Chapter 2

I worked in silence.

Their hands were still linked together.

Damon reached over and smoothed Vanessa's skirt. Casual. Like he'd done it a hundred times.

Vanessa looked me over.

"I don't think I've seen you before. When did you join?"

"You've been gone three years," Damon said. "Lots of new faces."

Three years.

My hands kept moving. My mind didn't.

Three years ago — the same year Vanessa left — Damon showed up at my pack.

Out of nowhere. Said fate brought him there. Said he fell for me the second he saw me. Said he'd break every rule for me.

I believed every word. I bonded with him. I left my whole life behind.

I never doubted it. Not once. I thought it was love.

Then I found his wallet. There was a photo inside, folded small. A woman with honey-blonde hair, smiling at the camera. The edges had gone white from being touched so many times.

I asked him about her. He said it was the past.

That woman was standing right in front of me now.

Vanessa. She left — and he came looking for me.

Stop. Just do the checkup.

I helped Vanessa onto the exam table and placed both hands on her belly. My healing energy moved through her.

The moonstone glowed. I felt the baby's heartbeat — strong, steady, healthy.

Then I felt something else. A faint golden membrane around her womb. The mark of Alpha bloodline. Genetic. Unmistakable.

Damon's bloodline.

He'd had a child with her. Before I ever existed to him.

My hands shook. Just slightly. I couldn't help it.

Damon put his hand over Vanessa's belly right away.

"Easy. She doesn't like pain."

I paused. Adjusted. Said nothing.

He had no idea what I was scared of. The night we bonded, I was in real pain. The moment it was over, he was gone. Pack business, he said.

Every time after that — rushed. He never really looked at me.

He didn't know I was afraid of pain. But he knew she was.

I took a slow breath and finished the exam.

The baby inside me moved. A tiny flutter. Like it was telling me it's okay.

My eyes burned. I held it together.

"Baby's healthy. About eight months. Everything looks normal."

"Thank goodness." Vanessa exhaled. "I was so worried the trip might've affected her."

"Moon Goddess is watching over her," Damon said.

He helped Vanessa up, arm around her waist. Protective. Possessive. Like she was the only person in the room.

"Eva. File the results."

"Wait, Damon." My voice stayed steady. "I need to talk to you."