Nn''s POV


    The sound of retching carried through the otherwise quiet house. I couldn''t help but hear it, and the suspicion I felt toward Ellie only increased.


    I rushed to the room where she was working out, the loud music still ying, and found her in the nearby bathroom, bent over the toilet, wiping her mouth.


    "What''s going on?" I asked suspiciously.


    "Nothing,” Ellie answered automatically, getting to her feet and looking at me. "I just ate too much junk food


    while I was out with Rae."


    "Junk food?" I asked skeptically.


    "Yes," she said with a re. "You know-gto, iced coffee, muffins." She turned her head away from me, that same cold look in her eyes.


    "Figures," I said, not bothering to hide my irritation. "You have no self-control, do you?"


    "That''s rich,ing from you," she shot back angrily, pushing past me and returning to her yoga mat.


    I watched her for a moment. She tried to pretend that everything was all right, but I could see the thinyer of sweat on her brow. She was obviously ufortable, but her cold attitude made it impossible to feel bad for her.


    I left the room and returned to my work.


    I didn''t see her again until she was preparing for bedter that night. It was the first night we were spending together since her ident, and it was clear that she was still having issues with her memory- or at least pretending to.


    She approached me with a nervous look in her eye and asked, "So, where do I sleep?"


    I raised an eyebrow at her. I wasn''t sure what to make of it. Her nervousness reminded me of the nights when she would try to crawl into my bed and seduce me.


    She never seeded; the only time Ellie was allowed in my bed was once a month when she was ovting. I only touched her when I was trying to procure my heir.


    Still, maybe there was a way I could confirm my suspicions about her pregnancy if I kept her close.


    "With me," I said.


    She pressed her lips together, suppressing whatever reaction she felt, and nodded.


    "So, who was that guy earlier?" she asked, suddenly changing the subject.


    "The guy who grabbed you?"


    "Yes," she said. “He seemed really worked up."


    “That''s Cassian from the Moonstone Pack. He''s the son of the Alpha," I exined.


    +25 Bonus


    "That doesn''t exin why he grabbed me like that," she said, seeming irritated.


    "I have no idea," I answered quickly. There was no reason for her to know that Cassian and his father had seemed oddly emotional about her.


    Whatever was going on with them, thest thing I needed was for Ellie to get involved. I needed the agreement between our packs to go off without a hitch.


    "It doesn''t matter anyway," I said. "In a short time, the agreement will be finalized and they''ll leave. There will be a party in a couple of days. Since we have such important guests with us, I expect you to make an appearance -and I expect you to be convincing."


    She frowned, obviously annoyed. "I''ll be convincing. You don''t need to worry about that."


    "Good. You''ll have a dress fitting tomorrow. Make sure you look good."


    She smirked slightly, and I returned the look with a frown.


    "Good," she said. “I can use a nice dress."


    I narrowed my eyes at her. It was hard to tell if this was really who she was now, or if


    she was putting on an act. In the past, Ellie had always refused nice clothes,ining that they were too expensive-too good for her, considering she was only a rogue.


    Now she agreed as if it was something she was owed. It irritated me.


    "I have more work to do," I said dismissively. Ellie made no response, simply turned and left.


    I finalized the details of some party nning with the Beta and went over the coboration with the Moonstone Pack once again, making sure that the fine print was in order. When I was finished, I walked upstairs toward bedroom, the Beta trailing behind me.


    my