A Mistake

“I’m sorry, I don’t accept extra projects until next month. Please tell your client that I need some adjustments to my schedule.”

I was still feeling weak after the pregnancy result. It totally blew my mind. I was still in a daze from the problems that would soon overtake my life and failed to notice that the people who came to my door were not the ones I had anticipated seeing today. I lifted my eyes to look at them. They were both wearing black suits with stoic expressions on their faces.

“Maam, are you Miss Giselle Sidney?”

My eyes widened. No! I wasn’t ready to go home yet!

Perplexed, I shut the door on their faces, and my hands quickly worked on the locks. The two men tried to push it open, but I was faster. My brain focused as the adrenaline throbbed in my veins. I stepped away from the door, thinking about how I would escape those men who had been hunting me for over a month since I left my father’s pack. I couldn’t let them capture me now that I had a bigger problem to deal with than hiding away from my own family.

“Miss Sidney! We are just following orders! Just give up and come with us!” The man yelled from outside the door after someone kicked it. 

I saw that the hinges were not going to hold any longer, so I had no choice but to go down the window and leave my small, dear apartment.

God, I hated it!

I lived on the second floor. Jumping from the window was not too bad for a werewolf like me at that height. But then I froze when I remembered I was pregnant, and I couldn’t risk skipping down and running away down the street just to get away from them. What if something happened to me if I landed wrong? What if I bleed?

There was no time to decide.

The men in black suits finally succeeded in breaking my wooden door apart, and they stepped inside. Both brushed the dust off their suits and then looked at me impatiently.

“Just leave me alone! I am not going back to the Greyfur Pack! I won’t let Father take control of my life again!” I yelled at them desperately, and they looked at each other, which made me confused.

I frowned and uttered, “My father didn’t send you?” I asked as I tipped my head to the other side in curiosity, “Then who sent you here?”

*****

“Miss, the Alpha is already waiting for you in the dining hall.”

One of the waitresses kindly led me to the dining area, where lots of wealthy people gathered. The aroma of expensive wines and the delectable smell of fine dining cuisine permeated the entire space as well-dressed male Omegas served food and beverages all over the hall.

After the two men asked me to go with them, I never expected this kind of VIP treatment since I arrived at an expensive five-star hotel and until I got into the restaurant. The Highridge Pack Alpha's servants had prepared a black velvet dress and white diamond jewelry for me for the occasion. 

I already had an idea what this fuss was about. But since I couldn’t run away from the people chasing me since I left the Greyfur Pack, perhaps it was finally time to face the person I had been hiding for over a month. I had to make it clear to him that I had no intention of going back anymore. No matter how hard they try to convince me,.

I won't let him sway me easily with his flowery words.

Or his charming eyes and pretty looks.

Yes. It was Caden. Alpha Caden Einsworth. It was him who had been bugging me, not Dad, which was surprising.

And terrifying at the same time.

He stood in his seat the moment our eyes met. His back was straight. His eyes were nervous, just like mine. His wavy, raven-dark hair glistened under the white light of the crystal chandelier above us. His green eyes gazed at me so deeply that my heart started to pound fast and hard as I closed the gap between us.

The last time we were together, we were both naked in his bed.

I swallowed a huge lump in my throat as he gestured for me to sit like a gentleman. There was no mistake that he was as anxious as I was because he couldn’t even smile or gaze back into my eyes once I was finally settled in my seat. The servers asked him for his order, and he tried to distract his perturbation by choosing the best they had on their menu.

“Dad sent you to convince me to go back home. Didn’t he?” I asked Caden with a condescending look on my face because I was not pleased to see him in a situation like this. Just like my father, he had a habit of forcing people to do what they wanted. They never ceased to amaze me with how domineering and demanding they were when it came to me, like I was still a child who needed them.

For goodness’s sake, I am already twenty! I wanted to live my life the way I wanted it! Away from my manipulative father. And especially, away from my perfect, too-smart older sister.

Away from Caden’s bewitching eyes. I whispered in my head, adding the man to the list of people I needed to avoid my entire life.

“Yes,” Caden answered, his voice calm and collected, as if he had prepared a lot just to see me tonight. “And we need to talk about something important, Giselle. I know I made a huge mistake, and I want to apologize for what happened."

Mistake?

The word felt like a hot knife piercing through my chest. It was heartbreaking to learn that the phenomenal evening I shared with him was merely a mistake on his part. I wanted to punch him straight in the face!

But I decided to stay calm as I averted my eyes from him. “It was all in the past. There is nothing we can do about it. I am not asking you to take responsibility for what happened, Caden. I am fine, and I am happily living on my own while pursuing my dream.” I answered with confidence and with a smile, but deep inside, I was hurting. “We were both drunk, and it was fine. I am not blaming you if that’s what you are worried about.”

“I am not worried, Giselle. I’m back, and I want to get what is mine.”

I looked at him in the eyes, baffled at what he meant by those words. And then the realization came to me: if he already knew. But that was insane! I just tested positive for pregnancy this morning, and I haven’t told anyone about it yet! Even my best friend, Madelyn!

“I have no idea what you are talking about, Caden. There is nothing here that is yours.” I scowled at him as anger rose in my chest. “You didn’t show up yourself for a whole month after what happened, and now you are telling me you want something from me? Don’t make me laugh, please.”

But Caden’s green eyes darkened as he leaned over the table and gazed at me intensely in the eyes. I felt like my heart skipped a beat. He was so handsome when he was so serious like this, but I had to focus and keep in mind that I shouldn’t let myself be deceived by his striking looks.

“I can smell it from here, Giselle. I can feel that small life forming inside you, and I know that baby is mine,” he growled so low that only I could hear. It sent shivers down my skin, making me gasp at what I heard.

I stared at him, not blinking.

“I have to go now,” I said with panic in my voice, and I stood violently away from the table. I was at the front door when I stopped after two men suddenly appeared and blocked my way out of the restaurant, making me more terrified.

“There is nowhere for you to run, Giselle Sidney. You have to come with me,” Caden calmly uttered as he stepped closer, pulling me against him.