29

Belle’s POV

The car engine was still running, but it hadn’t moved an inch for almost three minutes as horns blared behind us.

Drivers shouted, some even slammed their hands against a steering wheel so hard the sound echoed through the street, but it seemed none of us cared about it, not even a little.

In all of these, I sat comfortably in the passenger seat, one hand resting on my swollen stomach, my fingers slowly brushing over the fabric of my dress like I was petting something precious. Something powerful, something dangerous, because this child was powerful and I knew it.

I tilted my head slightly, watching Hayden from the corner of my eye. His hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles had turned white.

His jaw was locked, and his breathing was sharp.

He looked like a man trying very hard not to explode, and this made me almost smile.

“Good, let him burn,” I murmured to myself.

Behind us, I could clearly see the convoy of black SUVs in the side mirror, my bodyguards and his guards.

Security from the palace that are enough witnesses to make sure Hayden would never dare touch me. 

Not when I was pregnant, not when the entire world knew, and not when the press would feast on it like starving wolves.

I leaned back lazily on the chair.

“Are you planning to move the car or not?” I asked casually, my voice dripping with amusement, “Or are we creating a public scene today?”

Hayden didn’t respond as he was just staring at me with anger in his eyes.

The muscles in his jaw tightened even further as another horn blasted loudly behind us.

A man shouted from another vehicle. “Move the damn car!”

I chuckled softly as I watched everything that was happening.

“You are causing traffic, Alpha.” Another person said, but still nothing.

My eyes drifted over him again, analyzing him and judging him that moment, trying to read his mind.

“Livia has terrible taste in men,” I murmured to myself.

First Zach, then Hayden. Both are powerful, dangerous, arrogant, and both absolutely insufferable.

I sighed dramatically. “Honestly,” I muttered, shaking my head, “I’m starting to question Livia’s judgment in men.”

That statement got his attention and slowly, very slowly. Hayden turned his head, his dark eyes locked onto mine, cold, sharp, and dangerous.

“What did you just say?” he asked quietly as I shrugged.

“I said,” I repeated calmly, “that Livia clearly has terrible taste.” My lips curled into a mocking smile.

“One husband who can’t control his temper and another Alpha who likes to threaten pregnant women in the middle of the road,” I said, trying to break his limit to anger.

His eyes darkened. “I haven’t threatened you.”

“Yet,” he said, trying to hold himself. 

Another horn blared from behind as the cars behind us were getting impatient now.

I glanced through the windshield at the line of vehicles ahead, then I relaxed deeper into my seat.

“This is wonderful publicity, you know,” I said thoughtfully as Hayden frowned.

“What are you talking about?” he asked as my smile widened, looking at him.

“Oh, imagine the headlines.” I expressed, throwing my hands in the air as I gestured lazily outside.

“‘Noble Alpha Hayden stops traffic to assist pregnant Luna of rival pack.’” I stated as I tilted my head slightly.

“That would make you look very kind.” I mocked.

His expression hardened. “And if I ask you to get out of my car?” he said coldly, and I laughed softly.

“Oh,” I exclaimed.

I leaned closer to him slightly. “Then the headline became…” my voice dropped to a whisper.

“‘Alpha Hayden throws pregnant woman onto the street.’” I said, smiling wickedly.

I leaned back again, satisfied. “That would be unfortunate for your reputation,” I added.

The air inside the car turned heavy as Hayden stared at me like he was trying to decide whether I was brave or insane or maybe both.

Finally, he let out a slow breath and pulled the car forward as the traffic began moving again.

Cars passed us angrily, but I barely noticed as I was too busy enjoying the tension.

The silence stretched between us for a while, then Hayden spoke, his voice was low, controlled, dangerous, and calm.

“You know your husband and my wife…” he was trying to say, but I immediately cut him off.

“Oh, please,” I scoffed. “Don’t start pretending this conversation is about loyalty.”

His eyes flicked to me again. “You don’t think it is?” I asked.

“No,” he replied absent-mindedly as I folded my arms.

“I think you are jealous,” I said.

The car jerked slightly as his foot hit the brake harder than necessary this time around.

Hayden slowly turned his head again. “Jealous?” he asked, trying to look at me, and  I nodded.

“Of course,” I replied as I tilted my head, studying him like he was an interesting experiment.

“You can’t stand the idea that Zach still wants Livia,” I said as his eyes flashed.

“And you,” he shot back sharply, “can’t stand the fact that he wants her more than he wants you,” he said firmly, and for a moment, just a moment, something dark flickered in my eyes, but it disappeared quickly.

I laughed bitterly. “Oh, Alpha Hayden,” I said mockingly.

“You really think that bothers me?” I asked.

“Doesn’t it?” he asked as I could see the surprise on his face.

I leaned forward slightly. “No.” I relied firmly as my voice was calm and deadly.

“What bothers me,” I said slowly, “is that Livia keeps ruining everything.”

Hayden’s hands tightened on the wheel again.

“Explain,” he demanded angrily as my eyes turned cold.

“I had everything,” I said quietly.

“A powerful husband, a palace, and a future,” I stated as my fingers pressed against my stomach.

“And now, I have an heir,” I added as I smiled again.

A smile that didn’t reach my eyes, but somehow my gaze drifted toward the window.

“That woman still manages to exist like a shadow over everything.”

Hayden’s voice dropped dangerously low.

“Be careful how you talk about my wife,” he warned, his eyes turning red as I looked back at him immediately.

“Oh?” I exclaimed as my eyebrow lifted. “Your wife.”

I studied his face carefully, then I smirked.

“Interesting,” I said.

Hayden frowned. “What?” he asked, confused.

My smile turned sharp as I looked deeply at him. “You said it with so much possessiveness.”

My eyes sparkled with mischief. “Almost like you are trying to convince yourself,” I said, and I watched as his jaw clenched.

“You are playing a dangerous game,” he warned for the umpteenth time.

I laughed softly again. “Dangerous?” I asked to be sure as I placed my hand on my stomach again.

“I’m pregnant,” I said as my eyes met his.

“What exactly do you think you can do to me?” I asked with full confidence.

The car fell silent again, heavy, tense, and Hayden finally exhaled slowly. Then he spoke again.

“You know your husband and my wife have history,” he said.

This time, I didn’t interrupt as I just watched him carefully.

“And?” I said.

“And that history is dangerous,” he said as I chuckled.

“Everything about them is dangerous,” I said as Hayden glanced at me again.

“Then why push it?” he asked, and my smile slowly widened.

“Because,” I said softly, “watching people lose control is very entertaining.”

Her eyes gleamed wickedly. “And right now, Alpha…” I looked directly at him.

“I think you are about to lose your own.”