Page 7 of Pregnant By the Alpha Wolf

“It has been our pleasure,” I assure Kaiden, and then, gesturing to the hall, I add, “Isolation has served us well for many years but has not been at the expense of success, as you see.”

“You have remarkable lands here, Rowan. And nothing quite as impressive as the lab,” he adds.

“Thank you. I take it that means we are in agreement?” I steer the conversation. “We will share resources, knowledge?”

Your scientist, Willow.

Kaiden gestures for Willow to step forward, and my eyes lock on her. I expect her to look away again, but she visibly appears to steel herself. She holds my gaze for a fraction of a second before succumbing to her urge to deflect from the intensity.

“Willow and I have spoken at length,” Kaiden begins, “and if I have your assurance, alpha to alpha, that she will be treated well and is free to come and go as she pleases, as well as share information as she deems fit, then I am happy for her to stay at the lab. If she is happy to do so.”

My wolf practically preens with satisfaction. It was by no means certain that Kaiden would agree; it’s well beyond the realms of what was considered possible between our packs until only very recently, after all.

“Willow, love?” I ask, stepping slightly closer. “Are you willing?”

The question feels loaded—more so than I was expecting myself. Her eyes reach mine again, and time itself feels suspended for a moment. Centuries of longing surge within me. The ancient primal urges that I rarely tap into anymore feel very much alive at this moment, and I have to wonder if she sees it in my eyes, because she pales slightly under my gaze.

“What of her allegiance?” Noah says, my eyes spinning to him with barely concealed rage at the interruption, and he wisely takes a step back.

“What allegiance?” Kaiden asks, doubt lacing his voice.

I sigh, knowing I’ll have to deal with Noah’s flagrant disregard for propriety later. But right now, he has forced my hand.

“Our pack rules dictate that for anyone to stay here, they must be mated to an existing pack member.” Willow frantically looks to Kaiden, and I know I’m in danger of losing control of the situation. “As a mark of respect for your pack and to assure you of our goodwill, I offer myself. Willow will be my luna.”

Shock reverberates around the room at my statement, though it pales in comparison to the shock I feel as my wolf howls in celebration. No trace of trepidation, my beasts in full agreement that this is our mate. And she looks horrified.

Chapter 5 - Willow

I’m quite sure my brain has short-circuited as I allow Kaiden to usher me like a zombie toward a side room. In the background, I can dimly hear wolves celebrating, as though there’s about to be a huge party. They howl and cheer in the recesses of my mind, but it sounds a thousand miles away, the blood rushing and thumping in my ears drowning it out.

What the hell?

Before I can verbalize it myself, Kaiden does it for me. “What the hell, Rowan? What are you playing at?” I can hear the rage in my alpha’s voice as the door closes behind us. “You seriously think we’ll just go along with this?”

Rowan chuckles darkly, neither rising to the bait nor mirroring Kaiden’s fighting posture. I’m not sure if that will disarm the situation or escalate it at this point. I’m too concerned with my own racing heart and spinning head.

I can’t be Rowan’s luna. I can’t be anyone’s luna. I’m half-human, I don’t have a wolf, I’m a nobody.

“Kaiden, this is not the trap you think it is. Calm yourself,” Rowan replies, leaning against a table under a tall window. “There were concerns, and the pack expressed a desire to follow protocol. That’s all this is. Protocol.”

His eyes immediately flicker to mine, and the intensity is almost too much. His words do not match the emotion reflected back at me. Not at all. He’s lying about something, but why would he? What does he have to gain from any of this? Dimly, I consider what will be required of me as a luna. Will he expect me to sleep with him? I immediately blush from head to toe. Will he expect that? I’ve never been with a man.

I listen to the alphas going back and forth as though I’m not even here. Through the fog, I hear my name once and then twice, forcing me back to reality.

“Willow…?” Kaiden urges. “This is…a lot. Do you want to step outside while I deal with it, or do you have anything to add?”

Rowan rolls his eyes, “I’m sure Willow is capable of talking for herself, Kaiden; she knows what is at stake here. The work that must be done. This is merely a formality.”

“Is it?” Kaiden replies dryly.

Rowan gives him a look that would turn a lesser wolf to ice before turning to me. “Willow, love, your thoughts?”

Struggling to process a coherent thought, I stare at them both for a second. Kaiden looks pissed off, as to be expected. All alphas hate being blindsided, especially when alliances like theirs are so new and tentative. Which begs the question, why would Rowan risk it?

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage to address him properly. “Just a formality? And if I say no?” I attempt, wanting to gauge his reaction.

He laughs lightly and lifts his arms as if to dismiss the notion. “My pack has its unique laws; I’m sure yours does, too. They must be respected. It is a formality. If you don’t want to hitch yourself to me, even temporarily, I will, of course, be desperately wounded.” I would roll my eyes at anyone else, but his eyes are doing that mesmerizing thing again, and I can’t even look away. “My healer, Sara, will take over the research, and you are free to go. We will keep you updated, though, naturally.”

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