Anastasia.
After I leave his house, I break down in the car. I could get pregnant. As the sister of the Alpha of one of the largest and wealthiest packs, I would bring shame to my family.
My brother and father adore me. I never want that to change. There is no way I would marry Crosswalk, even if I carry his child.
The car pulls up in front of our elegant park house. I'm sure my brother has been looking for me. He must think that I disappeared from the party. I warn the driver not to tell anyone where he picked me up from and slip some notes into his palm.
I walk to the door. The door is yanked open before I even get the opportunity to knock.
Arthur just stands there looking relieved that I'm safe. He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly.
When he releases me, I walk inside quietly.
He closes the door and rushes to my side.
"Are you alright, Ana?" He asks.
Tears pool in my eyes. I don't trust my voice, so I just nod.
"I heard you went into heat at the party". He says.
I know where he is going and I can't lie to him. We tell each other everything. He is the only person that knows about my rejection of Crosswalk. Not even my father knows.
I rub my eyes from sleep and exhaustion.
"So you heard? Everyone must have heard about it by now". I say and sit down to pull off my heels. He sits down across me.
"Do you know what else I heard?" He asks.
I know exactly what he is going to say. I just shrug.
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. People saw you leave with Alpha Levi". He adds.
I shrug again. I don't want to cry.
"Why did you leave with him?" He asks.
I wipe my eyes.
"He offered to take me home since other males were coming to claim me. The pain was too much. I asked him to do it". I blurt out, unable to meet his gaze.
"I thought as much. The scent of your heat is no longer as strong". He says.
I cover my face and sob.
"I'm so stupid, Arthur. I just sold myself to the person I hate the most in this world".
He leans forward and rubs my knee.
"Someone else would have had to do it. Both of us are not getting any younger. We are not getting any more mates so don't be so hard on yourself".
I sniffle.
"Levi has ruined me". I say, still sobbing.
"No, he has not. We just have to make sure that he does not tell anyone else about it". He says.
"That's not the problem. I was too deep in my pain to realize that he had not used protection. He only told me after. He said it slipped his mind". I admit.
Arthur's jaw drops.
"That's messed up. What are you going to do if you get pregnant?" He asks.
I cover my face again.
"I don't know. I really don't know. The chances are very high. He has ruined me. He must be very proud of himself".
Arthur's balled his hands into fists.
"That asshole is going to pay".
I say nothing.
"You should get some rest". He says and stands up.
I stand up as well. He walks me to my bedroom door. Before I enter, I turn to him.
"Please don't tell dad". I plead.
He just nods.
"Don't worry your pretty little head about that. I won't". He says with a small smile.
Just then, Parfin, the Beta comes out of his bedroom.
He smiles at me. I don't smile back. My situation is way too grim to allow me to smile.
I enter my room and Arthur closes the door after me. As soon as I climb the bed, I dose off.
Two Weeks Later.
I wake up feeling dull and sick. I woke up the same way yesterday. I feel different. My body feels different. My wolf is very energetic.
I rush out of bed and into the toilet. I open the toilet lid and empty my entire gut. What the hell?
It can't be. It just can't be.
I tear out a paper towel and wipe my mouth with it. I wash my face and go to my brother's room.
He opens the door before I even knock.
He sniffs me in.
"You smell different". He comments.
"I do? I feel different too". I say and push past him into the room.
He mind-links with me. His eyes widen when he knows what I'm thinking.
"It can't be. You won't be able to hide it from dad and the other pack members". He says.
"I need to be sure." I mumble.
He runs his hands through his brown hair. His handsome face is filled with concern and worry for me.
I am lucky to have him.
"I can secretly get a pack nurse to look at you". He suggests.
I think for a moment.
"Pack nurses gossip a lot". I say.
He shrugs.
"Well, I'm running out of ideas here". He says.
"I know someone who can help. He will be coming to the party at the Red Moon Pack". I say.
"You still plan on going. Every one would notice your scent. They will know you're carrying". He says.
"Let them. We don't know for sure. My scent changed days ago". I say.
"What if that asshole is there? He definitely will be there".
"I can't care any less if he is there or not". I say.
"I do. He is sure going to get it from me". Arthur says through clenched teeth.
"Just don't do anything stupid". I say and leave his room.
We arrive at the party long after it had started.
His scent hit me hard as soon as I enter the room. I look around for him. When I finally see him, he is already looking at me. Arthur comes up to stand beside me. Our eyes lock for a couple of seconds before I tear them away. I feel a sharp pain in my womb.
Before I know what is happening, my bro
ther is already across the room pounding his fists into Levi's face.
God, no.
