My Alpha Baby daddy can’t let me go

Chapter 8

Leon’s POV

The elevator pinged softly as it reached the penthouse level, and I stepped out into the luxurious open-plan space, the weight of the shopping bags cutting into my fingers. I had made one final stop at the high-end jewelry store, selecting the exact diamond set Chloe had been admiring for months… elegant earrings, a matching necklace, and a delicate bracelet that caught every light like stars. The bags felt heavier than they should, as if they carried more than just luxury.

A maid approached me immediately, her steps quick and deferential. “Alpha, let me take those for you.”

I shook my head. “No need. Where is she?”

“She’s in the bedroom area, I think. She asked not to be disturbed earlier. She seemed… a little upset.”

I nodded and made my way down the hallway, my shoes silent on the polished floors. I pushed open the door to the master bedroom. The cool blast of air-conditioning hit my face like a slap, a sharp contrast to the lingering city heat outside. I placed the bags carefully on the vanity table and shrugged off my jacket, draping it over the back of a chair. The room was quiet and empty. Through the wide glass doors leading to the private balcony, I could hear the gentle splash of water and the faint clink of glass.

I removed my wristwatch, set it beside the bags, and walked outside. The balcony was bathed in soft ambient lighting, and the infinity pool glowed with underwater lights that made the water shimmer like liquid sapphire. The city skyline stretched endlessly beyond the glass railing… a vast sea of glittering lights that usually made me feel invincible. Tonight, it felt distant and indifferent.

There she was, neck-deep in the warm water, her dark hair slicked back from her face, a glass of deep red wine cradled elegantly in her hand. The soft glow from the pool lights danced across her wet skin, highlighting the elegant lines of her shoulders and collarbone.

“You finally came,” Chloe said. Her voice carried a clear edge of disappointment and exhaustion as she turned slowly to face me. Water rippled around her. “Where were you all day, Leon? I’ve been waiting for you. You didn’t come home last night either. Why?”

I stared out at the glittering city skyline, avoiding her gaze. The truth burned like acid on my tongue…that I had gone to the hospital to verify the doctor’s devastating words, that Summer had never aborted our child, that she was still carrying our child and had vanished without a trace. Telling Chloe would break her completely.

“I had a business meeting,” I replied, keeping my tone carefully even.

She turned abruptly in the water, eyebrows raised sharply. The sudden movement sent small waves lapping against the edges of the pool. “What kind of meeting?”

“Pack stuff. I was finalizing a deal with one of the neighboring packs. Nothing major.” I slipped my hands into my pockets and finally forced myself to meet her eyes. “You’ve never really been interested in wolf politics anyway. I lost track of time. I’m sorry. But I’m here now… and I got you some gifts. I think you’ll like them.”

Her expression softened almost instantly. A bright, genuine smile spread across her face as she took another slow sip of wine, watching me carefully over the rim of the glass. She gave it a light, elegant twirl, the red liquid catching the light like blood, before setting it down gently on the pool’s edge.

“Come join me,” she beckoned, biting her lower lip in that seductive way she knew always worked on me.

I shook my head. “Not tonight. My legs are killing me and I’m exhausted. All I want right now is to rest.”

“Nonsense,” she said, her tone playful but with a stubborn undercurrent. She floated a little closer, the water glistening on her skin. “You left me alone in this huge penthouse last night and then disappeared all day for some ‘business meeting.’ Do you know how worried I was? The least you can do is swim with me… please?”

I hesitated, knowing that refusing would likely lead to tears or an argument I simply didn’t have the energy for tonight. The city lights reflected in her hopeful eyes, and for a moment I felt the crushing weight of everything pressing down on me.