Page 30 of The Baby Contract

"The sunset was beautiful, wasn't it?"

I rubbed Millie's arms gently, warming her up. Her breaths became slow and steady as the night went on, a comfortable silence falling over us as she snuggled up on my chest.

Millie didn't respond. I moved my head around to see her face. "Millie?"

Her eyes were closed, with her cheek pressed against my chest. She was sleeping. She fell asleep in my arms.

The moon's light reflected onto the water, illuminating the beach with a soft glow. I scooped Millie up, fulfilling my wolf's very wish to carry her back to the house where she could sleep properly.

Millie groaned when I lifted her. She shoved her face into my chest, protesting at the movement.

My wolf loved the fact that Millie never woke. In a way, it was confirmation to him that she trusted us deep down, even if she didn't show it. That she knew she was safe and taken care of in our presence.

I moved the blankets with one arm before placing Millie softly on the bed. I covered her up with the comforter, tucking it up to her chin.

I stood awkwardly over the bed, studying her sleeping figure. Should I stay with her here? Lay in the bed next to her?

Every being inside of me screamed yes. To climb under the blanket with Millie and warm her and our pups up. It was in my every nature as a male-wolf who was soon to be a father.

But, another piece inside of me protested, reminding myself of how horribly I treated Millie when she came to Stormblade, how she flinched when I leaned over her to put her seatbelt on.

I sighed, not wanting to leave the room with the sweetest sleeping creature in my bed. I should wait. I shouldn't push it with her.

I decided to compromise and sleep on the couch with the door open where I could see her.

I laid back, kicking my feet up on the couch, as I stared at the little she-wolf. I wondered what Millie had meant about her mate. She seemed to dislike him, which made my wolf very happy.

I wanted to know more.

Each detail I knew about him, in an odd way, made me even more excited. I knew what I felt towards Millie wasn't fake. What my wolf expressed wasn't just because she was pregnant with our babies.

His genuine excitement, playfulness, protectiveness...

"Alpha?" Millie's soft, sleepy voice rang from the bedroom.

I immediately shot up on the couch, snapping out of my thoughts. "I'm here," I soothed, "Did you need something?"

Millie rolled over to face me in the bed. "Sorry to wake you, Alpha-" she said sleepily. "I wasn't sure where you were."

"Don't worry, I'm here. I wouldn't leave you," I sat on the bed next to her, studying her sleepy face through the darkness. "Are you feeling alright? Do you need some water or something?"

"My back was hurting a bit," she admitted, shifting in the bed. "It woke me up."

I flashed her a sympathetic smile. "Would it be okay if I rubbed it for you?"

Millie's eyes widened a bit, surprised at my offer. "That's not your job, Alpha." She declined my offer quickly. "I'll be fine."

I reached out before I could think, messaging my thumbs into the small of Millie's back through her shirt. "Let me know if I'm being too rough."

Millie stiffened at my touch. "It's okay, Alpha- "

"Shh-"I soothed, working on her back. "This is my job, Millie. Whose job would it be except mine? Just lay however you feel comfortable and relax."

Millie didn't protest after that and closed her wary eyes. As time passed, the tension in her muscles relaxed as she became more accustomed to our touch.

My heart warmed at being able to give something so simple to Millie and our babies. It probably felt more rewarding for me than for her.

As time passed, the moon shone through the curtains, brighter than it's ever been. Millie didn't move for a while, so I figured she had fallen asleep again at my touch.

That made my wolf purr with extreme giddiness.

I slid the blanket back over her shoulders, tucking her in. "Good night, Millie," I whispered, fighting my wolf to leave the bedroom. He protested the couch greatly.

It wasn't right. The bed was where he wanted to be with his pups.

"Alpha? "Millie stirred, her voice groggy. "Um- are you leaving?"

"Yes, I'll be right there- "I motioned towards the couch, clearing my throat. "If you need me."

Millie pulled the blanket up to her chin. "Yeah, okay."

"Okay- "I softened, forcing my legs to move. "Sleep well."

My wolf clawed inside of my chest, cursing me out for not making a move and staying. He protested every word, the casualness. He took Millie's questions as an invitation to stay, that she wanted us. If it were up to him, he would slide in the bed behind her, wrapping her up in his every being.

He wanted to know everything so that he could comfort her and solve it. So, he could wiggle his way into her heart like she did his.

The sunrise came quickly, and I let my wolf wander off into his thoughts about his obsession as he watched her tiny, sleeping figure from afar.

We never took our eyes off her all night. My wolf cursed me for not "fulfilling Millie's needs." She had asked for us, sought us out when I'm sure she couldn't sense our presence, and we shouldn't have made her wonder for a second if she had protection or was alone.

We should have assured her and put no doubt in her mind that we were here, protecting her.

Like we should have protected Ember.

