Chapter 469: Smirk
Chapter 469: Kai
Honestly, no matter how many times I see Diana, I still cannot believe I am having a pup. But I cannot avoid it anymore—it is soon.
I love my mate, but being around her makes me anxious. I need to be here with Diana.
It was embarrassing to have the conversation with the pack healer and ask her to come here. But there is no one I trust more. She helped with my birth, my sister’s, and literally almost every wolf and pup in Shadowfang.
I had to. Because the Redmoon healer is occupied. She said she could handle two pregnant wolves, but I can only be at ease if Diana is the sole recipient.
I need my pup to be safe.
I still cannot believe I will be a father. I regretted it initially, but now I do not. My pup must be a blessing from the goddess herself.
I watch Diana sleep. Her belly is round and full. Her face is peaceful. She looks so young—too young, maybe. But she is strong. She is carrying my child.
I reach out and touch her hand.
She stirs.
"Alpha Kai?" she murmurs.
"It is me," I say. "Go back to sleep."
She turns and keeps sleeping.
I place my hand on her stomach. I feel something—a small movement, a flutter beneath my palm. I remove my hand and place it back.
"In all my years, I still cannot believe you have me doing this," the old woman shuffles into the room.
I stand. She walks around, looking at the sleeping Diana.
"Little Alpha," she says. "The pup will be here anytime soon."
I feel my chest tighten.
"Soon?" I ask.
"Soon," she repeats. "Days. Maybe hours."
I look at Diana.
"So if you do not want to miss it," she says, "I suggest you stay around."
"I..." I stop.
"This would have been easier had it been your mate," she says.
The words hang in the air. I do not know what to say.
She looks at me.
"I am not judging," she says. "I am simply stating a fact. You are a mated Alpha. You have a Luna. And yet you are here, waiting for another wolf to give birth to your pup."
I am also incredibly ashamed of this situation.
"Well," she mutters, "unlike the other little Alpha, at least for you it seems like a genuine mistake. Goddess, what has happened to the sanctity of the mate bond?"
She says it to herself, looks over Diana, and shuffles out again.I cannot bring myself to be offended. I deserve this.
I think about her words.
Sanctity of the mate bond.
I have broken it. I have shattered it. I have taken something sacred and torn it apart.
And yet—
I cannot regret it.
What is regretful is the circumstances from which my pup is born, not my pup.
I sit back on the side of the bed.
***
Clarissa
I look in the mirror. I hate it, but soon. I walk to the bed and lie down. I was initially worried when I was coming here.
Luckily, in Redmoon, the facilities are up to par.
My phone dings. I turn to get it.
It is a text from my brother.
We are thankful for your sacrifice.
He says in response to my complaint about being pregnant. I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
’When I am back, I am bleeding you dry,’ I send back.
This is not the first time I have been used for the benefit of the pack. It is just that it is mostly humans, and I have never had to actually have a child.
I do not mind, really. I could have said no, and any other wolf would have taken my place. After all, Rylan is young, handsome, and charming.
He has that raw, wild nature of a wolf that most of us do not have anymore because we have been around humans too long. No wonder he was extremely popular.
It is magnetic. That animalistic nature of his.
It just took a lot for me to get pregnant. I am glad I was. At some point, I was giving up because despite the tablets, herbs, everything, I was not getting pregnant.
I place my hand on my belly.
"Be glad," I say softly. "You are going to be the reason for the bridge between the American and European wolves, little pup."
I smile.
And I will be the mother that made all this possible.
Honestly, about his mate? I genuinely do not care.
It is for the good of the wolves. Besides, if she was a good mate, I would not have had a chance to sneak into Rylan’s life.
Rylan does not want me to meet her. I wonder how long he plans to keep us a secret.
Not that the secret will last any longer anyway.
Speaking of the devil, the bedroom door opens and he walks in.
"Hey," he says. He walks to the bed.
He looks tired. There are shadows under his eyes. His hair is messy.I tap on the space next to me. He slides in.
His face hits the pillow. He smells like her. My inner wolf is unhappy. Down, girl.
I run my fingers through his hair. He immediately relaxes.
How easy it is to make Rylan happy. He just wants a safe, quiet place. That is all.
Which makes me wonder—how badly has the so-called Luna fucked things up that, despite there being a bond, a wolf finds his safe place in another wolf’s arms?
Well, I do not think she would be able to provide that. With apparently four mates, some are bound to be neglected. That is good news for me.
Had he been her only mate, I would not be in this situation.
I continue running my fingers through his hair.
He sighs happily.
"Thank you," he murmurs.
He does not see my victorious smirk.