Cress

It took three days for Hawk and I to hammer out a deal between us. The fucker was smart and knew what he wanted. I would have to tell Tabby about the deal once I told her everything.

It didn't help when Hardy called me and told me a bitch showed up at the clubhouse, wanting to speak to me. I didn't need to hear what she had to say. It was the same story as it was with the other bitches who tried to entrap me. I told him to tell the bitch to fuck off.

Instead of driving to the clubhouse, I went to the coffeehouse to see Tabby. Three days away from my mate was too long for my liking.

I pulled into the parking lot, dropped my kickstand, and dismounted my bike. I strolled into the coffeehouse and approached the counter as Shirley was wiping the counter. "Is Tabby around?"

"Nope." Shirley kept wiping the counter without making eye contact with me.

"Is she at school?"

"Nope."

"Is she home?"

"Nope."

My irritation was reaching an all-time high. "Where's Tabby?"

Shirley lifted her gaze and narrowed her eyes. "Gone."

I cocked my head with my thumbs hooked in my front pockets. "Where?"

"She didn't tell me." Shirley shook her head. "You told Tabby to fuck off. So, she did as you asked."

I narrowed my eyes to a slit. "I would never tell my mate to fuck off."

"Funny since you did the other night when she asked one of your guys to call you."

My jaw clenched because Hardy didn't tell me who wanted to speak to me. And he knows who Tabby is.

"You disappoint me, Cress." Shirley shook her head. "I thought you were different. But you aren't. You're just like all the others. You got what you wanted, and Tabby got hurt."

"I'll take care of this problem."

"Do what you want." Shirley shrugged. "But leave Tabby alone. She lost enough people in her life." She turned and walked into the kitchen.

Hardy and his mate were dead when I saw them.

*******
Tabby

I became queasier over the next few days and realized I was late. So, I bought a pregnancy test to rule out a pregnancy. It took three minutes to confirm I was pregnant. I didn't understand how since Cress used protection until I remembered he didn't during one time. For fuck's sake!

The only guy I ever sleep with, and I end up with a gift from him. Fuck my life!

I needed to make a doctor's appointment to confirm the pregnancy before I figured out what to do. I never expected to be a single mother, but shit happens. It's not like women don't raise kids on their own.

I checked for local doctors and found one before making an appointment. Once I had confirmation, then I could figure out my next step. I could do this.

******
Cress

I pulled up to the clubhouse, dropped my kickstand, and stormed into it after ripping the front door off its hinges. The brothers stopped and looked at me as my anger rolled away in waves.

Blaze approached me cautiously. "Cress."

"Bring Hardy and his stupid bitch to me." My voice was a mixture of mine and Chaos's, making it low and deadly. Chaos was an asshole, but he was beyond pissed about his mate.

Blaze turned on his heel and headed upstairs to grab that dickhead and his cunt. The brothers shifted in their places but didn't approach me with Chaos at the surface.

Blaze returned with Hardy and his bitch a few minutes later and shoved them toward me. "They're all yours, Chaos."

Hardy and his stupid bitch gaped at me as the color drained from their faces.

"I'll ask you a question. I want the truth. Was Tabby with you when you called me?" Chaos asked.

Hardy didn't say a word.

"Answer me!" Chaos's roar caused everyone to step backward.

"Yes! I thought she would pin a pregnancy on you like the others!"

I took deliberate steps toward Hardy, grabbed his throat, and lifted him off his feet while his bitch cowered in fear. "You should have told me it was Tabby." I applied pressure to his neck.

Hardy gasped as he gripped my hand. "Shelly said she and Kari saw Tabby working at the coffeehouse and told me about it. I told her what you had told us about bitches trying to trap you with a pregnancy."

I turned my gaze on Shelly as it hardened. "You're one of the bitches who ran her mouth to Tabby the other night."

Shelly nodded with a whimper.

"Bring Kari to me," I told Blaze.

Blaze complied. I didn't care if they were a brother's mate. These bitches caused trouble for their Luna and my mate. Now, they would deal with Chaos.

Once Blaze returned with Kari, the brothers bolted from the clubhouse as I let Chaos loose. Chaos ripped through Hardy and tore him to pieces before going after Shelly and Kari. He was brutal as he pulled them apart. I didn't care. I told them what would happen if they fucked with my mate. They didn't listen.

Now, to find Tabby.

********
Tabby

The doctor confirmed my pregnancy. Now, I had to figure out my next step. So, I sat on my couch and called Shirley.

Tabby?

"Hey, Shirley. I have news."

I'm listening.

"I'm pregnant."

Shirley didn't say a word.

"Shirley, are you there? Please tell me we didn't get disconnected."

I'm here, Tabby.

"Oh, thank God. For a minute, I figured you died of shock." I laughed nervously.

No, but Cress came in here this morning looking for you.

"You didn't tell him anything, did you?"

I told him what you told me.

I jumped to my feet. "Shirley!"

Tabitha, I didn't tell him anything he didn't know. He claims he didn't think it was you.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Yeah, okay."

Tabby, I didn't tell him where you were. I just said you were gone.

"If Cress asks, please don't tell him anything. He made himself perfectly clear."

What about the baby?

"Cress doesn't need to worry since it's not his problem."

Tabitha, there's something you need to know.

"Shirley, I need to go." I ended the call before Shirley could speak. I didn't want her to persuade me to talk to Cress about the baby. I didn't want to prove him right about trapping him. The baby and I will be fine without him.

*******
Cress

I had prospects clean the clubhouse and get rid of the body parts. I didn't need the clubhouse smelling like a morgue. Then, I sent brothers to look for Tabby while Blaze, Gallic, and I figured out our next step.

"I don't understand why you didn't tell Tabby the truth," Blaze said.

"Tabby already had enough on her plate with finding out werewolves were real. I needed to explain everything to her first before telling her she was my mate," I said.

"Cress, you tested your mate to see if she was a gold digger. That doesn't scream loving mate to me or the others," Gallic said.

I released a low growl as Gallic held up his hands in defense.

"Gallic is right. You can't get mad for what you did. You should have told Tabby the truth from the start," Blaze said.

I hated it when Blaze was right. I would never tell him that, but it's the truth.

"I don't care how long it takes. I want to find Tabby and bring her home," I said, leaving no room for discussion.

*******
Tabby

I compiled a list of what I would need for the baby. However, it was giving me a run for my money. If I wasn't queasy, I was starving. I would get food down long enough before it came back up. This can't be normal.

I also noticed a slight bump in my stomach after a week. Now, I know this wasn't normal. No one shows this early. You don't start showing until the end of your third month, according to what the baby books that I bought said. So, why the hell was I showing a small bump?

When I got a chance, I checked out garage sales or second-hand stores for baby items. Whenever I found something, I brought it home and set it up in the cottage. The money that Shirley gave me helped.

Eventually, I found a job as a server in a diner. It would help my financial situation, so I didn't deplete my money stash completely. I even learned how to budget to stretch money. I refuse to rely on anyone to help me, including Cress. He made himself clear on the phone.

It sucks that the baby's father was a douche. But it's better to find out now than later. I didn't want to raise my child around someone who didn't give a shit about them. It wasn't fair to the child.

One day, I would meet my baby and have the family I missed. That was the shining light in this fucked up mess.