Page 40 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

Articus headed inside, his nose twitching at the scent of coffee brewing. To his surprise, he found Wren already in the kitchen, a steaming mug cradled in her hands.

She was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans he must have left out for her, and her hair fell in soft waves around her face. Her delicate features were accentuated by high cheekbones and a small, slightly upturned nose.

His breath caught in his throat.

"Morning," he managed, trying to keep his voice steady. "How are you feeling?"

Wren's eyes flicked up to meet his, and he saw a flicker of... something. Uncertainty? Embarrassment? It was gone before he could place it.

"Better," she said quietly. "Thank you for the clothes."

He nodded, pouring himself a cup of coffee to hide his sudden nervousness. "Listen, Wren, about last night—"

"Can we not?" she interrupted, her tone sharp. Then she sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I'm sorry. I just... I'd rather not talk about it right now."

"Of course," Articus said quickly. "Actually, I was thinking, if you're up for it, maybe I could show you around town today? Give you a better sense of where you are, at least."

Wren hesitated, and for a moment, he thought she would refuse. But then she nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I'd like that," she said softly.

Relief washed over him. "Great," he grinned. "Finish your coffee, and we'll head out."

As they stepped outside, Articus noticed Wren's eyes widen, taking in the lush greenery and neat houses of the White Moon pack lands. It was a far cry from the rougher landscape she was used to.

"It's... prettier than I expected," she admitted with a hint of wonder in her voice.

Articus couldn't help but chuckle. "What, did you think all of us here lived in caves?"

Wren rolled her eyes, but there was no real heat behind it. "No, I just... I guess I never really thought about what it might look like over here."

They started walking, and Articus pointed out various buildings and landmarks. The pack house, a stately building of stone and timber, where official meetings were held. He explained how it wasn't just for bureaucracy but also served as a gathering place for celebrations and community events.

"Every full moon, we have a huge feast there," he told her. "Everyone brings a dish to share, and we eat and dance until dawn. It's a way of strengthening our bonds as a pack."

Wren looked thoughtful. "That sounds... nice, actually. Where I'm from, the full moon was always a time to be on guard. You never knew who might lose control."

Her words made his heart ache, but before he could respond, they were interrupted by a group of children racing past them, laughing and shouting. They were headed for the school, a cheerful building painted in bright colors.

"Education is really important to us," Articus explained as they watched the kids file inside. "We believe that knowledge is power and that every pack member deserves the chance to learn and grow."

Wren nodded slowly. "We had nothing like this where I grew up. Most of us were taught by our parents, and some of the older kids taught younger ones what they knew, but it was hit or miss."

As they continued their walk, Articus found himself hyper-aware of Wren's presence beside him. The way her arm occasionally brushed against his sent little jolts of electricity through his body. He caught himself stealing glances at her profile, admiring the way the sunlight played across her features.

They passed the medical center next, a modern building with large windows and a welcoming entrance. Articus noticed Wren's brow furrow as she took it in.

"What is it?" he asked.

She hesitated before speaking. "It's just... for rogues, if you get hurt or sick, you're pretty much on your own unless you have money or connections. The idea of a whole building dedicated to taking care of people, it's..."

"It's how things should be," Articus said firmly. "Pack means family, and family takes care of each other. We need to do better on the Dark Side as well."

Wren didn't respond, but he saw her nod slightly, lost in thought. He wanted to reach out and squeeze her hand, to offer some comfort, but he held back, not wanting to overstep.

They continued their tour, passing by various shops and businesses. Articus explained how their economy worked, how each pack member contributed according to their skills and abilities, and how they ensured everyone's basic needs were met.

"It's not perfect," he admitted. "We have our disagreements and challenges. But we try to look out for each other, to build something stronger than any one wolf could achieve alone."

At one point, their hands accidentally touched as they were both gesturing, and Articus felt a spark of... something. Wren quickly pulled her hand away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

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