A sense of desperation hit Travis. “Look, why don’t you forget this trip? We can find an elder tonight and be married by tomorrow.”

“I told you, Travis. I refuse to live in that ramshackle barn you call a house. When you build a new one, we’ll talk about it.”

“I don’t have the kind of money it takes to build a house. Especially when there’s nothing wrong with the one I have.”

“It’s old.” Remi wrinkled her nose. “And ugly. And stinky. Why can’t you just do one thing for me? Is that too much to ask? I’m beginning to think you don’t really love me.”

 “That’s not true.” Travis kept his voice low.

 “Isn’t it? Nigel wants to build a house for me.”

Travis couldn’t control the anger that flashed through him while he studied Remi’s face.

 “For that matter,” she continued thoughtfully, “I bet that dog would love a little vacation.”

Remi yanked the diamond engagement ring off her finger and tossed it onto the table. “We’re through, Travis. And this time, it’s for good.” With a swirl of her sleekly styled blonde hair, the omega flounced out of the bar.

“She did it to you again, didn’t she?” Celeb  Flynn sat down in the chair Remi had just vacated and picked up the ring, turning it over and over in his hands. 

“How many times does this make? Ten? Twenty?”

Travis chugged the beer in one go. Celeb had been his best friend and guardian since he was five, but sometimes even friends could get on your nerves.

“What was it this time? She wanted you to go to another one of his b*llsh*t friend’s fancy parties?”

“No.” Travis’s gaze wandered to the back of the building, searching. “She wanted me to take her to Hawaii for two weeks.”

Celeb stared at him for a minute. “You’re joking. Does she think the estate was going to run itself? That’s pretty extreme, even for little Miss. Obnoxiou—”

His words cut off as Travis glared at him.

“It’s not her fault that Alpha Pierce is the richest man in town. You just don’t know her like I do. She’ll be back.” Travis only hoped Remi would be here for him, but he was beginning to doubt it.

“D*mn right, she will. Look, Travis, how long is it going to take before you start listening to me? I keep trying to tell you, she is not worth it. She is only stringing you along. Remi doesn’t care about anyone but herself. She never has and he never will. She’s been seeing so many other men. You know it. I know it. Everyone in town knows it. Face facts. She is never going to marry you.”

Travis stared at the ring in Celeb’s hand, then pulled it away from him and stuck it in his pocket.

Celeb was right about one thing. He knew about Nigel. It had caused their last big fight six weeks ago. 

That night, Travis had been the one who called the engagement off for a change.

Then he’d gone out and gotten dead drunk. It was what had gotten him into all this mess to start with.

Again, his gaze wandered uneasily to the bar, searching for and finding Alyssa. The girl was loading a tray with drinks, her skin pasty white under the bar lights.

The omega looked horrible, like she might fall over face-first any minute. Strands of her long auburn hair strung loose and clung to her sweat-dampened neck.

Travis might not remember much else about that night, but he remembered what Alyssa‘a lips had tasted like on his tongue, the heat that had roared through him when he touched her.

The soft curve of her supple body under him. Remembered how it felt to sink himself into her warm, welcoming depths.

Goddess Luna help him, he’d sported a raging erection for a solid week afterwards, every time he thought about it. 

And then the fear had set in.

He was betraying his bride to be. That little fact had sobered him up real fast, but not fast enough to keep him from taking Alyssa. Not fast enough for his brain to realize he didn’t use protection.

 Had Alyssa told him the truth tonight?

 Was it just a virus or was she pregnant?

Travis had been holding his breath ever since that night, waiting for the axe to fall, waiting for the words that would forever end his relationship with Remi.

“So, what are you going to do about it?”

Travis’s head whipped around in shock before he realized that Caleb was still talking about Remi.

Remi and Nigel. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” His friend sounded disgusted. 

“You’re just going to let her get away with it.” Caleb waved and caught Alyssa’s  attention, holding up two fingers  to signify he wanted two drinks when she looked at him.

Alyssa nodded and turned back to the bar.

“What do you expect me to do? Lock her up? Make her submit to me?”

Travis watched Alyssa head toward their table, two more beers in hand.

They both fell silent as Alyssa put the bottles in front of them.

 Travis tried to catch her eye, but Alyssa refused to even look at him or his general direction.

Caleb watched her walk away, a thoughtful expression on his face. 

“I think if I were you, Vis, I’d at least want to get even. Maybe you should take a shot at some of that.” He tilted his head at Alyssa. “I’ve heard she’s pretty hot in bed.”

 The rage that hit Travis was uncontrollable. Before he even knew he was going to, he had grabbed the front of his friend’s shirt and hauled him halfway across the table.

“I think you better learn to keep your mouth shut until you know what you’re talking about.” Travis forced the words out through tightly gritted teeth.

“Easy, there. D*mn. Easy.” Caleb held both hands up in a gesture of peace . “I didn’t mean anything.” He sank back into his chair as Travis released him.

 “I just don’t understand how you can keep taking Remi back time after time. No omega is worth what she puts you through.”

Travis reached for his wallet and slapped some money on the table. “It’s not your problem. It’s mine and I’ll handle it my way.” He pushed his chair back and stood. “See you later.”

Alyssa tied the sleeves of her sweater around her waist and stepped out the door to the bar she worked.

