Page 22 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow (Eternal Oath Saga #2)

Alex

She doesn’t look back. She doesn’t even pause.

Her black dress sways behind her as she pushes through the restaurant doors, disappearing into the night.

“Katherine.” My voice is low, desperate, barely louder than the hum of conversations around me. I push up from my seat, but it’s too late. She’s already gone.

I sink back down, exhaling sharply as my hands drag down my face.

She doesn’t know.

She doesn’t know that I would give anything to build a life with her, to have a family, to raise a child together. She doesn’t know that the thought of holding a child with her eyes, her laugh, her warmth, is something that would give me more joy than almost anything I can fathom.

But it’s not that simple.

Because carrying my child could kill her.

The thought alone makes my stomach churn. I close my eyes, jaw tightening, hands curling into fists against the table. Katherine thinks I don’t want children. She thinks I’m selfish, that I only care about what I want. And it kills me that she believes that.

But I can’t tell her the truth.

Because if I do—if I tell her what carrying a shifter’s child, my child, could do to her—what if she decides she doesn’t want to be with me anymore?

I see it in her eyes. Hear it in her voice. She wants a family someday. The her face lit up when she talked about nurturing a child of her own—it’s clearly something she’s always looked forward to. And if she learns she can’t have that with me… what then?

Or worse—what if she fights me on it? What if she looks me in the eye and tells me she’s strong, that she can handle it, that she’s willing to take the risk?

But I’m not willing to take that risk. I won’t.

I already watched her come close to dying once. And it was one of the worst moment of my life.

It still plays in my head like a nightmare on repeat. The car hauling dangerously, metal groaning as it tumbled down through the woods, her scream cutting through the chaos. That jagged piece of wood piercing through the windshield, slicing through the air, aiming straight for her. It happened so fast, pure reflex taking over—I lunged, throwing myself in front of her, shielding her with my body before my brain even caught up. I saved her. But what if I had been a second too late? What if, instead of protecting her, all I had done was watch?

I won’t risk her life again. I will not be the reason she dies.

And yet, it’s starting to feel like those are my only choices—stay with her and put her in danger, or keep her safe by staying away and live with the unbearable pain of losing her.

My mind snaps back to the phone call from earlier. I know she noticed the change in my expression, the way my shoulders tensed. She saw it. Felt it. She knew something was off. And she was right.

I tried to mask it, but I could feel the telltale signs of my anger betraying me—my brows furrowing, my fingers twitching at my sides as Jack spoke. He told me Valerian and those disgraced, dishonorable council members who took his bribes had been stirring unrest. Spreading word throughout the kingdom that I intended to make a human my mate. My Queen. Conveniently omitting the part that she is my fated mate.

But that wasn’t what sent a slow, seething rage curling through my veins, making my grip tighten around the phone.

It was what came next.

The council had decided. They would only accept her as Queen if she bore me an heir.

Jack knows. The council knows. They all know exactly what happens when a human carries a shifter’s child. And yet, they dangle it in front of me like a demand, like an ultimatum. Like bait. All because of Valerian. Because he’s twisting the truth, spinning it into something dangerous. Using Katherine as a pawn to push his own agenda.

I had barely managed to tell Jack I’d call him back. I couldn’t deal with it. Not in that moment. Not when I was trying to give Katherine a normal night, a night untouched by all of this. A normal birthday dinner with just us.

But now, the moment’s already ruined. So I might as well face it. Might as well find out the full extent of this mess.

I reach for my phone where it sits on the table, fingers wrapping tightly around it. A quiet exhale, and then I press Jack’s number, bringing it to my ear.

It doesn’t even ring twice.The moment Jack picks up, I can barely keep the anger from my voice.

“Keep talking.” My grip tightens around the phone, my fingers curling so hard that the plastic casing creaks under the pressure. My jaw aches from clenching.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jack says immediately. His voice is steady, but there’s a sharp edge to it.

“The rumors Valerian and his followers have been spreading… they’re taking root. Some of the pack families that have always been loyal to you—they’re getting restless. They fear that you may take a mate who won’t be able to give you an heir. And Valerian is using that fear, twisting it to gain political leverage.”

