Page 21 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow (Eternal Oath Saga #2)

Katherine

The afternoon sun streams through the restaurant’s tall windows. I sit near the window, idly stirring my drink with the straw, my mind a million miles away.

I should be focused on the present—on the birthday lunch Alice insisted on—but instead, my thoughts drift back to last night.

I can still feel his hands on me, the way he touched me like he was trying to make up for all the time we lost. I remember the heat of his body, the way we fit together so perfectly, like no time had passed at all.

But more than that—it’s the memory of riding him in his wolf form that lingers in my mind. It felt like a childhood dream, fulfilled in a way I never could have imagined. I felt him, strong and powerful beneath me, his body carrying me like I belonged there. It was freeing—like I had slipped into some enchanted world where nothing could touch us.

And the way he looked at me in his wolf form, those deep, familiar eyes filled with affection and something primal and unbreakable.

“Happy birthday.”

I look up just as Alice slides into the seat across from me, her sharp, knowing expression in place. She doesn’t even wait for the waiter before she’s already waving one over.

“Alice.” I smile.

Drinks are served quickly, and Alice takes a slow sip before giving me a pointed look. “So,” she drawls, “Jimmy’s back. And he told me things didn’t quite work out with you two.”

I shake my head. “You put him up to that, didn’t you?”

She shrugs, her expression unapologetic. “Someone had to look out for you.”

I exhale, setting my drink down. “I appreciate that, really. And Jimmy was sweet. But… it was never going to happen.”

Alice watches me for a beat, then nods. “Yeah, Jimmy mentioned that. Also mentioned that you and Alex…” She lifts a brow, taking another sip of her drink.

I inhale slowly. “I talked to him. I listened to him.” I look down at my hands. “He told me a lot of things. About his kingdom in Europe. About his uncle usurping it. How he lost his throne and ended up in my company, pretending to be a janitor just to gather evidence to take back what was his.” My voice softens. “He told me about the car crash, and that it wasn’t anyone I suspected, it was his uncle who orchestrated it when he found out Alex was working to get evidence against him. And how he thought the only way to protect me was to push me away.”

Alice exhales, her expression turning serious. “So he really was trying to protect you after all.”

I nod, my fingers tightening around my glass.

She’s quiet for a moment, then, almost as if thinking out loud, says, “That kind of protectiveness comes naturally when you’re fated. He should start regaining his strength now that he’s earned your forgiveness.”

I blink at her. “What do you mean?”

Alice tilts her head. “I mean, your bond with him, Katherine. Fated mates are… everything to each other. You being apart from him? It wasn’t just emotional. It would’ve been physically painful for him. It would make his wolf restless, eager to be with you again..”

A strange sensation coils in my chest. And then—before I can help it—my mind flashes back to last night. To me on Alex’s back, the wind rushing past, the world blurring around us.

“I think I understand now,” I murmur, almost to myself.

And then, as if on cue, a waiter appears, carefully setting down a plate with a small, single candle-topped cake.

Alice nudges the plate toward me. “Happy birthday, Katherine.”

I stare at the candle, something warm blooming in my chest.

“Make a wish,” Alice says, her voice softer now.

I close my eyes. I wish to be happy. It’s simple. Honest. The only thing I truly want, and then I blow out the candle. I pick up my fork. We start eating, conversation flowing easily again, but suddenly, my stomach churns.

The cake that was sweet seconds ago now feels wrong, too rich. A wave of nausea sweeps through me, so sudden and intense, that I barely have time to mutter, “Excuse me,” before I’m rushing to the restroom.

I barely make it before I’m sick. My body trembles as I grip the edge of the sink, my breath coming fast. I rinse my mouth, splash cool water on my face, and take a deep, steadying breath before heading back.

Alice is watching me when I return, one brow raised. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, I think the cake was just too rich.”

Alice, however, looks unconvinced. She studies me for a long moment, then leans in, her voice lower. “Katherine… have you and Alex been together?”

