Page 12 of The Baby Contract

Dad's lectures have evolved over the last five years since Ember passed.

They've turned from sympathy to encouragement pep talks, to constant reminders of what Alphas, do and don't do, and the rules we must follow. Dad had broken up many fights between Boris and me when we were kids, but now that we were leaders of this pack, he expected more of us.

"You and Boris need to start working like a team again," Dad said, swirling his glass before taking a drink. "He is your Beta, you have to start listening to him and trusting each other."

I rolled my eyes, before slamming my whiskey down. "Yeah, well maybe that would be easier if he started listening to my commands and stopped doing whatever he wanted," I grunted, annoyed. "It's my pup, not his. So, maybe he should start acting like it."

"Look, kiddo." Dad sighed, leaning back on the couch. "When your mother got pregnant with you and Aspen, I was very protective over her and you pups. And, I knew at that time, I needed my Beta."

"It was hard leading one of the largest packs in the whole Kingdom while also tending to my heir on the way- "he smiled at the memories.

"Boris is taking that off your plate for now.

But, once the baby comes, you will have to rely heavily on Boris for support, especially since you won't have a Luna at home to tend to the baby.

He will have to take over a lot more of the pack duties so you can take care of your child. "

I sighed, pondering on Dad's words. "I don't plan to leave my child alone with the maids if that was what you were implying," I growled. "I can be a father and an Alpha at the same time."

"Fatherhood is not as easy as you think, Theo," Dad scolded. "You and Aspen were, and still are, a handful. It's a lifetime commitment. And-" Dad drew out his words. "That's why you'll need your Beta to help you. Just like you'll be there to help him when he meets his mate and has pups."

"Yeah," I took a deep breath, leaning back in my chair. "Well, if he would lay off Millie that would be nice."

Dad nodded, a smile spreading across his face as he picked up his glass. "Boris must feel a need to protect her. I don't know what you did, son." He took a sip. "But I always knew he would be a good match for you."

I growled, my hand gripping the glass before it broke, small drops of whiskey and glass shattering onto the desk.

"I didn't do-"I growled, going to stand, before my wolf stopped me, sending shivers down my body, stopping me in my tracks. My eyes shut close, my fist shut tightly, as I fought him coming forward, before finally he let go, letting me have the power back over my body.

As I opened my eyes, I saw Dad in the same position on the couch, now sitting amused with his arms across his chest. "Well, I may be retired, but my years of Alpha training never fail me." He sighed, his amusement turning to disappointment. "You did do something bad."

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, their scent immediately letting us know it was Boris. My wolf immediately perked up, remembering where Boris was going before Dad had separated us.

Boris entered, eyeing us both, taking in the situation as he closed the heavy oak door. "Alphas." He bowed. "Am I interrupting?"

"Ye-" I started, mad at his presence. My wolf jumped at my chest for my response, angry that I would turn him away when he had just come back from seeing Millie.

Before my wolf could answer, Dad flashed his canines, throwing me a warning. "Not at all, Boris. Come in." Dad waved him over. "Would you like some whiskey? I can call the maid in."

"No, thank you." Boris flashed a smile, as he plopped down on the couch next to Dad, a folder in his hands. He was covered in Millie's rose scent, more pungent than I had ever smelt before, which made my wolf howl out in jealousy.

"How did the appointment go?" Dad asked, looking at the folder curiously.

Boris sat it on the desk, clearing his throat as he looked up cautiously at me. "It was-"

"Why do you smell so heavily of Millie's scent?" I blurted out, before I could control it, my wolf coming forward. "Were you touching her?"

"Theo- "Dad scolded. "Calm your wolf."

Boris looked stunned at my reaction. "What are you insinuating?"

"You smell heavily of roses. You must have been touching her." I growled, my eyes scanning him up and down, before switching my eyes to the clock on my computer. "Plus, you've been in her room for over two hours. The doctor's appointment shouldn't have taken that long."

Boris scoffed in pure disbelief. "Are you kidding me? Are you implying that I slept with your pregnant female?"

"Theo, Boris. "Dad threatened. "Control yourselves."

"You slept with some unmated females back when we were going out to the clubs." I shot back. "Why not Millie? You seem to have taken a liking to her."

Boris scoffed. "Goddess, Alpha. Just because I'm an unmated male, all of a sudden, I've slept with her. What's your fucking problem? Of course, I didn't sleep with her, you idiot."

"Boris- "Dad sighed, patting him on the back to bring him back to reality, as he shot me a death glare. "Please, tell us about Millie's appointment."

"I would be happy to-"Boris opened the file. "Apparently it was a big orgy fuck fest."

My wolf clawed at my chest, my canines growing over my lips, my hands slamming onto the desk. "Boris-"Dad warned. "Don't push it. Theo is already very protective of his pup."

"Right- "Boris shook his head, shooting me a glare. "Sorry, Alpha."

Dad ushered me to sit, as Boris continued. "Doctor said Millie looked good so far. Everything was normal." He reported. "He gave her some prenatal vitamins and instructions on rest and nutrition, that was it."

"Well, that's all very good." Dad smiled, happy with the news. "Anything else we should know about?"

Boris sighed, looking down at the folder, pondering on something. He glanced between me and Dad, seeming to question if it was worth telling us or not.

"Alpha- "Boris closed his eyes sadly. "There is something that I wanted to talk with you about."

