The Wolf’s Pregnant Rejected Mate (Bluebell Valley Wolves #2)

Chapter 33 - Tess

The rain had turned to a misty drizzle by the time Ryder, Tess, and Elin got back to town. They had to move slowly, with Ryder having to lie down several times to regain his strength. Tess licked his face and ears every time he yipped to call for a rest. His sides heaved, and his fur was matted with blood and water. The beating he’d endured and then the constant exertion since had done a real number on him.

When they returned to town, they were confronted by seven snarling wolves. Hayden stood at the forefront of the special ops. He lifted his head and let out a bark. The command was clear: drop. Tess and Elin immediately dropped to their bellies. Ryder was a little slower, not out of defiance but in pain.

Hayden swished his tail and glanced at the reddish-brown wolf next to him. Finn studied the three of them for a long moment before he shook his head and snorted. The team relaxed, and Hayden trotted over, nosing each one of them.

Tess gratefully staggered to her feet. She might have escaped terrible injuries, but her body ached all over. Mostly, she was worried that the stress of the fighting would weaken her baby.

Hayden jerked his head for them to follow him. He led them to the clinic while the rest of the team dispersed again. Rachel was at the clinic, though Christine was nowhere to be seen. She handed the three of them hospital gowns, and they shifted back to human form.

“I’m not injured,” Elin said, holding her gown with one hand, not bothering to cover herself. “Where’s Mica and Christine? I can help with the wounded.”

“Town hall,” Hayden said. He grabbed Ryder’s elbow as Ryder swayed. “Easy. Elin, tell Christine that she’s needed back here quickly.”

Elin turned to go, but Tess stopped her. She embraced her roommate tightly. “Thank you, Elin. You were very brave in following us. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there, too.”

“Thanks,” Elin mumbled, sounding both embarrassed and pleased. “I hope one day that I can feel brave, too.”

“You won't,” Tess said with certainty. She released Elin and smiled at her. “The bravest of us never feel like we’re brave inside and out. We just do what we need to do despite being afraid. That is…” She snuck a glance at Ryder and Hayden. “That’s what it’s like for me.”

Elin hugged her one last time before leaving.

“Let’s get you into an examination room,” Hayden grunted, still steadying Ryder. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

Rachel chewed her lip. “I can start dressing those wounds.”

Ryder waved a hand. “I need to report on what happened. See to Tess first.”

“I can wait,” Tess protested, eying the wounds intermingled with the bruises.

“No,” Ryder said, so firmly she couldn’t argue.

Hayden helped Ryder into one of the examination rooms while Rachel went with Tess. It was a relief to finally get off her feet, to have someone else taking care of her. Rachel methodically cleaned out her injuries. Most of them were so shallow that they’d already scarred over. The cut on her abdomen was the deepest. It had a thick scab over it that Rachel carefully examined for any sign of infection.

Christine arrived shortly after Rachel was done. Her expression was twisted with concentration mingled with exhaustion as she quickly prepped an ultrasound. Tess didn’t even have to ask her about the baby; she just got right to it.

“Everything looks okay,” the doctor said, squinting at the ultrasound image. “We’ve got a nice steady heartbeat, and there isn’t any damage to your uterus that I can see.”

Relief washed through Tess. “Guess this is the one time I can be happy to have extra padding, huh? My stomach must have absorbed the impact of everything.”

Christine gave her a vague smile. “I want you to stay on bed rest for the next couple of days anyway to keep your physical stress down. I won’t be able to check you very often with all my other patients.”

Tess winced. “There were a lot of injuries, then?”

“You don’t know?”

Cold washed through her. “Know what?”

“The demons all left their hosts. It was like they’d all been knocked unconscious, and when they woke, they were back to themselves. Those who did wake up,” she amended, her shoulders slumping. “We lost most of them.”

Tess reached for the doctor’s hand. “There was nothing any of us could do.”

“I have to check on the Beta,” Christine said, carefully pulling away. “You’re free to go home. Bedrest, Tess. It’s what will be best for you and your baby.”