The way she says it makes something click, and my eyebrows shoot up.

Alice notices the look on my face and adds. “You should get that tested.”

The moment Alice says it, something clicks. Like a puzzle snapping into place, the pieces of the past few weeks rearrange in my mind. The random waves of nausea that I’ve been having, the way I’ve been feeling off without really knowing why.

And then there’s the fact that my period is late.

I’ve been telling myself it’s been stress, that everything weighing on me from the company was throwing my body out of sync. But now, hearing those words, it’s like a light bulb flicks on in my head.

And just like that, a rush of excitement hits me.

A feeling I’ve carried since childhood, since the days I dreamed of having a child of my own, a child I would shower with all the love and attention I feel I missed out on when I was a child.

Alice pulls out her phone and makes a call. Moments later, one of her guards appears, waiting for instructions.

“Go get a pregancy test kit,” she tells him. He nods and leaves.

And I sit here, my pulse racing, my mind spinning.

I might be pregnant.

The guard returns in a few short minutes and hands me a small paper bag. I thank him and mutter an “Excuse me.” to Alice as I rise from my seat. My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat as I step into the bathroom. The door swings shut behind me, muffling the sounds of the restaurant, enclosing me in a quiet space where it’s just me and the thoughts racing through my head.

I clutch the small paper bag Alice’s guard handed me, my fingers trembling slightly as I pull out the test. I already know what I’m hoping for.

A child. My child.

Celebrating birthdays together, throwing extravagant parties, making sure they never feel forgotten or unloved for even a single second. I see myself holding them, comforting them, watching them grow, giving them everything. And the thought—just the idea of it—fills something deep inside me.

I take a shaky breath, grip the test tighter, and do what I need to do.

Then I wait.

I swear the seconds stretch into hours as I stare at the tiny screen, my heart thudding in my chest. My hands feel clammy, my breath shallow.

Then— A second line. My breath catches.

Positive.

A small, stunned sound escapes me. I blink rapidly, my vision going blurry for a second. My pulse races as I fumble for another test, my hands unsteady as I take it.

Both positive. I press a hand to my stomach, my body trembling with emotion.

Oh my God. I’m pregnant.

A rush of warmth spreads through me—so much joy that I don’t even know how to contain it. A smile tugs at my lips before I even realize it’s happening, and suddenly I’m standing here, in the middle of a restaurant bathroom, grinning like an idiot at a pregnancy test.

I laugh softly, shaking my head. This is real.

I am going to be a mom.

The thought fills me with so much light I feel like I might float right off the ground. I press my lips together, taking a moment to collect myself before heading back out.

I walk through the restaurant, my body humming with barely contained excitement. I try to be composed, but the moment I slide back into my seat across from Alice, I can’t help it—

I smile.

Alice eyes me, her fingers curled around the stem of her glass, and I can tell she already knows.

“Well,” I say, my voice light, a little breathless, “looks like I’m going to be a mom.”

For a second, Alice’s expression flickers. Just a brief, almost imperceptible moment where her eyes widen, something like shock flashing across her face. Then something else—something more guarded. A hint of hesitation, the faintest shadow of worry.

It’s gone so fast I almost think I imagined it.

Still, before I can even open my mouth to ask, Alice smiles—a small, careful smile—and reaches across the table, her fingers closing around mine. “Congratulations, Katherine.”

Her voice is soft. Sincere. But I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something else lingering behind it. I return her smile though, choosing to focus on the moment. This is huge. This is life-changing. And right now, I just want to feel it.

For a beat, neither of us speak. Alice looks down at our joined hands, her thumb grazing the back of mine like she’s considering something carefully. Then she exhales, meeting my gaze.

“You’ve only been with Alex in the last few months?” she asks gently. “No one else?”

I blink, slightly taken aback by the question. “Yeah,” I say slowly. “No one else.”

