BEAR MY CHILD

CLEO

“I don’t care. Leave,” Alpha Solan ordered this time.

“You can’t-”

She couldn’t continue with her remark when he growled at her, “Now, Vera. Leave!”

“You’ll regret this,” she muttered, storming out of the room.

Solan turned to me, wanting to hold me close, but I promptly backed away. I almost stumbled, but fortunately, I caught my balance and didn’t embarrass myself further.

He defended me, but that didn’t change the truth. He refused to mark me and left me alone after my heat had subsided. Now, I understand why.

What he did for me was merely out of instinct, and I shouldn’t stand in their way or ruin what they had.

I lowered my head as a sign of respect. “Please follow your wife, Alpha Solan. I am very sorry for... for what happened. I’ll be out of your way.”

I ran away without turning back, not caring that I was barefoot. My knees were trembling, but I was determined to get away. It took me a moment to navigate the place. The corridors looked the same, and even the displays were very similar to each other, but I managed to exit from the gardens. I didn’t hesitate to run further.

I was catching my breath by the time I reached the woods’ entrance. This might be the fastest and longest time I’ve ever run, but I kept going until I couldn’t anymore.

My knees finally gave out. I pushed myself to reach under a huge tree for some shade, practically crawling while catching my breath.

I curled up, just thinking about how my life changed overnight. Tears slid down my cheek as I buried my face in my hands.

My pack was gone. My mother...

I hadn’t even had the chance to grieve at all. It happened too fast. One moment, I was fighting for my life, and the next, I was here. I landed in a bed that wasn’t mine and with a man I could never be with.

I can’t help but think about my mother’s last words. I don’t think she truly hated me. She just told me to run so I could survive.

She also told me I wasn’t hers. I had no way of knowing if she was telling the truth, but now I realized that it didn’t matter at all. She was the only mother I had ever known. She was my only family... and now she’s gone. I have no one.

My tears retreated when I heard movements in the distance. I quickly wiped my tears and became alert. Woods like this surely have a lot of wild animals, but I wasn’t exactly sure what or where the rustling sound came from.

Before I could panic, a person came out of the bushes. It was a familiar face, but it didn’t put me at ease. He was one of the guards who rescued us, the one who delivered the news about my pack and assured us that we’d be alright. I should be grateful, but I can’t trust any of them after what happened last night.

He quickly raised his hands and took another step back after seeing my reaction.

“I won’t hurt you if that’s what you’re worried about,” he said calmly. “I just found you by chance, but it’s unsafe for you here. We’re currently dealing with random trespassers. Weren’t you the one the king brought in? Why are you here?”

I couldn’t respond. He’d just bring me back to Alpha Solan if I told him what happened.

“I’m Theodore,” he introduced. “Uhmm, I’m really sorry for what happened to your pack and the other... incident. We told you that you would be safe here, but that happened. You didn’t deserve that.”

I suddenly felt guilty for my actions. He did save us, and I can’t blame him for something he didn’t even do. I was about to respond, but felt a familiar presence arriving.

My senses immediately went haywire once again.

He’s here. Of course, he could find me in a snap. It’s not like I’ve been far.

Theodore immediately lowered his head after he arrived, stepping back without argument.

“Leave us,” Solan ordered.

Theodore didn’t question him and disappeared before I knew it. I tried mustering my courage, but still couldn’t look at him. Why can’t he just leave me alone?

“Cleo,” he called.

“I understand,” I said before he could speak further. “If you want to break the bond, I won’t fight it. I know my place, and I know my status. I don’t belong here, and someone like me shouldn’t ruin your life. I’m-”

“I want you to stay,” he cut me off, effectively taking me aback.

I lifted my gaze in surprise. He wants me to stay? But that can’t be possible. Everything the queen said was right.

“But you can’t be my Luna,” he added.

I already knew that, and it shouldn’t hurt like this, but hearing him say it out loud felt like a sharp jab in my heart. It’s not like I wanted the title for honor and glory… I just want to be by his side.

“The elders won’t allow it. They chose Vera for me, and I can’t disregard their decision.”

I forced down the bitterness brewing in my chest. “I understand that, your majesty. That’s why I have no reason to stay.”

“There is,” Solan countered. “If you give me a child.”

My mind couldn’t easily keep up with his words. I stared at him, waiting for some kind of explanation or at least a retraction of his words, but he looked at me with complete seriousness on his face.

“If you bear my child, no one will be able to question your place.”