Page 35 of The Baby Contract

Aspen winning in the fights was well-

Shocking.

I had tried my best with Aspen, giving her the skills to do well with the rest of her class. But she was always behind when it came to training. Dad was persistent in her training, though. All the times Aspen begged to quit, he wouldn't let her.

She had Alpha blood. She was born to be a warrior.

I followed Aspen's gaze as she cheered to find my little mate sitting with Boris in the forest. I felt her eyes on me, studying with curiosity and admiration.

It was hard as hell to focus with her sweet brown eyes lingering.

The class erupted in loud cheers. I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I couldn't focus when Millie was there, when she was watching, not with how we left things at the beach house.

Millie adverted her gaze when our eyes locked. "Everyone's dismissed!" I boomed over the screaming group of teenagers. "We will reconvene at seven tomorrow!"

Some of them moaned, complaining about the early timing. I saw Aspen skip off with a group of girls, who were now fangirling around her, all giggling and jumping around happily.

I looked over to the forest again, this time finding the log where Boris and Millie were sitting empty. "What a class man!" Boris slapped my shoulder from behind, making me tense. "I mean, Aspen kicked ass!"

I sighed, reaching down to grab my shirt and pull it over my bare chest. "Yeah, it was great," I said quickly. "Where's Millie? I just saw her with you."

"Ha! You mean your mate?" He elbowed, wiggling his eyebrows. "She told me Ingrid would be waiting with dinner and had to run."

"But I kind of got the feeling she just didn't want to talk to you." Boris joked. "You've got a lot of explaining to do, Alpha."

I rolled my eyes. "I saw you and Millie watching the class," I said, walking back with him to the pack house. "What did Millie say to you?"

Boris chuckled. "Curious about what she thought about your sweaty man bod?"

"Well, if you are so curious to know, Alpha- "Boris sighed dramatically. "She said it was the most delicious, scrumptious set of abs she had ever laid eyes on and couldn't wait to see it up close."

Boris teased me, licking his lips. "You ass," I said, rolling my eyes. "You made that shit up."

"What can I say?" Boris elbowed my side. "A Beta can only dream to see his Alpha and Luna together. Especially when your new Luna is a fucking warrior. Ember couldn't fight to save her life."

I furrowed my brows. "What?"

"You heard me, Alpha," Boris said. "You think Aspen learned those moves from you?"

"Are you saying Millie taught Aspen those moves?" I questioned, shaking my head. "If Millie knew how to fight, why would Orion make her a maid and not a warrior? That doesn't make sense, Boris."

"Do you really think anything Orion does makes sense?" Boris reasoned. "Millie only holds that title. But, she is much more than the labels."

I shook my head. "Why would Orion do that? Especially with the skills you say she has, she would benefit Eclipse more if she was a warrior."

"Who knows, man," Boris sighed. "You know who might know, though?" A mischievous smile formed at his lips. "Your mate."

"You are really enjoying this information, aren't you?"

"Of course, I am." Boris smiled. "And the rest of the pack would too, if you told them. Millie is a natural Luna. You saw the way she was able to help Aspen. The sooner she gets into the Luna position, the better for our pack."

Boris and I approached the house, entering the family room. "I need to tell Millie first." I kept my voice down, waving to a few passing wolves who bowed to us in respect. "I need to be the one to tell her."

"You better do it quick, man," Boris lowered his voice. "You need to soothe her and put her mind to rest. I know Millie's got a lot going on up there." He pointed to his head.

I nodded in understanding. "I can—" I sighed, opening the door to my office. I will. Tonight."

"Good luck, bro." Boris leaned on the door frame. "Hopefully she talks to your sorry ass."

I grabbed Millie's file off the desk again, now more eager than ever to see her picture. I was slowly becoming obsessed with this woman, wanting to take in every detail of her appearance.

"Hey!" Aspen ran up to the door, leaning on the doorframe opposite Boris. "Boris, can you take me and my friends to the mall tonight?"

I put the picture down. "Why are you asking him? I'm your brother."

Aspen rolled her eyes, waving me off. "Boris, please." She begged. "We want to go celebrate tonight."

"So now they're your friends?" I probed, crossing my arms. "The ones who had no time for you? Who waited for you to fail today?"

Boris reached out to touch Aspen's arm as her face became fiery at my statement. "I can't drive you tonight, kid." He said. "How about tomorrow?"

Aspen groaned, stomping her feet. "Yeah, fine." She huffed. "Please."

Boris nodded, patting her on the back. "Come on, let's go eat."

"Can we at least go see Millie after dinner?" Aspen suggested, Boris and Aspen completely ignoring me. "I need to thank her for today."

Boris looked over his shoulder, shooting me a wink. "Not tonight. Millie needs to rest after the long day she's had." He lied, ushering Aspen gently out of my office.

