The Billionaire Alpha's Replacement Mate

CHAPTER 2

Laura's hands were still shaking when she finally managed to block the unknown number. She dropped her phone onto the couch like it had burned her, the image of Kyle and Veronica seared into her mind.

"We can't stay here," Sage whispered urgently. "Pack. Now."

Her wolf was right. Laura couldn't be here when Kyle returned, couldn't face him after that message, after seeing proof of how quickly he'd moved on. She pulled her old duffel bag from the back of the closet and started throwing clothes inside—nothing fancy, just jeans, t-shirts, the practical things she'd owned before Kyle.

Before she'd been stupid enough to believe his promises.

She was zipping up the bag when she heard voices in the hallway outside the apartment. Her wolf immediately bristled.

"I just need to grab a few things," Kyle's voice filtered through the door. "It won't take long."

"Make it quick." That was a woman's voice, cultured and cold. "I want to see where you've been living, anyway."

Laura's heart stopped. He'd brought her here? To their apartment?

The key turned in the lock before Laura could move. The door swung open, and Kyle walked in with Veronica Sterling on his arm.

Veronica was stunning—tall and blonde, wearing a red dress that probably cost more than Laura made in six months. Her Alpha aura filled the small apartment, making Laura's Omega instincts scream at her to lower her eyes, to submit.

Laura forced herself to stand straight instead.

"Oh." Veronica's perfectly painted lips curved into a smile that held no warmth. "The Omega's still here. How awkward."

Kyle at least looked uncomfortable. "Laura, I thought you'd be at work."

"I called in sick." Laura's voice came out steadier than she felt. "Something about my boyfriend announcing he's dating someone else made me feel ill."

Veronica laughed, a sharp sound like breaking glass. "Dating? Kyle, you didn't tell her?" She turned those ice-blue eyes on Laura. "We're not dating, sweetie. We're engaged. Have been since yesterday."

The world tilted. "Engaged?"

Kyle's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it. He didn't say anything at all.

"Show her the ring, darling," Veronica purred, holding up her left hand.

The diamond was massive, catching the light like it was mocking Laura. She recognized it—Kyle's grandmother's ring, the one he'd once promised would be hers someday.

"That was fast," Laura managed to say. "What's the rush?"

"Our fathers have been planning this alliance for months," Veronica said cheerfully, walking further into the apartment. She looked around with barely concealed disgust. "Kyle was supposed to end things with you weeks ago."

Laura's eyes snapped to Kyle. "Weeks ago?"

He couldn't meet her gaze. "It's complicated."

"No, it's really not." Veronica pulled a folded paper from her designer purse. "This is an eviction notice. This apartment belongs to Hartson Industries. You have forty-eight hours to leave."

The paper landed on the coffee table between them.

"You can't do this," Laura said, but even as the words left her mouth, she knew they were meaningless.

"Already done," Veronica replied. "Kyle needs to move back to the family estate anyway. This phase of slumming it is over."

"Veronica, that's enough," Kyle finally said, but his voice was weak.

Laura felt Sage pushing forward, making her eyes flash amber. "Get out. Both of you. Now."

"Temper, temper," Veronica tsked. "This is exactly why Omegas shouldn't try to punch above their weight."

"I said get out." Laura's voice dropped to a growl.

For the first time, real annoyance crossed Veronica's perfect face. "You don't give me orders, Omega."

"I'm pregnant."

The words fell out of Laura's mouth before she could stop them. The silence that followed was deafening.

Kyle's face went white. "What?"

Laura pulled the pregnancy test from her pocket with trembling fingers. "Two months. I found out this morning."

Veronica's expression transformed from annoyance to pure fury. "You lying little..."

"I'm not lying." Laura threw the test onto the table next to the eviction notice. "There's your proof."

Kyle took a step toward her. "Laura, if this is real, we need to talk about—"

"There's nothing to talk about." Laura grabbed her duffel bag. "You made your choice. This baby and I want nothing from you."

"Don't be stupid," Veronica snapped. "You can't raise an Alpha's child alone. Do you have any idea what kind of scandal this could cause?"

"Then Kyle should have thought of that before." Laura pushed past them toward the door.

Kyle caught her arm. "Wait. Just wait."

Laura looked down at his hand, then up at his face. "Let go of me."

"Laura, please. We can figure this out."

She yanked her arm free and walked out. Behind her, Veronica's voice rose sharply.

"Kyle, you need to handle this. Pay her off, make her sign an NDA, I don't care. But I won't have some Omega bastard complicating things."

Laura didn't hear Kyle's response. She was already running down the stairs, one hand pressed protectively over her stomach.

The night air hit her face like a slap. She kept walking, no destination in mind, just away from everything.

She'd made it two blocks when the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Someone was following her.

Laura glanced over her shoulder. Three men were walking behind her, too close, matching her pace. When she sped up, they sped up.

One of the men suddenly appeared in front of her, moving with inhuman speed. Wolf.

"Easy there, sweetheart," he said, his smile showing too many teeth. "Marcus Hartson would like a word. Well, more like he'd like you to disappear quietly."

Laura's blood turned to ice. Kyle's father had sent wolves after her.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," the man continued.

He reached for her, and Laura opened her mouth to scream.

A hand shot out of the darkness and caught the man's wrist in an iron grip.

"Touch her," a deep voice said, "and you'll lose that hand."

Laura spun around. A man stood behind her, tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and eyes that glowed silver in the streetlight. The sheer power radiating from him made her knees weak.

Alpha. A strong one.

The three men actually backed up a step. "This doesn't concern you, Kane."

Kane. Adrian Kane. Laura's breath caught. Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, Marcus Hartson's biggest rival, and according to rumors, utterly ruthless.

"When rogues attack a woman in my territory, it concerns me," Adrian said calmly. "Leave. Now."

The rogues exchanged glances, then melted back into the shadows.

Laura turned to face her savior. Up close, Adrian Kane was even more intimidating—sharp features, cold eyes, absolute authority in every line of his body.

"Thank you," she managed. "I don't know what they would have..."

"You're Kyle Hartson's girlfriend." It wasn't a question.

Laura's stomach dropped. "How did you know?"

Adrian's eyes moved to her stomach, and his expression shifted. "I can smell him on you. And something else." His gaze sharpened. "You're pregnant."

Laura's hand moved protectively over her stomach. "That's none of your business."

"It is when Marcus Hartson sends rogues after you in my territory." Adrian stepped closer. "He wants you gone. Probably wants the baby gone too."

"You know about the Sterling merger?"

"I know everything about the Hartsons." Something dangerous flickered in Adrian's silver eyes. "Which is why I'm going to make you an offer, Laura."

"What kind of offer?"

Adrian smiled, and it was the smile of a predator.

"Marry me."