Page 63 of Knocked Up By My Fated Alpha
So in the end, I pushed him away before he had a chance to push me away. They were fated mates, destined to be together by the Goddess. How could I compare to that?
Besides, my words hadn’t been a complete lie. All we shared was an intense physical connection. And I didn’t even like him like that. It was just my damn pregnancy hormones causing me to react this way.
Or at least that was what I told myself when Sinclair showed up for our routine training sessions instead of Damien.
“Alpha Damien isn’t coming today?” I asked, a painful lump in my throat.
“I will oversee your training from now on,” Sinclair bowed very low. “The alpha is busy with pack affairs.”
It wasn’t a lie. The Shadow Thorn Pack was still ironing out the new alliance with the Sky Pack, and the issues with the humans were being concluded. Between that, his company, and the fact that Rielle could only eat when Damien fed her, I knew just how busy he’d gotten.
Yet Sinclair’s words hit me painfully hard. What we had was just physical—just sex and a strong attraction. So why did it hurt so damn much?
“He was really looking for this appointment,” Irene said almost ruefully, her jovial voice bringing me back to myself. “On a brighter note, your pregnancy seems to be progressing splendidly, Raven. How are your symptoms?”
The strain in my smile eased slightly.
“Better.”
That, at least, was the truth. Somehow, despite my tumultuous emotional state of mind, my sixth month of pregnancy was less stressful and symptomatic than the initial months had been. Sure, I was less mobile than I’d been, but my overall strength and dexterity had increased.
I wasn’t sure if it was a result of my rigorous training or the part of me that had awakened the day I punched the wall. However, as optimistic as I had been after that incident, I still couldn’t feel the presence of my wolf within me or even hear her voice. For all intents and purposes, I was still wolfless.
On the work front, apart from Damien, everything was also better. Whether it was because of Wendy’s resignation, Alpha Damien’s threat, or the fact that I was very visibly pregnant, everyone was much nicer, engaging in small talk with me, offering me their seats, giving me unsolicited but deeply appreciated pregnancy and delivery tips, and even Martin had cut my workload in half.
Even Ivy and Elias hadn’t shown up to trouble me in the two weeks since Rielle’s return. Everything was better, save the relationship between Alpha Damien and me.
Doctor Irene was still speaking.
“... since generally wolf labors and births can happen anywhere from the sixth to tenth month, depending on the hormonal stability of the mother.”
I blinked, returning to myself at once.
“Wait,” my throat suddenly felt dry, panic surging within me. “So I can give birth any moment now?”
There was so much I wasn’t prepared for: decorating their nursery, the duel, and meeting my child. Damien and I had opted out of finding out the gender as we wanted to be surprised. Doctor Irene let out a small, soft laugh.
“No. Not that soon. Usually, you’ll have several weeks, sometimes over a month of notice before your labor commences.” She inclined her head before continuing. “However, like I told you before, it’s necessary for you to continue staying on pack grounds till the birth. I’ll give you a list. If you experience any of these symptoms, I’ll be a phone call away.”
Alpha Damien foundme shortly after I returned to the pack house, hisharried pace slowing as he caught sight of me, his expression deeply remorseful.
“I’m sorry I missed the appointment. I—”
“It’s alright,” I shook my head, forcing a smile. “The pregnancy is going fine.”
Alpha Damien didn’t buy it. Rather, he took a tentative step towards me.
“I’m so sorry, Raven.”
“It’s alright,” I repeated, my gaze rising to take him in. “You are busy.”
Alpha Damien’s shoulders tensed, his lips thinning even as his golden gaze blazed. “Raven.”
He raised his hand to cup my cheek, and like an addict getting a dose of her favorite drug, I let my eyes fall shut, leaning into his touch and—
Something shattered, and a shrill scream tore through the air.
My eyes flew open. Alpha Damien gave me a lingering look, then he was gone, racing towards where Rielle stood, hands and feet bleeding, a shattered vase at her feet, her cheeks red with tears.