The door slammed behind them as they carried on their conversation on the way to the dining hall, leaving me alone.

It hurt that Aspen had chosen Boris over me to take her to the mall. In a way, it made me jealous that she asked him first over me. When Ember was alive, she always came to me for these things, but now, I realized that I had pushed them both away so much over the years.

The shiny gold frame with Ember's picture caught my eye. I was going to tell Millie tonight that she was my second chance. What would Ember be thinking right now if she were alive?

Would she be happy for me? Would she want me to move on?

I shook my head. It didn't matter. The moon goddess wanted me to move on. She had blessed me with a chance to start over. This time, with a family already growing inside of my new mate.

I locked the door as I walked out of my office. I didn't know how to bring this up to Millie. This would be so much easier if there was a bond established between us. But, of course, that sorry excuse for an Alpha had to break Millie's wolf's heart.

I went out the back door, quickly returning to the rose garden. I took my time, this time in human form, putting together a bouquet for Millie. I didn't know what colors she liked, so I picked a bit of everything.

It wasn't a lot, but it was a start. Millie deserved the world, and I would give it to her sooner rather than later.

I tied them together with twine, making sure to peel all the thorns off that could hurt her. It was beautiful, I only hoped my mate would love it.

As I stood by her door, my heartbeat was rapid, like at any moment it could burst out of my chest. My palms were sweaty as I held onto the bouquet with a death grip.

I was nervous.

I finally mustered up the courage to knock on the door to the suite. I listened carefully as I waited for the door to open.

My heartbeat louder and faster as each moment went on, waiting for Millie to open the door, anxious that she wouldn't open it at all. I could smell her in the room, and after a while, I thought maybe she was sleeping.

Finally, the door opened, revealing a dimly lit room. "Hi." Millie appeared, peaking out the door. Her eyes were soft and heavy. She was wearing an oversized sweater that engulfed her entire body that made her look small, despite her noticeable bump. "Can I help you with something?"

Millie looked twice as sweet now. The way her hair was, a little wild, her big brown eyes, the way she looked when she was comfortable. I just wanted to pick her up and swing her on the bed to do participate in some-

Unholy activities.

"Uh- "I cleared my throat. "I got these for you." I held out the bouquet for Millie, an eager smile on my face. "I hope you like them."

Millie reached her hand out to grab the flowers, opening the door a bit more. "Thanks, Alpha." She nodded, speaking quietly. "That was thoughtful."

"Do you mind if I come in?" I asked hopefully.

Millie pondered for a moment, slightly biting her lip. "Of course, it is your room."

Millie opened the door up, letting me in. The suite was dim, only lit by a lamp and a candle at the bedside. The sheets and blankets were spread out over the bed.

My heart warmed when Millie sat back down on the bed, tucking her legs back inside the little nest she made. She reached over to grab a journal, setting it down on her lap.

I arranged the flowers in a vase on the dresser. When I finished, I looked back to find Millie writing in her journal, not paying any attention to what I was doing.

I took off my shoes and put them in the closet before walking over to the other side of the bed. Millie never took her eyes off her journal as I took another blanket and slipped my legs under it, mirroring her.

"What are you writing?" I cleared my throat nervously, looking over her shoulder.

Millie shut her journal abruptly. "I was just writing a letter to a friend." She said, placing it on the nightstand.

"Oh, that's nice- "I smiled. "I will send it with the warriors once you finish it."

Millie shook her head. "No, thank you, Alpha. It's more of a journal prompt than a real letter. You know, imagining you are writing a friend is much easier than writing to thin air."

"What do you write about?" I probed, interested to know.

Millie sighed, shoving the journal in the drawer and shutting it. "Nothing special."

I dropped the subject, sensing her resistance to talking about it. "Millie, we need to talk about something." I breathed heavily, turning to face her.

Millie played with her fingers in her lap, the thing she always did when she was nervous. It reminded me of the way she had acted when we first met. How she looked sitting on the couch between two of my warriors, anxiety raiding her body.

She didn't answer but instead stayed silent. "I know you can't feel it- "I trailed, trying desperately to feel our bond. "So, I need to tell you."

"I wanted to tell you at the beach house, but I couldn't." I shook my head, remembering how stupid I was. "Instead, I told you I wanted a relationship."

"Mm." Millie hummed; her gaze focused on the blanket now.

"Millie- "I took a deep breath, placing my hand over hers lightly. "We are mates. I'm-" I squeezed her hand nervously. "I'm your mate."

I closed my eyes nervously as I waited for her response. She didn't move, instead, she stayed perfectly still. Her eyes never straying from their resting spot.

"How do you know?" She finally whispered, a sweet relief coursing through my veins at the sound of her voice.

"It was the same way I felt when I met my mate- "I explained. "Ember. My wolf is fiery and passionate about you, wanting to protect you and fulfill your every need. He's in love with you, Millie. You are his living and breathing oxygen."