The rage hits me instantly, hot and vicious. My free hand balls into a fist against the table. My knuckles burn as my nails dig into my palm, but it doesn’t stop the fury spreading through my chest like wildfire.

The nerve of that bastard.

He’s trying to tear my kingdom apart, fueling doubt, sowing discord—all because he lost. Because he was exposed. Because he couldn’t stand that I took back what was rightfully mine.

Jack exhales sharply. “But there’s good news.” A pause. “We’ve found his location.”

I blink.

For months, that elusive snake has managed to stay hidden, slipping through every search, evading every lead. Ever since I exposed him for bribing his way onto the throne, he’s been on the run, avoiding justice, avoiding trial.

But now…

“You know where Valerian is?” My voice is sharp, rising slightly.

“Yes, my King. We’ve located him. But what we found is… concerning. And urgent.”

My patience wears thinner by the second. “Tell me what you’ve found.”

Jack doesn’t hesitate. “Valerian is on the outskirts of the kingdom,” he says, voice firm, direct. “But he’s not alone. He’s been amassing forces. Thousands of them. He and the corrupt council members who fled with him. They’re preparing for something. We have reason to believe an attack is imminent.”

My blood boils. My grip on the phone tightens even further, my other hand shaking with restrained fury. My eyes narrow, jaw clenching even harder.

Of course he’s planning something. Of course he didn’t just slink away in defeat. He’s been waiting. Plotting. Gathering his strength, manipulating those foolish enough to listen. And now, he’s threatening to throw the entire kingdom into war—just to feed his own delusions of power.

Jack’s voice presses on, urgent. “Given the rumors he’s spread, it’s clear they plan to ignite civil war. To unseat you, Your Majesty. And if they strike first, it’ll be chaos. Bloodshed. We have to act now. We know where he is. If we move quickly, we can eliminate his forces before they have a chance to execute anything.”

I stare blankly at the table, my mind spinning, storming.

I should have known. Should have anticipated this. Valerian was never going to let it go. But this? This is madness.

Jack’s voice cuts through my thoughts, sharp and insistent. “Alex. This is our chance to end it. You know what’s at stake. If he moves first, the war it will start will lead to the death of many innocent civilians We can stop this before it even begins. You have to return to the kingdom. Now.”

That’s how I know it’s serious. That Jack is tense. When he calls me Alex.

We’ve been friends for years, and when it comes to official duties, he always keeps it formal. Always calls me by my royal titles. But when there’s real danger—when something is on the verge of disaster—he calls me by my name.

I don’t respond right away. Silence stretches between us, thick and heavy.

Katherine lingers in my mind. The way she looked at me before she stormed off—the hurt in her eyes, the frustration in her voice. I hate leaving things like this. Hate knowing she’s hurting, that she’s upset, that I can’t fix it before I go. I wish I had more time. Time to explain. To make things right, even if I can’t tell her everything.

But I don’t have time.

If I stay, I put her in more danger. If I wait, I give Valerian more time to act. And if he strikes first, the consequences will be catastrophic.

I exhale, jaw tightening.

No more waiting. No more letting him dictate the battlefield. This ends now.

“I’m coming back,” I say finally, my voice cold, steady. Deadly. “And Valerian will pay for this.”

Jack exhales, relief evident in his voice. “Excellent. I’ll make the preparations.”

I don’t say another word. I just end the call and drop the phone onto the table, my mind spinning, my hands curled into fists.

Everything inside me feels like a storm.

The hours fly by after I leave the restaurant and return to my pent house apartment in the city. The one I can stay in now that I don’t have to pretend to be a janitor anymore.

I toss and turn in my bed all through the night. Sleep eludes me as my mind won’t shut off. It’s a constant loop of thoughts, memories, possibilities. My kingdom. Valerian. Katherine. Every time I close my eyes, something else pulls me back.

Lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling of my penthouse, I think about what’s coming. The battle I have to fight. The war I have to stop before it even begins. For months, Valerian has lurked in the shadows, waiting for his chance to strike, and now that I finally have him within reach, I should be focused on that. I need to be focused on that.

But then there’s Katherine.

