Chapter 2

Isla stared at him, waiting for the rest of the explanation.

There had to be one.

"You've got the wrong woman."

Logan placed a folder on the desk hard enough to make the pen roll toward her.

"Read it."

Her name was at the top of the first page, above her patient number and the date of her procedure. She recognized both, but the sample identification beneath them meant nothing until she reached the name beside it.

Logan Vale.

She looked up at him.

She had seen that face on television, usually surrounded by ministers or stepping out of a car while reporters shouted questions. Alpha Logan Vale wasn't simply wealthy. He was the most powerful Alpha in the country.

And according to the document in her hands, she was carrying his child.

"No." She turned the page, searching for something that made sense. "The sample was supposed to be my mate's."

"It wasn't."

The hospital administrator lingered in the doorway, gripping a tablet against his chest.

"Miss Spencer, we've reviewed the treatment records. Unfortunately, the wrong sample was used during your procedure."

"Unfortunately?"

Her voice came out louder than she intended.

The administrator glanced at Logan before answering.

"We understand how distressing this must be."

"You called me this morning and congratulated me."

"The error was only confirmed afterward. We were arranging to contact you when Alpha Vale arrived."

Isla lowered the papers before they shook visibly.

She had let them put needles into her body, followed every instruction, and trusted them to know what they were doing.

Now a stranger stood over her, claiming the baby she had spent the morning imagining.

"I'll take it from here," Logan told the administrator.

The man hesitated, but Logan's expression sent him out. The door closed with a soft click.

Isla pushed the folder away.

"You don't get to dismiss people from my appointment."

"Would you prefer an audience?"

"I'd prefer not to be having this conversation."

Logan pulled out the chair opposite her and sat.

"Then let's make it straightforward. You'll have a specialist team overseeing the pregnancy, accommodation if you need it, and all your expenses covered."

She stared at him as he continued.

"There will also be substantial compensation after the birth. If you have existing financial obligations, those can be dealt with."

An hour ago, Coel had told her she should be honored to give him whatever he needed.

This one was at least offering to pay.

"And what happens to me afterward?"

"That will be set out in an agreement."

"What happens to the baby?"

"My child will be provided for."

She waited for him to add something about her, but he was already reaching for the folder.

Isla turned it facedown.

"No."

His hand stopped.

"You haven't heard the terms."

"I've heard enough."

"Miss Spencer, I don't think you appreciate what I'm offering."

"You're offering me money to stay pregnant."

"I'm offering you security."

"In exchange for doing what you want."

His jaw shifted, although his voice remained level.

"You came here intending to end the pregnancy. If your circumstances are the reason, I can change them."

She hated that he was right about her circumstances, and hated more that he sounded so certain they were all he needed to fix.

"I've just walked away from a man who thought giving him a child was my job. I'm not taking the same job from you."

For the first time, Logan said nothing.

Isla picked up her bag.

"A man like you won't have trouble finding a woman willing to have your baby."

His fingers went still against the folder.

"I'm not discussing another woman. I'm discussing the child you're already carrying."

"And I'm telling you to find someone who wants this arrangement."

"If the amount is the problem, name your price."

"The money isn't the problem."

"Then tell me what is."

She looked at him, seated comfortably across the desk as though they were negotiating something he would eventually buy.

"You haven't asked me what I want."

His gaze held hers.

"What do you want?"

This morning, she could have answered without thinking.

Now her mate bond was gone, her family home was barely a home at all, and she couldn't even look at her pregnancy report without wondering what else the hospital had got wrong.

"I want you to stop talking long enough for me to think."

Logan leaned back, visibly displeased.

Isla stood before he could start again.

"I need to verify these records, speak to the doctor, and work out where I'm staying tonight. I'm not signing anything."

"Where are you staying?"

She tightened her grip on her bag.

"That's not your concern."

"It becomes my concern if you're putting yourself at risk."

"I'm looking for somewhere to sleep, not somewhere to jump."

His eyes narrowed, but she was already reaching for the report.

"May I take this, or do I have to negotiate for it too?"

Logan released the folder.

Then he took a card from inside his jacket and placed it on top.

"Three days."

Isla looked at the embossed name.

"To do what?"

"Consider my offer. Call the number on that card when you're ready to discuss what you need."

"And if my answer doesn't change?"

His expression hardened.

"My patience has limits, Isla."

She slid the card into her bag without answering.

"No procedure in the meantime," he added.

"I said I'd think."

He watched her for another moment before moving his chair out of her way.

Coel's message arrived as Isla stepped outside.

Come back before tonight. Otherwise, I'll have the guards bring you in for assaulting your Alpha.

She read it twice, then checked the street as though he might already have sent someone.

There was nobody waiting, but that did little to steady her.

Logan's card pressed against her fingers inside her bag. She left it there and opened her father's contact instead.

Her thumb hovered over the call button.

Cassian had never been good at listening when she needed him. Usually, he told her to apologize, keep the peace, or stop making things difficult for Melinda.

But this was different.

Coel was threatening to imprison her. Surely her father would have something to say about that.

She didn't need him to hold her while she cried. She needed him to make one phone call and help her get somewhere safe.

Isla put her phone away and headed home.

The front door hadn't latched properly, and she pushed it open without ringing. Her father's voice carried from the sitting room before she could call out.

"Coel wants her sent back tonight."

She stopped in the hall.

"And have him blame us every time she causes trouble?" Melinda asked. "She's ruined the only useful thing she had going for her."

Cassian sighed.

"I told you she was too temperamental."

Isla stood with one hand still on the door.

"Alpha Reid asked about her at the winter dinner," Melinda said. "His offer might still stand."

"That was before this mess with Coel."

"He wanted a young woman in his bed, Cassian, not a wedding. I doubt he'll care about a broken mate bond."

Isla knew Reid. He was older than her father and had kept his hand on her lower back through an entire photograph while she tried to move away.

Her father made a thoughtful sound.

"How much did he offer?"

"Enough to make losing Coel's favor considerably less painful."

A chair scraped across the floor.

"Call him," Cassian said. "If he'll pay tonight, he can collect her tomorrow."

"And if she refuses?"

Her father gave a short, impatient laugh.

"Then don't tell her until he's paid."