"Those shivers- "I sighed, recalling the goosebumps on Millie's arms when we touched. "They only happen when we touch. It was the same thing Ember's skin did when I touched her. The goosebumps."

I released a big breath. Relieved to put together the pieces out loud.

Millie didn't flinch. She just stayed frozen. "Millie?" I breathed again, desperate to look into her eyes. To know what she was thinking.

"I'm nothing to you. Ember is your mate. I'm just your surrogate." Millie shook her head. "That's why you wanted me to go back to Eclipse."

"You didn't want to get me confused with the one who truly holds your heart."

I shook my head profusely, shocked at her words. "Millie, that's wrong. You're wrong, Millie." I paused in disbelief, my wolf jumping in my chest crazily. "Why would you say that?"

Millie's lip curled in a sad smile. "You can't stop talking about her, even when you are here, with me, telling me that I'm your mate."

"I'm sure that's why you had me sleep here, in the bed you two used to share," Millie sighed. "I'm a placeholder for this spot. To keep her place warm when she's not here."

My wolf stood shocked in my chest. We were stunned at the way this conversation was going. I guess I wasn't sure what to expect, but it wasn't this.

"Millie, that's not true."

Millie hummed softly. "You don't have to tell me it's not true. You don't think I noticed the picture of you and her that sits right next to you on your desk? I noticed it the first day I came to Stormblade when you went over the contract with me."

"You still have her pictures and her things in this room. I found them in the closet," she continued. "And they aren't just here, they are at your beach house too."

"Millie- "I started, knowing she was right. The maids had cleaned Ember's things after her death, but they had saved them, not wanting to upset me by throwing them out. Especially when I was grieving her passing so heavily.

"It's okay Alpha Stormblade," she finally lifted her head to meet my eyes. My body erupted in goosebumps as her sad brown eyes locked with mine. "She is your mate."

"She was my mate-"I corrected her. "But now, the goddess has given us both a second chance by bonding us."

"The goddess isn't always right," she whispered. "Jasper didn't want me because he was in love with another woman."

"The goddess made a mistake bonding us, "Millie scoffed, looking away. "And now, she made a mistake bonding me to you. It's all just a big mistake."

My wolf whined in pain at Millie's words. I gripped her arm, squeezing it gently. "No, you are mistaken- "

"The goddess does not make mistakes, Millie." I squeezed, my chest becoming tight. "She didn't make a mistake when she bonded us."

I caressed her cheek with my shaking hand. "You may think the moon goddess made a mistake when she bonded you with him, but not with me."

I pushed some stray hairs behind her ear, slowly moving her to look at me in the eyes again. Millie struggled against my hand, not wanting to meet my eyes again.

"Come on, baby," I begged, urging her again. "Look at me."

Millie finally obliged, struggling slightly against my grasp. I slipped my hand behind her ear, pulling her closer. "I-"I met her reluctant eyes again. "I want you, Millie."

"I want you. I accept you as my mate. Without a second thought." I said confidently. "I want this bond, and I wholly accept it with every being inside of me. I want us."

"And I will do everything in my power, and more, to prove to you how much I want it-"I breathed shakily. "I want you to be my Luna."

I lowered my eyes to look at her growing belly. I gently moved my hand to lay it softly on top of our babies. "I want to be a family."

Millie's eyes met my hand on top of her pregnant belly, studying it closely. Her eyes became heavy and red as she stared down at it.

"Millie?" I was worried, beyond worried, about what she was thinking. "Talk to me, please. You worry me when you don't respond."

Millie shook her head profusely, goosebumps sprouting on her arms at our touch. A tear slipped down her cheek as she broke away from my touch, jumping out of the bed.

I was right behind her, jumping out of the bed to catch her. I grabbed her wrist, pushing her gently up against the wall to stop her. I leaned in closely, pressing our rapid beating hearts together.

I lowered my head to her neck, taking in every bit of sweet scent my mate had to offer. She smelled even more pungent and delicious at this spot. It was every bit rosy, making my nostrils dance at the smell of my mate.

Millie shook as I breathed in her scent. As time passed, her body relaxed against mine, even bending her neck without a second thought to give me better access to her sweet spot.

That movement made me go wild, my wolf panting at the closeness. I grabbed Millie's neck as I turned it to lick her most sensitive spot between her neck and collarbone.

My canines grew out of instinct, ready to claim my soul mate. Millie gasped as she felt my sharp teeth graze her neck, her body tensing at the intensity of the moment, of intense pleasure.

I could smell Millie's arousal, her readiness for me. This was our nature, to claim and be claimed. And, although Millie told me that the mated life wasn't for her, I knew she couldn't deny how great this felt.

How euphoric it was for both of us.

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