My wolf perked up, his ears twitching at his Beta's sudden mood change. "Of course, anything. What is it?" Dad answered, his face worried. "Is everything fine?"

"Well, it was just-" Boris rubbed his temples, thinking. "When Doctor Rowan went over the medical history questions with Millie, some of her answers didn't add up."

Dad raised his brows. "Oh. Like what?"

Boris looked over the report. "Well, when he asked her age-" his lip twitched. "She answered like she wasn't sure. That just seems like something you would know."

"Hmm." Dad leaned back on the couch, listening intently.

"And-" Boris continued. "When he asked her about her mate, she said the same thing Alpha Orion told us, but something seemed, off. Ingrid and I both felt it."

"I see."

"And, she said there was no history of life-threatening illnesses in her family." Boris studied the report. "Although, her parents are both deceased. Warriors, at that."

I sighed. "Warriors die all the time in weak, impoverished packs like Eclipse. They don't have the proper weaponry or enough wolves to keep up their strength. What's the surprise?"

Dad and Boris ignored me, continuing their own conversation. "Millie said her parents were warriors in the Eclipse pack before their passing?" Dad questioned softly.

"Yes." Boris nodded. "And, Millie was very obviously a maid. I don't get it. How come she didn't train to become a warrior even after her parents passing if that is true?"

"Who cares- "I butted in. "Alpha Orion can do what he wants. That's none of our business as long as he's not harming any of our wolves or committing any illegal acts."

Dad shook his head. "Who knows? I mean, the Alpha could have always trained her. I can't speak for Alpha Orion; he's always been one of the more quiet Alphas."

"Why do you care so much anyway?" I spat. "Doesn't seem like news to anyone. The Eclipse pack has always been an impoverished, dirty, hell hole."

Dad looked at me and sighed, before patting Boris on the back. "Thank you for doing this Boris, let us know if you have any more updates." He smiled quickly. "You can be dismissed now."

Boris stood gratefully, snatching the folder, bowing one last time as he left quickly, more than happy to leave my office. I sat, rubbing my temples, staring down at the desk. "Theo- "Dad's voice became dark and menacing. The one you didn't want to mess with. "Look at me, now."

I didn't fight it, but instead, looked up to meet Dad's know black eyes. "I understand that you have some feelings revolving around Millie," Dad growled lowly. "Forget about it. I don't care if she's your worst enemy or your best friend, it doesn't matter."

"She's our last chance at getting an heir for this pack, Theo," Dad reminded his chest rumbling. "Without her, there is no future Alpha for Stormblade."

I stared at the desk, my head in my hands as Dad's wolf rumbled, ready to jump out of his chest and attack me. Dad had a lot of practice in controlling his wolf, as even when he was making a visual appearance in his human form, sprouting hair, and his claws, even then, Dad was able to hold him.

"So, get over your pride and treat her with decency while she's here at Stormblade. She may not be your mate, a high-ranking pack member, or from a wealthy pack," Dad rolled his eyes at this statement. "But, she's your pup's mother, and we are lucky to find someone willing to do this for us."

"No one is happy about being in this situation, Theo," Dad's face turned to disappointment. "You need to get over it. And, try to be happy and excited about what's to come."

Dad stood, seeming to be losing control of his wolf by the minute. "Maybe it will finally be an opportunity for you to turn the page and be happy." He said, his last words turning into rumbles as he shut the door behind him, the pictures on the walls moving on their nails from the force.

I stared at the door in shock as the pictures settled into their new places. I had never seen Dad so mad before, especially at me. My wolf whimpered, settling into the new feeling around him. Dad's anger and disappointment.

He soaked in Boris' words about Millie, his mind immediately falling head over heels for her rose scent that still lingered in my office.

He clawed at my chest, more eager than ever to see her, feeling mixed emotions that she had gotten pregnant so quickly. He had missed the time he had spent with her, having sex, their bodies mingled together. Millie's perfect pink, pussy filled with his seed.

He cursed that she was so fertile. He wanted to run out of this office and see her again, to touch her, to become encapsulated in her scent, even more than Boris was. He was full of raging, fiery jealousy.

He missed the feel of her soft skin. The way her wavy long, brown hair lay against the pillow, and the look of her sweet, wide, brown eyes. He loved the shape of her plump breasts, and how they moved against us as we fucked her. The curves on her body were enough to drive his beast wild.

I grabbed my hair, pulling at it as the thoughts raged on. I felt guilty for them, I was a mated man, and I shouldn't be thinking this way about another woman.

My wolf was wild. So wild, that tonight, he didn't sleep in his office, but again, needed to be engulfed in Millie's now dissipating rose scent that he desperately wanted to hold onto.

But, going to the rose garden to work on his nest wasn't good enough. He needed to be close to his pup. To her.

As the house got dark, and the lights went down, he did just that, taking me upstairs to Millie's room, the nurses bowing respectfully as I walked by. The hallways were quiet, Ingrid's cart gone for the night.

I stared down at the lockbox. Since Boris had taken over her care, he had taken the key, but what if he had forgotten to lock it?

I gulped, taking the box in my hands. The lights looked like they were off, not a sound coming from inside the room. She must be sleeping.

I turned the box, trying the lock, before quickly realizing Boris had not forgotten to lock the door. My wolf growled, getting mad at his Beta for blocking his way to his pregnant female.

Only this door was between us, but yet, she felt so far away.

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