Chapter 3

CHRISTOPHER

The urge to let my wolf take over was growing stronger by the second. I was still reeling from her words, even after I’d told her countless times how much it meant to me for her to embrace her role as luna. My heart was aching with a mix of anger, disappointment, and despair.

The voice of my grandfather echoed in my mind, leaving me so disoriented that I felt dizzy.

~An alpha’s mate should be another alpha. Only a female alpha can truly understand the significance of a luna’s duties.~

He’d said it so many times, and I’d always thought it was utter nonsense.

Violet had been my mate, and she wasn’t from an alpha family. She hadn’t had a career, but she’d taken on the roles, albeit briefly, before her untimely death.

When I’d realized that Scarlett was my second chance, I didn’t care that she was a doctor.

I always thought her problem-solving nature was part of her charm, both as a doctor and as luna. The way she would come up with the most unexpected yet perfect solutions during meetings always sent a shiver down my spine.

I couldn’t believe she’d said what she did, or that she’d meant it. But she had, and it was tearing me apart inside.

I left her hospital room, feeling as if my heart was breaking into a million pieces. I couldn’t stay there, not when my wolf was threatening to take over again. It always happened when I lost control of my emotions, and this was one of those times.

I walked down the hospital corridor and found Martha.

“I want tests done on her. Turn her inside out if you have to. I need her to be okay, and the baby too. Confirm this and let me know immediately. I can’t stay, but Hensen will pick her up after she’s discharged.” My words came out in a rush, almost a growl.

“Yes, Alpha,” she replied, and I left without looking back.

I drove away as fast as I could, my anger seeping into my actions. I didn’t care about the consequences. I told Hensen to go to the hospital and wait for Scarlett.

I needed her to be okay. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her. Her words kept replaying in my head, her sweet, velvety voice saying so clearly:

~I’m fine, honey, trust me.~

~I’m fine, I’ll be in the hospital.~

~I am taking care of myself.~

It infuriated me even more knowing that I was right. She needed to rest and take care of herself, but she was ignoring everything to stay at the hospital. The thought of Scarlett in danger, the baby in danger, sent me into a spiral of terror and despair.

Knowing that she’d passed out and hit her head had already pushed me to the edge, but hearing her say she wouldn’t be my luna anymore shattered my ~perfect world~. I felt like I was losing control, like Scarlett and the baby were slipping through my fingers. There was nothing more terrifying than an alpha without control.

I parked near the forest, quickly stripped off my shirt and pants, and let my wolf take over. He was ready and angry. We ran into the forest, hoping that each step would help drain the anger we were feeling.

The burning in my chest was so intense that I couldn’t tell where the anger ended and the physical pain began.

I ran until I couldn’t anymore, until my legs ached, and I was nearly exhausted. Then I returned, got dressed, and went back to the pack’s house. I checked my phone and saw three missed calls from Martha and a message with the test results. Scarlett and the baby were fine.

Some of the tension left my chest, but what remained was enough to suffocate me.

When I got home, I hoped she’d already returned to our room. I sniffed the air, searching for ~their scent~, but found nothing. I headed straight for the shower, hoping it would help, but it was in vain.

I put on the first pair of shorts I found and paced the room, not knowing what to do or think. I was filled with a kind of anxiety I’d never experienced before. I couldn’t even put it into words.

I swallowed my pride and was about to go to the hospital to get her, but just as I picked up my car keys, the door opened. Hensen walked in, and her sweet scent filled the room. Then a woody note with a hint of sweetness—our baby’s scent—made me exhale.

The anxiety slowly started to fade, but the memory of our fight lingered. I wanted to close the distance between us, to pull her into my arms and make everything okay again. I even took a step toward the door, but my pride held me back.

She walked in, still wearing her scrubs. The cut on her head was now just a thin, pink line. She looked pale and exhausted, and it made me want to scream.

But I took a deep breath instead. Her serious expression was a stark contrast to her usually sweet features. She looked at me but didn’t say a word.

