Page 48 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

The events of the previous night played through his mind, bringing a smile to his face. He turned his head slightly, drinking in the sight of her peaceful expression as she slept.

He'd been with women before, but nothing compared to what he'd experienced with Wren. It wasn't just the physical pleasure—although that had been incredible.

There was an emotional connection, a sense of rightness that he'd never felt before. The wolf inside him practically purred with contentment.

Careful not to disturb her, Articus slipped out of bed. He padded quietly to the kitchen, intent on surprising Wren with breakfast in bed. As he worked, whisking eggs and brewing coffee, he found himself humming softly.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this... happy.

The sound of footsteps made him look up. Wren stood in the doorway, wearing one of his t-shirts that hung almost to her knees. Her hair was tousled from sleep, and she blinked at him owlishly, a shy smile playing on her lips.

"Good morning," Articus said, his voice warm. "I was going to bring you breakfast in bed or breakfast on the couch."

Wren's smile widened as she padded over to him. "This is nice too," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest.

Articus enfolded her in his embrace, breathing in her scent. They stood like that for a long moment, simply enjoyingeach other's presence. Finally, Articus pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Hungry?"

They ate at the kitchen island, talking softly about nothing in particular. Articus found himself captivated by the way Wren's eyes crinkled when she laughed, the graceful movement of her hands as she gestured. Every little detail seemed precious.

As they cleared the dishes, Articus broached the subject that had been on his mind. "I was thinking," he began, trying to keep his tone casual, "maybe we could go out tonight? There's a nice restaurant in town I think you'd like."

Wren's eyes lit up. "I'd love that," she said, then hesitated. "But... I don't really have anything to wear to a nice restaurant."

Articus grinned. "Well, I think we can fix that. How about we go shopping this afternoon?"

And so, their first official date was set.

The shopping trip turned out to be an adventure in itself. Articus, used to the efficiency of having his clothes tailored or ordered online, found himself bemused by the process of browsing through racks of dresses. Wren, on the other hand, approached each store with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"I've never had so many choices before," she admitted as they entered yet another boutique. "It's a little overwhelming."

Articus squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Take your time. We'll find something perfect."

In the end, they settled on a deep green dress that brought out the flecks of gold in Wren's eyes. When she emerged from the dressing room, Articus felt his breath catch in his throat. She looked stunning.

"Well?" Wren asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice as she smoothed down the fabric. "What do you think?"

Articus swallowed hard, fighting the urge to pull her into his arms right there in the store. "You look beautiful," he said simply, his voice rougher than he intended.

A blush crept up Wren's cheeks, and she ducked her head, pleased. "Thank you," she murmured.

As they left the store, Articus couldn't help but notice the admiring glances Wren received. A possessive growl threatened to escape him, but he tamped it down. Wren wasn't a possession to be guarded, he reminded himself. She was her own person, strong and capable.

Yet she was his as well.

That evening, as they sat across from each other in the softly lit restaurant, Articus found himself captivated anew. Wren's eyes sparkled as she took in the elegant decor, the pristine white tablecloths, the crystal glasses catching the light.

"I've never been anywhere like this before," she confessed, her voice low as if sharing a secret.

Articus reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "I'm glad I get to share it with you," he said softly.

As they ate, they talked about everything and nothing. Articus told her about his childhood, growing up as the Alpha's son. "It wasn't all bad," he said, twirling pasta around his fork. "But there was always this awareness that one day, I'd be responsible for the entire pack."

Wren nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That must have been hard."

Articus smiled ruefully. "It was. But it also taught me a lot about duty, about putting others first." He paused, meeting hereyes. "It's part of why I was so careful with you at first. I didn't want you to feel pressured because of who I am."

Wren's gaze softened. She squeezed his hand gently. "I'm glad you were. It gave me time to see the real you, not just the Alpha."

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