Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron)
Chapter 106

Chapter One Hundred and Six

ASHLEY

Eric doesn't react to the slap. I think it hurts my hand more than it hurts him; his face is like a stone.

His words are more painful than anything, though, because it's impossible to deny the truth in them.

Merilee starts crying in the cradle, and I wish I could join her-just lay down and weep-but I can't. Not when she needs me. And not in front of Eric.

I pick Merilee up to soothe her, holding her close to my heart. She keeps crying, like she can feel the tension in the room and it's too much for her.

Eric sizes me up. He's holding back, keeping a tight leash on his anger. I can feel it even without my wolf-the connection between us is an open gate, flooding me with his emotions.

I shouldn't have hit him. He's my Alpha now, and I have no right to lay a hand on him like that.

But he doesn't punish me. Doesn't retaliate.

"Come to the kitchen for dinner once you've calmed down," he says. "We have plans to discuss with Mia and Cam."

Then he leaves the room.

His words hover in the air around me.

I don't think I had a choice. I was so reliant on Philipe for so long, by the time he sent me to Montana to bewitch Cam, I would have done anything Philipe asked. My trust in him was absolute.

I'd followed the prophecy my mother gave me and that led to destruction. So I followed Philipe instead. In the end, both roads led to pain and regret.

They both led me here.

Merilee stops crying a few minutes after Eric leaves. I wait a few more to make sure she's alright-and to give myself a chance to put on a brave face.

Dinner with Cam, Mia, and Eric...what could possibly go wrong?

They're all seated together at one of the tables close to the alcove. Conversation stops when I walk into the room.

I take a seat next to Eric, across from Cam. Mia is on Cam's other side.

I keep Merilee in my lap. There's formula for her on the table alongside the rest of the meal. I start feeding her, waiting for the rest of the table to do something. Anything.

I'm obviously the issue here. They were all fine before I came in, so I guess it's up to me to break the tension.

Two Alphas in a room, and yet neither of them can figure out how to start a conversation. Absurd.

"Should I call Lorelei and her parents in and ask them to strip?"

Three curious pairs of eyes turn to me.

"We've all seen each other naked, so it's only fair."

A smirk plays at the corner of Mia's mouth.

"Such an interesting custom for a pack in such a cold range," she jokes.

Cam chuckles, and while Eric

doesn't exactly smile, his glower

gets a little less intense. At any rate,

it's enough to cut through the awkwardness, and we all start eating.

"Cassian is expecting us at his winter stronghold," Cam says. "He was vague about how long it would take to get there. Anywhere between a day and a week-he doesn't seem

to differentiate much betweem

UMS

two."

the

Eric snorts. "It's easy to lose track of time when you spend eternity trying to appease never-ending bloodlust. The days really blur together."

Mia shoots him a stern look. I'm not worried about Eric's disdain for the mission, though. I'm caught on something else Cam said.

"You and Mia are coming with us?"

He shakes his head. "Just me. Mia's not walking into a vampire fortress while she's pregnant."

"You can't be away from your pack that long. What about the twins? And the audit?"

Cam scowls at me. "Mia's a perfectly capable Luna."

"And I'm a perfectly capable Alpha," Eric says with a note of finality. "Ashley's right, Cam. Your pack needs you right now. Let us handle Merilee." "They'll be safe, Cam," Mia says. "No more surprises on the road. I saw—"

"No more prophecies!"

Eric and I say it at the same time. I glance at him and those dark eyes meet mine for a moment. At least we can agree on something.

"Glad you two have found some common ground," Mia says.

"Yeah, I'd appreciate it if you could get along long enough to save my daughter," Cam says with a sigh.

He means it as a joke, but I hear the desperation in his voice.

"I won't let anything hurt her. Next time you see her, she'll be well," I promise him.

Mia puts a comforting hand on his shoulder and her eyelids flutter a moment. Cam answers her, drawing strength from whatever private conversation they're having. Gods, I'm jealous of that.

I'm sitting next to my husband in my own territory, holding my baby in my lap-and yet I've never felt more alone.

"I'll keep you updated every step of the way. She'll be safe with me," Eric tells Cam.

"Thank you. If things go wrong, or something changes, promise you'll talk to me first?"

Cam addresses the last part at me. I nod.

"I won't make any decisions without your input," I say. “You're as much her parent as I am.”

After that, we all agree it's best to

call it a night give Cam and Mia a moment to say goodnight to Merilee, then they head off to their room hand in hand. Eric and I. Kead down the hallway in the opposite direction.

When we reach the bedroom where Merilee's cradle is, he keeps walking to the next room, and shuts himself inside without a so much as a backward glance.

"Didn't need the Sight to see that coming," I say to Merilee with a sigh, then head into my own room to put her to bed.

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