Chapter 317 New Life, Old Enemies
Author
After Alpha Dominic got out of the hospital, Jack’s life behind bars became a living nightmare.
Federal prison was bad enough for normal people. For someone who’d tried to kill the Alpha King, it was basically a death trap.
News traveled fast in prison. Inmates with pack connections knew exactly who Jack was and what he’d done. Even the human criminals had heard the stories.
The Alpha King had people everywhere.
Guards who’d been taking werewolf money for years suddenly got transferred to Jack’s cellblock. It wasn’t a coincidence.
His first week was just petty harassment. No commissary privileges. His mail disappeared.
Guards tore apart his cell every few days, claiming they were looking for contraband.
His cellmate started having violent dreams about killing traitors. The guy would wake up staring at Jack like he was planning something.
The human inmates couldn’t explain it, but something about Jack made their skin crawl.
Prison was full of predators, and they could smell weakness from a mile away.
He should have taken the easy way out before they locked him up.
Every morning was another day of watching his back. Every meal could be poisoned. Every corner he turned could hide someone with a knife.
The really terrifying part was that Alpha Dominic hadn’t even gotten involved yet.
Prison guards were taking bets on how long Jack would last.
Most gave him two years, maybe three if he was smart about staying in protective custody.
Every day inside felt like torture.
Jack was starting to think maybe he should have chosen suicide after all.
--
One evening, with the windows open to let in the warm spring breeze and takeout containers from Tony’s Italian scattered across the coffee table, Alpha Dominic lay with his head pressed against her swollen belly when suddenly - THUMP.
"Holy shit! Love, our son just nailed me in the head!"
Elara rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her grin. "How do you know it wasn’t our daughter?"
"Because little princesses don’t go around drop-kicking their old man. This kid’s got linebacker written all over him."
But when he turned away, Elara caught him quickly brushing his sleeve across his eyes.
"Oh my God, you’re totally crying. Should I call CNN? ’Badass King Reduced to Tears by Unborn Baby.’"
This seemed like overkill, even for emotional Alpha Dominic.
"I’m not crying, smartass." Alpha Dominic straightened up immediately. He had street cred to maintain.
The truth was, he was completely overwhelmed. Hit with this massive wave of "Jesus Christ, I’m going to be responsible for actual human beings" that knocked him sideways.
Though he’d eat his own boots before admitting he was going soft.
Elara didn’t call him out on it. She wasn’t completely heartless.
Later, usually when he was being particularly annoying, she’d drag it up. "So, started journaling again? ’Dear Diary, today my fetus made me its bitch’?"
"Why the hell would I journal now? You’re here bitching at me in person. I only wrote in that thing when I was pathetically pining after you from across town. Now I get front-row seats to your insults. Writing about it would be redundant."
Alpha Dominic always had a comeback ready.
--
Lately, Elara felt like she was carrying around a small refrigerator. Forget going to the office.
She could barely waddle from their king-size bed to the en-suite bathroom without needing a breather.
Her belly was so massive she couldn’t see her own feet.
Alpha Dominic had to help her with everything - tying her sneakers, putting on maternity clothes, reaching anything above waist level.
Elara felt like she belonged in a parade float. Her face looked like a chipmunk storing nuts. Her wedding ring was cutting off circulation. She caught her reflection in their bathroom mirror and seriously considered hiding until after the birth.
Alpha Dominic never missed a chance to kiss her forehead and tell her she was stunning. "Love, you’re literally creating life. You’re like a goddess or something."
"You have to say that. It’s in our prenup under ’Required Lies During Pregnancy.’"
"I don’t bullshit you about anything else. Why would I start now?"
And when he looked at her like she was still the girl he’d fallen for at Academy, she almost bought it.