Chapter 25 His Conditions
\[Osiris’ POV\]
I wait while my prey stares at me. It’s clear that she doesn’t believe a word that I’m saying, and I’m not sure if she is oblivious or if she doesn’t trust me that much. Being a wolf herself, she should know how things went in our world. Only the strongest survived, and when you so much as let your guard down, you would be the one to go.
“What does that have to do with me?” She finally asks. “Your enemies don’t have anything to do with me.”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I feel a wave of disbelief rush through me. Was she really going to keep lying until the bitter end?
“If that pup in your stomach is mine, then they’ve got a lot to do with you.” I tell her. “Do you really think that they would dare allow me to have an heir?”
“Would it make a difference?” She counters. “It isn’t like you’ll gain anything from having one.”
That’s where you’re wrong, I think. The first to have an heir to carry on the pack lineage and the position of CEO would be favored above the others. Not like I wanted to keep my position for that reason, but it would put me above my stepbrother and my cousins.
“The point,” I sigh, deciding to not bother arguing. “Is that if the pup is mine, you will be in danger? Because of that, I’m going out of my way to make sure that nothing happens to either of you.”
“I’m not going to thank you.” She repeats, causing a smirk to form on my face.
“I never asked for thanks.”
Growing quiet, I stare down my prey, taking in the stubborn glint in her eyes and the defiant look on her beautiful face. She was beautiful even when she was acting like a spoiled child.
“All I ask is that you bear with me until I can figure out what to do to protect you.”
Goddess. Who fucking knew that I would be saying such things in my life? Most certainly not me.
I swore off shit like this at a young age, and yet it only took one night for me to go completely against my word.
“Anyway,” I say now, standing. “You’re going to stay here whether you like it or not.”
“And what if someone comes looking for me?”
Frowning, I consider her words while remembering that she was essentially an orphan after her mother died. She didn’t have any family to speak of, and her biological father wasn’t involved in her life at all. Hell, there was a good chance he didn’t even know of her existence, which meant that there was no one who would look for her.
“Are you saying that there’s someone who would look for you?” I ask and immediately regret it as hurt appears on her face.
“I was supposed to meet with Daniel and Becky a few days ago.” She says, taking me by surprise. “Who is to say that they haven’t attempted to contact me since I blew them off?”
Remaining silent, I consider what she has said while a strange emotion bubbles up in me over her even wanting to meet with that bastard ex of hers.
“Why would you meet with them?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Don’t tell me that you’re going to forgive them for what they did.”
“And if I am?” She growls. “What does that have to do with you?”
Everything. I think. It was because of their deceit that we even got into this situation, and it was the reason that she had such a strong wall built around her now.
‘Jealous?’ Sterling asks, causing a wave of shock to rush through me. ‘Do you hate the fact that you weren’t her first man that much?’
‘I don’t.’
I did. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, it did bother me that another man touched her, kissed her, caressed her, and even fucking broke her. Just the thought of it drove me crazy and made me want to override each and every one of those experiences even though I knew that I couldn’t.
“I didn’t take you for a fool.” I say, pushing aside the ridiculous thoughts plaguing me.
“Fool or not, it has nothing to do with you.”
“It does,” I growl, my patience running thin. “You’re pregnant with my child, so it has everything to do with me now.”
“I told you…”
“That it isn’t mine,” I finish for her. “I’ll continue to let you say that for another two months, but after that, you won’t be able to continue.”
Finished with our back-and-forth, I begin to head toward the room’s exit, but before I can reach it, my prey’s hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.
“I won’t run,” she says quietly, her voice shaking. “So, please, let me go to my own home.”
“Not going to happen.” I tell her, gently prying her hand loose. “As long as you’re pregnant, you’re a target. Now, be good and just stay here until you’ve given birth.”
I knew that what I was saying wasn’t going to help my case. I knew it was just going to make her hate me, but I didn’t have any other options. Only when she was here with me would I be able to protect her from those who wished to harm her, and if her hatred was the outcome of that protection, I would gladly take it.
“Now be good and accept that this is for the best.” I continue, starting to move again.
“What about work?” She asks, making it clear that she wasn’t going to give up. “Won’t my coworkers begin to wonder where I am?”
“I’ve already told them that you’re on medical leave.” I counter. “Once you’re willing to cooperate with me, you can return to your normal duties.”
“And until then?” She demands.
“Until then you will stay in this room. At the end of the day, the choice of whether or not you get some freedom is yours. I suggest that you choose wisely.”