Page 71 of His Bullied Fated Mate

“You know, I’ve done nothing but be there for you, and you just lied to me. What is it? Are you sick? You planning to sneak out in the middle of the night? What is it that you're hiding from me?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m not planning to sneak out, Riley.”

“Really? That isn't your plan? Is it something else?”

She shook her head. “Please, stop yelling at me. You're giving me a headache.”

I moved closer. “Then maybe you should be at home like you said you were. You are my wife, whether you like it or not. So, don’t think I’m going to figure out what you're keeping from me. I don't appreciate the lies.”

I expected her to bark back or to do something. But tears welled in her eyes, and she started crying. She dropped the bags and started to run in the opposite direction from me. I stood frozen, my eyes going from the bags to her in confusion.

“Shit.”

I ran a hand through my hair and groaned, knowing I’d fucked up. This was not how I should have spoken to her.

I grabbed the bags and started heading in the direction she ran. I could smell her sweetness as I went, finding that she went through the park into the woods. I set the bags on a picnic table before heading into the woods.

“Janella? Where are you?”

I walked a few feet in and scanned the space. “I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m sorry. I just...” I was utterly terrified. I didn’t know what our future looked like, what the future of the pack looked like, and it scared me. I didn't want to think about her trying to leave. I couldn't stomach the thought.

“Janella, please. I didn’t mean to talk to you like that. I shouldn’t have spoken that way. I just...I know something is going on.”

I walked a couple more meters into the woods. I paused when I heard whimpering.

“Janella…” It twisted my heart up knowing I was causing her pain. “Please, just…come out. Come and talk to me.”

I kept going until I spotted her leaning forward on a tree. I hurried after her. “Janella.”

The closer I got, the more I could hear her crying and saying something. I paused as I got behind her and smelled blood.

“I was being careful…”

“What? Janella, are you bleeding?”

She looked over her shoulder at me, looking paler than before. I scanned her, not seeing any blood or cuts, so I didn’t understand the confusion. But I could smell that tangy smell in the air.

“Janella…What’s wrong?”

Her lower lip quivered, and more tears started to burst free. “I’m bleeding.”

“Where?”

She looked down, and then I saw it. There was blood on her jeans between her thighs. I frowned. “Well…. sweetie, it’s probably your period.”

And then it clicked. If it had been her period, she wouldn’t be crying. Which meant it was something else.

I moved, grabbing her and hoisting her off the ground. She gripped onto me as I turned us, hurrying back into the town. I was practically running as I hurried her back to the infirmary. Her entire body was shaking with each step I took.

Was she pregnant? What was she hiding from me? Why hadn't she told me?

The women were quick, taking her back to a private room. I paced in the lobby, shaking my head. How had I missed it? How had I read the signs so incorrectly?

We’d had sex. We’d had sex several times and never used protection. A part of me figured she might be on something, since she never brought it up. If she had, I would have brought condoms.

I ran a hand over my face. “Jesus…”

I owed her a better apology. Flowers. A new phone. Anything. Here I was yelling at her in the middle of the town about her leaving when she was probably trying to figure things out. She was probably panicking about this information.