Normally, she enjoyed walking home after work. The air of calm serenity that fell over the town in the wee hours of the night was soothing after the noise and crowds of the bar.

But tonight, nothing would soothe her.

Panic hit her as she thought about the tiny life that had taken up residence inside her.

What did she know about having a baby, much less raising one? She could barely afford to buy food for herself let alone a baby.

There was no way she could afford a doctor or medical bills. 

And as soon as her boss discovers she is pregnant, she would lose her job as well.

Admittedly, it wasn’t much of a job, but at least the tips kept a roof over her head. She angled across the parking lot and turned north. There were no sidewalks here.

The bar was on the very edge of town, too far out for such amenities. She walked on the grassy side, her worn out sneakers silent in the dew-dampened weeds.

Deep into her own whirling thoughts, she didn’t hear the pickup until it slowed almost to a stop next to her.

“Get in. I’ll give you a ride home.”

The voice sent a burst of anxiety through her. She glanced up but kept going, fear and anxiety making her omega jump inside her. She couldn’t possibly know.

“T-thank you, but I’d rather walk.”

The truck shot ahead of her and pulled over, the red flare of brake lights blinding her as Travis hit the brakes. 

The sound of the door slamming behind him echoed across the empty street.

Alyssa hesitated, then increased her speed, intending to pass right by the man. When she was even within an inch of  the truck, Travis caught her arm, his hand warm, his grip firm and determined.

The speed of Alyssa’s heartbeat increased again. “Alyssa, we need to talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. Go home, Travis.” Alyssa pulled her arm loose and started walking again, praying he’d just go away.

Travis fell into step next to her. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you? You don’t have a virus.”

All the air went out of her lungs at that statement that she thought she had slammed into a brick wall, and the blackness threatened again. 

She staggered to a halt, fighting to draw in a breath.

Travis knew. Dear God, the alpha hadn’t believed her earlier excuse about being sick.

It wasn’t until Travis caught her, lifted her, Alyssa hadn’t even realized she was falling. 

There was a dizzying sense of motion, then she found herself propped up on the seat of Travis’s truck.

“Alyssa?”

 His voice seemed to come from far away .

“Alyssa , if you don’t answer me right now, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

That got her attention. No way could she pay a hospital bill. She forced her eyes open. Travis leaned over her, sharp hazel eyes reflecting concern. Dark hair spilled onto his forehead.

Would the baby look like him? Hysteria welled in her at the thought. Fighting it off brought her back to her senses.

“Your scent.” Travis’s eyes flickered red when she broke out of her stupor. 

“I’m o-okay.” Or at least, she would be if Travis would just go away.

“Huh?” Travis shot her a look that said he didn’t believe her, his eyes narrowing to slits as he sniffed the air around them.

“No more arguments. I’m driving you home.” He climbed in next to her and started the truck. 

Alyssa managed to slide across the seat until she was huddled tightly against the door, as far away from the alpha as the small space allowed. 

“It’s on Maple.”

“Yeah, I remember.” The words carried a cynical edge.

Travis glanced at her. “You weren’t going to tell me about it ,were you?”

Alyssa remained silent. There was no way the alpha could know for sure.

 Travis was only making guesses.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

Alyssa turned from the window to look at him.

 “Assuming you’re right, that I am pregnant, what makes you think the pup is yours? I’m the town’s wh*r*, remember. Or hasn’t anyone told you that yet?”

Alyssa tried to keep the sarcasm and bitterness out of her voice. The label shouldn’t hurt after all this time, but it did.

Just because it was true about her mother didn’t mean she was the same. 

But try to convince the people in this town of that. And now they had even more ammunition to convince themselves she was a carbon copy of her mother.

“I may have been drunk that night, Alyssa, but I wasn’t unconscious. You were a virgin. If you’re pregnant, we both know it’s mine. Don’t you think I have the right to know that you’re carrying my child?”

“No, you don’t know that.” She whispered. “And I don’t think you have any rights at all where I’m concerned.”

 The lights of the town grew closer together, plunging them in and out of darkness.

 “This isn’t your fault. It’s mine. So, if you’re feeling guilty, you can forget about it. It was my choice, my body, and it’s my baby. Mine and no one else’s.” Alyssa whispered those words.

“You’re wrong, Alyssa. It’s mine, too. Whether you like it or not.”

“Oh, right, Travis.” she was dangerously close to panic again. 

“You’re just going to proclaim to the whole town that this is your child. Your fiancée would really love that. Maybe we can all get together and have lunch after you break the news to her. She and I can even share experiences on your shenanigans. Should be really interesting. Of course, I only have that one time to use as an example, but it was enough. Boy, was it enough...”

To her horror, tears streamed down her face and she made a belated attempt to wipe them away. 

It didn’t help.

 The harder she tried to stop them, the faster they fell.

She wasn’t aware that the truck had stopped, but suddenly Travis was holding her, pressing her face into his shoulder. 

Weeks of keeping the fear and worry bottled up inside spilled out.

Alyssa clung to him, embarrassed and ashamed of losing control.

“Oh, God. I’m sorry. I’ve just been so scared,” she sobbed the words.

 “There’s no one I could talk to, and I don’t know what to do with it.”

Travis felt the tension in her body as his arms tightened around her. 

“You don’t have to be scared anymore, Alyssa. We’ll figure something out, I promise. We’re in this together.”

As much as She hated to do so, she pulled away from the alpha.