6. L U C A S

She is pregnant. 

She is —--preg–pregnant.

Tears sprang in my eyes and I didn’t even understand why. I quickly walked to the hotel I was staying in and shut the door with a bang. Walking to the liquor cabinet, I pulled out a bottle of vodka and pulled the lid open. Throwing it away in some corner, I chugged the liquid without even caring to pour it into a glass. The strong flavour burned my throat but I could care less. All I felt was a void that hurt so hard. I had experienced the similar kind of pain when I rejected her, four years ago. But I was too arrogant to care about it. But today seeing her in someone else’s arms made my heart clench.

Is that how she felt when she found another woman in my arms?

Is that how it pained her to see me?

The mere thought of her going through so much pain tore my insides. I was childish and clouded with pride. I wanted someone to match me and my vibe and hence I chose Sophia as my mate, rejecting Ariana. Three months into our relationship I realized how foolish my choice was. She was a bratty woman who craved power and sex. She did not treat anyone right in the pack and misused her power. She made people bow down to her will and treated them like a piece of thrash. She held no respect or reverence for the previous Alpha and Luna, my parents. 

Unable to bear her atrocities, my parents confronted me about her and I told them everything. I told them about how Ariana identified me as her mate and my wolf confirmed it, asking me about it. I told them how I rejected her and how we made fun of her. I told them about how we left in her own misery, laughing at her, after rejecting her. I told them how my friends mocked her while I stood there silently enjoying with them. I hated myself for doing all that to her. Even if she forgave me, I could never forgive myself. 

My parents were immensely disappointed in me. “I never raised you to be such a disappointment. I thought your days of whoring around would be over when you find your mate. But it seems like you hold no respect even for the Moon Goddess.” These were my dad’s words while my mum’s silence spoke even louder. From that day on, our relationship became strained. They isolated themselves from the pack and pack house, living alone. I never wanted that for me or even for them. It was the house they built with hardwork and dedication and over years made it their home. I was born in this house and it was filled with memories of my childhood and their love. I dreamed of the same for me, my mate and my pups one day, where I would teach them to walk, run, play and when they were of age, they would also shift.

But that became a far fetched dream with Sophia and even more when I realized that Ariana had run away from her house. I went to her place the very next day, to ask for her forgiveness, and accept her back as my mate. But instead her father answered the door and told me that ‘that good for nothing’ daughter of his is gone for good and no more lives here. It was then I realized that she did not grow up in a warm and loving household like me. Regret coursed my veins realising how much she had to suffer. If only I had not been so cruel to her that day.

I sent my men to search for her in all directions, but they returned empty handed. It was as if she never existed. People could not track her location, her number or even her scent. It was only five months ago, I found a glimpse of her in a picture. My beta had shown me his pictures from his trip to San Francisco and I saw her in the background. Even then I couldn’t meet her immediately. I was caught up in the duties of the pack and with the threat of the Vampires, I didn't even have the time to think about her.

But everything changed the day when the Sorceress Shane asked us to find my true mate to help the pack. Without her all of this was of now use. Sophia was not happy about this, but she knew better than to rile me up or cause a scene. That was when I finally flew down to meet her. When she stood in the doorway wearing that pink apron over the white dress she had on, I fell in love with her. She looked like an angel in this world of mortals. Unfortunately, everything came crashing down when she introduced me to her husband. And now, they are having a baby. 

Every fiber in me wanted to scream and protest saying that she was mine and she could never be his, but her anger and hatred towards me gave everything away. The way she stood up for him and mocked me at every chance she got, gave her message loud and clear. She did not look at me the way she looked at me four years ago, near the locker, in our school. Gone was that girl who was innocent and kind. Now was replaced with a woman who was fierce and matured.

I knew one thing for sure, if he kept her happy then I wouldn’t come in her way of happiness. She doesn’t deserve to be with a man like me who did not even think twice before choosing someone else over her. She deserved to be with a man who treated her like she was his world.

I spent the next two days in the same room. My wolf pined to be with her wanting to be in her company but I did not listen to him. I kept myself in control and stayed cooped up in my room waiting for her response. Sophia had been constantly calling me, but I did not care to answer her calls. I couldn’t care for her worries and concerns. She could do whatever she wants for all I care.  

My phone rang again and I picked it up to silence it. I was tired of her messages and voicemails. But the caller’s name made me freeze mid-way.

Ari.

I quickly answered her call and her sweet voice came through.

“Hello.”

“Hello Ariana.” I answered back, trying to keep my excitement in check.

“The doctor has cleared us for travel. When do you want to leave?” I gulped my saliva at her words. My wolf howled hearing her words, wanting to be with her while I tried my best not to get excited at the thought of being with her.

“Can we leave tomorrow?” There was a silence for a moment before she spoke.

“Yeah. Sure. Text me the details and we will be there.” Saying that she hung up the call. I stared at my phone with a goofy smile on my face. I could finally be with her.

She is not yours anymore. A voice in my mind spoke. But I pushed it away for now. All that mattered to me was that my mate was back with me.