PREGNANT WITH THE ALPHA'S SON

ISABELLA POV A soft humming left my mouth as I settled into the warmth beside me, the scent of pine and musk hanging heavy in the air. The arms that encircled my waist were firm, the breathing rate smooth and hypnotic, bringing on a sense of security. But when awareness began to trickle in, something felt amiss. The warmth at my back was unrecognizable, as was the hard, muscled chest my fingers absently stroked over. My eyes fluttered open. And then I froze. My eyes fell on the sleeping man next to me, his sharp jawline softened in sleep, dark hair dishevelled, and lips parted slightly. Alpha Kaden. Fuck. My stomach plummeted. My heart was racing so fast I could feel it in my throat. This couldn’t be happening. I had to be dreaming. I forced myself to breathe as glimpses of the previous night flooded me like a tsunami. Last night… The exhaustion of the day's never-ending tasks had weighed heavily on my shoulders, but I’d still ventured into the woods, to my hidden sanctuary, a hidden lake in the surrounding woods. It was the only place where I felt free, where I could put aside my place in the pack, and forget that I was nothing more than an omega, overlooked and disregarded. I had peeled off my clothes, letting the cold of the night air caress my skin before I’d submerged myself in the water's touch. The moon was high above, casting a silver glow upon the lake as I shut my eyes and softly hummed. The music had sounded softly, blending with the sound of rustling leaves and distant howls of wolves. But then something changed. A shiver tickled the back of my neck, a feeling, a shift in the air. I’d turned around, water splashing about me. And there he was. Alpha Kaden. His massive, towering body was dimly lit by the moon, yet I didn’t have to see all of it in order to know him. I’d spent years with this pack, years of knowing who he was but no acknowledgement on his part. Yet his eyes were on me then, filled with something dark and wanton. Lust. I’d been frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. "I didn't expect anyone to be here," his voice had rumbled through the still night, deep and quiet. He had stepped closer to the water's edge, his need burning hotter in his eyes. My mouth was parched. "This place… it is mine." His lips had curled into something that was almost, but not quite, a smile. "Is that so?" I should have turned away. I should have slipped underwater, hidden myself from his hungry gaze. But i had not. Because I’d had seen the way he’d looked at me. As if I were something precious. Something to be desired. That was what gave me the audacity. And when he had ripped off his shirt, revealing the tight, defined muscles beneath, I hadn’t been able to look away. "You should leave," I’d said softly, my voice betraying my uncertainty. And instead of this, he had prowled into the water. The distance between us had vanished in two seconds, and then his fingers had found my skin, gliding fire with each caress. His mouth had followed, claiming mine with a hunger that left me breathless. I’d melted. I’d surrendered. And when he'd whispered against my lips, "Come spend the night with me," I hadn't answered no. Now… I swallowed the lump in my throat, panic building swiftly. What had I done? My hands trembled as I carefully removed his arm from across me and moved away from the bed. I rushed to grab my clothes, shoving them on with trembling fingers. A low grunt froze me in place, my heart skipping as Kaden turned over slightly. My eyes flicked to his face. He didn’t move. Releasing a shuddering, slow breath, I snuck towards the door. I hesitated for a second, glancing back over my shoulder at him for the last time. Then, I slipped out, shutting the door softly behind me. Outside, the cold in the air hit my skin. I pulled my cloak tighter around myself, making myself walk and breathe normally. My feet carried me towards the omega quarters, my mind whirling. No one can know. Whatever happened last night, never happened. ———- I’d almost convinced myself to forget about that night. Weeks had passed, and I’d kept my head down, gliding through the pack house like a phantom. No one mouthed behind my back, no accusing fingers pointed in my direction, no one spat, ‘w***e!’ at me in the hallways. It was as if nothing had happened, and for that, I was grateful. But I was hypersensitive to Alpha Kaden now. Before, he had simply been a background figure in my life, strong, out of reach, far from the sort of existence an omega like myself would ever know. But now, he was everywhere. If I heard him talking at a distance, I’d freeze in my tracks. If I saw him across the way, I’d take the longer route around, out of my path to steer clear of any possible encounter. And he had also started noticing me. When I went past a room, mop or broom in hand, I could feel the weight of his attention. Sometimes, when I moved through the pack house, my eyes would involuntarily lift, only to find him already looking at me. He didn't turn away. He didn't pretend to see me. And that frightened me. I cursed him for being so obvious. If he was careful, he would ruin me. But despite the stolen looks, he never approached me. He never cornered me, never tried to talk to me. And for that, as well, I was grateful. Until today. I stood in line in the bustling kitchen, tightly gripping my hands together in front of me. There was a meeting between the Alpha and his guests, and I’d been chosen to serve them food and drinks. My stomach rebelled at even the thought of being in the same room with him. I swallowed. It doesn't matter. Don't look at him. Serve the farthest guest, keep your head down, and leave. I was given a tray of refreshments, the weight steadying me. I breathed in deeply and trailed behind the rest of the omegas up to the great meeting hall. The moment I stepped inside, I sucked in a breath. Alpha Kaden sat at the head of the vast table, flanked by high-ranked wolves and visiting Alphas, focused on whatever they were debating. His presence dominated the room with ease, his face unreadable, his power suffocating. And then, our eyes met. There was a shock that ran through me. It lasted only a moment before I dropped my eyes. Just serve and get out, I reminded myself. I lagged behind the rest of the omegas, setting plates and pouring glasses, as quickly as I could without being seen. The conversation at the table was background noise to me, the conversation of alliances, border disputes, and trade agreements. Then, my hands paused. There was one plate left on my tray. And it was for Alpha Kaden. Panic arose, but I pushed it down. I couldn’t make a scene. I’d just set the dish down, pour a cup and leave. My legs carried me to his side, and I set the dish before him with steady fingers. My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for the wine and opened it to pour. My hands were trembling harder now. The wine spilt past the glass and spilt onto the table. A sharp gasp left my mouth as the glass tipped over, the dark red liquid seeping into the immaculate white tablecloth. I hadn't even gotten a chance to react before Kaden's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist to keep the bottle still before more could spill. The moment his skin had touched mine, time stopped. A spark, hot, alive, flashed up my arm, igniting something deep within me. I caught my breath, my entire body locked in place as everything around me was erased into nothing. His hand on my wrist tightened. His eyes, his face shocked wide, blazed into mine. Something was happening. Something impossible. The air between us was charged, filled with some invisible force that seemed to pull me to him, my body instinctively reacting to his. My heart pounded against the walls of my chest, my lungs unable to breathe. I knew this feeling. I’d heard of it, and dreamed of it, but never in a thousand years would I have thought I’d experience it in this manner. Kaden's eyes grew dark. His lips opened a fraction, as though he wished to say something, yet was unable to articulate the words. Because he felt it, too. A bond. Not just any bond. A mate bond. I was mated to Alpha Kaden.