Mating between different species was incredibly rare, and pregnancies resulting from those unions were rarer still. Most stories ended in tragedy long before a child could ever be born.
Yet Raquel was alive.
More than that, she was far enough along in her pregnancy that nobody could miss it. Her swollen stomach ruled out most of the explanations Carlisle had considered. After turning the problem over in his mind repeatedly, he arrived at the only conclusion that made sense.
At some point during her captivity, Raquel must have found her fated mate.
As for where that mate was now, Carlisle didn’t need to ask.
The silence surrounding the subject said enough. If the man were still alive, Raquel would have mentioned him. The most likely answer was also the saddest one.
Her mate was dead.
