Complicated Heart
1218 Words
"Bloody hell!"
Edith sat frozen on the sofa, her wide eyes fixed on the wolf standing gallantly on all fours. Its fur was a deep brown—just as she had seen it the night before. But what truly unsettled her was its eyes. They were the exact same shade as Seth’s.
This must be a dream. It had to be.
To prove it, Edith slapped her cheek. Hard. A sharp sting shot through her skin, leaving a faint redness on her pale face. Her head spun. The room around her blurred, objects twisting and swaying as if she were trapped inside a whirlpool. She fought to keep her eyes open, but it was no use. Her grip on the sofa loosened as the darkness consumed her.
***
When Edith awoke, an intense warmth enveloped her hands. Slowly, she blinked, adjusting to the soft glow of the room. She turned her head—and there he was.
Seth sat slumped in a chair beside her, fast asleep, his large hands cradling hers.
Without thinking, Edith reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against his cheek.
"If only you were different... maybe I wouldn't hate you."
Seth stirred at her touch. His dark lashes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, a flicker of something raw crossed his face. Then, his gaze met hers.
Edith's expression hardened. "I want my hands back," she said, her voice low and unwavering.
Seth hesitated before letting go. "Sorry," he muttered, sitting up straighter and diverting his attention elsewhere. He scanned the room, landing on a tray of food placed on the table. "Are you hungry?"
Edith sat up slowly, shaking her head in silence.
Seth studied her carefully, watching every subtle movement, every flicker of emotion on her face. "How do you feel, Edith?"
She let out a breath, then met his gaze. "What do you mean—after seeing you covered in fur?"
Seth exhaled heavily. His pulse pounded in his ears. It was the same anxious, exhilarating sensation he'd felt when he had watched her take the podium to run for Student Council President. A hopeful, maddening desire for her to acknowledge him.
"Yeah. I want to know what you think."
Edith tilted her head slightly. "Surprised, for starters."
"And then?"
She scoffed bitterly. "What, are you going to eat me when you get hungry? Because I’ve already given up, Seth. I have no family. My school life is a complete disaster. And now, to top it all off, I’m pregnant. And the father? Oh, right, it’s the person I bloody despise. Brilliant. Just perfect, isn’t it?"
"No. Don’t say that."
Seth watched as tears slid down her cheeks. He hated this. He hated seeing her so broken—hated that he was the reason for it. He was used to intimidating others, used to being in control. But this… this was different. This was something he couldn't manipulate, something he couldn’t fight his way out of.
He clenched his fists. "Listen to me, Edith. I’m not going to do what you think. This… this thing with the wolves—it’s more complicated than you realise."
"Then explain it to me, Seth."
His jaw tightened. "I’m the future Alpha. An Alpha needs a mate for life. And I’ve been imprinted on you. I can’t hurt you, and I sure as hell can’t leave you. If I did, I’d be weakened—and that puts my entire pack at risk."
Edith let out a hollow laugh. "So I’m just a tool, then. A f*****g necessity."
Seth’s patience snapped. "I haven’t bloody finished talking!" His voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade.
Edith flinched, her back pressing into the headboard. She eyed him warily, her body tense. The realisation hit Seth like a punch to the gut—she was terrified of him.
That primal, animalistic part of him stirred, demanding he assert his dominance. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Are you afraid of me, Edith? Didn’t you just say you’d given up?" His voice was low, commanding. "Stand up."
Edith didn’t move. Not even a twitch.
"I said, stand up."
This time, she obeyed, albeit shakily. Her fingers trembled at her sides, her skin damp with cold sweat.
Seth closed the distance between them. Gently, he placed his hands on either side of her neck, his thumbs brushing against her jaw. He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.
"You’re not a tool," he whispered. "The imprint didn’t just bond us—it made me fall in love with you."
Then, without warning, he kissed her.
Seth had wanted this for so long. The moment their lips met, it was like something inside him snapped. Desire, fierce and unrelenting, coursed through his veins. He deepened the kiss, his hands sliding down her body as he pressed her against the wall.
Edith didn’t resist. In fact, she kissed him back—her soft lips parting, her body yielding. It drove him insane.
His fingers found the zipper of her dress.
"Please… don’t," she whispered.
The words hit him like a slap.
Seth immediately pulled back, his breathing ragged. He clenched his jaw, cursing himself. "s**t. I—I’m sorry. I lost control."
Edith wrapped her arms around herself, looking away. "The more I hate you, the more I can’t seem to escape you, Seth. I don’t even know who I am anymore. This is driving me f*****g crazy."
Seth knew exactly how she felt. He wanted her—badly. But not like this. Not when she was still caught between resentment and desire.
He stepped back, giving her space. "We should go," he said finally. "The doctor’s expecting us."
At the clinic, Edith lay on a gurney as the machine scanned her belly. The doctor studied the screen, nodding thoughtfully.
"The foetus is already fourteen days old by wolf standards, but by human development, it’s equivalent to nine weeks."
Edith frowned. "But I don’t look pregnant. I haven’t had my period, but my stomach isn’t growing."
The doctor removed the device and sat at her desk. "It’s a rare case. Normally, a werewolf pregnancy is shorter than a human one. But in your case, the gestation period is balancing between both, making it longer."
"Is the baby healthy?" Seth asked.
"Perfectly. Heartbeat’s strong. Any symptoms?"
"She’s been vomiting for days," Seth said. "And—oddly—she only feels better when she’s near me."
The doctor smiled knowingly. "That’s normal. The foetus is already bonded to its father. Its presence neutralises nausea. Also—" she glanced at Edith "—s*x should be slow and careful, considering the foetus’s early stage."
"We won’t—!" Edith started, but Seth cut in smoothly. "Thank you, Doctor Ashley."
The drive home was silent, both lost in thought.
Then, at the same time—
"I—"
They both stopped.
Seth chuckled. "You first."
"No, you go."
Seth exhaled. "I won’t touch you again unless you want me to."
Edith hesitated. "Actually… I want to fix this. Between us."
Seth immediately pulled the car over. He turned to her, eyes burning with something unreadable.
For a long moment, they simply stared at each other.
Then, Seth unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned in close, and murmured, "I want to make something clear…"
- Writer
