The Alpha’s Mate Who Cried Wolf

Chapter 27
I feel like and look like a beached whale struggling to get out of bed. ‘Ryker!’ I call out. A moment later, I hear Ryker running up the stairs.
‘What’s wrong? Is the baby coming?’ He asks. I laugh.
‘No, we’re fine. I just can’t sit up. My belly is so huge.’ Ryker smiles and walks over to the bed to help me sit up before kneeling beside me and placing his hands on both sides of my belly.
‘I can’t wait to meet you, little one. It won’t be much longer now, Ryker says, kissing my stomach. Ryker pulls me to my feet, helps me dress, and we walk downstairs for breakfast.
I think twice about sitting on Ryker’s lap when I’m as big as | am. Instead, I pull out another chair, breaking our morning routine.
‘Wait, he says, standing and sitting down in the chair I have just pulled out. Then, he gestures for me to sit in his.
‘You’re so sweet,’ I say, smiling at him.
‘Only the best seat in the house for you, my love,’ he says, giving me a wink and a smile.
‘Astrid, you must let Hayley and I take you into the city today for baby shopping, Mia says.
“Okay. Thanks. That would be fun. I need to buy so many baby items.’
Hayley sits in the driver’s seat of her car, waiting for us, while Mia helps me hobble down the front steps to the car. I need Mia’s help to buckle my seat belt.
‘Almost got it, Mia says, forcing the belt buckle to clip in.
‘If you get any bigger, Astrid, we’ll have to buy a seat belt extension, Mia giggles. We all burst out laughing. The buckle clicks in.
‘Got it! Mia yells with excitement.
We stop by Jim’s diner on the way for milkshakes and burgers. Although I just had breakfast, I’m constantly hungry and eating for two.
‘Do you think it’s a boy or a girl? Have you thought of any names?’ Jim asks.
I’m not sure what gender the baby is. I’m excited either way. Ryker and I have thought of a few names. Nothing set in concrete yet,’ I say, slurping the last dregs of my blue heaven milkshake. I spin on my swivel seat and look out the window.
‘Is something wrong, Astrid?’ Hayley asks.
‘No, I’m sure it’s nothing, I say, spinning back around to bite into my burger. I can’t help but feel I’m being watched. But, of course, Alpha Zenith is dead, so there’s no cause for my anxiety
Shrugging it off, I focus on my food, Jim, baby-talk, the girls,
and the shopping we are about to do..

‘Now that you’ve had your second meal today, we should head into town and start shopping,’ Mia laughs.
‘Okay. Let’s fit lunch into that too,’ I say. Mia, Hayley, and Jim burst out laughing.
‘Go shopping, Astrid, and stop back here on your way back, and I’ll make you another meal, Jim says.
‘Woo-hoo!’ I say, standing up.
‘See you in a few hours, Jim, I say as I shuffle out the door.
We arrive in town and go straight to a baby boutique. There
are so many cute clothes to choose from, and not knowing the baby’s gender, I restrict myself to shopping for only lemons, greens, whites and greys.
‘Look at this teddy bear! Mia says, hugging it close to her chest. It is a fluffy brown bear with a green t-shirt. It’s adorable and soft to touch.
‘I think I’ll buy this for the baby, Mia smiles. Hayley comes running over with a soft pink dragon.
I’m going to buy this for the baby!’ She says.
‘Oh, look at all these booties!’ | squeal, picking up a set of every colour and tossing them into my trolley. There are a dozen different baby bouncers. They all rock and play nursery
songs. I chose the bouncer with green leaves printed on the pattern. Next, I add a box of nappies and a few packets of wipes to the trolley. The baby wraps are so adorable. I chose the set with giraffes on them. Then I came across a set with wolves printed on them. I find Mia and Hayley swooning over the baby toys.
There are baby rattles, soft cubes with the alphabet, and more. Not sure what to choose, I close my eyes, grab random items and place them in my trolley. Mia and Hayley laugh at my antics before we pay for the items and head out of the store.
‘Next shop?’ I say, and the girls nod.
‘Let me take everything to the car, Luna, Mia says. I smile and push the trolley towards her.
T’ll meet you in the next store,’ Hayley says.
I’ll see you soon, Mia says to Hayley.
Waddling up the road, I tell Mia I need to sit down and rest for
a moment.
‘There is a park over there. We can sit on the bench seat. I need the bathroom anyway, so I’ll go while you rest, Hayley suggests.
We make our way across the road to the park with the gorgeous, colourful playground and many trees. A large tree provides lots of shade, so I sit underneath it, watching the
children playing on the playground in the distance. I place my hand on my stomach.
I can’t believe I will have a child soon. I can’t wait to meet you, little one.
I hear rustling in the bushes behind me. Before I can turn my head to see what it is. Someone puts their hand over my mouth and drags me backwards. I tried to scream, but someone stuffed a rag in my mouth, and they pressed a knife against my throat. A blindfold wraps around my head, and then I’m shoved into a car. I spat the cloth out and speak.
‘Who are you? What do you want?’ I scream. I want to remove the blindfold, but someone quickly cuffs my wrists behind my back. The metal cuffs cut into my skin every time I try to free my hands. ‘Please, don’t do this!’ I cry. They hold a cloth against my face.
Chloroform! A few seconds later, I blackout.
Dizzy and disoriented, I wake to a car door slamming. My belly weighs me down as I try to sit up. Someone opens my door when I hear footsteps. I’m dragged out of the car aggressively. I scream and try to grab onto something. Unfortunately, I’m surrounded by nothing but dirt and stones.
I mind-link Ryker
‘Ryker! Please help me!’
‘Astrid, where are you? What’s going on?’
‘Someone kidnapped me!’
‘Where are you? Who has taken you? I’m going to rip their heads off!
‘I don’t know. Someone snuck up behind me at the park. I never saw them. They knocked me out with chloroform. I couldn’t link you until now. They have dragged out me of the car. I’m not sure where I am. Please, Ryker. I’m scared they will hurt the baby
‘I will find you, Astrid. I’m sending the pack warriors out to search. Hopefully, we can pick your scent up and get a lead.
‘Please hurry, Ryker. I’m scared. I can’t shift to fight back.’
‘I know, babe. Just try to stay calm. Link me when you know who it is or where you are.’
‘Ryker, if anything happens to me, I just want you to know ! love you so much, and I have never been as happy as I have been with you.’
‘Astrid, don’t talk like that. Nothing is going to happen to you! love you