AnastasiaI rush to the bedroom upstairs, desperate to put enough distance between myself and them.My dignity is the only thing that keeps me from running. As soon as I get to the room, I close the door and lean against it.It was her. The same Athelia that had hated me so much.I thought she was far off in London, living her best life.And I had made an utter fool of myself. The way she had glanced at me like I was just another mistress or something - that’s what my desperation turned me into.He didn’t even try to defend me.I swat my forehead. Why would he?Their voices are as audible as though I were still below with them.Athelia’s upset. Crosswalk tries to calm her down.I run my hands through my hair.Still, I’m glad I shattered their wonderful night.The way he had looked at me still makes my toes curl.I shake my head at the direction of my thoughts.The door slams twice.The engine of his car roars to life. He’s leaving.My hands clench at my sides.“You shouldn’t care.” I
LeviShe walks away without a word.But, not before I saw it - the hurt in her eyes. It flashed briefly before she masked it.Athelia rises from her perch on the high seat.Her face is tight. “You didn’t tell me you had a woman staying here.” Her voice is as cold as ice.The mood of the evening is ruined, I muse dryly.She drops her shot glass gently on the table with a soft clink and picks her coat off the counter.“I don’t want to interrupt whatever you have going on.”I lean forward.“You don’t remember her?”She glances at me over her shoulders. I glimpse her despair before she hides it.Two heart-broken women, one night.I slip out of the counter.She’s too lost in thought to notice my movement.“Her? I’d remember if I met someone that pretty.”I raise a brow. “Her scent isn’t familiar?”She blinks, averting her gaze.“No.” The words come out as a whisper.“Anastasia Purrey? Does that ring any bells?” She looks up sharply, the sides of her mouth curving downward in disdain.“I
AnastasiaGreta pokes her head at the door.“What are you up to?”I shrug, pretending to not know what she’s talking about.She walks into the room.“Why aren’t you asleep?”I pull out a book from beneath the covers. “I was reading.”She narrows her eyes at me. “You read in the morning. Now, it’s time to sleep.”She takes the book and stuffs it under the crook of her arm, then she pulls the covers up to my chin.“Time to sleep.” She chides.I grunt.“I don’t wanna sleep, Greta.” I murmur, rubbing my eyes with my fists.She studies me, quirking a brow.“Do you need your sedatives? Are you feeling restless again?”Yes, but it has nothing to do with the baby.My heart lurches in my chest and my face colours instantly.“Heat? Should I increase the air conditioning?” She asks.Her brows are creased in genuine concern for my well-being - there’s no way I’d be able to explain to her that my lack of sleep is due to anxiousness to see Levi again.My mind has been pouring over his words the who
LeviThe moment I walk into the office, she jumps on me. Athelia Bairne.“It’s so good to see you.” I murmur into her hair.Resila clears her throat loudly, reminding me of the impropriety of the situation.I pull away from the embrace gently and rearrange my attire.“Levi!” She cups my face.I grasp her hands and pull them away from my face.“You look good Athelia.”She colours, this time, a deeper hue of red.“Thank you. You always know how to spoil a woman with compliments.” I grin at her.My assistant clears her throat again.“Thank you, Resila.” I say, gesturing for her to leave the office.Her mouth firms to a thin line. “But Sir, the paperwork for the upcoming meeting has yet to be signed.”She holds out the files in her arms as evidence.I wave her off. “Later.”She leaves the office, closing the door quietly behind her.I settle down on my swivel chair while Athelia chooses the sofa at one end of the well-furnished room.“This office looks a lot better than I remember it.”
LeviMy decision to keep a distance from her melts faster than butter.I grab her head, lifting her face up to mine. My lips find hers, hard, rough.She moans softly, undoing me with the soft sound.She leans against me, trusting me to support her weight.She parts her lips, giving me access to slick velvet which is the inside of her mouth.She tastes so good.My hands slip through her tangled hair, massaging her scalp gently.She grips my shoulder for support, gasping for breath.Then, I tear my mouth away from her, recovering my senses.I rest my jaw on her forehead, trying to tame my growing arousal.If we’re not careful, I could take her right here. Right now. Instead of going to work.I pull away.My hands remain on her upper arms, steadying her.She doesn’t meet my gaze.Sometime during the encounter, her robe had slipped off her shoulders. The low-hanging nightdress leaves little to the imagination as her nipples peak out through the thin fabric.I look away.Not now.Not her.
AnastasiaThe next few days, I see very little of him. The huge house is quiet. Too quiet.I spend my mornings swimming in the pool and my afternoons reading the novels in his study.But through it all, there’s always this restlessness I feel. A need to see him. To fight with him. Anything.Sometimes, I get up in the morning just to watch him leave.The nurse has been a great comfort. After I apologized, I began to see another side of her. She stopped being just a nurse, and became a friend.She likes to tell stories about her childhood and ambitions. I just listen, contributing isn’t my thing.The room is bright with the warm morning sunlight.I rub my sleepy eyes and slide off the bed.Grabbing the robe slung over the arm of the chair, I trudge to the window.He only comes back at night - when I’m fast asleep.I’m not sure, but I think he usually comes to my room to talk to the baby. Not to me.I peer down at the driveway. The seagull water fountain adorning the driveway is a pretty