I jumped off the couch quickly, eager to shake these distressing memories. I couldn't stand to stay on the couch anymore. Letting my thoughts wander was a dangerous game.

Today, I was taking Millie for a picnic on the beach. It was her first time seeing the beach, and I wanted to make sure that it wasn't the last.

I looked around the cabinets, before finding a picnic basket. I placed it on the counter and opened the refrigerator to pull out the things that we would need for our breakfast on the beach.

I imagined how sweet Millie looked yesterday as her feet touched the sand for the first time, how her cheeks became rosy in the cool sea air, the little flyaways of her braid as they waved in the cool sea air...

I recalled seeing Millie's picture for the first time; her official pack photo clipped on top of her small file. Even then, there was no denying how naturally beautiful she was.

Millie had changed over the last two months she had been with us at Stormblade. She looked healthier now, her skin less pale and more olive. Her collarbones were hidden now, a sign of her regular healthy eating patterns.

Even her hair looked fuller and softer.

"Hi- "Millie opened the door, her eyes wary and sweet. She must have gotten up and got dressed, as her hair was in a new braid, and she was wearing a long blue dress.

"Millie- "I smiled, putting the last bit of chopped fruit into the basket. "You are just in time; we are going to the beach."

I picked up the basket, smiling as I reached to open the door. "Come on."

Millie blushed slightly but followed my orders. She seemed eager to get to the beach again, her steps faster than yesterday.

I laid our blanket out on the beach as I opened up the basket. Millie asked my permission to go up to the waves, and of course, I said yes.

She watched as the ocean waves rushed over her feet, staring at it in awe. I laid back on the blanket, admiring her from behind as she enjoyed the beach.

She crouched down carefully, holding her belly as she looked for something in the sand. I crooked my head, trying to see what she was trying to find.

She held her hand out gently, waiting for something. Eventually, she seemed to get whatever it was, standing up as she cupped it in her hand.

Millie's cheeks rushed with a blush as she turned around to come and sit on the blanket across from me. She uncapped her hands, lowering them onto the blanket, revealing a small baby turtle.

"A turtle-"I beamed, looking between the small creature and Millie.

The turtle stayed put in Millie's hands as she tried to get him to walk. "The turtle likes you," I said, leaning back on my hands. "He doesn't want to leave."

Millie chuckled. "I think he got lost. He was struggling to get into the water," she used her finger to pet the turtle. "We should help him."

I got up with Millie, helping her release the turtle into the water. "Put him right here," I guided her hands with mine. "We will guide him to swim away with the next wave."

Millie nodded eagerly as we laid our hands in the water. We watched as the wave came, sweeping the turtle out of our hands and into the ocean.

"He hardly wanted to leave you," I laughed, looking at Millie as she started out at the waves. "Looks like the beach loves you as much as you love it."

Millie blushed as I gripped her arm, helping her stand. Millie was as gentle as the calm waves hitting the beach and as fragile as the smallest creatures in the ocean.

But she was also as gorgeous as the shiniest pearl in the deep blue sea.

We rubbed our hands from the sand as we sat back down on the blanket. It warmed my heart that Millie came to show me the turtle. I gushed at the moment we had together, releasing it into its home.

I just wished that we could release our past like we did that turtle.

I pulled out a plate and piled it with fruit and some fresh baked goods before offering it to Millie. "How are you feeling today?" I asked.

Millie nodded in thanks. "Better. Thanks for the back rub last night. You didn't have to do that, Alpha."

I laughed lightly. "Anytime."

We ate quietly as Millie studied the waves. "You never went to the beach with your friends at home?"

Millie played with her strawberry. "No- "she breathed. "We weren't allowed to leave pack grounds for any reason. It was forbidden."

"But, we were mostly busy anyways," she added. "We didn't have much time to do those kinds of things."

I kept my eyes on Millie's sweet face as she recalled the past. "You weren't allowed time off from your duties?"

"No- "she bit her lip nervously. "We worked seven days a week."

"All day?"

Millie nodded. "Usually sixteen hours."

"That's a long shift." I shook my head in disgust. "I only have my pack members working five days a week. They can take off when they want."

"And, when they find their mate- "I continued cautiously, knowing that was a sore subject for Millie. "They take off for a month to consummate their mateship."

"That's nice." She bit her lip nervously, afraid to continue the conversation.

I reached over, caressing Millie's arm softly. She flinched slightly before shrugging it off. "Sorry, I didn't mean to." She panicked.

"You don't have to apologize," I scooted closer to her side. I took a deep breath, my hands becoming sweaty. My wolf pushed me to talk, to ask.

Do it, Theo. Ask her.

"He hits you, doesn't he?"

Millie jumped, her hands shaking as her body became rigid. "I don't think you need me to tell you that," she whispered, her eyes becoming soft. "I'm sure you already know."

