The Alpha's Eternal Ache

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

EDWARD

It was well past seven when our parents finally bothered to show up. The maid had finished her work and left a while ago, which was just as well. I didn’t want anyone else in the room. I wanted Chloe right where she was: curled up against me, her head resting on my chest while I traced slow circles on her back.

​I could feel her heart beating against mine. It was quiet, the kind of comfortable silence I’d been craving since the moment I realized she was mine.

​"Does it still hurt?" I asked, my voice barely a murmur.

​"It continues to hurt until I'm done for the month," she replied. I hummed, feeling a surge of protective instinct. "Only the last day seems to be painless for me," she added.

​"And you cry every time?" I was curious. I wanted to know every detail of her life, every small pain and joy. I wanted to stay in this moment forever—the first time we had been this close, this intimate.

​"Sort of. But I'm good at hiding the tears sometimes," she said, still staring at the wall.

​"So why didn't you hide them this time?"

​"I don't know. Maybe it was because of you," she teased, and I could hear the slight lift in her voice. "Maybe I wanted you to feel sorry for me. Or maybe I wanted you to empty your bank account on junk food for me."

​I couldn't help but smile. "I would gladly do that for you. Now I know when the next one will be. It's always twenty-eight days for humans, isn't it?"

​"Yes. How did you know that? Is it different for your kind?"

​It was the first time she’d asked about what I am since I shifted for her. "I know everything about humans, love. And it is different for werewolves, but there's nothing for you to worry about." I didn't see the point in explaining the complexities of a wolf's cycle; it wouldn't change her reality.

​I looked down at her. "Should I kiss your stomach to make the pain lessen?"

​She bolted upright, looking at me like I’d grown a second head. Before she could process that, I decided to push a little further.

​"You know I can make it stop completely? Well, maybe not completely, but for a while." She stayed silent, her eyes asking how. "If we have s*x now, you won't have to go through this pain next month, as you would already be with my child."

​Chloe let out a loud, shocked cough, immediately clutching her stomach as the motion flared her pain.

​"Ed!" she yelled.

​I shrugged. I meant every word, though a part of me realized that a pregnancy during her school years would be a "shame" in the human world. I didn't care about that, but I cared about her.

​"You seem to be in a lot more pain when you cough or talk. Lie back down, love," I said. I caught the way her cheeks flushed at the word love. She’d done that a few times tonight. I noted it but kept quiet as she settled back against me.

​"I like your room," she whispered.

​"You're welcome here anytime. Even though you didn't show me yours the first day."

​A moment later, her phone buzzed. "Don't answer it," I commanded.

​"It's my dad."

​"I'll answer it for you and tell him you're ill. Just stay here and rest." The ringing stopped, but then my own phone lit up. My mother.

​I picked up and didn't give her a chance to argue. "Tell him she's ill. Whatever he has to say can wait until she feels better." I hung up.

​"What's wrong?" Chloe asked, seeing the tension in my face.

​"Mother said your father has something to say to you. I told her you're unwell."

​Chloe sighed heavily. "This isn't the first time I've had my period, Ed. And it definitely won't be the last."

​"It can be the last for this year if you let me," I retorted. She gave me a look that was half-annoyed, half-amused.

​"Let me answer his call," she urged. "We can go together if you want and hear what he wants to say."

​I agreed, but only on one condition: I was carrying her. She tried to argue, but I shut it down. I wasn't having her walk down those stairs in pain. I stood up, pulled on a grey top, and swept her off the bed into a bridal carry before she could reach the door.

​"This is the only condition I gave you," I told her as I twisted the doorknob. "Or your father can come up here. You choose."

​She stayed quiet, her silence giving me the win.

​When we got downstairs, the sight of us clearly stunned her father, Ellis. My mother sat beside him, a sly smile playing on her lips. I didn't care what he thought. I walked over to the three-seater couch and set Chloe down with the utmost care.

​"I told you she was unwell," I said, my voice hard.

​"She can't talk a lot either, so what do you want to tell her?"

​Ellis cleared his throat. "I wanted to tell her about the son of one of my business allies. I'd like them to meet, and perhaps things would progress further for them."

​The growl started deep in my chest before I could stop it. "Why should she meet the son of your ally?" I folded my arms, staring him down.

​"You're the son of a businessman," Ellis said. "You know the reason."

​"You want to use her for your business. Isn't your business enough for you? Not to mention my father's. Are you this greedy?"

​"Edward! Stop it!" my mother snapped, but she knew an Alpha doesn't just "stop."

​"If my father's business—which is my business—isn't enough for you, maybe I should take control of it myself," I threatened. Ellis looked like he’d been slapped. He hadn't realized who he was dealing with until that moment.

​"Chloe, you will do exactly as I said," Ellis insisted, trying to regain his authority.

​I smirked. "You would be surprised at the lengths Chloe is willing to go for me. She's not meeting with anyone."

​"Mother! Tell your husband not to get on my nerves," I added as she tried to diffuse the situation. "Chloe is not meeting with anyone."

​I stepped forward and picked her up again.

​"Why are you carrying her? Can't she walk?" Ellis yelled, his face turning red. "Kate, talk to your son! Are they dating or something?"

​I didn't answer. I started back toward the stairs.

​"If she's unwell, why isn't she at the hospital?" he shouted.

​"Don't tell me to calm down, Kate!" I heard him roar at my mother. I stopped mid-step and turned my head, my eyes flashing.

​"Whatever you do, don't you dare raise your voice or your hand at my mother, or else you will regret the very day you were born."

​"She's my wife! I can do anything I want!" Ellis yelled, completely losing his cool.

​"Try it and see. I'm sure she won't take it easy on you either. She's more of an Alpha than you are," I retorted.

​I reached the top of the stairs and looked back down one last time. "And also, I'm here for Chloe. She doesn't need anyone else. Don't let your bloody greed ruin everything."

​I looked at my mother and sent a sharp pulse through our mind-link: Mother, if he dares to lay a finger on you, rip him to pieces. If you can't, I'll gladly do it—for you and for her.

​I felt my mother’s silent giggle through the link. She was fine. I turned the corner and carried Chloe back to the safety of my room.

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