Alice nods, the corners of her lips curving into another smile. But I see it again—that something in her eyes. It’s subtle, buried beneath the surface, but it’s there. A hesitation. A thought she isn’t saying aloud.

I open my mouth, about to ask, but before I can, she speaks first. “So,” she says, tilting her head, her tone changing slightly, “when are you going to tell him?”

Just like that, the excitement bubbling inside me stalls.

My mind yanks me back to last night. To the way we laid tangled in each other’s arms under the trees, his fingers trailing gently over my skin. To the moment when I told him, without even really thinking, that I had always wanted children. That I wanted to give my kids the kind of love and attention my parents never gave me.

I remember how natural the words felt coming out of my mouth. How warm and certain I felt just saying them. And then, I remember his silence.

No agreement. No soft words of shared dreams. Just silence.

I felt it then, the way his body tensed ever so slightly, the way his touch hesitated for half a second before he continued stroking my skin like nothing had happened.

Like he didn’t want to talk about it. Like he didn’t want children.

A heavy feeling settles in my chest.

What if he doesn’t want this? What if I tell him, and instead of joy, I see dread in his eyes?

A knot tightens in my stomach, my fingers twitching against the table.

“I…” I swallow, glancing down at my drink. “I think I’ll wait a little before telling him.”

Alice tilts her head, watching me closely. “Why?”

I force a small smile, but my heart feels unsteady. “I just… want to be sure of a few things first.”

Alice doesn’t push. She just nods, but I can feel her curiosity. Still, I don’t say more. Because for the first time since I saw those two pink lines, doubt creeps in.

The rest of lunch with Alice passes in a blur. I can barely focus on what we talk about, my mind running in circles around the little stick that has changed everything. By the time we leave the restaurant, stepping out into the warm afternoon sun, all I can think about is that I have to find out how Alex feels about children before I tell him.

I try not to let it weigh on me too much as I go home and get ready for tonight. I’m having a birthday dinner with Alex tonight. It feels more than a night out to celebrate my birthday, it feels like it’s also a reunion. It’s the first date we are having since that dreadful day that he left.

But even as I curl my hair and clasp my pearl necklace in place, the weight of the question hangs over me: How do I ask without making it obvious?

I take a slow breath, smoothing my hands down the fitted black dress hugging my body. I’ll find a way.

And then, just like that, the hours vanish. Before I know it, I’m in a taxi, watching the city lights flicker through the window, my stomach twisting with nerves.

By the time I step into the restaurant, I take a glance at my reflection in a passing mirror—just a fleeting check. I look good. Collected. But my pulse betrays me, quick and uneven as I walk toward our reserved table.

Alex is already there. And my goodness, he looks immaculate. Dark suit, sharp lines, effortless elegance. He rises as I approach, his gaze sweeping over me in a way that makes warmth curl in my stomach. Then, he leans in, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to my lips.

My knees go weak.

For a second, I let myself sink into the moment.

He pulls back, smiling down at me, and then, in that effortless way of his, he pulls out my chair, his hand guiding me gently at the small of my back as I sit.

The heat of his touch lingers as he rounds the table, taking his seat, and for a moment, I just look at him.

God, I missed him.

We order, and as we start eating, I realize just how much I missed this, too. The easy intimacy of sharing a meal with him. Whether it’s salty ramen in my office at some ungodly hour or sitting across from him in a dimly lit restaurant. It’s always comfortable. It always feels like home.

Alex watches me, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You feel it too, right?”

I glance up, swallowing a bite of food. “Feel what?”

He leans forward slightly, his voice low, intimate. “How good this feels. I’ve missed having meals with you so much.”

My heart clenches, and I can’t help but smile. “Yeah. I feel it.”

For a moment, everything is perfect. But just then, his phone rings. He sighs, already reaching for it. “I’m just going to hang up. Tonight is about you.” But the second he sees the name on the screen, his expression switches.

“I’m sorry,” he says, looking up at me, his brows slightly furrowed. “I have to take this one.”