"Millie-"I softened, trying to be as gentle as possible. I recalled the bruises on her arms and legs when she arrived at my pack. The cuts above her brow.

"I want you to know that I would never punish you for anything you tell me. In fact, it makes me happy when we can be open with each other."

Millie bit her lip, wary of what I was promising. "Do you hit your pack members, too?"

"Never- "I answered honestly. "I could never hurt them."

"Have you ever killed someone?" She continued, her curiosity sparking. My wolf became more pleased as she opened up to him.

I sighed. "Well, yes- "I nodded. "But only because they were a danger to my pack."

Millie nodded again. "Makes sense."

That was good that that didn't seem to scare her more, in fact, she seemed comforted by that fact. "How about your Alpha?"

"Yes-"she answered without hesitation, her eyes stirring. "He does. He-"

She stopped, her eyes glistening with pain. It confused me why Millie was so hurt by this answer. "He what?" I pushed her to continue.

"It's nothing- "she shook her head, returning her attention back to her food. "That was a long time ago."

"You can tell me, Millie." I pushed gently. "You can tell me anything, I promise."

Millie breathed deeply. "I rather not dwell on it."

"Alright- "I backed down, making a mental note to ask her again later when she trusted me more.

I thought silence would roll over us again, but I was surprised when Millie spoke again after a few moments. "Did you take a month off when you met your Luna?"

Her questions shocked me. As much as I hated talking to others about Ember because of their pitiful faces and sad looks, Millie was more open.

She was easy to talk with.

I took a deep breath. "Yes. We did," I said. "Boris took over for me while we were away. He also helped with pack duties when she passed too."

Millie nodded curiously. "When you met Luna Ember, did you ever think about rejecting her?"

"Oh goddess, no- "I scoffed. "A wolf would be crazy to reject his mate. That's a blessing. Something that many people wait their whole lives for, it's a sacred bond."

Millie smiled sweetly. "You really loved her, didn't you?"

"Of course I did- "I said slowly, my heart beating at the thought. "I'll always cherish what we shared."

"That's really sweet, Alpha." She poked at her fruit. "And interesting."

I furrowed my brows in question. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering- "She put down her plate. "Has anyone in your pack ever rejected their mate?"

My wolf became anxious inside of my chest. He wasn't sure exactly what Millie was referring to, but he didn't like it. He felt as if she was trying to do research for something, and that made him very uncomfortable.

"No- "I said. "They haven't, and they won't. The mate pull is hard to deny. Plus, that's a punishable offense in Stormblade."

"Hm," she hummed. Her face lost a bit of color as she pondered in thought. She seemed distraught by this information. "There must be something wrong with me then."

Millie wrapped her arms around her knees. "There is nothing wrong with you, Millie." I moved closer to her side, hoping my presence would comfort her.

"Whoever he was- "My throat burned with a new burning sensation of anger. "He didn't deserve you."

Millie didn't seem sad or even angry like I expected her to be, to my surprise. "I guess a tiny piece of my heart wanted to believe what you said, what my friends had said." She said.

"That your mate wouldn't deny you, that they would do anything but reject you, especially an Alpha, "her face flushed. "He would make your life better in every way, but now, that all just seems silly-"

"That life sounds just like a load of bullshit."

I lit up at Millie's openness and the way she talked. She was getting more comfortable around me, and my wolf liked that a lot.

Then, it hit me.

"Him?" I growled, sitting up. "Alpha Orion's son? What the fuck's his name?"

I stiffened, trying to remember what his father introduced him as. "Jake, Joseph-"I scoffed, spitting them out. "Or whatever the fuck."

That little kid? The poor excuse for a future Alpha? The shy little timid piece of shit who couldn't even stand to look at me in the eyes?

Jealousy raged through me like a cloudy thunderstorm. "He's a piece of fucking garbage, Millie." I fumed, struggling to control myself. "A poor excuse for a man, let alone an Alpha."

Millie looked confused. "How do you know him?"

"Oh-"I huffed. "I met his dumbass at the Alpha Summit."

I recalled every detail about that night. "His father said he found his Luna. That he was just waiting to mark her, but he wasn't talking about you- "I said more to myself as I put the pieces together. "He was covered in another woman's heinous scent."

"His girlfriend- "Millie confirmed quietly. "He rejected me for her."

My wolf was ready to pounce at this point. He wanted to kill that low life just as much as he did his father. But, right now, he was more worried about Millie, the beautiful woman in front of us, who was rubbing her hand over her swollen baby bump.

There was only one way I could control myself now.

"Millie- "I purred seductively, letting my growls turn into lust. I gripped her face gently, moving my thumb behind her ear and bringing her close. "I will show you what a real man acts like with his mate."

Then, I roughly crashed my lips into the most delectable-tasting pair I have kissed in my entire life.

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