Chapter 16
221words
I froze.
Alaric's expression transformed instantly.
A disbelieving frown, followed by unmistakable regret in his eyes.
Sensing the tension, the maid quickly cleared the dishes and disappeared.
Pregnancy tests—Alaric rushed out to buy them.
He returned with an entire bag full.
In the end, he stared at the table covered with positive tests, his eyes downcast, utterly silent.
We'd been intimate only a handful of times in recent months. Most recently, that night in the bathroom.
Alaric had always been careful. That time, he'd lost control.
After a long moment, emotions flickered rapidly across his face.
Finally—perhaps thinking of our years together, or unable to consider terminating his first child—
"Aria. I'm going to be a father."
He said it with a smile.
He gently touched my still-flat abdomen.
"Our Aria's working hard."
"Hope the little one behaves. Doesn't give mama too much trouble."
It would have been sweet if the crease between his brows would smooth out.
I looked at him quietly and stated a simple fact.
"Your parents won't let me keep this baby."
"And... humans carrying werewolf children is dangerous. My doctor warned my body might not survive it."
Alaric said softly: "Don't worry about any of that. Leave everything to me. Just focus on taking care of yourself."