***

Tess lay in bed, absently stroking her belly as she watched the raindrops roll down her window. The weather had taken a turn for the worse again, but the chill in the air only made her blankets feel more cozy. A knock came on the door.

“Come in,” she called, expecting Elin.

To her surprise, Ryder stepped through the door. He wore loose-fitting clothes, but the bulk underneath them indicated the bandage layers.

“You shouldn’t be up and around,” Tess said, half sitting up. Then, she added, “Come get into bed with me.”

Ryder lifted one of his eyebrows as he carefully walked to the foot of the bed. “Are you—”

“If you ask me if I’m sure, I’ll beat your ass. Get in,” Tess ordered, throwing back the blankets.

Ryder laughed. He slid into the bed next to her and sank into the pillows with a groan. His eyes shut. “I’ve been put on hiatus for my Beta duties.”

Tess’s eyes widened. “Hayden doesn’t blame you, does he?”

“No. It’s until I’m healed,” Ryder clarified. He reached for her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. Their foreheads touched, his eyes still closed. “I’m so sorry that I put you in danger.”

Tess kissed his nose. “It wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad you’re back with me.”

Ryder sighed. “It's going to take more than your forgiveness for me to forgive myself.”

She studied his exhausted face. Stubble was starting to grow on his chin, and his dark brown hair was messy but damp from the rain. The sharp line of his jaw and cheekbones made her ache, wanting to kiss him all over.

“There is something I need to ask,” she murmured, feeling suddenly shy.

Ryder opened his eyes, and she averted her gaze, her cheeks going hot.

“What is it?” he asked gently.

Tess worried her lip between her teeth before she exclaimed, “Were you telling the truth? When you said you loved me?”

Ryder’s hands tightened on her. “I was. Because I do, Tess. I love you. And I… I can’t tell you how much I regret rejecting you that day when you asked me to be your mate. I tried my best to forget about you, but I couldn’t. The guilt of it has eaten me up inside. I loved you then, even if I didn’t let myself believe it.”

Warmth sped through Tess’s chest, soft and glowed like a nightlight. She kissed him lightly. “We weren’t ready. It was the wrong time.”’

“I still could have been nicer about it. I could have explained my feelings.”

Tess shook her head. “I could have, too. I didn’t tell you why I was asking. I never explained since then, either. I just let myself stew in anger, blaming you for something you had no part in.”

Ryder winced. “Monroe, you mean.”

“Yeah,” Tess said softly.

“I didn’t put the pieces together until after our time at the cabin,” Ryder said, shaking his head. “I don’t know why I didn’t see it. But I understand now why you seemed so desperate that day. And I’m sorry, Tess. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

Tess shook her head. “It’s the past, Ryder. I’m done blaming you. You couldn’t know. Although…” She took a deep breath. “It was painful, seeing as you rejected me despite promising we would be mates.”

Ryder’s eyebrows furrowed. “When did I do that?”

“I was five. You were seven. We were on the playground, and I was braiding flowers for my doll.”

“I don’t remember that.”

Tess laughed softly and shook her head. “I don’t blame you. It was rather random, and it wasn’t like we spent a lot of time together.”

Ryder traced patterns on her skin, sighing. “I’m still sorry that I hurt you.”

“I’m sorry, too. When you said we’d be mates after I told you I was pregnant, I thought you were only doing it because I was pregnant. I thought it wasn’t for me but for the baby’s sake. I know how hard it was for you to be raised in a pack that looks down on single mothers.”

“I could have worded that better,” Ryder admitted with a wry smile.

Tess mirrored him. “And I could have actually talked to you instead of making assumptions. That’s something we’re going to have to work on if we’re going to make this work. We both have to be better at communicating.”

Ryder nodded his agreement. “And I’m willing to put in that work. I want to make this work, Tess. I love you and want to be with you for the rest of my life. Which means I have something to ask you.” He touched her lips lightly. It made her insides melt with desire and affection. “Will you be my mate, Tess? Not because you’re pregnant but because we love each other?”

“Yes,” Tess breathed. She wrapped herself tighter to him, careful not to upset his injuries. “I’ll be your mate, Ryder. Forever.”