Page 15 of The Baby Contract

Boris held my hand as the large shadow formed a cloud over us as if it were just a huge hurricane waiting to hit land.

"There's nowhere to run," Boris whispered, looking at the ground ahead, as the shadow behind us came closer. "He will catch us."

My eyes widened as my sweaty hand gripped Boris', frozen as he thought about his next move. As he pondered ahead, the shadow became larger behind us, engulfing us in his heat, demanding to be noticed.

He towered over us, his shadow twice the size of my frame. He had become bigger as he puffed out his chest, letting out a warning growl behind us, threatening our every move, and focused on our every touch.

A thunderous roar shook the earth around us as his gaze burned fire at Boris' hands clasped in mine. His growl sent vibrations up my body, from my feet to my head, making me lose all courage from the fear of what was to come.

"Millie- "Boris looked over at me, his eyes now black. As I locked eyes with him, my heart jumped, surprised by Boris' change of demeanor. Something bad was about to happen, and he and his wolf knew it.

"Millie- "He said again, his eyes shifting to look at our intertwined hands. "I'm sorry," he sighed, letting out a sigh, as he closed his eyes sadly, squeezing my hand sadly before pulling it away.

I panicked. "Wait," I reached back out for his hand. "Where are you going?" I trusted Boris, he had protected me at Stormblade. He wasn't like Grey or the others. He cared.

And, now he was leaving me, with this deadly shadow looming behind us.

"I'm sorry-"His forehead creased, before pulling away. "I must. I can't fight him when he's like this. He's the Alpha for a reason, Millie. He will rip my throat out and kill me in a second if I challenge him over his pup."

A loud snapping noise came from behind us, the shadow showing his strength as time passed. "You can't leave me-"I pleaded, my eyes welling with tears. "I can't-"I struggled, looking down at my shaking hands through the tears.

If Boris admitted he was no match for Alpha Stormblade, there was no way I would be. He was his Beta, chosen to lead by his side for his unwavering strength and ability.

I would never survive.

Boris looked back at the shadow as he took cautious steps away from me, leaving me in my place. Feeling small and vulnerable without him by my side.

This is it. I would never be able to fight an Alpha. I would surely die. Here, without ever being able about to say goodbye to- "Listen to me, Millie-" Boris shouted from afar. "You are- "

"Boris!" Aspen's small voice shook in the distance. "You can't leave her! Do something!" I kept my eyes focused on my shaky hands in front of me, afraid to move.

"Aspen, I told you to leave!" Boris snapped, frustrated, before joining her. "Ugh! Come on, we have to go!"

My eyes blurred with tears as their scents became weaker, their worried voices becoming smaller as they found their way out of the rose maze. I looked up, the lake in front of me still rushing water, the garden still plush with roses. My hands, as I flipped them, were still shaking, and alive.

I was alone.

This is how I would die. Right here, in this beautiful rose garden, by the hands of the Alpha I was sold to, with the only baby I'll probably be able to have, growing in my tummy.

I blinked, a tear dropping into the grass as it grazed my cheek. I let out a shaky breath, crossing my hands into my jacket, as I squeezed my arms across my chest, preparing for my imminent death.

And that's when I felt it. A warm, wet tongue on my face.

I flinched, taking a step back at the contact, afraid to open my eyes, to see what was coming next.

The licking continued.

The tongue made long, calm, laps on my face, catching my tears as they ran down my face. The shadow felt warm around me, but it wasn't like before, hot and fiery, threatening death, it was comforting and sweet.

That's when I heard a sweet rumble come from the creature in front of me, encouraging me to open my eyes, something cold, which I imagined to be a snout, nudged my arm gently, desperate for my attention.

When I opened my eyes, a black wolf stood in front of me, towering the same height as my human form, his eyes and fur the color of midnight. He exuded power and status, his wolf strong and mighty. He was bigger than any wolf I had ever seen in my whole life.

His eyes met mine, tilting his head in confusion as he whined. He backed away, bending his front legs to get down as he lay in front of me, waving his tail in the air as he looked up at me.

I stared in awe as he used his snout to lift my jacket and uncover my tummy. He purred, his tail wagging as he licked my uncovered tummy, leaving wolf kisses all over me.

Oh, my goddess.

He stopped when he was satisfied, purring as he backed away slightly, seeming pleased with his actions. He lightly grabbed the sleeve of my jacket with his mouth, guiding me over to a large oak tree. He put his head down, signaling me to sit down beside this tree.

I did as I was shown, following his orders. He was pleased when he saw me sitting. His wolf purred, before turning and running away, quickly disappearing behind the dense forest.

I sighed, closing my eyes as I held my hands over my tummy. Thank goddess, he left.

It wasn't very long until Alpha Stormblade's wolf came back, this time, with a huge buck in his mouth, freshly killed. That was quick, I guess he was an Alpha, a hunting expert.

He was proud, too. He laid it in front of me, his eyes desperate for my approval of his catch. I shivered, pulling my knees to my chest, as he prepared the buck for us to eat.

