Six

Chapter Six

Nia’s POV

I needed to sleep, so I began arranging my bed, pulling the blanket into place and smoothing the sheets with my hands because I had spent most of the night tossing around without finding any real rest.

My mind was still filled with everything that had happened, especially Alpha Kadox’s warning and the seven days he had given me, and no matter how hard I tried to think of a solution, every path seemed to lead toward the same terrifying truth.

I was so distracted that I didn’t notice the door opening until I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Why are you arranging the bed?”

I froze.

I turned around and saw Alpha Azrael standing near the door.

He looked at me for a moment before his eyes moved toward the bed.

“The maid can do that,” he said, his voice carrying a firmness I wasn’t used to hearing from him when he spoke to me. “I don’t want you doing anything that could make you tired.”

I stared at him. “I know, but I am fine.”

He frowned slightly.

“You’re pregnant, Nia.”

The way he said it made something twist inside me.

Pregnant. That was the reason everything had suddenly changed.

I lowered my eyes and returned to the bed, slowly smoothing the blanket.

Alpha Azrael walked farther into the room.

His eyes moved around as though he were seeing it for the first time.

Perhaps he was.

He had barely entered my room during the three years we had been married.

Most nights, he had slept elsewhere, and whenever he did come near me, it was usually because something concerning the pack required my attention as Luna.

He looked at the bed again.

“You don’t like white sheets?”

I paused, that wasn’t me, “No. I don’t have a preference.” I looked down at the white sheet beneath my fingers. “I’ve been using white sheets for a while now.”

He stared at me. “Oh! I don’t know”

Silence filled the room.

His eyes remained on me. “I should have known.”

I didn’t answer.

I lowered my eyes. “Alright.”

His brows drew together slightly. “You’re not going to say anything?”

“What do you want me to say?”

He stared at me. “I don’t know.”

I remained silent.

He looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to me. “Things will be different now.”

My heart tightened.

I forced a small nod. “I understand.”

He stepped closer, before I could move, his hand came to my face.

I froze. Then his lips touched mine.

My eyes widened. For three years, I had imagined this moment.

I had imagined what it would feel like when my husband finally kissed me because he wanted to bug when it finally happened, I couldn’t move.

His lips remained against mine for a few seconds before he pulled back.

I stared at him, he didn’t say anything, neither did I.

Then he leaned down and kissed me again.

This time, I slowly closed my eyes.

For a brief moment, I tried to let myself enjoy it.

This was Alpha Azrael, my husband.

The man I had spent three years waiting for but then another memory appeared in my mind.

A dark room, a familiar scent, strong arms around me, lips against mine.

My eyes opened immediately, Kadox.

I pulled back slightly, my breathing became uneven.

Why was I remembering him now?

I hadn’t even been myself that night yet the memory had remained somewhere inside me.

The kiss had felt different, not better, not something I wanted to remember, Just different and the fact that I could still remember it frightened me.

Azrael looked at me but before he could say anything, he kissed me again.

I stood still as his arms moved around my waist.

My heart began beating faster, his touch became more confident as he pulled me closer.

I placed my hands against his chest. “Azrael…”

He looked at me.

I swallowed, I didn’t know what I wanted to say.

He leaned closer again.

His lips moved against mine, and his hand tightened around my waist.

I closed my eyes.

Azrael’s hand moved lower along my back as he pulled me toward him.

My body became tense, he seemed not to notice or perhaps he didn’t care.

He kissed my neck, and I instinctively turned my face away.

My fingers tightened against his shirt. “Azrael…”

He stopped for a moment.

I looked at him. “I…”

The words wouldn’t come, he watched me, then his hand returned to my waist.

“You’re my wife, Nia.”

His voice was quiet.

I swallowed. “I know.”

He leaned toward me again. I closed my eyes, trying to think of something that would stop him without making him suspicious.

The room suddenly felt too small, my heart was racing.

I couldn’t let this happen, not now, nkt while the truth was hanging over me.

His hand moved toward the fastening of my robe.

Then…Knock. Knock.

Azrael stopped.

His expression immediately hardened. “Who is it?”

The door opened. Alpha Kadox stood outside, my blood ran cold.

His eyes moved from Azrael to me, then to the hand Azrael had placed around my waist.

His face remained calm but his eyes darkened.

Azrael stepped away from me. “I am with my mate,” he said coldly. “You don’t have the right to come in here.”

Kadox looked at him. “The elders need us.”

“They can wait.”

“They said it concerns the Alpha position.”

Azrael’s expression changed immediately, he looked toward the door.

Then back at me. “I’ll come.”

He walked toward Kadox. As he passed him, the two men exchanged a hard stare.

Then Azrael stopped briefly and look at me .,“Stay here and rest.”

I nodded, he left.

The door closed.

Silence filled the room.

I released the breath I had been holding.

Kadox remained by the door.

I looked at him. “Kadox…”

He didn’t answer, his eyes were still on me, then he walked toward me.

I immediately stepped backward. “Don’t.”

He stopped, his gaze dropped to my stomach. Then returned to my face. “I wouldn’t let him touch you.”

My heart began pounding.n“He is my mate.”

“He still believes that child is his?.”

“He is my husband.”

“And you’re carrying my child.”

My lips trembled. “Stop saying that.”

His jaw tightened. “You can lie all you want .” He took another step. “But you know the truth.”

I shook my head. “You don’t know anything.”

“I know enough.”

He placed one hand against the wall beside me.

I froze.

His voice dropped. “I won’t let that man touch you while my child is growing inside you.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Please stop.”

“You’re afraid.”

“I am not.”

“You are.”

I looked away.

“He is my mate, Kadox.” My voice trembled. “The child is his.”

Kadox stared at me for several seconds.

Then he gave a quiet, humorless smile. “Keep saying that.”

I looked at him.

“In six days, you won’t be able to hide behind those words anymore.”