Osana dabbed a warm wash cloth over my body, clearing the cold sweat that had broken out over my body after Seth leapt out the window. I wanted nothing more than to chase after him, but that was impossible. I was carrying his baby, our baby, and I couldn’t risk that.

How did he find us!?

My mind was like a bird, fluttering from branch to branch as I sifted through all the possibilities.

Had he caught Seth’s scent when he rescued me somehow? We’d pheromone blocked, but maybe it just hadn’t worked well enough? Maybe Anthony had asked around at the mill, given them a description of Seth. Someone there must know him. But would they tell Anthony where to find him?

None of these scenarios seemed likely, but it was impossible to deny – Kade was here. Somehow he had found us.

“Try to calm down,” Osana said as she wiped my forehead. “If you get anymore excited, you could push yourself into early labor.”

“That’s not going to happen,” I said firmly. There was absolutely no way I was having this baby without my mate at my side. My child would be born into this world with both of his fathers there, surrounded by all the love we had to give. We’d find out the sex together, choose a name and bask in the happiness and bliss of our new family.

“I’m just saying,” Osana said gently. “Don’t get yourself too upset.

“Too upset!?” I replied indignantly. “How can I not be too upset?! What if there are more of them out there?”

“The other alphas are with him,” Osana said, doing her best to comfort me. But I was freaking out.

“Kade is vicious,” I said, shaking my head, my thoughts going back to the truck stop. Living here at the lodge, I’d managed to forget most of my life with him, or at least stop it from invading my thoughts, but now, it was all coming back.

Lying here on my bed, all I could think about was the worn mattress in the back of the truck, waiting for Kade to come have his way with me – the sheer panic that came over me when I realized I’d had my first heat.

“And what if there are more with him?” I asked her.

“Our alphas are tougher than you know,” she said with a smile. “Have you ever heard about what happened with Jeremiah? Or Lucas?”

I shook my head and Osana nodded, petting my head gently.

“Ask Tate about them sometime. Those stories would blow your mind. Our boys are tough. Try not to worry. How’s your nausea? Can I get you some more tea?”

My nausea wasn’t bad, but I was thirsty and hot and a cold glass of tea would definitely help.

“Please,” I told her. She slid from the bed and stepped out of the room. I heard her footsteps as she made her way down the hall and felt my anxiety go through the roof. Being alone at a time like this, even for a minute, was unbearable.

I couldn’t stop picturing him out there. What if Kade had brought the rest of his pack with him? Even with the foxes and Martin, we could easily be outnumbered. Kade had enough betas to form an army if he wanted, and even if they weren’t the strongest wolves on Earth, there were enough of them to overwhelm even the toughest alpha.

I heard the sounds of Osana in the kitchen, and her footsteps as she came back into the room.

“Here you go, hon,” she said as she handed me another glass of ice tea. I gulped it down straight away. I hadn’t realized how hot my body was until I felt the cool liquid moving down my throat and into my stomach.

“God, I’m burning up,” I said, setting the glass on the bedside table.

“You’re stressed,” she said. “Take deep breaths. Try to calm yourself.”

“No – it’s more than that,” I said, almost to myself as something tugged at my mind. It was this strange sensation, like a splinter somewhere in my mind that I had no control over.

My eyes went wide as I realized – the bond!

The bond between fated mates. It had started to grow these last months, but now, with Seth away from me, I could feel his emotions through our bond, and that’s what I was unable to control.

He was tense. Ready. Angry – and scared.

“He better come back to me, Osana,” I groaned as I pictured my life without Seth. Just the thought of not waking up beside him pained my heart.

“Don’t even talk like that!” Osana scolded me, taking my hand in hers. “Of course, he’ll come back to you. The Scarlet Mountain Pack boys are tough, and Seth’s one of them. You’ll see.”

“Yea…” I said slowly, doing my best to think positive thoughts. “You’re right. You’re right.”

Come back to me, baby, I thought, willing my thoughts to him through our bond. Come back to me…