3

Scarlett’s POV

There’s just something about the man before me that made me feel a bit… safe? I expected that after all that I went through the entire week, I’d feel wary around anyone. I completely ignored what he told me earlier. He was probably just grumpy because he was injured.

“You’re poisoned. I don’t think you’d survive this if you’re not taken care of.” I said as I approached him, inhaling the foul smell that oozed out of him. It was clearly poisonous.

He sat upright, his eyes filled with apprehension. He looked at me like someone who was already suspecting that I was in danger. Then his hand moved towards a part of his body where I assumed a weapon lay. 

Was he really suspecting that I was out to attack him? 

“I could kill you easily if that’s what I wanted. You’re the weak one here after all.” 

“What do you want?” His voice almost vibrated through my own body. It was that deep and baritone.

“You look familiar. Who are you?” I asked back. 

Once again, his dark gaze swept across my body. “That’s not important right now. Were you sent by my brother to finish what his men didn’t finish?”

“Your brother? Was he the one who poisoned you and thought you were dead?” 

His eyes grew cold, “Thought?” He brought out the dagger he had been hiding under his clothes, “How did you know that he thought I was dead?” 

“Calm down. I only said that because it seemed they did sloppy work on you. You’re alive now, and someone who wants you dead would have checked the body. Sloppy work means they assumed you were dead already.” 

He stared at me deeply for a while before bringing down the dagger, but the apprehension on his face remained apparent. “And why should I trust you?” He asked. 

“You shouldn’t. But I can get you somewhere safe long enough for me to extract the poison. After that, you can do whatever you want.”

He went quiet for a few seconds, “And what do you want in return?” 

“That depends on what you’re capable of,” I said, shrugging lightly. The blood pouring out from him had stopped but he looked weaker by the second. 

“I’m the Alpha King.” 

And that was when it all made sense to me — his aura and demeanor. I just knew it deep within me that he wasn’t a normal werewolf, and he looked somewhat higher than just an Alpha too. 

He was coronated a year ago and although a lot of alphas and lunas went to the ceremony, Rowan didn’t think that we needed to attend. I’ve only seen his portrait once and that was it. 

I didn’t ask any further questions, I just led him to the shed as it was starting to look like he couldn’t hold on any longer. 

There, I assessed and dressed his injuries carefully with the little herbs that I could gather. By the time I was done, his eyes were already snapped shut. 

~

He woke up at night when I had made a shelter and kept the fire burning, his eyes looking around the room like he was only seeing it for the first time. 

“How do you feel now?” I asked him, bringing up my hand to touch his forehead. He didn’t retract, so I went ahead. His fever had gone down, but his skin was still really warm. 

“Better.” He said. 

I nodded and gave him some of the food I made. He stared at it wearily, as though he was expecting to see something in it. 

“I didn’t poison it,” I said like that would make a difference.

We fell into silence after that and he really ate the food. When we were done, he broke the silence first. 

“You’re pregnant.” He didn’t even ask, he just said it. And although I wasn’t very shocked as I had heard that the Alpha king’s senses are way more powerful than those of any werewolf, it still came off a bit unusual. 

“Yes,” I responded as a matter of fact. 

“And your mate…” he trailed off, suddenly studying my expression, “Is he dead?” 

“No.” I said almost immediately, “But he’s very much dead to me now.” 

He sized me up a bit, “Let me guess, he set you up for treason.” 

I raised my brows at him, moving back a bit, “Are you a seer or something?” I stared at him weirdly, “Well, you’re right.” 

“We’re both in the same situation then. My brother did the same to me, but his was more in secret than in front of everyone. The next thing the entire werewolf kingdom would hear is the news of my death.” 

“Your own brother? Now that’s crazy.”

“Yeah, how unfortunate for both of us.” 

The moment he said the word “unfortunate”, my brain did a very crazy calculation and before I knew it, I was turning to look at him properly. 

“No, I don’t think this situation is unfortunate, not if we turn the tables around that is,” I said. 

And before he could ask what nonsense I was spewing, I continued. “You need to get back to your kingdom and prove you’re alive before your brother consolidates power. You need to show strength.”

“And you need…” he trailed off, almost like he knew what I intended to say next. 

“Protection. Status. I need a platform to show my former mate, pack that I didn’t just grow.” Then, a very sinister smile crawled up my face, “Afterwards, I’ll watch everyone who chased me out of my rightful home burn.” 

A smile donned his face too, but it was nowhere near the one that just took over my face. It wasn’t just cold, it was dangerous and deadly. 

“You’re ruthless.” He commented, “I like you already.” 

“So, do we have a deal?”

He only shrugged in response, standing up also. Maybe he needed time to process what I just proposed, but he’s one very weird hit already. 

I inwardly noted how he was the first person who hadn’t said a word about my body size since we met. I shook off the thought, forcing myself to rein in the moment instead, but the fact still remained at the forefront of my mind. It was weird for me to meet with anyone and they didn’t pass a comment about my body or even stare at me down. 

It was just like he found me normal, which didn’t sit well with me one bit.

He turned to the other side and I took that as his way of saying goodnight, even though he didn’t go to sleep immediately — and when I jolted awake at midnight after falling asleep involuntarily, he was still very awake. 

It was morning and the sun seemed to be brighter than usual. Jordan was already strong enough to move that he wasn’t in the hut when I woke up. 

But as though he felt that I was awake, he came inside, his gaze already intent on me. 

“I have a proposition.” He said. 

“About what he discussed last night?” I asked and he nodded. 

“My brother poisoned me, but before that, he already spread rumors that I was dying. When we return, the people will question my ability to lead.”

I frowned, “Did he say anything in particular — maybe a sickness that he told the people was killing you?” 

He averted my gaze a bit, “He told them that I’ve been taking a lot of concoctions to be able to conceive.”

Infertility? 

As he looked back at me, his eyes turned steel-cold. “I need to show them more than strength. I’ll need to show them that I’m capable of a dynastic continuation.” 

That was when it clicked. “You want them to think the baby is yours?” I pointed to my belly as I asked. 

“I want people to know that the baby is mine.” He acceded, “So take it as a contract marriage. You carry my child, you’re my Luna and in return—”

I cut him off, “I get access to your resources to hunt down my former pack.”

“Yes. Revenge.” 

I nodded, “My child—”

He cut me off this time around, “Will be protected as my heir. But that’s also a contract. When the time comes, we’ll dissolve it.” 

“How long though?” I asked. 

He shrugged dismissively, “Long enough to secure my kingdom and long enough for you to get a hold on your pack.” 

I extended my hand to him for a handshake and he seemed to understand that it was a formal gesture because he took it immediately. 

“We need to establish rules.” I said and he nodded, “Agreed.”

I went first, “No intimacy unless necessary for appearances.” 

“Agreed.” He acceded. 

“The child is fully mine. Your name protects it, but still mine.” 

“Agreed.” He said again and then started to list his own rules, “No one knows about this arrangement. As far as the kingdom knows, we’re bonded and in love. I found you on my journey and I love you.” 

My heart did a little jump at the mention of the word “love”, but I ignored it.

“And the pregnancy? Are we announcing it immediately?”

“I don’t think that should be kept a secret for long. It proves my virility. The father’s identity is very irrelevant by the way, all they need to know is that the child is the King’s heir.”

I nodded, “When do we leave?” 

“In three days. When I’m strong enough to travel.”