He strode past the crowd, approaching me with a hand extended. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
I stood there, utterly stunned by his sudden appearance. Why was he here? The stranger I had a fleeting encounter with, the father of my unborn child, had appeared out of nowhere once again, coming to my rescue.
Before I could respond, Matt interjected, "Alex, you don't have to worry about her. This woman means nothing. In fact, she's been banished from our pack!"
Summoning my courage, I retorted, "You have no right to do this!"
"I'm your alpha, and I can do whatever I want to you," Matt sneered, his rage turning his eyes bloodred.
Confused and unsure of what to do, I watched the stranger turn his gaze toward Matt, giving him a cold, piercing glare that seemed to freeze the entire bar.
"You're being too noisy," he remarked, dismissing Matt's words.
"What?" Matt couldn't believe his ears.
Ignoring him, the stranger squatted down to my level, locking eyes with me. "Are you okay?" he asked, his face radiating even more charm up close. The entire room fell into silence, witnessing his genuine care toward me.
I stuttered, lost for words. I didn't know how to respond.
At that moment, he noticed the bloodstain on my leg. His brow furrowed, and without hesitation, he swept me up in his arms and headed straight for the exit, leaving the bar behind.
From behind us, I heard Matt calling out, "Alex, where are you going? What about our peace treaty tonight?"
Alex didn't even glance back, his anger evident in his voice. "That can wait."
"Thank you, but you really should let me go," I pleaded, leaning tightly against his chest. His warmth radiated through me, making my heart race and my cheeks flush. If I stayed in his arms for another second, I felt like I might lose all my oxygen.
"You were bleeding, and you're pregnant, right? I should take you to the hospital," he insisted, his tone firm and unwavering.
I struggled, gently pushing against his chest. "It was just a small cut on my leg, I promise."
"Really?" he paused, sitting me on a nearby bench.
Finally freed from his intoxicating scent, I took a deep breath, grateful that the darkness concealed my blush.
"Yes, when I fell, I accidentally cut myself on a piece of glass. But it's not a big deal. I can take care of it," I reassured him, looking up at him. "Thank you again for helping me."
"I'm glad I could help," he replied, squatting down and gently caressing my leg, examining the wound. I couldn't help but flinch at his touch. His fingers worked like magic, sending shivers down my spine with a simple graze.
"So, you're Alex?" I tried to change the subject. "From the Backwood Pack? Are you here for the peace treaty discussion?"
He nodded and sat beside me. "And you're Emma."
As he called out my name, a flicker of warmth stirred within me. In that instant, I remembered the night he whispered my name while I slept with him, the night that led to the creation of a life within me. And today, I discovered I was pregnant with his baby.
Yet, as I gazed at him, all my courage evaporated. He was Alex, the future alpha of the Blackwood Pack, the formidable warrior spoken of in rumors. And I was just a simple girl who couldn't even communicate with her own wolf and had been rejected and banished from the pack.
If I confessed to him, would he believe me? And even if he did, would he want the child? What if he didn't? The mere thought sent an icy chill coursing through my veins, paralyzing me with fear.
Maybe I shouldn't tell him about my pregnancy. I could raise this baby on my own with Lizzy's support.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, Alex spoke up, "I heard you're pregnant, Emma..."
Damn! Sophia said it aloud, ensuring everyone at the bar could hear it. Of course, Alex already knew. How could I have been so foolish?
I stammered, "Yeah, I am pregnant... with your baby."
Alex let out a deep growl, and my heart sank. What was I expecting? Did I really think he would be delighted about the baby? I stood up, ready to shield my wounded pride by leaving.
But then, Alex grabbed my hand. "Where are you going?"
"What do you expect?" I tried to pull away, but he was much stronger than me, and instead, I found myself drawn closer to him.
"If..." he struggled to say, his Adam's apple bobbing with the effort, "If you're pregnant with my baby, Emma, maybe we should get married."
"What?" I exclaimed, disbelief flooding my voice. "What on earth are you thinking?"
"You need someone to take care of the baby, right? I could help you. And considering you've been banished from your pack, Emma, you have no one to rely on. So, rely on me. Let me do what I should do and take care of both of you."
"Are you pitying me?" I tried my best to steady my voice, even as tears threatened to spill over.
"No, I'd call it a win-win situation. You'd have a husband, and I..." He paused, searching for the right words.
I looked up at him, afraid to blink for fear that the tears blur my vision. "What would you gain from all this?"
Alex hesitated, then spoke softly, "A partner. I need a partner, and our pack would benefit from having a Luna by my side."
"This is absurd. You might think I'm desperate and need someone to take care of me, but that's not the truth. I still have my pride, and I won't just marry anyone," I declared, impressed by how smoothly I could speak despite my anger.
Alex's face paled slightly, but he tightened his grip on my wrist. "That's not what I meant, Emma. Please don't reject me. Just give it some thought, and you'll realize that my proposal is a good idea."
"Oh, really?" I laughed incredulously. "Then convince me. Give me one good reason why I should even consider it."
Alex paused, his lips parting as he searched for the right words. "Do you remember the night we first met? You told me about your boyfriend cheating on you, and how you felt abandoned and unwanted. If you become my partner, I promise I won't cheat on you. I swear."
Of course, I remembered. And as I looked into his eyes, my heart softened.
I could never forget the pain I felt when I discovered Matt's betrayal. I had vowed never to go through that again, to never sacrifice my happiness for someone who would hurt me.
If I married Alex, I would have shelter and a sense of security. This marriage could protect me from feeling desperate again. Could it be a good idea to marry him?
But then, on second thought, how wrong could I really be if I married the father of my baby?
Sensing my silence, Alex didn't push me further. Instead, he spoke gently, "I'll be here for a few more days to discuss the peace treaty. Please take your time to consider it, and let me know your decision when I return to my pack."
I remained silent, and he took it as a yes.
Alex pressed on, his voice filled with determination, "I will take full responsibility for you and our baby."
Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked him, "Why do you believe me so easily? What if I'm lying? What if the baby isn't yours?"
His gaze locked with mine, his eyes unwavering. "I trust you. When I saw you in that bar, I knew deep down that you were trustworthy. You're special to me, and I know you wouldn't deceive me about something so important."
His trust in me warmed my heart, giving me a newfound sense of courage. Maybe I wasn't as abandoned and unwanted as I had thought. Could saying yes to his proposal lead to my happy ending?
"Now, let me walk you back. Where are you living?" Alex asked.
I stumbled over my words, embarrassed to tell him about my living situation. It wasn't a traditional apartment, per se. When I was kicked out by Matt, I had nowhere to go, and Lizzy kindly cleared out the storage room in the bar for me to stay. I was grateful for her help, but I didn't want Alex to see the embarrassing side of my life.
"I can go back myself," I suggested.
"No, it's already dark and unsafe. Let me take you home," Alex insisted.
"Fine, just walk me back to the bar, then," I conceded.
He looked at me with surprise and concern, clearly taken aback. "You live in the bar? That's no place for you."
"Well... yes. The storage room. It's convenient, really," I admitted, feeling self-conscious.
Alex then offered a solution, "You can come live with me."
I quickly interjected, not wanting to rely on anyone just yet, "No, please. Let me figure things out on my own for now. I promise I can handle everything."
Alex sighed, realizing that my independence was important to me. "Alright, but remember, you deserve better."
His voice was barely a whisper, and somehow sent ripples in my heart.
I deserved better.