Page 49 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

Articus felt a surge of emotion at her words but held back from expressing it fully. Instead, he lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles.

The week that followed was a whirlwind of activity. Articus found himself constantly amazed by Wren—her strength, her resilience, the way she approached each new experience with a mix of caution and wonder.

They fell into a comfortable rhythm, balancing Articus's duties as Alpha with their desire to spend time together.

Wren began helping out around the pack, finding her place bit by bit. Articus loved watching her confidence grow, seeing her interact with pack members, and slowly building relationships.

Everything was going smoothly; even the elders seemed to have softened on their pleas for an heir.

The old bags probably think she will provide one.

One sunny afternoon, Articus decided to introduce Wren to one of his favorite pastimes. He led her to a secluded part of the forest, a small bag slung over his shoulder.

"Where are we going?" Wren asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

Articus grinned, squeezing her hand. "You'll see."

They emerged into a small clearing beside a burbling stream. Articus set down the bag and pulled out a set of carved wooden chess pieces and a folding board.

"I didn't know you played chess," Wren said, surprise coloring her tone.

Articus shrugged, a hint of color rising in his cheeks. "It's just a hobby. Something I do to relax." He hesitated, then asked, "Would you like me to teach you?"

Wren's eyes widened, but she nodded. "I'd like that."

As Articus explained the rules and basic strategies, they talked. He learned about Wren's childhood, the good memories she had of her parents before their deaths. In turn, he shared more stories of growing up as the Alpha's son, the pressure and expectations that came with it.

"Chess was actually something my father taught me," Articus said, demonstrating how the knight moved. "He said it was good practice for thinking strategically, for considering all the possible outcomes of a decision."

Wren nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration as she contemplated her next move. "I can see that. It's not just about what's happening now, but what might happen several moves down the line."

"Exactly," Articus said, a note of pride in his voice. "You're catching on quick."

As the game progressed, their conversation deepened. Wren spoke about her life as a rogue, the constant struggle for survival, and the loneliness of never truly belonging anywhere.

"It wasn't all bad," she said, echoing Articus's earlier words. "There's a kind of freedom in not being tied down. But..." She trailed off, her eyes distant.

"But?" Articus prompted gently.

Wren sighed. "But it's exhausting, always being on guard, never knowing who you can trust. I missed having a home, a family."

Articus's heart ached for her. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to promise her that she'd never be alone again. But he held back, unsure if such declarations would be welcome.

Instead, he reached across the board, covering her hand with his. "You have a home now," he said softly. "If you want it."

Wren's eyes met his, a mix of hope and fear swirling in their depths. She didn't respond verbally, but she turned her hand over, lacing her fingers with his.

They sat like that for a long moment, the chess game forgotten, both of them grappling with the intensity of their emotions.

As the days passed, Articus found himself falling more deeply for Wren. They had their disagreements, of course—Wren's independent streak sometimes clashed with Articus's protective instincts, and there were moments when their different backgrounds led to misunderstandings. But they always worked through it, growing closer with each challenge.

One evening, after a particularly tense pack meeting where some of the older members had voiced concerns about integrating more rogues into the pack, Articus found Wren in their bedroom, staring out the window with a troubled expression.

"Hey," he said softly, coming up behind her and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

Wren leaned back against him, sighing. "I don't know. Hearing them talk like that... it brought back a lot of old feelings."

Articus wrapped his arms around her waist, offering silent comfort. "They'll come around. Change takes time, but you're already winning people over."

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