?


    "You think I don''t know that?" I answered as I stared at my reflection. "She''s clearly fishing for something, probing for weaknesses. And she''s not doing a great job at hiding it."


    My wolf paced in my mind, just as restless and agitated as I was. "Should we tell Enzo? Maybe he doesn''t see it like we do."


    I shook my head, dabbing my face dry with a paper towel. "No, not now. I trust him, you know that. Besides, he''s so excited about this opportunity. I won''t throw a wrench into it because of my insecurities."


    "But she''s poking around, Nina. She could-"Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Could what? We''re fated mates, bound by something stronger than whatever petty game M''s trying to y. No one has evere between that, and no one will. We know from experience, remember?"


    My wolf seemed to settle at that, but not without a final growl. "Fine, but I''m keeping an eye on her. And so should you."


    "Always," I promised. I turned off the tap, another wave of nausea washing over me as I did. "I just wish this morning sickness would give me a break."


    "Perhaps it''s your body''s way of telling you to be cautious. It''s not just us anymore."


    I ced a hand over my still-t belly. "I know. And I''m not about to let anything harm our family. Not Edward, not the Crescents, and especially not some supermodel doctor from the city."


    Taking onest nce in the mirror, I re-adjusted my posture, squared my shoulders, and put on my most confident face. I was prepared now to go back out there and handle all of the bullets M threw my way in stride, because I had handled far worse.


    I had fought in battles, ayed curses, taken a silver bullet to my leg. The scars were still there, and they would never fully fade. A few snide remarks from a jealous woman was nothing to me.


    As I opened the door to step out, I couldn''t help but nce at the table through the small window that separated the restroom from the dining area. Enzo was in deep conversation with Tim, both men lost in thenguage of hockey.


    And then there was M, seated exactly where I had left her, sipping her wine with an enigmatic smile. She turned her head at that moment, as if sensing my gaze, and our eyes locked.


    She held my gaze for what felt like a fraction too long. A message without words, a challenge issued and received. I didn''t need supernatural senses to know that she was going to be aplication, but as my eyes shifted to Enzo, I was reminded that we had already won the most crucial battle. We had found each other, against all odds, bound by something unbreakable.


    I pushed the door open, returning to the dining area. M looked up, her smile as immacte as it was insincere. "Feeling better? she asked, her voice dripping with faux concern.


    "Much better, thank you," I responded, sliding back into my chair next to Enzo.


    Enzo nced up, and I softened a bit. There was that look in his eyes, the look that I had grown to love so much. I reached under the table for his hand and gave it a squeeze, reveling in how warm and calloused his palms were. As he continued his conversation with Tim, his thumb ran across my knuckles, soothing me.


    But as the night wore on, I could sense something else in his eyes. Some hurdle that we would, no doubt, have to scaleter.