Alpha's One Night Bride
Alpha’s One Night Bride – Chapter 27

Jonathan was already home when I arrived home from work. He looked more bothered than usual.

“What’s going on?” I asked him, sitting beside him on the couch. I entwined my fingers through his and peered up at him through my lashes.

“An outsider has been hunting on our grounds,” he answered.

“What?” I asked, keeping my wording short. That couldn’t have been right. No wolf dared to hunt outside their given hunting grounds. It was against the law and violating that specific law could mean death on their end.

Nobody was that stupid.

“Edward Harris came to my office today and told me that they could smell an outsider as they hunted this morning. I went down to the woodland forest with Chief Miller and his deputies to check it out,” he explained.

“Was it another pack?” I asked.

“I’m not sure yet. They are still out there tracking the scent,” he answered.

If it’s a wolf from a pack, that could cause a territory war to break out between packs. A lot of innocent wolves could die; women and children included.

“Hey,” he said, meeting my eyes. “I’m not going to let anything happen. I promise.”

I knew he meant what he said, but some things are out of his hands as well. The thought of losing him brought me a wave of sadness.

“It’s going to be okay, Arina,” he assured me again; he could read the worry on my face.

I was terrible at hiding my emotions. Then again, Jonathan has known me my entire life so even if I was good at hiding my expression, he’d still be able to read my face and know exactly what I was thinking.

I forced him a smile.

“I know,” I told him.

He kissed my forehead and gave me a smile in return.

“So, are you ready to talk about Rock?” He asked.

I frowned.

The last thing I wanted to do was talk about Rock. He called me twice already today and I ignored him both times. I knew he was going to have a fit at the fact that I went against his contract, but I didn’t care. I was still trying to wrap my head around what he said about my mother having an affair with Boris Conway.

There was no way she would do something like that. She always told me how much she loved my father at the beginning of the relationship. She told me how different their relationship was until he became the Alpha and then he changed for the worse.

My mother had no motives to have an affair.

How would I even go about asking Boris Conway that question?

Hey Mr. Conway; I know you are a multi-billionaire detective with an amazingly beautiful wife. But by any chance did you have an affair with my mom years ago?

Just thinking about it in my head, it sounds ridiculous.

I was supposed to be going to Silverside to take photos of Makenna Conway’s birthday party tomorrow night. If it is true and my mom did have an affair with Boris Conway, how could I possibly face them?

“Arina?” Jonathan gently nudged me from beside. I realized I hadn’t even answered his question yet.

“I’m sorry,” I told him softly. “I know I’ve been closed off since we met with Rock. I just don’t know how to feel about any of it.”

“I get it,” he said. “But he obviously wants something.”

“What do you suppose it is?” I asked, wary.

“It’s hard to tell. But we need to be careful. Whatever it is, it has something to do with the baby,” he answered slowly.

I knew that but hearing him say it hurt.

“I’m not going to let him hurt either of you,” Jonathan promised, wrapping his arms around me. He pulled me close, and I nuzzled my head against his chest. It felt comfortable being with him.

“Maybe we should round everyone up and have a meeting; I think I need to tell them everything.”

…

It didn’t surprise me that Jessica was the first to arrive. She was always early to every event and gathering she went to. Anderson was the next person to show up; I was surprised Marian didn’t come with him. But I was kind of glad she didn’t; I didn’t want to tell her about my mother’s affair with Boris Conway.

Jess showed up shortly after Anderson. As soon as she walked in, she gave me a tight hug. I felt bad for not keeping her updated; she must have been so worried. Then finally Erick showed up; fashionably late per usual.

Sitting around the kitchen table, I looked amongst my friends who all had wary expressions.

“Thanks for coming on short notice,” I told them with a shy smile.

“Of course, Arina. We want to know what’s going on,” Jessica said, reaching across the table and taking a hold of my hand. Her fingers were trembling; she was nervous. I hated that I worried her; I hated that I worried all of them.

“Rock wants to keep me under close radar for whatever reason,” I explained; I waited for the round of gasps to end. “I’m not exactly sure what he wants. But he claims to want to be a part of this pregnancy. He wants to make sure I have a healthy pregnancy and the baby arrives without any issues.”

