The Alphas Correction

Chapter 8

 The Alpha’s Blessings

Flora barely slept.

The night had been long, restless, and filled with the same relentless thoughts circling her mind like wolves around prey. 

She was going to get marked by Ryan while bearing Marcus’ child.

Flora turned onto her side and pressed her face into the pillow, groaning softly. 

A knock sounded at her bedroom door before it swung open without waiting for an answer.

Her mother stepped inside.

Mrs. Bennett looked as elegant and composed as always, dressed in a fitted cream blouse and a dark skirt. Her expression was cool, sharp, and entirely businesslike.

Flora sat up slowly.

“Morning,” she murmured.

Her mother studied her carefully.

“You look terrible.”

“Thanks.”

Mrs. Bennett walked farther into the room and crossed her arms.

“The pack is already talking.”

Flora stiffened.

Her mother continued, her tone clipped and firm.

“You’re pregnant, Flora. And you’re unmarried and unmated.”

Flora’s chest tightened.

“In this pack,” Mrs. Bennett went on, “that is not something that goes unnoticed.”

Flora rubbed her temples. “Mom, I know—”

“No.” Her mother cut her off sharply. “You clearly don’t know.”

She stepped closer to the bed.

“You have embarrassed this family enough already. Fortunately, Ryan has stepped up and agreed to take responsibility.”

Flora swallowed.

Ryan claimed the child.

The lie.

It still felt unreal.

“So we will fix this situation properly,” Mrs. Bennett said.

Flora frowned slightly. “Fix it… how?”

Her mother’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

“I arranged a meeting with the Alpha.”

Flora froze.

Her stomach dropped. The Alpha…Marcus

“You… what?”

“This afternoon,” Mrs. Bennett continued calmly, “you and Ryan will appear before Alpha Steele in the throne room. Ryan will formally request permission to claim you and hold a mating ceremony.”

Flora stared at her in horror.

“A mating ceremony?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“That’s too fast!”

Mrs. Bennett’s gaze hardened.

“You should have thought about timing before getting pregnant.”

Flora opened her mouth to argue again, but the look on her mother’s face stopped her.

This was already decided.

There would be no changing it.

Her mother turned toward the door.

“Ryan will arrive in an hour.”

Then she paused.

“Make yourself presentable.”

The door shut behind her.

Flora collapsed back against the bed.

“Oh my God…”

Ryan arrived exactly on time.

Flora stepped outside the house and found him leaning casually against his car, looking relaxed and confident.

When he saw her, he smiled.

“You look better today.”

Flora forced a weak smile.

“Thanks.”

He opened the passenger door for her like a gentleman.

“Ready?”

Flora hesitated before sliding into the seat.

Not even a little.

The drive to the Alpha residence was quiet at first.

Flora stared out the window while Ryan hummed softly to the radio.

Finally he glanced at her.

“You’re nervous.”

Flora laughed weakly. “What gave it away?”

Ryan shrugged.

“It’ll be fine.”

She looked at him.

“How can you be so calm?”

Ryan rested his arm casually on the steering wheel.

“Because this is the right move.”

Flora frowned.

“The right move?”

“Yes. For both of us.”

He glanced at her briefly.

“Standing by you makes me look good in the pack. A man who takes responsibility.”

Her stomach sank.

“So that’s what this is?” she asked quietly.

Ryan smirked slightly.

“Relax, Flora. Everyone wins.”

Flora looked away again.

Everyone except Marcus.

And if Marcus knew the truth…

She didn’t even want to think about it.

The Alpha residence loomed ahead.

Ryan parked the car and stepped out.

Flora followed slowly.

Her legs felt weak, each step was like a war.

Ryan guided her down the long corridor toward the throne room.

Voices echoed faintly ahead.

Flora’s heart pounded harder with every step.

When they reached the doors, two guards pushed them open.

The throne room was already full.

Pack elders sat on their side of the room, warriors stationed at every corner.

At the far end of the room, raised above the floor on a set of stone steps, sat the Alpha throne.

And on it—

Marcus Steele.

He looked powerful even seated.

Flora’s breath caught the moment she saw him.

Marcus’s gaze lifted and locked directly onto her.

Her heart nearly stopped.

She quickly looked down.

Ryan stepped forward confidently, leading her toward the center of the room.

Murmurs rippled through the gathered wolves.

Ryan stopped a few feet from the throne.

Then he knelt.

Flora stood beside him, feeling every eye in the room burning into her skin.

Ryan spoke clearly.

“Alpha Steele, I come before you today to ask for your blessing.”

The room quieted.

“Flora Bennett carries my child,” Ryan continued proudly. “And I wish to claim her as my mate before the pack.”

A wave of whispers spread through the crowd.

Flora kept her eyes on the floor.

She could feel Marcus watching her carefully.

From the side of the room, Lily stepped forward.

Flora’s stomach twisted painfully.

“Father,” Lily said gently. “Flora is pregnant. I confirmed it myself.”

Lily even know still stood with her…

Flora felt a stab of guilt so sharp it nearly made her dizzy.

Marcus remained silent for a long moment.

Then he slowly stood.

The room immediately fell completely silent.

The Alpha presence that filled the space was overwhelming.

Marcus descended the steps one at a time.

Each step echoed like thunder in Flora’s ears.

He stopped a few feet away from them.

Ryan looked up confidently, but Flora kept hers lowered.

But she could still feel Marcus’s gaze burning into her.

A long, unbearable silence stretched between them.

Then Marcus spoke.

His voice was calm and measured.

“As Alpha, it is my duty to protect the unity of this pack.”

Ryan straightened slightly.

“And a child born into our pack deserves stability,” Marcus continued.

Flora’s pulse pounded.

Marcus looked between them slowly.

Then he nodded.

“You have my blessing.”

The throne room erupted in applause.

Cheers filled the space.

Some wolves clapped Ryan on the shoulder as he rose to his feet.

Lily smiled proudly and Ryan looked triumphant.

But Flora, she barely heard any of it.

Her mind spun wildly.

Marcus had just made the lie official.

He raised his hand and the room gradually fell silent again.

Flora finally dared to look up.

His eyes were no longer on Ryan, they were locked directly on her.

Something in his expression made her blood run cold.

Marcus took a slow step closer.

Then another.

His gaze drifted downward.

To her stomach.

Flora’s breath caught.

“That child…”

His voice dropped.

His eyes darkened as they lifted back to Flora’s terrified face.

“…is mine.”

Silence swallowed the throne room.

Flora stopped breathing.

And the world seemed to shatter around them.