I run a hand down my face, exhausted but restless. It’s still dark outside, but I know I won’t be getting any sleep tonight. So I make a decision.

I have to see her before I leave. I don’t know what I’m going to say. I don’t know if I’m ready to tell her that having a child with me could endanger her life. But I know I have to talk to her.

By the time morning arrives, I’ve barely had any sleep. The moment the clock strikes 9AM, the time I know Katherine arrives at the office, I head outside. My guards are already waiting, ever present as I move out the building and to the car.

Pinnacle Group’s building is sleek and modern, all glass and steel, towering over the city. My guards stay behind at the car, just as I instructed them to. I don’t want to bring any more tension into this than there already is.

The elevator ride up feels endless. The weight in my chest only grows heavier as I step out onto her floor, making my way down the hall to her office.

I knock once.

“Come in,” her voice calls from inside.

I hesitate for a split second before I push the door open and find her sitting behind her desk, looking stunning and untouchable all at once. Her hair is swept back, her outfit professional and precise, but it’s her eyes that get me. They’re cold. Guarded. A wall has been built overnight, and I know it’s because of me.

She doesn’t get up. Doesn’t greet me. She just lifts her gaze, her lips pressing into a thin line as she waits for me to speak.

“Katherine,” I start, stepping further inside, closing the door behind me.

She exhales slowly, setting down her pen, folding her hands over the desk. “What do you want, Alex?”

Her tone is clipped, distant.

I run a hand through my hair, exhaling. I want to tell her, to explain to her how deep this runs. How desperately I want to protect her from anything that could bring her harm, even if that thing is being the mother of my children. But I can’t bring myself to say it, and when I speak, I say something else.

“There’s something I have to take care of back home. Something urgent.”

She nods once, almost robotic. “Fine.”

That’s it. Just “fine”. Like my leaving means nothing. Like I mean nothing.

But I see it. The flicker of something in her eyes before she looks away. The way her fingers tighten ever so slightly around the edge of the desk. She’s hurt. She’s upset. And she’s doing everything she can to bury it.

I step closer. “Katherine, I—”

“You don’t owe me an explanation.” Her voice is sharp, cutting through whatever I was about to say. “I’m sure you have very pressing royal matters to attend to. I understand.”

Frustration coils tight in my chest. “I promise. When I return, we’ll talk about the conversation we had last night. I’ll explain.”

“Explain what, Alex?” she snaps, finally looking at me again, and this time, there’s fire in her eyes. “You don’t have to explain anything. I got the message crystal clear from last night.”

I open my mouth, everything in me wanting to tell her. My wolf growls within me, urging me to speak. But I rein it in.

Because if I tell her the truth—if I tell her that the only reason I don’t want to have children with her is because it could kill her— what if she doesn’t understand? What if she decides she doesn’t want to be with me anymore?

Or worse—what if she does understand but still chooses to risk it? I can’t let that happen.

So instead, I do what I always do. I keep my walls up. I keep the truth locked inside.

I exhale, shaking my head. “I’ll be back soon.”

She doesn’t say anything. The silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating.

I want to fix this. I want to stay. But if I do, I won’t be able to leave. So I turn away. I force myself to walk to the door, to grip the handle, to step out of the office without looking back. Because if I look back, I might not be able to go at all.

I move straight out of the building. Forcing each step as I reach the parking lot. My phone buzzes as I walk. I pull it out and glance at the screen. A message from Jack.

The private plane is ready. We’re waiting to received you when you arrive.

I exhale, glancing up at the sky for a moment before tucking my phone away.

My guards stand at attention by the car, waiting for me. But before I get in, I turn to them, my voice low, firm. “Stay behind.”

They exchange a quick glance, confused. One of them steps forward. “Your Majesty?”

“Stay behind,” I repeat. “Watch over her. Protect her with your lives. But don’t make it obvious. Don’t let her know.” I meet their eyes, my expression deadly serious. “I don’t want her bothered. Just safe. Understood?”

They nod immediately. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Satisfied, I open the car door and slide inside.

As the driver pulls away from the curb, my mind is still with her.

Even as I head to the airport, even as I prepare to go back to my kingdom and end Valerian once and for all—she is the one thing I can’t stop thinking about.