CHAPTERFOUR
1049 Words
Six months later
Luke’s pov
“And I need to attend this meeting because..?”
I sighed heavily.
I didn’t want to be there. In fact, I didn’t want to be here.
I wanted to be by myself, in our cabin.
Our makeshift cabin.
My chest tightened as my mind went back to the cabin, to our last night together.
I shake it off immediately. There’s no going back now, the deed has been done.
“You need to be there, Alpha Luke, it’s a gathering of Alphas and refusal of this invitation is a direct disrespect to the Lycan king.” Adolfo, my father’s senior adviser, tried to educate me.
“While your father was alive, he attended each meeting with enthusiasm. It’s an honor being in the presence of the Lycan king.”
“He’s a tyrant, a menace. The only reason he’s still on the throne is because no one is bold enough to challenge him…”
Adolfo immediately slapped a hand over my mouth, his eyes wide like I had just talked about committing treason.
“The walls have ears Alpha Luke, do you want to put the lives of your pack in danger?”
I rolled my eyes and took his palm off my mouth.
“I never asked for this…” I threw my hands in the air. “I never wanted to be Alpha if it wasn’t with the one I wanted….”
“Luke…”
“And I made that clear. But my father and Derek Burnt had other plans. Now I’m left with—”
“Left with what?” Roses entered my chambers, her voice as pleasant and charming as can be.
I felt my wolf stir in anger, her voice always angered him.
“Please Roses, not today.” I pinched the bridge of my noise.
“Certainly it’s not today, and it wasn’t yesterday or the day before that….” Roses eyes narrowed as she eyed me.
“Tell me, Alpha, when exactly are you going to have my time? Is it until I’m old and grey? Or until my womb can’t produce an heir anymore.”
I stroked the nape of my neck, already feeling anger building inside me.
“We’ve gone to every healer around the borders and beyond. We are both perfectly fine, and when the moon goddess wants to bless us, she will bless you.”
“The moon goddess isn’t going to force you to f**k me Luke!” She yelled.
Adolfo gasped. “Oh, my moons.”
“Roses please….” I tried to reason with her but she wouldn’t listen.
It’s something different everyday with her.
I was getting fed up.
“You know I try my best….its not just our time.”
“Oh, spare me the rubbish!” She spat as her hands went to her hips.
I wasn’t going to deal with this so early in the morning.
“Adolfo ready the men and my horse, looks like I’ll be attending that meeting after all.”
I ordered Adolfo and he obeyed immediately.
I turned to leave, ignoring Roses rude comments.
“That’s right, turn around and leave like you always do. Walk away!”
Her saying those things don’t hurt me, losing the person I wanted the most didn’t hurt that much either.
What hurt me was the fact that father isn’t alive to see the terrible decision he made, leaving me to carry this burden on my own.
————-
We weren’t supposed to stop.
The Lycan king’s third territory in downdark lay less than a mile ahead. I could already feel the weight of his aura humming beneath my skin.
I kept telling myself it was one meeting, in and out, to try and calm my raging wolf.
Once we were a few feet into the border my eyes caught a bar’s light cutting through the dusk like a bad idea.
“Alpha Luke, don’t even think about it.” Adolfo warned me immediately as if reading my mind.
“It’s just one drink Adolfo, and besides our men need it, they’re tired.” I diverted my horse and the rest followed. “The meeting doesn’t start for another hour, relax.”
Once we pushed through the wooden doors the first thing to hit my nose was the smell of alcohol.
I exhaled as I felt my nerves relax, after dealing with someone like Roses I needed something to take the edge off.
Then my wolf stirred.
But it wasn't out of restlessness, it was alert.
I froze mid-step.
Why?
My gaze swept across the room, searching for a threat I don’t even know exists.
That’s when my eyes fell on her.
Just behind the bar.
“Alpha, is everything alright?”
One of my guards asked me but I was too far gone to respond.
I took careful steps forward, my breathing increasing with each breath I took.
The woman is bent slightly, one hand braced on the counter and the other is pressed hard against her stomach like she’s trying to hold herself together.
Her hair is longer, much darker than I remember. And her face is thinner, almost like she hadn’t been eating.
Even though her features had changed greatly I’d still recognize her anywhere.
Matilda.
My wolf slammed against my ribs.
Her. He growled.
She finally lifted her head but our eyes didn’t meet, she closed them in quiet pain.
She looked pale.
She stepped back abruptly, turning away too fast.
I moved on instinct, following her every move, and that’s when I saw it–the not so subtle curve beneath her coat.
I gasped as my wolf roared, feral but with immense certainty.
My breath locked in my throat as the realization landed heavily on me.
Matilda fell pregnant after that night.
And the child…..the child is mine.
Matilda finally pushed herself off the counter and walked out the back door.
“Where are you going?!” Adolfo yelled after me but I couldn’t respond.
My lungs were burning.
For the first time since I became Alpha, I hesitated.
I hesitated because faci
ng her now would change everything…..
I pushed through the crowd of drunken men.
….But letting her go again might destroy me.
- Writer