I nod, watching quietly as he lifts the phone to his ear.

“Jack, what is it?”

His tone is all business now. That controlled authority he wears so naturally. But then, as he listens, something changes.

It’s subtle—his jaw tightening, his brows drawing in—but I see it. Feel it. The way a seriousness settles over him, the way his entire posture stiffens. Whatever he’s hearing, it’s doesn’t seem good.

He barely says anything, just low, measured hmm-hmms , absorbing whatever is being relayed to him.

Then, finally— “I’ll call you back, Jack.” He hangs up, staring down at his plate, his expression unreadable.

I hesitate before asking, “Everything okay?”

He glances up, forcing a small smile. “Yes. Everything’s fine. Just some little issues back in the kingdoms in Europe.”

It’s feels like a lie. Or at least, not the full truth. I can see it in the way his fingers tap against the table, the slight crease in his brow.

I press again. “Alex.”

He shakes his head. “Katherine, it’s fine. Tonight is about you. I won’t let anything get in the way of this.”

And just like that, he pushes it aside. We eat in silence for a bit, but I can barely focus. The pregnancy. The question I need to ask. It’s a constant drumbeat in my head, and finally, I can’t hold it in anymore.

“So,” I say carefully, “last night. Do you remember when I said I’d always wanted children? That I wanted to make sure they always feel special?”

Alex stills. It’s barely noticeable—the way his shoulders tense, the way his hand stills mid-motion—but I see it.

He forces a small smile. “Yes. I remember that.”

I take a breath. “I noticed you didn’t say much about it. And it got me wondering.”

His expression tightens slightly. “Wondering what?”

I meet his gaze. “If the feeling is mutual. If it’s something you think about too.”

There’s pause. His eyes hold mine for a long moment, but then, he looks down, like he doesn’t have an answer. Or doesn’t want to answer.

I wait. When the silence stretches too long, I press again. “You’re not going to answer?”

His jaw tics. “What exactly are you asking me?”

I exhale sharply. “I’m simply asking if you want kids. If this thing between us is going anywhere, I think I should know.”

He drops his fork now and takes a deep breath. His voice is measured when he finally speaks. “It’s just not something I think about.”

Something inside me chills. I blink. “You don’t think about children?”

His voice is softer now, like he’s trying to keep things calm. “It’s not that… it’s just…” He exhales. “Katherine, I just got you back. And this moment—being here with you—it’s everything to me. I’m happy just being with you.” His eyes search mine. “You’re all the happiness I need.”

Something about the way he says it rubs me the wrong way. I sit back, crossing my arms. “Alex. I asked a simple question. Do you want children?”

His frustration flares now. “Why are we even talking about this right now?”

“Because it’s important to me. Because I want to know what we’re doing here.”

He shakes his head, exhaling sharply. “How does that have anything to do with us? Katherine, we don’t need children to be happy. I am the happiest when I’m with you. Am I not enough for you?”

I hate that. The way he turns this into something else entirely. I scoff. “Don’t do that. Don’t make this something else. Why is it so hard for you to answer?”

He looks at me, frustration in his eyes, but then he shakes his head. “Please. Let’s not do this right now.” His voice softens. “Let’s not ruin this moment.”

I let out a hollow laugh. It’s so clear now. He doesn’t want children. He never has. And, as always, he’s thinking only about himself.

I stand abruptly, grabbing my purse. “I don’t feel good. I’m going home.”

“Katherine—wait. Please.”

But I don’t stop. I don’t even look back. As I step out into the night, my heart heavy, I know one thing for sure: If Alex doesn’t want children, then we can’t be together. And this baby growing inside me, I will never allow it to feel unwanted, not by me and not by any parent it’ll have.

I’ll raise this child alone. I won’t even bother Alex with the news of it’s existence. If he doesn’t want children, then he doesn’t need to know he has any.

I’ll be everything my baby needs. Even if it breaks me.