"How did I know it was him?!" Kyle snaps. "Is that even important here?! The real question is: why did you let him mark you? I can't believe this! After everything he did to us?!"
Jess flinches, his heart slamming in his chest. For a moment, the question of how Kyle knew Tanner was the one fades as guilt claws at his mind. Maybe Kyle is right. Maybe he really was stupid to let Tanner touch him.
But all he can remember is the fire in his veins, the unbearable pull, the way his body burned in heat so strong he couldn't think. Couldn't resist.
"He's my mate..." Jess begins, his voice barely a breath.
Only for Kyle to bark over him, "So what if he's your mate Jess?! You could've rejected him! Do you know how many wolves out there have rejected their mates? Did they die?! No! They are still living!"
Jess stares at him blankly. His mind races, trying to process everything, but something doesn't add up.
Why isn't Kyle surprised?
Not even a flicker of shock at the fact that Tanner is his mate. Nothing. His wolf stirs uneasily inside him, pacing restlessly.
There's something Jess doesn't know, something he's missing. And Kyle... Kyle doesn't look heartbroken, he looks angry. Not the kind of anger that comes from betrayal, but something deeper, more personal. Rage rooted in something else entirely.
Jess opens his mouth to speak, but a sudden knock at the door startles them both.
He blinks, confused. Room service?
Maybe Jayson or Jaxon?
But when he opens the door, the breath leaves his lungs.
Charlotte.
With two men standing silently behind her.
Air rushes out of his chest like a punch to the ribs. His stomach twists, something sharp lancing through it. Pain blooms where it shouldn't, and he stumbles back, cold dread washing over him. His thoughts scatter into white noise.
Why is she here?
How did she find him?
Has she been following him?
His mind goes blank, struggling to keep up with what's happening. But what makes it worse... what makes it terrifying... is the fact that Charlotte and Kyle look at each other. Recognition flashes. Familiarity. Like old ghosts.
"Kyle?!" Charlotte breathes, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "I thought you were long dead or something."
"Oh yeah?" Kyle scoffs. "I cannot believe you guys left me to rot in there and disappear like I never existed!"
Jess's head spins, trying to grasp at threads that keep slipping through his fingers. They know each other?
"What did you expect us to do?" Charlotte asks. "You were reckless! You almost exposed us! We couldn't afford that, not after everything!"
Kyle's voice lowers, cold. "What are you doing here?"
Charlotte's lips curl. "Isn't it obvious?" She turns to Jess, her eyes locking on him with chilling intent. She looks at him like prey.
His blood runs cold.
"What the hell is going on?" Jess asks.
Kyle steps forward, standing between them, "You're not taking him anywhere!"
Charlotte just laughs. "Are you serious? You think you can stop us? Don't be ridiculous. You know my father can make you disappear in a second again. You've got nothing. But if you want back in? Then humble yourself. Otherwise, disappear again... no one cares."
Jess's stomach churns. His fingers twitch by his side, instinct ready to take over. Run. Hide. Fight.
Charlotte scoffs. "Are you kidding me?! You think you can stop us? You're alone and have nothing. Be smart, come back home. Humble yourself and join us again. Or disappear. No one will care. Not after proving how reckless you are." She pauses, eyes gleaming. "Everything is going perfectly now. I'll be marrying Tanner tomorrow, and while I celebrate that fake happiness, the other half of the plan will go on smoothly... because I've finally found this precious moonlight after tracking him day and night."
She turns back to Jess, her eyes glittering like a predator that's cornered its meal.
No. No way.
Jess's instincts scream. Whatever this is, whatever they want, it's bad. Danger bleeds from every word she says.
Without thinking, Jess spins around and bolts, but the men are quicker.
They grab him, dragging him backward toward the bed.
Jess thrashes, panic setting in, but one man pins him down while the other pulls out a small bottle, shaking it.
"What is that for?!" Kyle growls, finally moving.
"For abortion," Charlotte says smoothly, her laugh dark and cruel.
Kyle freezes.
What abortion?!
"What are you talking about?" Kyle demands, voice tight.
Charlotte raises her brows like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh? You didn't know? He's pregnant... with Tanner's baby. The Alpha already got him pregnant. And you know what that means. There's no way we're letting that happen. That baby won't be born in any pack but ours. Our family." She pauses meaningfully. "We don't have much time before Tanner finds out what is happening. But I'll keep him distracted. Also, No other Alpha knows about Jess now, and by the time they do, we'll be done. Victory."
Jess goes still.
The world tilts.
His breath catches. His vision blurs. Pregnant with Tanner's baby?! The thought explodes in his head. How is that even possible? He's a man. Since when did men start getting pregnant?!
He stares at her, heart hammering, disbelief flooding his chest. But something inside him shifts... some fluttering spark deep in his core.
Is it true?
Kyle curses behind him. "Fvck! He is pregnant?! Of course he is! That bastard marked him... he must have... What did I even expect?!"
Jess can barely hear them now. They're talking about him like he's not even there, deciding his fate, his body, his future.
And Kyle.
It's like they don't know each other. Like they never shared a special relationship.
Not stopping them, not helping him.
That hurts more than anything else.
Anger surges in Jess's chest like fire. He jerks against the men's grip, refusing to be still.
His body is his. Even if none of this makes sense. Even if he doesn't know what to believe, he will not let them do this.
The men try to force the bottle to his lips, but he thrashes, refusing to give them the satisfaction.
He won't go down like this. Not without a fight.