Chapter3
1606 Words
Three weeks into her new life, Sophia stood in the bathroom of her city apartment, staring at three positive pregnancy tests lined up on the counter. Her hands shook as she picked up the fourth test, still in its box. Maybe the others were wrong. Maybe—
Ten minutes later, another pink plus sign appeared.
"This can't be happening," she whispered to her reflection.
Aria, her wolf, was unusually quiet. She'd been quiet since that night with Lucas, occasionally stirring with what felt like contentment.
"You knew," Sophia accused. "You knew that night."
"I felt... something," Aria admitted. "But I didn't know it was this."
A baby. Lucas's baby. A man whose last name she didn't even know, who was probably long gone from the city. She'd been so careful her entire life, and one night of passion had changed everything.
Her phone rang, startling her. Elena, her stepmother.
"Where are you?" Elena's shrill voice demanded without preamble. "Victoria says you've left the pack house."
"I have an apartment in the city now. The divorce is final, Elena."
"You stupid girl! Do you know what you've done? The alliance—"
Sophia hung up. She didn't need to hear about the alliance again. Her father's business would be fine; she'd made sure of that in the divorce settlement.
A knock at her door made her jump. She wasn't expecting anyone. Cautiously, she approached, looking through the peephole.
Alexander.
She considered not answering, but he knocked again, harder.
"I know you're in there, Sophia. We need to talk."
Reluctantly, she opened the door but didn't invite him in. He looked different—tired, his usually perfect hair disheveled, his ice-blue eyes lacking their usual cold confidence.
"What do you want, Alexander?"
"To apologize. To explain."
"There's nothing to explain. You chose Victoria. End of story."
"I made a mistake." He ran a hand through his black hair, a gesture she'd never seen from the always-composed Alpha. "Victoria... she's not who I thought she was."
"That's not my problem anymore."
"Her father's business is bankrupt," he said quickly, as if afraid she'd close the door. "She lied about everything. The connections, the money, all of it. She's been using pack funds to cover her shopping sprees."
Sophia felt a petty satisfaction but kept her face neutral. "And?"
"And I was an i***t. I had everything with you—a true Luna who cared about the pack, who built our community programs, who never asked for anything despite giving everything." His eyes searched hers. "I want you back, Sophia."
Six weeks ago, she would have jumped at those words. Now, they just made her tired.
"No."
"No? Just like that?"
"Just like that." She started to close the door, but he blocked it with his hand.
"Is there someone else?" His eyes flashed with the gold of his wolf. "You smell different."
Panic flared. Could he smell the pregnancy? It was too early, surely.
"My life is no longer your concern," she said firmly. "Leave, Alexander. Don't come back."
"This isn't over," he said, but he stepped back. "You're my mate—"
"I was never your mate," Sophia interrupted. "I was your business arrangement. Now I'm nothing to you. Goodbye."
She closed the door and leaned against it, heart racing. He couldn't know about the pregnancy. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: "Found you."
Her blood ran cold. Lucas? But how? She'd been so careful to leave no trail.
Another text: "Meet me at Café Luna. One hour. We need to talk about that night."
Sophia's hand went to her still-flat stomach. Did he know? How could he?
An hour later, she sat in the corner booth of Café Luna, wearing a loose sweater despite the warm weather. She saw him before he saw her—that familiar broad frame, the dark brown hair with its natural highlights. But when he turned, scanning the café, something was different. The way he held himself was more refined, less wild.
His green eyes found hers, and he smiled—a practiced, charming smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Hello, Sophia."
He slid into the booth across from her, and his scent hit her. Pine and rain, but sharper somehow. More controlled.
"How did you find me?"
"I have my ways. When I want something, I'm very persistent." He leaned forward. "You left quite an impression."
"Lucas, that night was—"
"I'm not Lucas."
The words hung between them like a bomb.
"What?"
"Lucas is my brother. My twin, actually. I'm Nathan Blackstone." His smile turned predatory. "Alexander's older brother. The one he and our father made sure disappeared."
Sophia felt the world tilt. Blackstone. Alexander's brother. But Alexander only had—
"He told everyone I died," Nathan continued conversationally. "Convenient story. Tragic training accident. Meanwhile, I was shipped off to Europe, paid to stay away so Alexander could be Alpha."
