Rachel POVMoonrise Entertainment - Tyler's Office (Executive Level) "Alpha has a clear schedule today," Lonnah prompted, a look of compassion on her face I didn't want to examine too closely."Ask him if he has time for me to come in. Please."I knew I was putting myself into a potentially miserable situation, but I found I couldn't leave pictures of my growing daughter behind as if I were ashamed. She was only a tiny blip on the scan and I already loved her more than my own life. I desperately wanted Tyler to be pleased to learn he was having a daughter.Lonnah tapped her Bluetooth headset with a manicured finger, quickly paging Tyler and explaining I was present right outside his door. I couldn't hear his replies to her. She reached down to buzz me in though so Tyler must have agreed to see me.Quickly agreed, too.How many times I had been rejected at this door? I couldn't remember all the days I had

Tyler POVTe Amo Ristorante "Is water fine with you?"Rachel preferred white wine to red; I had never figured out if her preference was because she genuinely favored the taste of white or she wanted to spite me as red was my favorite. Since she was pregnant, I couldn't rely on a glass of wine to distract us before our meal arrived."Yes, water is great. Sparkling? Do you have sparkling?"I wasn't sure where the hesitance was coming from with her, but she spoke with a quiet murmur I found I couldn't stop craving.If I had been dealing with Wynd, I would have blamed my wolf for the need to assert my dominance. Alpha tendencies could cause aggressive behavior at any time. I often felt the need to dominate others even if no one was challenging me.Wynd slept completely silent inside me though so all my cravings were my own for the first time since before I shifted.I waited on the waiter to return wit

Rachel POVBlue Diamond - Kitchen "Rachel? Rachel!"I had no idea how long Bella had been trying to get my attention. I was perched on a counter in the kitchen of Blue Diamond while Bella made the specialty dessert of the night. The delicate tarts were more of a pain in the ass than they seemed to be worth in my estimation."What? I'm sorry. I was caught up in my head.""You were thinking about Tyler," Bella snorted, "You're going back to him because he bought you pasta? I can cook pasta."Jack laughed loudly before flicking flour into Bella's face. He and I were visiting while we went over our plans to get me a visit to House Campbell territory. I would have felt bad about being in her way while she was working except Bella clearly enjoyed the company."She says that as if you're terrible for thinking about your mate. How often do you think about me? No, really, tell me. I need the ego boost.""Y

Rachel POVBella & Rachel's Apartment "Honestly? I had too much going on to worry about hurting you. My brother had been kidnapped. Men were hurting him. Torturing him. They would have killed him, Nathan."Nathan looked at me in surprise. I could see the shock on his face as he took in what I said.There wasn't any doubt in his eyes which I knew came from the fact he'd known me our whole lives. Neither of us had hidden our family secrets from one another. Nathan had known Patrick was a gambler with bad luck as long as I'd known; I knew House Lewis mourned only having one son to their name when they'd wanted a houseful of children."I had to come up with half a million to save him. Patrick had sold me to pay the debt. I got away," I reassured him as I saw a flush creep along the hard line of his jaw, "That's how I met Tyler. I was taken to this---club. He was there in a room down the hall from where I was held. The

Rachel POVBella & Rachel's Apartment - Rachel's Bedroom"Nathan Lewis wants to take you into Moonglow territory. Is that his idea or yours?"I blinked as I processed what Tyler was saying at the same time I tried to take in how he was saying it."Tyler, are you drunk?"Liquor could affect werewolves the same as humans, but it took a lot more to intoxicate one of our kind than a human. I had fallen asleep only an hour ago according to the clock on my bedside table. Was the thought of Nathan being my escort enough to drive Tyler into a bottle?"Yes. Did you ask him to take you? Or did he offer?"I turned the lamp on as I sat up in bed, making myself as comfortable as I could against the headboard. My stomach felt bigger than ever as the sheets bunched at my waist; I wondered when I would begin to gain too much weight to fit into my clothes.Neither of those Alphas were going to want me when I was fat, were they?"I as