Once he finished, he brought the first piece of meat to me and set it in my lap. He laid down next to me, putting his large head on my knee as he watched eagerly for me to pick up his kill and eat it.

I gulped, nervous as I felt his gaze on me. He wanted to feed his baby. I stole a look at him, still unwavering and waiting as he stared at the fresh piece of meat.

I nodded, my hands shaking as I picked up the buck, taking the first piece into my mouth. I focused on chewing, which became difficult at this moment, with Alpha Stormblade's hot gaze on me.

He purred as I swallowed, his tail wagging. He stood, going over to the buck and grabbing more meat in his mouth before bringing it all over to me to eat.

It was a lot of food. I sighed, my tummy rumbling at the sight. But, with the way Alpha was looking at me, I knew I wasn't going to be able to leave unless I ate every last bite.

As I ate, his head tilted, confused. He got more and more anxious as he watched me eat, standing and walking in circles.

He finally seemed to have enough, running off into the forest again to hunt. What had made him so anxious?

Alpha came back much happier this time, carrying a vine of grapes in his mouth, and laying them in front of me. He moved the rest of the buck that I hardly picked, replacing it with the fruit.

He thought I didn't like the buck and got me grapes instead.

I smiled quickly at the gesture. "Thanks," I whispered, picking them up and eating them.

Alpha spun at the sound of my voice, elated that I was talking to him. He loved my approval so much that he was ready to run into the forest and grab all the grapes he could.

Then, as I ate, he placed a single red rose on my lap.

He pranced away after that, going to work on the huge pile of roses Boris had seen earlier, this time, bringing them to this part of the forest, and adding tree branches, leaves, and anything else satisfactory to it as I sat and watched him.

When I finished eating, he ran over, leaving his project. He nudged my arm, wanting me to stand, as he dug his paws into the dirt, mimicking a run.

"You want me to shift?" I rubbed my arms nervously.

He nodded, barking excitedly in the air. I sighed, my face flushing. Pregnant she-wolves could shift, especially early in their pregnancies, it wouldn't hurt the baby. That, Alpha Stormblade's wolf was right about.

But, after our mate's rejection, mine couldn't.

She had slowly been dying over these years, after suffering all those nights, hearing Lily's lustful howls as she slept with our mate upstairs in his suite.

But, after the rejection, she couldn't stand to mourn anymore and practically died to cope with the pain.

Unable to face the fact that she was unwanted by the one she was fated to.

Alpha Stormblade's wet snout broke me out of my thoughts, his eyes looking worried as they narrowed in. He pawed at me, eager to take me on a tour of his lands.

"I'm sorry, I don't feel well enough to shift right now," I partially lied, nervous for his response, now that I had turned down an Alpha.

But, he didn't get mad. Instead, he leaned down to help me on his back, carefully scooping me up. He was slow and careful as he walked us over to his nest, getting down on all fours to let me get down into it.

He gently wrapped his warm, furry body around mine inside his nest, wrapping me in his heat. He urged me to lay my head down on him, to get as comfortable as possible.

We lay here for hours. Alpha Stormblade's wolf let out, settle, comforting purrs as he groomed me. He lay with his eyes closed as he dragged his tongue up and down my hair for hours under the stars, enjoying the acts.

He wanted me to sleep.

My eyes snapped open when a cold breeze ran over my face, now exposed to the wind. I sat up quickly, my heart pounding in my chest. The sun now replacing the moon, signaling the next morning.

I was in the same place I fell asleep with Alpha Stormblade's wolf last night, except, as I looked around, he was gone.

I stumbled to my feet, brushing the leaves and dirt off my pants as I surveyed the rose garden. I took a slow step, bravely going to look where he had disappeared between the trees to hunt yesterday, but he wasn't there.

Had he gone back to the pack house and left me out here by myself?

My heart picked up, as I focused on this thought. If he left me out here I could-

I could-I whipped my head around, looking around desperately for any onlookers. Had he really left me alone in these woods? Without any supervision?

I gulped. The forest was quiet, not a sound to be heard. Even the birds had not flocked away, and the prey had not run, meaning that they were not being hunted.

I had to-It was my chance.

When Boris had gotten me from Eclipse, we had driven for hours to Stormbalde. We came in through the east side entrance. If I started walking that way and was able to catch Nova's scent, I would be able to follow it back to her.

I laid my hand on my tummy, my baby growing inside of me. If I had any chance of getting away, it would be now, when I wasn't as big as a whale. I could run away with my baby, I wouldn't have to ever give them up, I could be a mom.

The leaves crushed under my boots as I took a few cautious steps. I slowly picked up the pace, setting my eyes on a sharpened tree branch in the distance. I tucked it into my jacket, as I swerved carefully through the trees, getting faster as no sounds came, signaling the coast clear.

I couldn't run to Eclipse, Alpha Orion would already have Alpha Stormblade on speed dial, sending me straight back to his pack, with my death, and Nova's guaranteed after I gave birth.

I could go rogue.

But, I would have to find a way to get Nova out of Eclipse first. I couldn't just leave her there, without ever hearing from me again.

I didn't know what I was going to do; all I knew was that this time, I didn't need to fight; I needed to run.

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