Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

“What do you mean?” I asked.
Eva shrugged and tilted her head as she studied me.
“Leo's wolf went wild last night. He barely held it back from hurting me.” She shrugged. “That's why I came and switched with you. I figured it was better for him to rip you apart than his actual wife, right?”
I stared at her, stunned and somehow a little hurt. I knew she hated me. She always had. But she'd set me up to be ripped to pieces by an out of control wolf?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eva asked. “Whatever, you're fine. How'd you do it, anyway?”
“He said being with me calms his wolf,” I said.
“Huh. That's weird.” Eva studied me. “There's nothing special about you. Maybe it's the pup.”
That actually did make sense. I curled one hand over my belly, which was just showing the slightest hint of a bump. If you looked at the right angle.
“What about the pup?” I asked. “What if he had ripped me apart? It would have killed his heir.”
The heir that was the key to all her and her parents' schemes.
Eva blinked, startled, and then shrugged. “I guess it's a good thing Leo controlled his wolf, then.”
But he hadn't controlled it for Eva? He thought I was Eva. So he must have tried, and hadn't been able to until we switched.
Eva snarled and slapped me across the face.
“Don't look so smug,” she said. “He doesn't know it's you! He loves me. It's just that whelp you're carrying that calmed him down.”
“You're probably right,” I said, holding my stinging cheek.
I was mostly glad she'd slapped the side without the make up.
“Whatever,” Eva sneered. “I won't need you to switch out with me for the next few nights. Zane is away on pack business and I'll be spending the time with Leo.”
I nodded and bowed my head. Inwardly, I was conflicted. I wanted the time to study, and to see if it was possible to unlock some of my healing powers my wolf had promised me. But a small part of me was sorry I wouldn't be able to feel Leo's hands on me, to sleep curled against his warmth.
Eva shoved me towards the door. “Hurry up. You've got work to do. And I have some extra jobs for you.”
“What? Why?” I asked.
“Because you've been slacking off. Don't think I haven't noticed,” Eva said.
“I haven't,” I protested. “I've just been tired.”
“Because of the pup, yeah, yeah. You think you're so special because you got knocked up. What a load of crap.” Eva smacked me on the back of the head. “Wolf women get pregnant all the time and they don't shirk their duties.”
I cringed. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was having a harder time than them because I was part human. I knew better than to bring that up though.
“Now get to work. And if I see you hiding someplace not working, I'll make you regret it.”
I nodded and hurried to find my cleaning supplies.
LEO
The next evening after Leo's wolf decided to make trouble, Leo and Eva were sharing a quiet, intimate dinner. It was nice, being alone with his wife instead of eating with her family and many of their mixed pack.
Not that Leo didn't enjoy eating alongside his pack. He did. And he relished the chance to get to know his new pack mates, too. But, well, he wanted more time with Eva. And if they were alone, he got to see the real Eva instead of the haughty mask she wore with everyone else.
He cherished those moments.
But something felt off that evening.
Leo listened intently as Eva talked about her day. He watched her face as she described how she was taking more responsibility for running the pack's manor, because she was a Luna now. And that was good. He was happy that she was settling into her new role.
“And I had to assign Tessa extra work since she's been slacking off so much,” Eva continued.
“Tessa?” Leo asked.
“The maid with the scars,” Eva explained. “You ran into her the other day.”
“Oh, her,” Leo said. Something about that maid unsettled him.
“Uh huh. Be careful around that one,” Eva added. “She's always scheming. She doesn't like her place in the pack but instead of putting in the work to earn a better one she just tries to tear down other people. It's really sad and pathetic. But I make sure she knows where she belongs.”
“Okay,” Leo said.
He trusted his wife to know how to handle her own wolves. Leo would have dealt with a problem like Tessa a little differently, but maybe extra work and close supervision was all she needed. He let the subject drop without any more discussion.
Leo wanted to enjoy dinner with his mate, not talk about poorly disciplined servants. Although the idea that she was scheming near his pregnant mate did worry him a little. Still, Eva knew what she was doing.
Over dessert and wine, Leo leaned in to kiss Eva. She returned the kiss with a coy smile. Somehow, though, it didn't feel like it had the night before. Eva cuddled against him but she didn't melt into him.
Maybe the dining room wasn't private enough for her, and she was still projecting her mask of strength and dominance. Leo would wait until they were in his rooms.
Leo guided Eva to his rooms. He hoped, someday, that she would feel comfortable enough to move in more permanently. He understood that she wanted her own space. But perhaps they could share a suite? He would broach the subject later, when the future was more certain. He was still negotiating with her father over how and if the two packs might join.
For the moment, though, he was all right with the arrangement. She was happy enough to spend her nights with him. Leo spent much of his days longing for the quiet moments between them after darkness fell.
Once they were alone, Leo reached to rub the tension out of Eva's neck just like he had the night before. Eva squirmed at his touch and shifted away.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
She shook her head and leaned in to kiss him. “No, nothing. Why?”
“I just thought you'd like another back rub,” he said.
“That does sound sweet,” Eva said. “Okay.”
How weird, she was acting like he'd never done that for her. She giggled and blushed when he tugged at her nightgown, and wiggled and shifted as he stroked her back.
Before even a few minutes passed, Eva twisted out from under his hands and rolled onto her back. She gave him a coy smirk and held her arms in a way that thrust her bare chest up.
Leo wanted to take her blatant invitation, but his wolf stirred uncomfortably within him. He didn't understand it. This was his mate, and she was clearly eager and willing, but he could not find any stirring of interest in himself.
His wolf grew restless the more he tried to entertain Eva's desires. He just wasn't feeling it. The irresistible pull that drew him to her just wasn't there.
He tried to get his wolf to explain, but all it would say was not mate, which was ridiculous. This was Eva, his mate and his wife. Hadn't the wolf been soothed by her presence just the night before?
She leaned up to kiss him but he pulled away. He rested a hand on her stomach and held out her nightgown.
“I think you should get some rest,” he suggested. “You're pregnant, and I don't want to risk hurting the pup.”
Eva made a face, clearly not happy with his answer, but she pulled her nightgown back on.
“I'll go back to my rooms,” she announced, and stalked out of the room.
Leo felt guilty for hurting her feelings, but he didn't want to push his wolf when it was still so unstable. He had to figure out why one night it couldn't be separated from his mate, and the next it didn't want to even touch her.
He needed to be in control of himself. His mate's life depended on it.