Chapter 42: baby bump
Vivian Grey’s POV
I hadn’t laid eyes on Zaliver since he shackled me the night before. Honestly, that might’ve been for the best, because if I had, I’m not sure I wouldn’t have strangled him with the very chains he used on me. The thought was more satisfying than it should’ve been.
Even my wolf was irritated. For once, we were aligned in our fury. She wasn’t letting him off the hook for his impulsive, infuriating behavior, and neither was I. His reasoning? Absolutely ridiculous. He knew it too, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Somewhere beneath all that Alpha arrogance, he had to realize it.
All I’d done was put a hand on another guy’s shoulder! That was all it took for him to snap like a jealous pup? It wasn’t like I kissed the guy or ran off into the woods with him to elope.
I’d tried everything I could think of to get these damn chains off. I’d tugged, twisted, even chewed on them, bad idea, by the way. I tried slipping my hands through, breaking the metal, anything. Nothing worked. The chains barely had a scratch on them. Figures.
I glanced at the clock. 8:50 AM. I groaned, not just out of frustration but from pure exhaustion. I had slept at some point, but it was fleeting. I couldn’t find comfort. Not without him.
As much as I hated admitting it, I missed Zaliver’s warmth. The solid weight of his body beside mine, his arms wrapped around me like a living cocoon. I wanted to press my face into his chest, feel his lips trail against my skin. It was maddening. How had I spent almost eighteen years perfectly fine on my own, only to fall apart after two nights tangled up with my mate?
I threw my head back into the pillows, letting out another long groan. I was pathetic. One minute I wanted to snap his neck, the next I was aching to be near him. Was this what being mated was supposed to feel like? A constant tug-of-war between fury and yearning?
And did he feel it too? Was he just as affected, or was all of this one-sided?
Last night, wrapped in silence and solitude, I’d had time to really think. His talk about marking me, it haunted my thoughts. Was he finally going to do it? The idea sent a thrill through my chest and a sharp edge of panic.
Excitement came from the bond. From the idea of finally being his, truly. But the fear? That came from everything else.
First, there was the act of marking itself, intimate, deeply primal, and incredibly arousing. Not exactly something you could mentally prepare for. Second, there was the aftermath. Once marked, I’d be his. His in every sense of the word. Zaliver’s possessiveness was already stifling. Once the mark was there? I’d be trapped. Not metaphorically. Literally.
And I wasn’t even sure he wanted to mark me for the right reasons. Was it love? Was it devotion? Or was it just another way to claim and control me like territory? That question stung more than I cared to admit.
A knock on the door snapped me from my spiraling thoughts.
My ears perked. Maybe it was him. Maybe he’d come to unchain me and apologize. Or at the very least, give me a chance to yell at him face-to-face.
But when the door creaked open, it wasn’t Zaliver.
It was a round baby bump.
"Hannah," I said, trying to sound casual as I waved despite being cuffed to a damn bed. I had to wonder what kind of impression this left on her. Was she imagining some kinky Alpha-Luna playtime? Or that I was some kidnapped damsel? Neither version really worked for me.
She entered the room with a tray of food in her hands, her soft giggle letting me know she had, in fact, noticed my awkward situation. She set the tray down beside me, French toast, orange juice, and a bright fruit salad. My stomach growled traitorously.
"Alpha asked me to keep you company," she said, easing herself onto the nearby couch. "Didn’t tell me why, but..." She glanced at my bound wrists with a knowing smile. "I think I get it now. So, what did you do?"
I arched a brow and grabbed the fork, stabbing a strawberry with more force than necessary. "Why do you assume I did something wrong?" I asked, glaring at her playful smirk. "Why isn’t he the one who’s wrong? Why isn’t he chained up while I go off and enjoy my freedom, huh?"
I shoved the strawberry into my mouth, chewing so aggressively I bit my own lip. Perfect.
Hannah blinked at me innocently, but I could see the teasing glimmer in her eyes. She was having way too much fun with this.
I groaned and flopped back against the pillows. Everything about Zaliver drove me insane, from his temper to his tenderness. And I had no idea whether I wanted to kiss him or kill him.
Maybe both.
"Ow! That actually hurts!" I groaned, cupping my aching jaw. My lip stung as it began to heal on its own, the familiar tang of blood fading from my tongue. Shifters healed fast, but that didn’t mean it didn’t sting like hell in the meantime.
Hannah just rolled her eyes at my dramatics, one hand rubbing gentle circles over her round belly.
"I’m sure you like the idea of tying up our Alpha every now and then," she teased, "but I doubt he’s into that kind of thing. Then again, maybe? Who knows." She shrugged, then narrowed her eyes at me in mock seriousness. "And by the way, you do know we have these wonderful things called phones now, right?"
I blinked at her, caught off guard by the sharp turn in conversation.
"They’re magical," she went on, sarcasm thick. "You can use them to call someone, or even text, imagine that! Record your brother being an idiot, snap pictures of your mate when he’s brooding and hot, and oh, I don’t know, maybe remind yourself of a doctor’s appointment. Super useful. Yes, I sound like the tiger from the cereal. Don’t judge me."
Despite myself, I chuckled. Her energy was exactly the kind I needed. It was hard to stay broody around her.
I nibbled on my food as she sat across from me, clearly content with her little speech.
But then she added, in a very matter-of-fact tone, "You’re still in the wrong."
I paused mid-chew. "What? How exactly?" I reached for the glass of orange juice beside me, trying not to frown.
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