Chapter Four

The

moment I stepped out, the guards waiting by my door led me down the hall. I walked behind them silently, letting my eyes roam as I took in the entire pack house.

As I made my way to the dining room, my mind was a whirl of emotions. The comfort of the guest room, the warm bath, the clean clothes—all of it was so foreign to me. It felt like I had stepped into another world, one that I was not sure I belonged to.

The guards stopped at the entrance of the next hallway, and I stopped behind them. "The dining hall is just down the hall, there."  One of them motioned towards a door some metres away.

"Thank you," I murmured, as the guards turned and left. Taking a shuddering breath, I began my walk down the hallway.

Just as I reached the end of the hallway leading to the dining room, I heard a voice—deep, resonant, and unmistakably authoritative. I recognized it immediately as the Alpha King’s voice. Curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself moving towards the sound, careful to stay hidden in the shadows.

I edged closer to the partially open door and peered inside. The Alpha King was standing by the window, his back to me, staring out into the night. He seemed lost in thought, and as he spoke to the man beside him, his words were filled with a weight that I hadn't expected.

“I need an heir,” he muttered. “This pack needs stability, and an heir would ensure that. But where can I find someone worthy? Someone strong, resilient...”

"You can pick a woman from your pack, Alpha." The other man replied calmly. "I believe every single woman in this pack would fall over themselves in order to be your Luna."

"No, I think not." The Alpha King's voice trailed off, and I could see the tension in his posture. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. “I can’t choose just anyone. It has to be someone who can handle the responsibilities, who understands what it means to lead...”

My heart pounded in my chest. It felt to me as though I was intruding on a personal moment. I had to leave before he discovered that I was eavesdropping.

As I started to turn away from the door, my foot accidentally brushed against a small table, causing a vase to wobble precariously.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion after that.

The vase slid from the table, before hitting the floor with a loud, earsplit crash. My heart leaped into my throat as the noise echoed down the hallway. 

Goddess, no!

“Who’s there?” the Alpha King’s voice barked, sharp and commanding.

Panic surged through me, but I knew I had to act quickly to avoid further suspicion. Gathering myself, I stepped into the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest.

“It’s me,” I called out, my voice trembling slightly. “Aria.”

The Alpha King turned to look at me, his eyes narrowing. He studied me for a long moment, and I felt exposed under his intense gaze. 

“What were you doing at the door?” he asked, his tone icy and suspicious.

I swallowed hard, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart. “I... I lost my way,” I lied, hoping my voice sounded convincing. “I was trying to find the dining room. I just did, I think."

His eyes remained fixed on me, searching for any sign of deceit. The silence stretched, and I feared he wouldn’t believe me. But then, his expression softened ever so slightly.

The Alpha King nodded, his eyes roaming over my body in a way that made me feel exposed and self-conscious. I wondered what he was looking for, what thoughts were running through his mind.

"Come into the dining hall," he ordered.

I walked inside, my steps hesitant but determined. The hall was filled with at least twelve maids and guards, and the man whom the Alpha had been talking to.

"Everyone, leave us," the Alpha King ordered.

The man, the guards and the maids in the room immediately complied, bowing their heads as they filed out of the room in silence. The heavy door closed behind them with a soft thud, leaving me alone with the Alpha King. The silence felt almost deafening, broken only by the crackle of the fireplace and the soft rustle of his clothing as he moved.

"Sit," he commanded, motioning to the chair opposite him.

I complied, feeling the weight of his gaze on me as I did. His eyes were piercing, filled with an intensity that made it hard to look away. As I sat down, he remained standing, watching me closely.

"You said you lost your way," he began, his tone neutral. "But somehow, I doubt that's the whole truth."

I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my composure. "I....I didn't mean to intrude," I stuttered, my voice trembling slightly. "I was just trying to find my way, as I said."

He leaned forward, placing his hands on the back of the chair in front of him. "You seem nervous, Aria. Is there something you're not telling me?"

I quickly shook my head. "N...nothing, Alpha."

"Where did you come from?" He asked. "I have a feeling you didn't come from Dendrick pack. I have a stronger feeling that you're hiding from something, or someone."

"I am not." I hastily replied. "I promise, I am not."

"You're hiding something." His eyes roamed over my body. "What is it?"

I shook my head quickly, though my heart was pounding. "Nothing, Alpha. I'm just... overwhelmed. Everything here is so different from what I'm used to."

He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded slowly. Leaning forward, he towered over me as he spoke. "Very well. You will be safe here. But If I find that you are hiding something from me, you are very much going to regret it, Aria."

I nodded, feeling a cold shiver run down my spine at his words. "I understand."

He straightened, leaning away from me. Then he turned and sat on the chair opposite me. "You will be safe here," he repeated. 

I nodded again, my mind racing. I needed to be careful, to navigate this new situation with caution. The Alpha King was clearly powerful, and I couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

"Now, eat," he ordered, gesturing to the food on the table. "You look like you haven't had a proper meal in weeks."

I hesitated, then picked up a piece of bread, nibbling on it cautiously. The flavors were rich and comforting, and I felt myself relaxing slightly.

What would this Alpha do if he found out that I was pregnant, that I was keeping the knowledge of my baby a secret?

And that was when a plan hit me.

I froze with my fork halfway towards my mouth. The plan was very much as sinister as it was brilliant. Of course!

Slowly dropping my fork on my plate, I turned to the Alpha. My gaze met his and held it, even though my heart was beating with all the intensity of a tribal drum.

I stood to my feet, then I crossed over to where he sat and slowly straddled his legs.

"What are you doing?" He asked, jerking forward. "This shouldn't—"

"Relax, Alpha." I murmured, gently easing him back into the chair.

I watched the Alpha's eyes fill with hesitation. Then I watched them slowly darken with desire, felt his hands slide up my thighs. This is it, I thought to myself. I would ensnare this man with my pregnancy.

And pushing every other thought aside, I leaned down and claimed his lips in mine.