Page 42 of The Wolf's Captive
“Or a hybrid-witch?” Rochelle said quietly.
My gaze slid to her as my heart fluttered. “But you already made me a dress?”
Waving a hand in dismissal, she went over to the glorious masterpiece and traced the square neckline. My being shuddered at the idea of wearing the dress to bond with Malone. I could picture it in my mind, and yet… a pang clasped my chest, making it hard for me to breathe.
“There is something,” I started, wringing my hands together. “I don’t know if I can have children.”
Rochelle’s gaze snapped to me, her eyebrows pulling low. Grief pushed at the corners of my eyes, drenching them with tears. I had always wanted a happy family, but Victor had warned us that it might not be possible in my current DNA position.
“I... I,” she stuttered, shaking her head, “…never even thought of that.”
I swallowed down the sadness that spread to my every limb. If I asked Victor to disconnect me from my witch magic, would I become a full wolf? Would it make it easier for me to conceive and carry a baby?
“I know it’s early days…” Turning, I rubbed my arms, trying to get rid of the goosebumps. “… but Malone has to have an heir.”
“You have the alpha gene, though,” Rochelle said, her footsteps loud as she joined me, “surely that means you’ll be fine? It might be a hybrid baby, that’s all.”
“Is it worth risking it? What if all our genes mix up and go strange?”
Rochelle fell quiet, her expression pensive when I turned back to look at her. The dress caught my eye, a glorious beauty, inviting me to try her on. And what if I did? Maybe there was a solution to our baby worries. It wouldn’t be our first choice, but it may be a way for us to be together still.
“You could do it,” I blurted, grabbing Rochelle’s hands.
“Do what?”
Taking a step back, she narrowed her gaze on me and untangled her hands from mine. I let her go, clenching my fingers into my palm to stop the pain that was about to explode in my chest.
“You and Malone could… you know, have babies…”
As the words fell flat in the room, my stomach churned. What the hell was I suggesting? Just the idea of it sent agony through my wolf spirit.
Rochelle scoffed, her ponytail flicking wildly as she refused. “Don’t be fucking crazy! If Malone heard you say that, he’d…”
“Say what?” His deep voice penetrated the room as he entered.
“No!” Rochelle slammed into his chest, throwing a haphazard hand over his eyes. “The dress!”
Malone stumbled backwards, covering his face with one hand while holding up the other in surrender. “Okay, okay, woman, I didn’t see it.”
“Come on!” Rochelle ordered. “Let’s go.”
I followed her out of the cabin as she pushed Malone. Glancing over my shoulder, I admired the dress. I so badly wanted to marry Malone in the wolf way, and I had never done anything for myself. So, yeah, maybe asking Rochelle to be a surrogate mother was a bit extreme, but maybe it was a possibility if we ran out of all other options.
Watching the pair as they walked back to the bonfire, I bit my lip. The small hint of jealousy that still remained gouged into my chest. I was officially losing it. There wasn’t a chance in a million years I’d be happy with someone else having my mate’s babies. Fucking hell, what was I going to do?
“Della!” Evie greeted me, her wave small and unassuming.
Going to her, I hugged her tight. She laughed and patted my back, clearly shocked by my affection.
“Everyone gather around!” Malone called, holding his hand up high.
He caught my eye, indicating with a nod of the head that I should join him.
I squeezed Evie’s hands before moving to stand beside Malone.
“Everything okay?” he asked under his breath.
Humming an affirmative, I looked up into his eyes, gasping when his look of concern wrapped around my heart. Shit, the man was madly in love with me, I could see it in the softness of his gaze.