39
Bethany's POV
The guilt was suffocating.
I pressed a hand to my stomach, my fingers trembling as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I'd been standing here for what felt like hours, trying to recognize myself in the pale, hollow-eyed woman staring back at me. The news of my pregnancy had been a wrecking ball, swinging through my carefully constructed world and leaving nothing but rubble in its wake.
I hadn't told anyone yet. Not Mason, not Lily. Not my mother. Only Adrian and Marina knew, and I intended to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Adrian had promised to protect me, to stand by me no matter what. His words were sincere, and as much as I appreciated that, they didn't quiet the storm raging inside me. This wasn't just about me anymore. This was about a child—a life growing inside me. A child who would be born into a pack that thrived on rules and hierarchy, where my existence had always felt tenuous at best.
And then there was Mason.
I shivered, gripping the edge of the sink to steady myself. Mason's temper was unpredictable and his presence overwhelming. He had been the first to make me feel like I belonged, the first to protect me when I arrived in the pack until he turned into a miserable bastard. And even still, I was still tied to him and he would never approve of Adrian and I. And he was so intent on proving to everyone that I belonged to him, that anytime I looked at him, guilt clawed at my insides like a feral animal.
Because this wasn't his child.
I couldn't face him.
For days, I've avoided both of them. I threw myself into tasks that kept me away from the packhouse, finding excuses to leave before Mason returned and slipping away whenever Adrian was near. If either of them noticed my sudden retreat, they didn't say anything.
But the guilt only grew.
I couldn't eat without my stomach twisting. Sleep was a distant memory, stolen by thoughts of how this secret would tear everything apart. And worse, how it would shatter Mason. But that wasn't exactly what was bothering me. What bothered me was what he and the pack would do to Adrian.
And that's why every time I thought about confessing, my throat closed up, and fear rooted me in silence. Adrian's child—our child—wasn't just a secret. It was a spark that could ignite the whole pack into chaos.
I didn't know what to do. I sighed, staring at myself in the mirror for a few more minutes before walking out of the room. I needed some air.
***
I returned to my room, the air heavy with the scent of rain-soaked earth. I shut the door behind me, leaning against it as exhaustion dragged me down.
"Where the hell have you been?"
Mason's voice cut through the air like a whip, making me jump. He was sitting on the edgeof my bed, his posture stiff, his hands gripping his knees so tightly his knuckles were white. His eyes bore into me, so dark and stormy that I knew immediately that I'd pushed too far.
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "I—I've been busy."
"Busy?" His laugh was sharp and bitter. "You've been avoiding me, Bethany. Don't insult my intelligence."
I tried to sidestep him, to put some distance between us, but he was on his feet in an instant, blocking my path. His presence was suffocating, his body radiating tension.
"I'm not avoiding you," I lied, my voice trembling.
His gaze narrowed, and he stepped closer. "Don't lie to me. You forget I've been your fiancé for three years now. I can feel it when something's wrong with you. You've been pulling away from me for days, and I want to know why."
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. "I just… I need space, Mason. That's all."
"Space?" His voice rose, and I flinched. "Space from what? From me?"
"I don't know!" I blurted out, my voice cracking. "I just… I can't do this right now."
His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened with something primal. "You can't do what, Bethany? Be honest with me for once."
I shook my head, my chest tightening. "You wouldn't understand."
"Then make me understand!" he roared, his voice echoing in the small room.
I froze as his wolf surged to the surface, his eyes flashing gold, his muscles rippling beneath his shirt. His dominance filled the air, thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
"Mason," I whispered, backing away instinctively.
His wolf was fighting for control, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts. He took a step toward me, and I felt my back press against the wall.
"You're hiding something from me," he growled, his voice a deep, guttural snarl. "I can feel it. What is it, Bethany?"
Tears welled in my eyes as his raw power pressed down on me. My instincts screamed at me to submit, to appease him, but I couldn't. Not this time.
"Mason, please," I choked out, my voice trembling. "You're scaring me."
His eyes widened, and for a moment, his human side flickered back to the surface. He took a step back, his hands trembling as he ran them through his hair.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "I didn't mean to—"
I didn't let him finish. I darted past him, my heart pounding as I fled the room.
I didn't stop running until I reached the edge of the packhouse grounds, my legs shaking beneath me. The cool night air stung my lungs, but I welcomed the discomfort. It was better than the suffocating tension that had consumed me in that room.
I leaned against a tree, tears streaming down my face. I felt trapped, caught between the all the truth and the lies, between guilt and fear.
And now Mason's wolf had surfaced, something he'd always kept in check around me. I didn't know what that meant, but it terrified me.
I pressed a hand to my stomach, my tears falling harder. "What am I going to do?"
I whispered, hiccuping. Unfortunately, the silence of the forest offered no answers.