My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

"What about our child, August?" Graeme asked, his expression pained as he held her in the water, her knees finding his muscular thighs where she anchored herself.

Her cheeks were already red from the heat of the spring, which gave her that characteristic flush that he associated with her. She was always blushing with embarrassment—at least when they first met. It was adorable.

She let out a deep breath, her expression mimicking his. She didn't know what to say about it. It wasn't something she could predict, but the words she chose here were important. There was no downplaying that the pregnancy was a significant matter. There were things she would need, including check-ups and ultrasounds and so many other typical routine processes that it was unlikely she would have access to.

"Well they won't know, right?" she asked softly, looking down at the reflective surface of the water. "They won't scent it."

He just stared at her, his brow feathering further in concern. She would be alone in the pregnancy without him or anyone else who cared for her. It was the worst possible idea, and his stomach turned even considering it.

She sighed, feeling the weight of his silence and the thoughts unspoken. Her eyes welled with tears. It wasn't any use to ask why—why was this happening? Why now? Why be blessed with the conception of a child when they would be separated during what was meant to be a magical time in both of their lives?

"I don't know what to say," she admitted. "I am only following what feels necessary. Penelope said that in order to kill him, he first needs to be given life. And… and I don't know how to do that right now."

Graeme gritted his teeth. He didn't want to growl with August in his arms, but the fact that Penelope had been on his land in order to convince his mate to go with that vampire was outrageous. He had spoken with her before—if this was the plan, if this was the purpose for her work with Eliade, why didn't she mention it? Why didn't she prepare them for this? He could have… figured something else out.

"She said I am the closest to La Loba that she has known of," she continued explaining. "Maybe it won't even take that long to find a way to give him life like that, I mean… I healed you tonight. It was much easier and quicker than with Greta. It felt like it was a natural ability that I didn't even have to think about."

"But maybe that is just because your mate was injured," he argued. "And you ended up here on top of it."

"I wish you would trust me," she said softly. "I know it is hard… or impossible even. But the Moon Goddess has given us each other, this child, the pack, and now… put this in our path. It's hard, but life is hard. We have to fight for what we cherish."

"That is what I am trying to do," he growled softly, "fight. For you, for us, for the pack that needs both of us."

Everything in him was riddled with guilt that he had failed in that fight so quickly and easily. He didn't even have a chance against the vampire. If it was his mate's death the vampire was after, she would have already been gone. He wouldn't be able to hold her in his arms right now.

"Maybe you could try to trust me instead," she murmured. She knew it was too much to ask of him. She wouldn't be able to just let him go either if the roles were reversed. In fact, she would likely be hysterical.

Trust. The word rang clear in his mind. That was his issue, all right. It had been for some time. He didn't want to trust her with anyone else, which had included his pack during the time when he and August were barely speaking. He was trying to protect her of course, but it had hurt her instead. It had hurt both of them.

But now he was supposed to trust her in the hands of a vampire?

"Not him," August replied to his unspoken thoughts. "I know you can't trust him. Neither can I. I am asking you to trust me," she said.

"Wouldn't it be better if we faced him together?" he replied.

"How?" she asked, eyebrows pinching together as she finally met his eyes again. "How can we do that? I don't know how to give him that life that is needed yet, and any delay while I am trying to figure it out will be too long. He will be able to end you and me and the pack if he wants."

The flower petals continued spiraling up around them, but Graeme noticed how her eyes were returning to their clear cerulean blue. She was healing from the exhaustion of helping him. That fact gave him a small measure of relief.

"I need time. And hopefully it won't be long," she whispered, perspiration lining her forehead and above her lip. Graeme reached up to smooth the small beads over her lip and cherished the way she leaned into him instinctively, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment.

"Do you trust me?" she asked directly this time.

He sucked in a breath. Penelope had told him to trust his mate, but then she was also aware that they would find themselves in the vampire's crosshairs.

"I want to," he said finally, and he watched as her shoulders slumped. "Do you understand how terrified I am of losing you? That is why I can't give you the answer you are seeking, my love."

"I am terrified of losing you, too," she replied. "Will you please allow me to dunk you so you can be healed here? It will be faster than recovering on your own. I don't want to leave you in pain."

His lips tilted up on one side. "I will be fine. I'm lycan."

"I'm lycan, too," she replied, not missing a beat. "Remember the way I healed from the bear attack because of you?"

He hummed. It was true. She wasn't as fragile as a human anymore, but that didn't mean she would be safe with a vampire.

"And not only that, but I am fae. More fae than even you," she smirked.

"What is that supposed to mean, Moon? That you are more formidable than me at facing this creature?"

"Maybe I am," she shrugged. "Penelope seems to think so."

"Penelope..." he grunted, cursing under his breath, "I can't believe she snuck in to convince you of this. I feel betrayed."

"She seemed very genuine. She is worried about all the alyko," August told him.

"Of course she is.. Whereas I am just worried about one."

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