Chapter 4
Xavier shoved me away, the force sending me crashing back onto the couch. He scowled, his voice dripping with disdain. “Stop faking it! You were fine just now. I hate it when you use the pup to manipulate me!”
My heart sank with the impact.
Hanna walked over to Xavier, tugging at his ear playfully. “Why are you so harsh? Omegas get like this during pregnancy. They just want their Alpha’s attention. So what if she’s being a little dramatic?”
Xavier snorted, his eyes filled with contempt. “If she were even half as understanding as you, I wouldn’t be so annoyed.”
His gaze suddenly landed on Hanna’s swimsuit strap, and he reached out to adjust it, his fingers brushing her skin. “Little dummy, your strap’s loose.”
Hanna giggled, pulling her hair to one side, exposing her neck as she let him fix it. “Be gentle. It’s too tight.”
Xavier pressed a finger into her shoulder, smirking. “Nah, you’re just flat-chested.”
Their laughter echoed as they walked out the door. I picked up my phone and called one of Xavier’s friends, Soren, my
voice calm. “Soren, I’ll meet you at the yacht later.”
His response was steady, “Alright, I’ll be at the dock.”
Xavier would never know that Soren wasn’t just an Alpha from the Silvermoon Pack-he was also my childhood friend. Twenty years of pure friendship had taught me what real “platonic” relationships looked like-nothing like Xavier and Hanna’s “brotherly” antics that trampled on mate bonds.
Six years of love, from school uniforms to pack-recognized mates, I thought we’d make it. But now, I wanted to see just how rotten this relationship had become.
The salty sea breeze brushed against my face as I stood on the deck of the luxury yacht, watching the Blackthorn Pack members laugh and shout. I stood in the shadows, sunglasses and mask on, an outsider observing the chaos.
Hanna, in a bikini, was pressed against Xavier, who wore only swim trunks. They were playing a game-passing a tissue with their mouths. Whoever dropped it would be punished.
When it was their turn, Hanna bit the tissue until only a corner was left. Xavier leaned in several times but couldn’t grab it, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
“Alpha lost! Time for punishment!” someone shouted. “How about you confess your feelings to Hanna? Let’s see the Blackthorn Alpha’s romantic side!”
Xavier didn’t refuse. Instead, he looked at Hanna, his eyes filled with a tenderness I hadn’t seen in the five months of my
pregnancy.
Chapter 4
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