28

~Arsen Storm~

I was about to go to the common room when I suddenly smelled her.

She was in there. Aurelia. I would recognize her sweet scent of vanilla anywhere. But I had to avoid her. I was the Alpha. I had a duty to my son.

I didn't know any more than Savanna if our pup was going to be a boy, but being away from Aurelia would make it easier if it did.

As an alpha, I have to be there for my son. I have to raise him and teach him all the duties of an alpha. I also have an obligation to his mother to take care of her.

I just wish it had been Aurelia, my mate.

As so often in my life, I was stupid and a little boy. And now I got the shit. A woman I could never love is pregnant by me and I have to watch my mate's heart break.

Suddenly I heard Savanna's voice from the common room. "I WILL KILL YOU!" yelled the hormone-driven dragon that she was. The whole room erupted at that, and I felt compelled to intervene. Or maybe I just saw it as a chance to see Aurelia again. I couldn't deny that I missed her.

So I entered the room and immediately saw where the commotion was coming from.

Savanna attacked my mate with her claws and hurt her. That made me angry. Very angry.

"STOP IMMEDIATELY!" I yelled and calm fell immediately. All eyes, including Aurelia's beautiful eyes, landed on me. I almost forgot how beautiful she was.

I looked sternly in Savanna's direction to admonish her. Then I went to my mate to ask if she was okay.

The wolves around me started to show respect to me. It was normal for me. But when Aurelias did the same, I was shocked. Never, ever, should my mate bow to me. But she did and didn't even look at me like she was scared of me. That hurt.

"Alpha," she spoke very quietly and unsure. It made me even more angry. Why doesn't she say my name anymore? I loved it when she said it. I started to growl angrily at myself.

But then she winced a little and I stopped again. I only made it worse.

"ALL OUT who have nothing to do with this!" I ordered the rest of the pack members. I didn't want an audience. I didn't want them to see my mate as small and fragile as she is standing in front of me right now.

"She offended me. Me and our puppies." Savanna pouted. I didn't believe her. Aurelia wasn't that kind of person.

In the short time that she was here, I got that from her. She was honest but never hurtful. Also, she would never insult my puppy. After all, she even congratulated me back then.

Aurelia raised her head briefly. I was sure that she would now defend herself against the allegations, but nothing came. Instead, she lowered her head again.

"Is that true?" I asked anyway and she nodded.

I could not believe it. Why would she do that?

I didn't want to elaborate further as it made me angry. What happened to my confident mate? Even though she seemed weak and fragile when she got here, I could see how strong she was. She didn't let anyone dance on her nose, but said what bothered her.

"You're bleeding," I said instead, looking around for a cloth. I finally grabbed a napkin from the table and then cupped Aurelia's chin between my fingers.

When I touched her, thousands of sparks shot back and forth between our skin. It was a beautiful feeling. How I missed it...

I lifted her head a little higher and started dabbing the blood away. Aurelia kept still and said nothing.

At first I was completely fixated on the scratch on her cheek, but then I felt her eyes watching me. So I looked into her beautiful blue eyes. It was like looking straight into her soul. Her gaze was so pure. So innocent... So sad?

Before I could see more of them, she broke eye contact again and pulled away from me.

I wanted to whimper, wanting to keep touching her and feeling the pleasant tingling sensation, but I controlled myself.

With the distance between us, I could see more blood on her torso. I would have liked to behead Savanna for it, but after all the puppy couldn't do anything for his mother... or for his stupid father.

"Where else are you hurt?" I asked.

Aurelia looked down at herself but didn't answer me.

Why isn't she talking to me? Why is she bowing to me? And why doesn't she call me arsenic anymore? I loved it when she said my name.

It frustrated me. Can't my life be easy for once?

"What am I supposed to do with you?" I asked myself, but I said the question anyway, hoping she would know.

She didn't even look at me anymore. What have I done to deserve this?

So the fighter in me gave up.

"Inala, please take care of her injuries and then take her back to her room!" I ordered Costa's mate. She nodded and I left the room.

Of course Savanna had to follow me.

Maybe it wasn't fair to my child, but I'd be really happy if it was a girl. Savanna by my side for the rest of my life? I couldn't stand that for long.

How could I ever fuck a woman like that? And that more than once.

I am an adult I knew that having sex also meant risking having a puppy.

After we both left the room, Savanna immediately pressed back against me. But I pushed her gently away from me.

I couldn't do this any longer. Couldn't keep away from Aurelia any longer. I needed to know the sex of the puppy and very soon.

"We're going to the pack hospital tomorrow and then you'll do a blood test! Now leave me alone!" Savanna had to hear, I had used my alpha voice.

Soon I would finally know if I would grow old with Aurelia or Savanna. It all depends on my puppy.