“And you believe him?” Jess asked, she sounded disgusted. I couldn’t blame her.

“No,” I assured her; she sighed from relief. She glanced over at Jonathan and scanned his face with her eyes; trying to read his expression.

“So, what exactly did you tell him?” She asked.

“She signed a contract,” he told her.

“A what?” Jess asked, raising her eyebrows; now she was staring back at me. It was weird having a mother figure in my life; I haven’t had one of those since I was 7.

“A contract,” I repeated Jonathan. “A contract that states that Rock can be involved until the baby is born. He’s keeping a watch on me and wants to see me more often.”

“The contract says nothing about once the baby is born though; so, it no longer applies after she gives birth,” Jonathan assured his mother.

“Why does he want to be involved? Why now?” She asked.

“We aren’t sure yet. But I promise, Mom. We will find out,” Jonathan told her gently.

“I don’t understand,” Anderson cut in. “Why would you sign that contract?”

“Because he has something I need. Or at least, he claims he does,” I told them. They waited for me to continue. “He has a box full of my mother’s belongings. Diaries, letters, videos, items that she held onto. Everything that made her who she is.” After a breath, I added, “And her ashes.”

“Her what?” Jess nearly choked out.

“Her ashes,” I repeated. “He claims he kept them from her cremation.”

“Those ashes were supposed to be buried at the oak tree in Ironclaw,” Jess said, her voice cracking slightly as she tried not to burst into tears.

“I know,” I told her softly; trying to keep away my own tears. “There’s more…” I told them. “Rock says that my mother had an affair… with Boris Conway.”

Jessica burst into laughter before she could stop herself.

“THE Boris Conway?” She asked, between giggles.

When she didn’t see me laughing with her, she stopped, and her face reddened.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “I thought you were joking.”

Jessica has been obsessed with the Conway’s; back at our college dorm, they were constantly on the television. She’s been wanting to live their exact lifestyle.

“I’m not,” I told her. “But I also don’t know if I believe him. I won’t know unless I get that box.”

“Do you think all of them are in on it?” Anderson asked. I rose an eyebrow at him.

“Like Melissa and Ronnie? Probably,” I muttered. “I wouldn’t put it past either of them.”

“What if Ronnie doesn’t know what’s going on?” Erick, who has been quiet up until that point, asked.

I frowned.

“I doubt that. She’s Rock’s golden child. I’m sure whatever it is he’s planning, they’re all involved,” I told them.

“Did you actually ask Ronnie if she knows anything?” Erick pressed.

I noticed Anderson giving him the same look he did the other night when we were leaving Ironclaw; before Erick took off to go hunting.

“I mean… no,” I said, eyeing Erick carefully.

“So, she might be clueless too,” Erick said, keeping his eyes on mine. “If that’s the case, we could use her help. Have someone on the inside.”

“I don’t trust her enough for that. Plus, we don’t know for sure if she’s completely innocent,” I told him.

“But we also don’t know if she’s involved,” Erick said again.

“It’s not a chance I’m willing to take,” I shot back; I was getting aggravated.

“Erick, what’s the hell is going on with you?” Jonathan asked him; he could sense I wanted to jump across the table and strangle him.

“Yeah, Erick. What the hell is going on with you?” Anderson repeated Jonathan, except his tone sounded more mocking.

“Nothing,” Erick said, defensively. “I’m just trying to cover all of our bases.”

“Are you sure that’s it, buddy?” Anderson asked; humor was leaking through his tone.

I could feel the heat rising to my face.

“Yes,” Erick said firmly, shooting him a look.

“Did you talk to Ronnie?” I asked him, trying to keep my tone steady.

“What makes you think that?” Erick asked; he looked to be getting nervous.

“Man, just tell them the truth,” Anderson said; now he seemed to be getting annoyed.

Staring amongst the two of them, Anderson was rolling his eyes and folding his arms across his chest and Erick was looking sheepish. They were both hiding something, and it was aggravating, but the realization hit me, nearly knocking me out of my seat.

“Oh my god,” I breathed. They all turned to me, except for Erick. He stared down at his hands, his face reddening. “She’s your mate.”