The Designated Mate novel Chapter 80

"He's been looking for you, too," I rasped out, wanting to comfort them during this crappy time. They both snapped their gazes to me instantly. I nodded, answering their silent question. "After your brother took them both away, he separated them. Knox was kept inside an isolated facility until the day he shifted. When he did, he took the opportunity of being outside and got away. After that, he never stopped looking. He searched all the unclaimed territory he could, but he was finally forced to join a pack in hopes that the Alpha would assist his search through all claimed territory. It didn't amount to much until recently," I said, rehashing every detail I could remember in my frazzled state. They nodded, looking more than thankful for the information.

"And our daughter?" Knox's mother asked so softly I almost didn't hear it. I smiled brightly.

"I grew up with her in my home pack where she was ended up," I revealed, "she's my best friend. We did practically everything together," I gushed, happy to have a joyful memory to recall during such a dark time. Knox's mom covered her mouth with her hand, quietly crying into it. I couldn't imagine the relief of knowing both your children were okay after something so horrific had separated them from you. The mere thought made my gut clench.

I leaned my head against the bars, a wave of exhaustion taking over my body as silence settled around us. I sighed heavily and forced my eyes to stay open. I didn't want to risk falling asleep and being vulnerable to whatever Knox's horrible uncle had planned next.

"What're your names?" I asked them, trying to distract myself from passing out.

"I'm Jim and this is my mate, Angela," Knox's father murmured, wrapping his arm around his mate and pulling her close to his chest.

"I'm Poppy," I replied, fighting back a yawn while rubbing my eyes with the heel of my palm.

"Are you tired?" Jim asked, eyeing me knowingly. I nodded sheepishly before sitting back up to try and counteract my need for sleep.

"Lay down, then. We'll watch over and make sure nothing changes. If we hear something, we'll wake you," he insisted. I couldn't believe how incredibly sweet he was, but, then again, he is Knox's father and Knox takes incredible care of me. It must run in the family...minus the uncle. I slowly lowered my body onto the cold, concrete floor and used my sweatshirt covered arm as a makeshift pillow. I fell asleep surprisingly quick for how anxious I'd been.

What felt like two seconds later, I heard Knox's dad smacking the ground to make enough noise to wake me. I rolled over with a groan, my body aching from sleeping on such an unforgiving surface.

"How do you feel?" Angela asked, concern heavy in her tone and eyes. I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion from the change in her attitude, wondering if I'd missed something major while I slept.

"What are you...?" I started to ask before he brought his index finger to his lips in a shh motion.

"You're pregnant, Poppy," he whispered quietly. Those three little words were all it took to rock my entire being straight to the core.

Pregnant?

"W-what?" I choked out, blanching almost immediately.

"I can hear the heartbeat if I focus close enough, but that wasn't the only giveaway. I knew the second I scented you. You almost don't smell of yourself at all - just of my son. It's a common protective instinct a female's body will adapt when she falls pregnant. It tricks people into thinking you're your mate; the tactic used to be necessary back in the days of the first werewolves when people were constantly fighting over territory and taking females as hostages for leverage," he explained. My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, fighting for something to say.