“I see she's taking this well,” Charlie says to Sadie.
“Let’s go inside,” Sadie says.
“Sounds good.” Charlie takes my hand to guide me out of the car. “I didn’t call Tabitha because she doesn’t know… you know. And I didn’t know if you wanted to talk that out some more.”
Sadie waves to Deke, who parks in front of my house. Standing guard, I guess. Sadie told me the cartel threat is gone, but Deke is known for being overprotective.
Both of my friends help me inside, but once I’m there instinct takes over. I head to the kitchen and put on an apron. Preheat the oven and pull out a baking sheet, then grab a container out of the freezer. I have profiterole dough saved for just this moment.
“What’s she doing?” Charlie whispers to Sadie.
“Stress baking.” Sadie waves Charlie to a stool. “C’mon. It’ll be a while before dessert’s ready, but it’ll be worth it.”
“Mmmm, sugar. Just what this baby mama needs.” Charlie angles herself awkwardly on the stool. She’s not showing yet, but she rests her hand on her pregnant belly.
The whisk I was holding clatters to the floor. “Oh my God,” I choke. “Charlie. You’re–”
“Pregnant with a puppy?” She winks.
Oh my God. Sadie told me Lance was a shifter, but I didn’t put it together until now. My friend is pregnant with a shifter’s baby.
“Is that what they call it?” My voice is shrill. My hands flutter to my own belly. Rafe and I had sex a million times. What if my birth control failed?
“Relax, Adele,” Charlie says quickly, straightening. “I’m not going to give birth to a puppy.”
Sadie frowns at her. “No more jokes. She’s processing a lot.” She hops off her stool, grabs the whisk and cleans up, offering me a glass of water and rubbing my back while I drink it.
“How are you doing?” I ask Charlie, when I can speak again. “I would be out of my mind right now.”
“I have a lot of help.” She pats her stomach. “There are other humans who have mated with shifters.”
Mated. There’s that word again.
“I want this baby. I love Lance. I resisted him because he was a player, but you know what wolf shifters never do with their mates? Cheat or leave.”
“It’s a perk,” Sadie nods.
Another rush of tears. This time I let them fall. I pause in beating the shit outta of the creme patisserie. “He said I was a distraction.”
“He did what?” Charlie and Sadie flank me, both giving me side hugs.
I wave a whisk. It flings custard everywhere, leaving egg yolk-yellow drips on my wood cabinets, but that’s okay. After a bout of stress baking comes a bout of stress cleaning. “It was in the heat of the moment. I’m trying not to hold it against him, but my mémère said to believe what people tell you, even when they’re drunk or their emotions are high. Especially then. Their filters are gone, so they’re telling the truth.” I swallow. “He sees me as a distraction, guys. I’m not a central figure in his life.”
“No,” both my friends gasp. “That’s not it at all–” Sadie says at the same time Charlie adds, “You’re his mate. You are the central figure in his life.”
I hold up a hand. “He’s not claiming me.”
Charlie and Sadie look stricken, but they don’t contradict me. I point a whisk at them. “We had some good moments together. But it’s over.”
11
Rafe
Since I got home last night, I’ve been attempting to drink myself into a stupor, which unfortunately is impossible for a shifter. The numbness only lasts ten minutes, tops, before my body processes the alcohol. Still, it’s worth the effort even for the momentary relief.
Adele is gone. I drove her away, and I deserve all the pain blasting through my chest right now.
But I did the right thing.
I did.
Adele’s association with me nearly got her tangled in Dieter’s dark plans, whatever they may have been. I still don’t know why he thought she was his mate nor what made him change his mind. I don’t understand what he knows about my parents’ death.
I try to keep my thoughts focused on him, try to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but they keep swinging back to Adele.
To the sound of her voice breaking. The hurt on her face.
Fates, I’m almost hoping for moon madness to come and take me now. At least it would be better than living like this.
I open the fridge door and stare blankly at the contents. Looks like Channing went to the Grille and stocked up on takeout boxes. I’ve stood here and stared a dozen times, as if I can conjure up something Adele’s cooked. I’d eat a vegan meal if I knew she made it. I’d even eat another sprig of parsley.
Channing, Lance and Deke come in all together, like they planned an intervention or something. I guess I don’t blame them. None of them would survive a confrontation with me alone right now.