Alpha, This Baby Isn’t Yours

Chapter 4 One Last Time

He crossed the room and bent to kiss me. I braced my hands against his shoulders, intending to push him away, but my fingers slowly tightened around his shirt instead.

At the time, I told myself it would be the last time.

Later, he pulled the covers over me. His palm rested on my shoulder for a moment. I turned toward him, but he was already looking at the suitcase beside the bed.

"Can you manage all of that when you leave tomorrow?"

I said I could. Reassured, he got up and went back to the east wing.

The next morning, I went to his study to finalize my withdrawal from the pack. Adrian reached the last page and asked why I wasn't moving into the apartment Luke had arranged.

I told him I wanted to live in another city. He asked no more questions. He signed the document and pushed it toward me.

"Contact me if you need anything."

I lowered my eyes as I put it away.

Then he reached out and brushed a speck of paper from my shoulder. Almost by instinct, I turned my face toward him, waiting for him to kiss my forehead.

But his hand had already fallen away.

I placed my key card on the desk and smiled. "I hope you and Miss Vale will be very happy."

That afternoon, the staff in the east wing were busy replacing the curtains. As I pulled my suitcase through the foyer, I heard Adrian upstairs, asking Lucienne if she liked the new fireplace he had ordered.

I didn't slow down.

But even after I got into the car, my palm still held the curved shape of the key card I had been clutching.

3 months later, on the evening after I ran into Adrian outside the clinic, the bakery beneath my Greyhaven apartment had already closed. Martha Bell saw me come in and handed me the 2 loaves she had saved, then asked if I was feeling unwell.

I said I was only tired, thanked her, and went upstairs.

My husband was away on a restoration project and wouldn't return for a few days. Before leaving, he had asked Martha to look in on me. I didn't mention seeing Adrian. I hung up my coat, sat down, and ate half a piece of bread.

My phone chimed.

Luke had sent me the time and address for the paternity test and asked if I could attend. I replied that I could, then packed my identification and prenatal records into my purse. As I zipped it shut, I remembered the examination slip still folded in my pocket and tucked it inside as well.

2 days later, I arrived at the clinic at the appointed time. Lucienne was already in the waiting area. She carried a new crocodile-leather bag, and at her ears glittered the diamond set that had sat on the top shelf of Adrian's gift cabinet.

The exhaustion she had worn 3 months earlier was now concealed beneath impeccable makeup.

I walked over and greeted her. She didn't respond. Her gaze dropped to my stomach before shifting to Luke.

"Didn't you say she always knew her place?"

Luke pulled out a chair for me. "That's why I've asked Miss Reed here today, so we can settle this matter."

My husband's sample had already been sent from a collection site near his project. Luke brought Adrian's authorization documents, and the nurse registered both comparisons.

Lucienne demanded to see my prenatal records. I handed them over. She flipped to the last page and paused at the emergency contact section.

"So you really did put down a human's name."

I didn't explain.

She set the booklet back on the table, one corner landing in a drop of water. I dried it with a tissue, then followed the nurse into the collection room.

The waiting area was empty when I emerged. I put away my things and walked outside, only to find Adrian standing beside the clinic steps.

He was turning the wolf-head ring around his finger. At the sound of my footsteps, he raised his eyes to me.