Chapter 27 Sydney

Chapter 27 Sydney

 

 

Everyone had left, leaving just me and Cole at his apartment. Hours after being attacked, injured, kidnapped—sort of—and discovering I carried an Alpha’s child, I was exhausted. Yet, sleep eluded me. Pacing in front of the window, I silently practiced my speech on how to tell Cole I was pregnant.

I had wanted to tell him as soon as the others left, but he insisted on me resting. He made me a late dinner and then ordered me to rest. When I told him I had something important to tell him, he said I looked tired enough to keel over, and he’d feel better if I got some sleep. So, we’d talk in the morning. It was sweet that he cared. I held on to that knowledge, knowing it would change in a few hours.

Cole was going to flip when I revealed his pack was plotting against him because of me and that I was pregnant. He’d probably go back to hating me. My heart dropped at the thought. Wiping a hand over my face, I sighed heavily and stopped pacing to stare out the window.

“Well, it was good while it lasted, I guess,” I muttered. Cole never verbalized loving or liking me, but his actions over the last few months spoke volumes. He’d warmed up to me, and that was about to be ruined. At least now I knew I had Adam to lean on.

We hadn’t exactly bonded in the short time we discovered we were related, but he promised to help me if Cole kicked me out of his life.

“I never should have gotten so attached to him.”

“Attached to who?”

Cole’s voice coming from the doorway made me gasp. Spinning around, I winced when I inadvertently put too much pressure on my leg.

He scowled. “Hey, you’re supposed to be resting that leg.”

Glancing down at my bandaged leg, I shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m fine. Whatever Macy put on the wound worked magic. I’m barely in any pain. I bet it was some super cool witchy concoction.”

His lips curled into a small smile, and I couldn’t help staring. He was a different person at home. He was more relaxed. The formidable air around him was less intense. “She does that for me a lot…help me with her cool witchy concoctions. I owe her one.”

I nodded. Having a better understanding of his relationship with Macy, I knew they helped each other out often, and they were just friends. I no longer felt that wave of jealousy when I thought about them together. “I owe her one too. I think whatever she put on my wound is accelerating the healing process, kind of like amping up my ability to heal as fast as a full shifter would.”

Cole studied me as he stepped further into the room. “She’s a natural healer. So, I heard you talking to yourself. Who shouldn’t you have gotten attached to?”

Heat engulfed my face and spread to my neck. “Er…” My eyes darted around the room. How embarrassing would it be if I admitted to getting stuck on him like a lost, needy puppy? “No one.”

He stepped into the room and slowly advanced until he towered over me. He was so close I felt the heat of his body, and I was tempted to lean into him.

“You’re not a very good liar, Sydney.”

“It’s nothing worth mentioning, really.” I took a retreating step. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be near him. I was just worried he’d detect whatever Adam had and find out I had a bun in the oven before I could tell him myself.

If any of the others had noticed anything different about me, they hadn’t said anything. Damian did have a curious look as he studied me earlier, but he’d disappeared as soon as Macy arrived, so I had no idea if he suspected anything.

Cole had been too distracted. He’d been keeping an eye on Adam, plus he’d seemed stressed about my disappearance. Now that it was quiet and he was more focused on me, I feared he’d realize.

Just to be safe, I took another step back.

He frowned and asked, “Are you alright?”

“Fine,” I squeaked. My heartbeat accelerated, and I felt sweat bead on my forehead. Should I tell him before he… smelled my pregnancy?

Cole’s gaze narrowed on my face as he studied me with confusion.

“What?” I asked.

“Your heart is pounding,” he noted. “And it sounds,” he paused as if in consideration, “different.”

Oh, God.

I knew this would happen once we got close. His curious gaze swept me from head to toe as if he searched for what was different about me. When he lingered on my stomach, I panicked and blurted, “I’m pregnant! Please don’t hate me!”

The silence that followed my outburst was deafening.

My mouth clamped together, and I mentally face palmed myself. That wasn’t my smoothest moment.

Cole gawked.

After a while, unease kicked in. It was as I’d feared. He was angry, and he’d probably kick me out. I ducked my head and fought to keep my composure. There was no way my pride would allow me to cry and beg him to make me stay. I looked up to hold his gaze.

Angling my chin upward, I said, “I didn’t know until last night, I swear. Don’t think I deliberately got pregnant to trap you either because that’s just ridiculous—”

“Sydney, stop.”

Ignoring him, I continued to defend myself. “Look, I’m not holding you to any responsibilities. I can take care of myself.” My voice quivered just a little as I made that statement because deep down, I was terrified of doing this alone. “I know you’re pissed, and you probably want me gone.”