“Thank you, Hensen,” I said, and he simply nodded in response.

“At your service, Alpha,” he replied, then closed the bedroom door, leaving Scarlett and me alone.

I usually loved being alone with her, but right now, our spacious room felt too small for the both of us. The realization was like a punch to the gut.

Scarlett had a folder in her hands. She sighed and walked into the room, her steps strong and confident. She tossed the folder onto the counter.

“My mother asked me to give you this,” she said, her voice laced with barely concealed contempt.

“Uh…thanks,” I replied, trying to hide my discomfort. “Are you okay?”

I hated how hard it was to even talk to her.

Scarlett just nodded.

“I need a shower,” she said, and began to undress. She didn’t bother seeking privacy, stripping off her clothes right in front of me, just like she always did.

I used to love watching her, but now, knowing I couldn’t touch her, it was pure, agonizing torture.

Scarlett undressed with a grace that was impossible to ignore. Each movement was deliberate, each curve of her body more perfect than the last. Her legs were long and lean, her ass perfectly round, and her belly was beginning to show a slight curve.

It was a change only I would notice, a sign of our son growing inside her. As she unclasped her bra, I was reminded of how perfect her breasts were. They fit perfectly in my hands, and pregnancy had made them fuller, rounder.

Each movement she made stirred a reaction in me, my arousal growing to a point of discomfort.

~Damn, Scarlett.~

I needed a shower to cool off, but I knew it wouldn’t help. I lay down, trying to rest, but my mind was racing. After a few minutes, she emerged from the bathroom, naked.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

Without a word, she slipped into the shortest, most transparent nightgown she owned. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

She climbed into bed, which suddenly felt both too big and too small. She didn’t touch me, didn’t say anything. I think she fell asleep.

Just twenty-four hours ago, we were tangled in these sheets, our bodies intertwined, making love as if it were the only thing that mattered. It felt like a lifetime ago, and I missed it.

Even though things weren’t right between us, even with the ache in my chest, having her scent—~their scent~—next to me was enough to lull me to sleep.

***

I woke up to my alarm, quickly silencing it so as not to wake Scarlett. She had turned in her sleep and was now facing me, the blanket barely covering her breasts. She looked so peaceful, so angelic.

I watched her stir slightly in her sleep, but she didn’t wake. I was grateful for that. She needed rest.

We had another meeting in the morning, but I had told her I would handle it alone. At least she could rest.

I got ready quietly, then went downstairs for breakfast. I had barely finished when Hensen arrived for our meeting.

“Hensen, I want updates on Scarlett’s every move. When she wakes, when she leaves, when she returns, even when she eats. And please…make sure she eats,” I instructed.

Hensen looked at me, his green eyes wide.

“Yes, Alpha.” He nodded. “She won’t be joining us at the meeting?”

His question was like a punch to the gut.

“No,” I replied, heading toward the meeting room.

Her chair was empty. The room smelled of leather, wood, and men, not the comforting scent of Scarlett. I missed her, even though she was just upstairs, sleeping peacefully.

It was more than just missing her; it was a hollow feeling in my chest.

I hadn’t expected to feel this way.

The meeting dragged on, and to make matters worse, Carl brought up the union ceremony.

“We were thinking the twenty-seventh. We just need confirmation from Miss Scarlett and the alpha,” Carl said.

Just hearing her name made my heart race. I rubbed my temples, frustration mounting.

“I’m not deciding anything yet,” I said, sighing.

“But you said—” Carl started, but I cut him off.

“I know what I said. Just leave it open,” I snapped.

I could almost see her turning to me, her honey-colored eyes sparkling, her perfect smile as she said, ~It’s okay with me.~

Or when she offered a fresh perspective on a pack decision, leading us down the perfect path.

Scarlett was my drug, and I was in the throes of withdrawal.

I went from one meeting to the next, unable to make any decisions. I felt like the most useless alpha in history that day.