A Mate's Revenge by P. Jameson

growled. “Why did you protect Jax? After everything he did to you, to us ?”
    Besh’s head snapped back. “Is that what you think? That I was protecting him?”
    Cael’s breath chuffed like an enraged bull’s. And that was fine because she was angry too. How could he think she cared at all about Jax?
    “It was never him I was protecting all those years.”
    Besh set the jar aside. She needed out of there. She couldn’t be here with him now.
    Retreating to the bedroom, she heard Cael call, “What the hell does that mean?” but she couldn’t answer. She needed clothes and shoes. She’d find a way to repay Cael’s friend later. In the dresser she found a sweatshirt and pulled it on. The jeans in the closet were a couple sizes too big, and too short but they’d work for now. The hiking boots fit perfectly.
    She turned to find Cael watching her. He seemed much calmer, staring through guarded eyes. “If not Jax, then who?”
    Besh shook her head, frustrated. “I don’t think you would understand.”
    “Try me.”
    “No.” It felt good to say the word and have it stand. Instead of muttering it as a hopeless plea. A string of letters that wouldn’t actually stop anything.
    She pushed past Cael, heading for the front door.
    “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “I don’t know. Don’t care. But I’m leaving.”
    “Isabesh, be reasonable. You can’t leave.”
    She turned to scour him with her glare. “Watch me.”
    Moving the chair from under the handle, she unlocked the door. But as soon as she’d opened it a smidge, Cael’s massive hand landed on the wood, slamming it shut again.
    “You will not walk out this door,” he roared. A command. From her alpha. Her wolf ducked her head to submit, but Besh would have no part of it.
    “What, are you going to hold me captive as well? Will I never be free?” she screamed.
    His face deflated, taking every ounce of dominance and replacing it with sadness. “That’s not fair, Isa.”
    Her lip trembled. “I-I know.” She shook her head, her throat thick with regret. Would the feeling ever go away? “I’m sorry.”
    “If you want to leave, we’ll leave. If it’s me you want away from, then I’ll wait outside until you go to bed. But you can’t go now, by yourself.”
    “I’m not weak,” she argued. “My animal will protect me. And… my heat is gone.”
    Cael stepped closer. “I know.” His voice was soft, careful. “That’s why you can’t be alone right now. You carry my young inside you.”
    Her heart thundered in her chest. Was he right? Her mouth opened but nothing came out. Her hand rushed to hold her stomach. Was it true? Her wolf was so satisfied. The animal didn’t want for anything. It… it must be true.
    “I can sense it. Faintly. You’ll probably know for sure by morning. But… it’s there. My young.”
    He reached forward as if to place his hand over hers on her belly, but stopped short. She grabbed it and put it flat against her. His thumb swept back and forth over the place their young would grow. She could hardly believe this was happening. Yes, she knew her heat would make it possible, but she could never actually picture it.
    “Are you sure?” she whispered. “Are you absolutely sure?”
    Cael nodded. “You okay with it?”
    Besh felt dizzy. Her mind swirled with impossibilities and what-ifs. “I need to sit down.”
    She stepped around him, landing on the couch with a huff. Wow. In nine months, she was going to be a mother. She stared into the fire, watching the embers crackle and wondered if the next thirty or so years of her life would turn out better than the first. For the sake of her young, she hoped so.
    ***
    “I was protecting the ones I loved.”
    Cael stiffened at Isabesh’s quiet words. She hadn’t looked away from the fire since he’d told her about the life growing within her.
    “Vesh. The pack. You.” She sighed. “If I could hide it well enough, no one would get hurt. Or, at least that was the