Chapter 18

Bertha couldn’t be the one. She’d been a part of our lives for so long, working with my mom and then with Karen and me. She was like family to us.

“But what if it isn’t her?” I questioned, still grappling with the idea.

Christopher responded, his voice a mix of firmness and gentleness, “If she’s innocent, nothing will happen. But apart from her, only your family knew. I can’t believe any Byron would betray us, especially since it’s your baby too.” He glanced at my father as he spoke about my family.

“You know you can trust us,” my dad assured him.

“I know,” Christopher acknowledged. “Your family has been with mine for years. I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side in this.”

He stood up, slowly pulling on his shirt, and sighed as he stood before me. He tucked two strands of my hair behind my ear, cupped my chin, and lifted my face to meet his gaze.

“Scarlett, listen to me,” he said.

His eyes locked onto mine, and I found myself lost in their blue depths once again. “I won’t let anything happen to you or this baby. I’ll give my life to protect you if necessary. But this is serious. We’ve had random attacks before, but today was a clear and direct threat to you. I’ll wage war until everyone who threatens your lives is dead. But I need you to be safe. I’ll ask your brother to escort you to the pack house, and I’ll send guards to stay with you. I want you to stay there until I find you, okay?”

His words stirred up a wave of fear and concern within me. It must have shown on my face because he continued speaking.

“You don’t need to be scared,” he reassured me. “I’m doing all this to protect you. Absolutely nothing will happen to you.” I understood his intentions, but my fear wasn’t just for myself. It was for our baby. I knew he would protect us, no matter what it took.

“Okay. But I want Thomas as my guard,” I insisted.

“Thomas?” Christopher’s brow furrowed as he tried to recall the name. “I’m not sure we can spare him. He’s working on an important case right now. There have been a series of murders, and we think they’re connected. He’s been assigned to it because he’s one of our best detectives.”

I remembered Thomas mentioning that they were investigating the deaths of some red-haired girls near the borders. It was a joint effort between packs, and Thomas was tasked with digging deeper. But since it wasn’t directly related to our pack, the council was handling the investigation.

“If I’m going to agree to have guards with me, then I want someone I trust. It’s Thomas or no one,” I stood my ground.

“Okay. You win. Get Thomas and at least five other guards,” Christopher instructed Carl.

“I need to go,” Christopher announced, and I nodded in understanding. Before I could react, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me. It was intense yet gentle, and in his arms, I felt untouchable. He released me, his hand cupping my face as he lightly stroked my cheek. He kissed his fingers and then placed them on my belly, sending a shiver down my spine.

He left the room, Carl and Alef trailing behind him.

My father stayed behind. He turned to face me.

“I’ll also do everything I can to protect you. You know that, right?” He looked at me earnestly. “I’ve always wanted to be a grandfather. I didn’t imagine it would be the alpha’s child, but I want you to know I’m happy for you.”

He took my hand and placed it in his. “Scarlett, I don’t know exactly how all this happened, but I’ve always trusted your judgment. I believe everything that happened was for the best. If you choose the alpha as your mate, I’ll support you. Even if it does make you my boss.” He chuckled.

“That would be funny, wouldn’t it?” I responded.

“Yes, it would. But you’ve always been a leader. You’d make a great luna, Scarlett.”

“Thank you, Dad. I’m still not sure if that’s what I want. But knowing you’d support me means a lot.”

“Always, dear.” He kissed my cheek. “I need to go now. I’ll see you at home,” he said, then corrected himself, realizing I wouldn’t be there for a while. “I’ll see you soon.”

I watched him leave the room.

My head was spinning, but I placed my hand on my belly, and if there was one thing I was certain of, it was that I would do everything to protect this baby.

It wasn’t long before the guards arrived. I waited in the same room, my mother and sister keeping me company. Then Thomas arrived, knocking twice on the door. He was big, tall, and strong, with brown hair and eyes. He was like an older brother to me. He gave Karen a quick kiss before approaching me, where I was still sitting on the stretcher.

“Shall we go, Ms. Scarlett? Or should I call you Luna?” The sound of that title made my stomach flip.

“No,” I replied quickly. “Just Scarlett. I haven’t decided if I’m going to be Luna or not.”

“But he invited you?” Mom asked.

“Yes, he said he thinks I could be his second chance mate,” I admitted.

“And what do you think?” Karen asked.

I answered without hesitation, the words coming more from my heart than my brain.

“I am. I’m sure of it.” My answer was sincere, straight from the heart.

My sister smiled, and Thomas opened the door. I stepped out to find five more guards waiting. They followed me out of the hospital. My brother was waiting for me next to a large SUV, one of the guard cars.

“This one is armored,” he said, patting the vehicle. I knew he was trying to reassure me, but it only made me more nervous.

Bob opened the car door for me, and Thomas joined us. The other guards followed in their cars.

“Are you okay?” Bob asked.

“As much as possible. I’m just a little scared, trying to digest everything,” I admitted, shrugging and crossing my arms.

“Speaking of digesting, Scarlett, you’re dating the alpha and now pregnant with his child. I haven’t digested that yet,” Bob said.

“Same here,” Thomas agreed.

I knew it was a lot to take in for everyone.

“Hey,” I said. “I didn’t plan this, okay? It just happened. I’m a little surprised too.”

“Who would’ve thought my baby sister would end up being the luna?” Bob mused, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. “Does that mean you’d be my boss too?”

Thomas chimed in from the backseat, “She’d be everyone’s boss.”

“I haven’t officially accepted the luna position yet, but it’s definitely on my mind,” I admitted. Deep down, it felt like the right path for me.

Thomas gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “You’d make an incredible luna.”

Suddenly, the idea didn’t seem so far-fetched.

We pulled up to the pack house, and Bob led me inside. It felt odd being there without Christopher by my side. Bob gave me a tour, showing me the library and the TV room, and we chatted for a bit. Then he left me with the guards.

Thomas and I made small talk for a while, but he eventually had to leave to attend to some work. Left alone, I picked up a book and read until I drifted off to sleep.

My dreams were filled with clouds. It was an abstract dream, but it brought me a sense of peace that was almost absurd. I felt relaxed.

I woke up to the familiar scent of Christopher. He had scooped me up in his arms, holding me close to his chest. He carried me upstairs and gently laid me down on the bed.

“What time is it?” I mumbled.

“Late. Go back to sleep. I’ll be joining you soon,” he replied. I cracked my eyes open just enough to see him removing his shirt, but sleep was pulling me back under. I’m not sure how much time passed before I felt him slide into bed next to me, his body molding to mine. His leg hooked around mine, pulling me closer. His hand rested on my waist, and I snuggled deeper into his embrace while he wrapped his arms around me.

“I like this,” I murmured, my voice thick with sleep.

“Me too,” he whispered back, and I felt my body grow heavy as sleep claimed me once again.