late.”
“I think you’re being a bit over–cautious—”
She looked at me for a moment. “All right. If you really want to help, can you go check with the cook and see how things are coming along? See if they need anything?”
“That’s something I can do,” I confirmed.
On my way to the kitchen, I passed by the library. I could hear voices, but it was impossible to make out what they were saying. Unlike some of the others in the house, I didn’t have enhanced hearing.
I ducked into the kitchen. This late in the evening, most of the extra staff we’d hired for the party had
left. Now, the only people that were still in the kitchen were the cook, her assistant Daisy, and Bridget, who must have taken the back staircase to end up here without passing by me. The cook was seasoning the pig that she would set to roast in the morning, while Daisy was putting the finishing touches on a batch of Christmas cookies. Bridget sat on a stool, unhelpfully eating cookie crumbs.
“How’s everything coming along in here?” I asked.
“Wonderfully, ma’am,” the cook said. “We’re almost done for the night.”
“Thank you, Hannah,” I said. “I know it’s a lot of work.”
“All part of the job,” she said, her face flushing in embarrassment.
“Christine, you’ve got to try one of these cookies,” Bridget said, licking crumbs from her fingertips. “They’re fantastic.”
I reached over and grabbed a small chocolate cookie from the platter. It nearly melted in my mouth. “Oh my goodness, Daisy, that is fantastic.”
She looked down at the ground. “Thank you, ma’am,” she muttered. Although it had been months ago, Daisy had continued to keep her distance after accidentally poisoning me. I hadn’t yet figured out how to make her more comfortable.
“Daisy’s an expert with the cookies,” the cook said. “She’s got a knack for the pies, too. And the cakes. Really anything with sugar and flour.”
“I’ve noticed. We’re too lucky,” I said. Daisy still wouldn’t meet my eyes. Inwardly, I sighed. A part of me hated seeing her feeling awkward, but a bigger part of me was too overwhelmed with every other part of my life to deal with it. Still, that small part nagged at me, making me feel guilty for the second time that night.
“Perhaps we’ll have to give you a promotion,” I said, and for the first time in months, Daisy smiled at me.
I reported back to Annabelle, letting her know that all was well in the kitchen and everything was on track. I left her in the ballroom, fatigue beginning to overtake me. As I slipped out the door, I saw a line of my husband’s councilmen leaving the library, chatting amongst themselves. Perfect timing.
The Wolf's Wife (The Wolf's Peak Saga Book 1) Page 24
