Chapter 375
Xaden closed the door shut and took in a very deep breath before going back on his way.
He walked to his study and found his favorite bottle of wine.
It was a two hundred old bottle of wine he had never opened and left for special occasions.
This case was a special one.
He needed to clear his head because he was certain that he was about to lose his mind.
He didn’t pour into a glass, but simply drank it from the bottle.
He leaned back in his chair and wondered what the hell he had gotten himself into.
He missed Eleanor.
She always knew what to do and she had always been right.
Remembering Eleanor brought chills to his spine and the way she had died.
The way he had ended with her. The awful things he had told her and how their final encounter had been before she died.
Eleanor had always had a soft spot to Jasmine.
Guilt enveloped him and he pushed the thought of Eleanor at the back of his mind.
He went back to his present predicament.
How had he gotten Jasmine pregnant?
He had slept with thousands of women, but somehow it was only Jasmine who was pregnant.
He almost didn’t want to believe it himself because what the fuck were the odds.
The thought that she had been fucking someone else was still heavy in his mind.
It was possible that had happened and now she was pining it on him.
But how did she get Marie involved in all of this?
Marie was self centered and had only herself to think of. She only played along when she had something worth while in return.
He knew her well enough for that.
So even if Jasmine had cajoled her into this little game of deception, what could Jasmine possible offer her.
It wasn’t making any sense
He heard a knock at the door.
“Xaden it’s me.” He hear Erik say.
He was still pretty pissed at Erik for keeping the whole Anna affair secret, but now he needed him more than anything.
“Come in.” Xaden said.
Erik came in and stood over the study desk.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Erik asked.
“Jasmine is pregnant.” He said refusing to beat around the bush.
“What?” Erik said startled.
“You heard right.” Xaden said.
“How is that even possible?” Erik asked. “You took that ability away. That’s why you deal with the attacks.”
“So I thought too.” Xaden shrugged his shoulders. “But apparently I was wrong. Before you ask if it’s mine, Marie said it is”.
Erik was quiet for a while. “So what are you going to do?”
“I wanted an abortion but she didn’t. Marie insisted that she wasn’t going to do it with Jasmine’s approval. She said and I quote. It’s her baby as much as is your and it is her body.” Xaden smirked.
“Since when did Marie have moral grounds for anything?” Erik asked confused.
“You know I thought the exact same thing too.” Xaden pointed out. “That bitch only cares about herself and what’s crazy? When I tried to pay or told her I owed her she said it was free and I should see it as a congratulatory gift for the baby.”
“That’s new.” Erik said folding his arms. “I don’t think Jasmine knows Marie. At least not personally. Marie might have her own selfish benefits in all of this but I highly doubt Jasmine is involved in this.”
“The crazy part is that I don’t think so either.” Xaden said massaging his forehead.
“And what are you going to do? About everything?” He asked him.
Xaden tapped the edge of his study desk.
“I’m still working on it. She wanted to leave the pack. That’s not an option. I still have enemies. Bale is gone but there are people who still hate me. They would use her and the baby against me.”
“You have to think about it.” Erik said. “And do it quick.”
Anna knocked at Lily’s door.
“Come in.” Lily’s melodic tiny voice ushered in.
Anna opened the door and saw her brother’s mate seated by a desk going through scrolls
“Anna.” Lily said looking up from all her work.
“Hello.” Anna said. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“No of course not. You ann are always welcome. Come in please.” Lily offered as she rose up from her seat and sat down by a small table.
She offered the extra chair to Anna.
Anna took her seat as Lily rang for a maid.
“Would you like tea?” She asked Anna as she gently set the beautiful tea set of or both of them.
“I won’t mind.” Anna said all smiles.
“It’s good you came.” Lily pointed out. “I needed some air from the work I had been doing.”
“I heard you now took over Jasmine’s roles.” Anna asked coyly. “And doing a very good job at that.”
Lily laughed. “You flatter me too much. Not exactly took over. Once she is much better I would hand it over to her.”
“So you heard what happened?” Anna asked.
“Yes. I saw your brother with her along the hall way. He said she was recovering.” Lily said.
Anna could see the streak of sadness in her eyes and knew that she could prey on it.
“Probably recovering in eleven months.” Anna mumbled casually.
Lily rose a brow. “Excuse me?”
“I shouldn’t have.” Anna said quickly faking an apology.
“No it’s alright.” Lily said. “I’ll like you to tell me what you mean. I won’t say a word.”
Anna sighed. “Well, I just discovered something. Xaden took Jasmine to the east wing.”
“I know the east wing.” Lily said. “It was his mother’s favorite room.”
“Well, my brother gave it to Jasmine.” Anna said. “Not even me have gotten the opportunity to stay there.”
“I’m sure he was just being kind.” Lily said.
Anna didn’t like how Lily chose not to ask too much questions.
She wasn’t as bitter as she wanted her to.
Anna grasped Lily’s hands and held them fervently. “I adore you and I think the gods could not have given anyone better than you to be my brother’s mate. But I have bad news. I don’t think you two could ever be together.”
“Why?” Lily asked her veins peeling from her neck.
“You don’t know?” Anna asked in a tone of fake surprise. “Jasmine is pregnant.”