The Alpha's Warrior Mate

The Truth

I felt completely numb. I heard voices talking to me but I couldn't place them. 

"Anna..." Mason was crouched in front of me. "Anna, can you hear me?" 

I pulled out of my haze. "Yeah, I hear you," allowing my eyes to make contact with his. 

"Anna, who's the father of your baby?" he asked quietly. 

"My mate," I told him. 

"Where is your mate, Anna?" 

I took a deep breath and stared back down at the pregnancy test in my hand trying to fight the tears pricking at the back of my eyes. 

"I was taken prisoner after the war for almost nine months. I had almost given up when my mate, an alpha, found and rescued me. It was amazing at first," I smiled remembering the days spent at the lake with Ethan. "I was finally able to shift again and everything seemed to be perfect until I came in one day and he was talking to Alpha Jack." I choked on his name. 

"What were they saying?" Mason's eyes were dark. 

"They were making a deal. When I was done giving them information he would reject me and turn me back over to him," I whispered. 

Miriam gasped behind him. 

"I ran from the house but Alpha Jack followed me.That's when I killed him. My mate begged me to come back with him but I wouldn't... I couldn't. I didn't think I would survive the severing of the mate bond. I jumped off a cliff instead. You found me after that." 

Mason was completely still in front of me. I couldn't place any of his emotions because his face was completely unreadable. Before I got the chance to say anything, he was up and out of the infirmary. I locked eyes with Miriam who was still staring at me incredulously. I shifted in my seat awkwardly, until I decided it would have to be me that spoke first. 

"Well, as fun as this has been, I better get back to work," I tried to make light of the situation so I could go get a few minutes to myself. 

"You can't go!" She exclaimed as I jumped at her response. "I'm sorry dear, it's just that we need to get you on vitamins and do a few more tests before I let you go," she said hurrying into the next room. She returned a moment later wheeling in a big machine. 

"Okay dear, lay back on the bed right there," I did as I was told. "Now this gel might be a little cold, heavens knows I haven't used it in a while," she lifted up my shirt and squirted the gel onto my abdomen. The machine wooshed a few times before a little figure came up on the screen. "There's your baby,' she said warmly. 

I stared at the small screen. I could easily outline small heart pumping away at the life inside of me. I fought back tears as I counted the number of times before I had to look away. It was becoming too overwhelming. I threw my shirt back down not bothering to wipe the gel off before jumping off the bed and heading towards the door. I could hear Miriam was shouting something at me but I was too anxious to stop to listen. Instead, I ran to the edge of the treeline and into the thickness of the woods. I ran and ran until I hit the edge of the river. I stopped with my hands on my knees, not knowing if I was out of breath because I was pregnant or if it was because I was so overwhelmed. I took the moment to sink down to the ground and ducked my head between my legs letting the tears fall. 

"We can do this, we have to- for the baby," my wolf whispered to me. 

"I'm not sure I can," I sobbed back to her. " I'm not meant for motherhood, especially by myself!" 

"We will figure it out, I promise, Anna." I believed her. Feeling as if she wouldn't be leaving again anytime soon. 

"ANNA!" I heard distant shouting. 

"Over here!" I shouted back to Mason through the trees. 

"Hey! Where did you go?" he asked.

"I just needed a minute to breathe," I admitted shyly. 

"It's okay, Anna, we'll help you through this," he said softly sinking next to me. 

"Thanks, Mason," I said putting my head on his muscular shoulder. 

"I came to find you to tell you that we're getting your room situated in the pack house."

"What? We're not moving in for another month!" I questioned. 

"I talked to Darian and some of the other guys, they're working round the clock to have your room ready in the house so you can be comfortable there," his eyes locked on mine. 

"You can't do that! I'm not even officially part of this pack, other people need that room more than I do," I protested. 

Mason laughed out loud at my panic. "It's not a big deal. The guys love you, and they want to help take care of you. You've done so much helping them, they just want you to feel safe. I might have told them the general version of how you got here," he said sounding unsure of his decision. 

"No, it's okay. They all needed to know sooner or later. I mean, it's not like any of them are going to feel comfortable sparring with me in a few months," I laughed out through a few tears. Mason responded by putting his arm around my shoulders. 

"We'll take care of you. I promise," he whispered as he placed a kiss on top of my head. My heart stung as I remembered all of the times I sat with Jason the same way. "Now come on, mom's going to be pissed if I don't bring you back to her. She was shouting about prenatal vitamins and appointments when I left," he laughed, lightening the mood. I rolled my eyes and grabbed a hand he was offering to stand up.