"You're lying. You said your name was Lucas."
"No, you assumed I was Lucas. I never corrected you." He pulled out his phone, showing her a photo. Two identical men stood side by side—Nathan and another man who looked exactly like him. "Lucas is our older brother. The true Alpha heir. He's been building an army to take back what's his."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you're the key to everything, Sophia. Alexander's ex-wife, pregnant with a Blackstone heir."
The blood drained from her face. "I'm not—"
"Werewolf senses are quite acute. You're about three weeks along, I'd guess. The timing is perfect, really."
"What do you want?"
Nathan leaned back, studying her. "Originally? Just revenge. Seduce my brother's wife, destroy his marriage. But you'd already done that yourself. Then I thought, why not take it further? Get you pregnant, use the child to claim pack rights."
Sophia felt sick. "You planned this?"
"Oh no, the pregnancy was a happy accident. But I'm nothing if not adaptable." His eyes gleamed. "Here's what's going to happen. You're going to help me destroy Alexander. In return, I'll ensure you and the baby are protected, provided for. You'll want for nothing."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I tell Alexander you're pregnant. How do you think he'll react? His ex-wife, carrying his brother's child? He'll either try to take the baby or eliminate the threat entirely."
"Alexander wouldn't—"
"Wouldn't he? You don't know what he's capable of when his position is threatened. Why do you think I was really sent away?"
Before Sophia could respond, the café door chimed. She looked up and her heart stopped.
Another man walked in, identical to Nathan but different—rougher, wilder, with a presence that made every wolf in the vicinity take notice. His green eyes scanned the room like a predator hunting.
"That," Nathan said quietly, "is Lucas. The real Lucas. And he's been looking for you since that night."
Lucas's eyes found them, and his expression darkened dangerously when he saw his twin.
"Nathan," he growled, approaching their table. "Get away from her."
"Brother," Nathan said pleasantly. "We were just discussing Sophia's situation."
Lucas's eyes moved to Sophia, and his expression softened. "You're the woman from the hotel."
She nodded, unable to speak. The scent of him—the real him—washed over her, and Aria practically purred.
"You're pregnant," Lucas said, not a question but a statement. His eyes flashed with something possessive. "It's mine."
"Technically," Nathan said, "she doesn't know which of us—"
Lucas moved so fast Sophia barely saw it. He had Nathan by the throat, lifting him partially out of the booth.
"You didn't," Lucas growled, his voice barely human.
"Relax," Nathan choked out. "I never touched her. That was all you, brother."
Lucas released him, turning to Sophia. "Is that true? That night, it was me?"
"I thought it was," she whispered. "You said your name was Lucas."
"I did. I am." He shot Nathan a dark look. "My twin has a habit of impersonating me. But your wolf would know the difference."
He held out his hand. "May I?"
Hesitantly, Sophia placed her hand in his. The moment their skin touched, electricity shot through her. Aria howled in recognition.
"It's him," Aria said definitively. "He's the one from that night."
"You need to come with me," Lucas said urgently. "It's not safe here. Alexander is—"
The café door burst open. Alexander stood there, his eyes wild, Victoria beside him.
"Well," Nathan said cheerfully. "The gang's all here."
Alexander's gaze moved from Lucas to Nathan to Sophia, understanding dawning in his eyes.
"You're pregnant," he said, his voice deadly quiet. "With his child."
The café had gone silent. Every human instinctively recognizing the danger, every wolf waiting to see what their Alpha would do.
"Alexander," Sophia started.
"You're coming with me," Alexander said. "Now."
"She's not going anywhere with you," Lucas stepped in front of her protectively.
"She's carrying a Blackstone heir. That makes this pack business."
"She's carrying my heir," Lucas corrected. "And she's under my protection."
"Your protection?" Alexander laughed bitterly. "You've been gone for years, Lucas. You have no power here."
Lucas smiled, cold and dangerous. "Want to bet?"
He whistled, sharp and clear. The café door opened again, and a dozen wolves entered, all clearly fighters, all clearly loyal to Lucas.
"I've been busy," Lucas said simply. "Building what you and father tried to deny me."
The tension was suffocating. Three Blackstone brothers, all with claims to power, all focused on her.
Nathan broke the silence. "Well, Sophia? Who are you leaving with?"
- Writer
