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When we get to my planet, I will always protect you. There s nothing you will want for. You
are my priority.
She huffed out a frustrated breath. You can t assume I m going with you.
Then I will stay on this planet. The assurance in his voice scared her into looking at him.
She spun to him. Oh, no you re not. You have a clan to run.
He blew out a sigh. An intense feeling of loss slammed into her. Her heart broke. But these
weren t her feelings. She knew how she felt. These were someone else s feelings. Someone who was
sad and bewildered at the same time.
Is this what Talen felt for her? Was she somehow able to feel what he was feeling? If she was,
he was not just sad, he was unsure how to proceed with her and wanting to do things to make her
happy. Those were the strongest feelings she got at that moment. Great, she was not just pregnant, she
was also delusional.
Look, Talen. I admit I feel more than just attraction for you. Okay, a lot more, but she d start
with that. She eyed a snack food restaurant across the way. Let s get a hot dog and talk where it s
quieter.
Inside the small eatery, Cassie picked a booth while Talen got the food. He sniffed then
scowled on his way to her. Do you know what this meat smells like?
Cassie put her hands up and waved them, along with a head shake. Don t tell me. I want to
enjoy them still.
You should be safe. Under the chili, cheese, relish, mustard, and onions, the smell is
covered. His brow went up. Still, I ll watch you to make sure nothing harms you from this meal.
TWENTY-FIVE
She scowled back. Yeah, yeah. Just give it here. I m starving.
They ate in silence, Cassie not knowing what to say. She wanted Talen, but was afraid of all
the change that would follow, along with the consequences for a wrong decision. Especially now.
Dear god. Now she had a child to think about. If that didn t send her into an instant panic attack she
didn t know what would. A child that depended on her to make the right choices for him or her. She
couldn t fuck up now.
Talen, why did you leave the castle that next morning? Why didn t you stay with me?
Dammit, she shouldn t ask, but she really wanted to know. That morning she d felt so much and him
leaving had really hurt her. Then the fact he sent someone to remind her it was just sex had stomped
any feelings blooming in her heart for him.
He sighed and took a moment before he answered. Was he preparing a lie? Thinking up an
excuse to make it seem she wasn t just a booty call. But that was all she was after, wasn t it? Fuck,
she was so confused.
I had a situation at home that needed my attention. I planned to come back after you had
awakened, but I was badly injured
Injured? Talen, what happened? Her belly flipped and she now wished she hadn t eaten.
The image of him bleeding and hurt tore at her insides.
I hoped to not worry you with this. But there are no secrets between mates. My brother
Paxten is sabotaging everything I do. I believe, no, I m damn sure he wants control of the clan, but he
won t do what s required to earn that position. He s angry and resentful, and has caused conflict in the
clan. Conflict we haven t had in the time I ve been in charge.
What kind of conflict?
The moment I woke beside you that morning, I was the happiest I have ever been in my life. I
had you in my arms and we would be together forever. But my brother, who was under guard at the
castle, escaped. He s turned my world to hell since I ve been leading the clan. I had to find him
before he hurts someone like Bella or the babies.
Cassie sucked in a hard breath. He wouldn t dare. Alyx would skin him alive.
I couldn t take that chance. I went home and found the clan office being torn apart by three
who followed Paxten. His delusional ideas are popular amongst the younger clan members. When I
approached, they attacked me and my second-in-command.
Pain entered his eyes. She saw the love for his people shining through the sadness. He had a
huge heart, strong heart. Maybe he did care for her like he claimed. Maybe this could work. Hope
started to grow in her wary heart again.
He looked at the half eaten meal, burying his eyes from her sight. Cassie lifted his chin to meet
his eyes. You had to protect yourself, Talen. Put any ache out of your mind. I see why you had to
leave. You made the right choice.
It made sense now that he left.
I came back a few days later, after my healing sleep, but you were already gone. Cassie put
her finger over his lips.
I understand. And she did. He hadn t wanted to leave her. But what about that guy? So at
least she knew she hadn t been just a one-night stand. Was there a future between them? That was
another story. I have put everything together from Gerri introducing us to why you are here now. You
don t have to be here, baby or not. But you are. Even leaving your people in possible danger. He
sighed and nodded.
I must get back, Cassie. But I m not leaving without you. If you won t come home for me,
then do it for our cub. Let our clan doctor look you over to make sure everything is normal and on
schedule.
That made a lot of sense. There went her argument over not going back with him. Her doctor
wouldn t know a thing about birthing a baby bear. All right. I will go with you. But just to see the
doctor.
A wide smile brightened Talen s face. You got it, my love.
TWENTY-SIX
You ve made a wise decision, Cassie. Gerri was pleased Cassie was leaving with Talen,
even if it was only for a couple days. I ll be here when you return. Cassie hugged her friend tightly
and took Talen s hand.
Moments later, Cassie was on her knees, throwing up her lunch on a foreign planet. Talen held
her hair to the side and rubbed her back. I m sorry you don t travel well through the portal, love.
I ve heard it takes time for humans to acclimate.
Cassie had only strength to nod and remain on all fours, wobbly at that. Talen carefully lifted
her into his arms. Let me take you home. There you can rest and the clan healer will come.
She was fine with that. As long as a bed and pillow were under her, she didn t care. Maybe
soup would be a better choice for lunch. She should ask Talen what he smelled in the hot dogs so
she ll never eat another one again.
Talen approached a cabin blended in with the trees. If she hadn t been looking for it, she might
have missed it. The front looked like a charming, romantic get-a-way type of place. It seemed a little
small, but it was only Talen living there, right?
He carried her over the threshold and into a quaint sitting room with rustic lodge-like
furniture. The side tables appeared handcrafted with exquisite details of bears in different scenes.
They passed through another framed opening into a nice-sized kitchen with a granite-like
center island. She could cook anything in here. Food sounded good at that point. But so did sleep.
Talen shouldered open a door and stepped into a dark room.
Instantly her senses where filled with him. It smelled so wonderful. A heat warmed her core
like the night she and Talen had been together at Alyx s castle and back at Tally s old apartment.
Would they again? She wanted that so much.
Sure, she could deny it, but he had really dug himself into her mind, body, and soul. Even if
she weren t pregnant, she could admit to herself now that she d never gone a day without thinking
about him and wondering what could have been.
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