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ARIA’s POV….

“Raymond! Slower please…” I tried to get his name out to be as audible as possible as we hit climax, my vision as foggy as possible as he took his head out of my neck, our gasps filling the room as we both crashed by each other, our hearts— or maybe just mine— beating extremely fast.

I gulped as I gently put my hand to my neck, caressing his mark. The mark signified our bond. As I closed my eyes, relishing in the warmth from our moment just now, unable to believe I’d just been marked by my Alpha, his icy voice shot through.

“Our nominal mate contract ends in three months.” When he spoke, so coldly, without an ounce of emotion, it felt like my breath had been caught in my throat.

I fiddled with the sheets, waiting for him to say something, anything other than what he’d already said, but no other words left his lips. 

“Ra—“ I tried to get the words out, but they failed me, leaving me with no other option but to cling on to denial.

He looked so calm that you wouldn’t have guessed we’d been in each others’ arms earlier, moaning in pleasure as we gave each other orgasms before he marked me.

Three years ago, Raymond and I had reached an agreement. I became his agent Luna so that he could solidify his position in the Alpha council and also become his assistant, pushing through professional boundaries with him. In return, he’d agreed to pay off my family’s debts and three years ago, that had been all I ever really wanted.

“This is just a transaction, Aria. A mutually beneficial agreement. I hope you always remember that.” As I recalled his words, I felt a knot form in my stomach as I clenched my fists, doing my best to fight the tears that were now threatening to stream down my cheeks.

It was always supposed to remain a mere transaction— until I’d fallen in love with him, so deep that I wasn’t sure I could ever be pulled out of it.

“I love you, Aria. This— what we have is more than just an agreement. You are my mate. I want you to be mine, to be more than just my Agent Luna. I want you to be MY Luna. You are mine.” Many times, I’d even fantasized about the day he would fall in love with me or at least start to, but as it stood, I would probably not get to see that day.

My wolf kicked within me.

“Raymond, I was wondering...” the words finally left my lips as I struggled to breathe. I took a deep inhale as I tried to sound as coaxing as possible. “It’s your birthday tomorrow. Can we spend it together? I’ll prepare you—“ my words trailed off the moment I felt his hand on my bare skin, pulling me closer to himself, so close I could feel his hot breath that betrayed his cold expression on my skin, causing the hairs on my skin to stand as my wolf jumped within me.

“Do not try to change whatever this is, Aria.” He paused, probably to check if he was passing his message across properly. His tone, as mocking as possible, he continued. “Nominal mates, a contractual couple, and bed partners— that’s all.” He made sure to emphasize on the last part and it was so hard on me it felt like a bulldozer had just been dropped on me.

“Did you love at all— even once— all these years?” I asked again, my throat so dry every word that came out of my mouth hurt.

Not uttering a single response, he pushed me aside as he got off the bed, grabbing his clothes as he threw them on, ignoring eye contact with me like he would contract a disease if he did.

“If you don’t,” my voice started to trail off as the tears started to push even more. “If you don’t, why does it seem like I’m the only woman you care about every time we make love? Every time I feel your touch, it feels far from just a contractual relationship. Every moment you’re buried inside of me, your hands moving around my body— it feels real, Alpha Raymond. It still does.”

Finally, he turned to me, but his expression showed off how much disgust he felt from my words.

“It was just and will always be just a contract, Aria.” He looked at me, like he was deliberating saying the next words, but then, he went ahead and just said it. “She’s back.”

Casually slipping out some money from his pocket as he dropped it on the table, he passed me one more unreadable expression before leaving.

She’s back. Two words. Two words that shattered me to the very core.

She was his ex-girlfriend. I was her replacement. She was the first person he loved and many times, in his dreams, I’d heard him call out to her with so much emotional depth you’d never believe the stoic expression he carried around.

I pushed myself to the table where he’d dropped the contraceptive pill as with a growing knot in my stomach and throat, I swallowed it, tears streaming down my cheeks as I held on tighter to the sheets that had been witness to the love we’d made and his mark on me.

I suddenly felt my senses heighten, my heart beating even faster as I felt a strange movement inside of me. My insides started to turn as next thing I knew, it came all the way up to my throat.

I got out of bed, my steps quickening with each foot I put forward as I turned on the tap in the sink, letting it all out as I coughed, feeling weaker by the passing seconds. 

“Increased breast size, feeling dizzy almost every time, weakness, weird cravings, delayed menstrual cycle—“ my heart ceased to beat as the realization dawned on me. 

“No, no. It’s not possible.” I clung on to denial as I rambled through my things in the bathroom, looking for the pregnancy test kit I knew I had. I took in a sharp breath as I did the needful, waiting for it to show my results, my fate halting.

After a few minutes, I took the test and staring at it, I felt my heart sink into my stomach as the double lines glared at me.

I gulped as I held on even more to the sink.

“I’m—I’m pregnant.”