“Sydney—”

“I’ll leave, but there’s something else I have to tell you first—”

Cole captured my lips with his, swallowing my surprised gasp. I was too stunned to respond at first, but within seconds the warm pressure of his mouth on mine melted me. I went pliant with a content sigh as I rested my palms on his chest to enjoy the moment. Maybe it was best to just shut up and savor the kiss. For all I knew, it might be the last one I ever got from him.

“Shut up and listen to me,” he murmured as he pulled away.

I gazed at him, a little dazed from the kiss. He didn’t seem angry. A kiss was the last thing I expected from him after my news. “I thought you’d be…”

“Upset?” He finished.

I nodded, at a loss for words. That one kiss had practically lit me on fire and turned my brain to mush.

He exhaled and cupped my cheek. “Actually, I’m relieved.”

My eyebrows pinched together. “You are?”

“Yes. I’ve wracked my brain for days, trying to think of a way to get you to stay with me after the threat of hunters disappeared. I figured you’d leave as soon as you were in the clear, and I don’t want that. Now, at least you have a reason to stay with me.”

My lips parted, but no words came out. My gaze skated away from his because I’d been planning to leave. Adam’s words echoed in my mind.You want to skip town with the man’s baby? Now that it is truly a dick move, Sydney.

Now that it seemed Cole didn’t mind my pregnancy, guilt about planning to leave pricked me in the chest. Doubt crept, however. What if, by tomorrow, he changed his mind about the baby and wanting me to stay? Maybe it was his stress level that had him talking crazy. He’s been so on edge tonight.

He searched my face and frowned. “You still don’t trust me. I hate it.”

I frowned. “Of course, I trust you.” I wouldn’t have stayed at his home if I hadn’t. “You’ve been keeping me safe from hunters.”

“I mean you don’t trust me with your heart.”

I studied the floor between us. “Can you blame me?”

His heavy sigh floated around the room. “No. I treated you horribly in the beginning.” He took my hands in his. “Please, give me a chance to make it up to you.”

I exhaled, and the soft sound resonated with doubt. That typical sliver of hope that my optimistic side tends to feel almost rose, but my logical side tamped it down. I was usually disappointed when I dared to hope. “But you’ve mostly avoided me, except when we’re…” My cheeks got hot. “Having sex.” That was the only time we got along perfectly.

Cole blinked, and I felt myself blush harder.

“I know,” he sighed. “Because I’m an idiot.”

My gaze snapped back to his.

He combed his fingers through his hair. “I’ve been trying to fight my feelings for you, Sydney. I thought it was best for the pack and me. When I felt myself needing you too much, I stayed away. I can’t do it anymore. I almost lost you tonight, and that forced me to stop being a fool.”

I swallowed hard. “What are you saying?”

He still held on to me. “I’m saying—I’maskingyou for the chance to make everything right with us. I’ll work to remove that distrust in your eyes, no matter how long it takes.”

“But you can’t claim me…”

“I made a mistake when I rejected you. It took me a while to realize that.”

My heart raced, and the hope I tried to keep at bay surfaced at the possibility of having the life I’d dreamed of with him. My mate. I held his gaze but said nothing.

“Please, give me a chance to make everything right,” he beseeched. “I promise—"

“Cole, before you make any promises, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“Is it about you or our baby?”

My heart jumped. He sounded so accepting of our child already, and I hadn’t even gone to a doctor to confirm anything yet. Although did I really need to? Werewolf senses were more accurate than any ultrasound.

“Well, no,” I answered. “But—”

“Then tell me later. All I care about right now is you. Us.”

“There’s an us?” I whispered.

He smiled. “I’d like there to be. If you’ll give me a chance, that is.”

Pushing aside my doubt from months of being rejected, I nodded. “I can give you that chance.”

Relief flickered across his face as he blew out a breath. “Thank you.”

Before I had another thought or could say another word, he swept me into his arms and kissed me. I have to admit, being in his arms was something incredible. I loved it, and I hoped it lasted. He kissed away my doubts—for the moment. That consuming passion that always presented itself when we were together like this took over.

Without breaking contact, we moved toward the four-poster bed. My top had already vanished, and I was working on getting Cole out of his when he stopped.

“Wait.”

I froze. If he didn’t want to go further, I’d likely die of intense arousal.

“We shouldn’t,” he said. “Your leg. I don’t want to jar your injury.”

I let out a puff of breath. With the sexually charged state I was in, I forgot all about my wound. My endorphins flooded my system the instant he kissed me, so I didn’t feel a sliver of pain. “I’m fine, I promise,” I whispered.

After a moment’s hesitation, he swooped down to capture my lips again.