Page 43 of The Baby Contract

Millie's eyes glazed over in a way that I had never seen them before.

They were full of anger, resentment, disappointment, and shock. But at the same time, they were lifeless and hollow.

"Scurry along, surrogate." Ember waved her off, her arms stuck around my torso. "I can smell your scent all over my mate." Ember scoffed. "You must have got lucky, but Alpha Stormblade is not yours. He's mine."

Millie's jaw clenched. "Nothing is going on with me and your mate, Luna," she kept her eyes low. "I'm just here to do a job, that's it."

My heart pounded at Millie's words. "Stop it, Ember." I shoved her hands off my chest. "You are completely out of line."

"No- "Millie interjected. "This is my fault, Alpha. Sorry to interrupt."

Ember huffed, holding her head high, with her hands crossed against her chest. "Get going, Molly. You've already caused enough trouble." Ember waved. "Shoo- "

Mom's look burned a hole in my forehead. She looked furious, her eyes shifting away from mine to Millie, a new look of softness appearing in them. "Come on, sweetie- "

"Thank goddess she's gone," Ember huffed, crossing her arms as she watched Mom and Millie, who more slightly wobbled, away. Millie never looked back at me as she left. Instead, Mom wrapped a blanket around her and rubbed her arm.

I needed to talk with Millie. My wolf burned at the prospect of her being mad at me. After all that we had accomplished over the last few months, of how far our relationship had grown. I didn't want to lose that now.

"She's rude- "Ember huffed. "I know Eclipse is a shitty pack, at least have some manners for those rank above you. Apparently, that's not a part of their-"

"Shut up, Ember-"I cut her off, grabbing her arm. "Listen to me- "

My eyes met her small, frigid ones. "I will not tolerate your disrespect, especially towards her." I gripped harder. "You will treat her with dignity and grace. Like a true Luna should."

"Ugh- "Ember rolled her eyes. "Why are you defending her? She was the one who interrupted us."

Bile rose in my throat. "Come with me- "I dragged her along to the back of the house, shoving her into my office and shutting the door.

"Oh- "Ember purred, taking a deep breath. "Your office is just as I remember. I love the way you think, Theo- "

Ember laid down slowly on the couch, throwing her hands behind her head. "I remember all of the times you bent me over on this couch and fucked me," she purred. "I think it's about time we catch up."

I sat at my desk, rubbing my temples frustratedly. "Ember. Listen- "

Before I knew it, I looked up to find Ember now not on the couch, but in front of me, with her shirt off. She licked her lips as she bent over my desk, peeling off her bra to reveal her bare breasts.

My eyes widened at the sight. "Ember, this is not the time- "

"For what?" Ember bit her lip as she moved her hands to her pants and slipped them down with her panties, leaving herself completely nude. "You always had time for this, Theo. Always."

Ember straddled my lap before I could comprehend it. My wolf wasn't liking it, and neither was I. It felt forced and foreign. Not natural and sexy like it had before.

"Get off- "

"Really?" Ember snaked her head around to lap her tongue on her mark on my neck. "What about now?"

A shock went through my body as she nibbled at my mark, making my body pulsate with a new wave of intensity. My wolf howled as she did this, waking him up from his stunned state. This feeling paralyzed me.

"That's better-"Ember licked on my mark. "I know you are so worked up because you missed me. But it's okay, Theo. I'm here now. Your mate is back now."

My vision clouded as she continued. "I don't want- "I stumbled. "We need to talk- "

"You're right- "Ember licked one more time, leaving my body numb, before jumping off and getting onto the floor on her knees. She grabbed the buckle on my pants, quickly undoing it along with the button.

My body felt weird, like mush as she did this. Even my wolf couldn't think straight. "I'm sure you have been quite stressed while I was gone- "she trailed her fingers on my boxers. "Sex will make us both feel better."

My wolf tried to move, uncomfortable with her moves. But he, as well as I, felt oddly chained. My wolf finally awoke when she stuck her hand in my boxers.

That caused the weird feeling to disappear, liberating me. "No- "I snapped, pushing her away. "I said no."

I stood, reaching down to button my pants back up. "You never said no six years ago," Ember huffed, her face determined.

"Well, now is not six years ago," I snapped, anger filling my veins. Ember reached out to my mark, desperate to get back to it, but I pushed her away again. "Put your fucking clothes back on."

"Ugh!" Ember stomped her foot. "It's that fucking Millie bitch, huh?"

"Why do you assume it's her and not the way you're acting?" I snapped, my wolf desperate to get Millie's name out of her mouth.

"Remember that you only slept with that bitch to get her pregnant-"Ember scoffed. "Whatever she did to you was a trick. I know how in love with me you are, Theo. Not that fucking low life, impoverished, whore who is desperate to sleep with an Alpha."

My hand was at Ember's throat in a second, shoving her up on a wall. "You better watch your fucking mouth or I will deal with it for you."

"You can't hurt me- "Ember smiled deviously. "You would just be hurting yourself if you did."

She was right. I loosed my grip, letting her go, her face returning slowly to it's natural color. "Put on your clothes and sit down, now."

Ember rolled her eyes before swiping her clothes off the floor and grumpily putting them on. "Did my mother teach you nothing about being a Luna? Because right now, you are not acting like one."

"You know-"Ember tossed her hair to the side before slamming herself down on the couch. "You're right. I'm sorry, mate."

I looked at her wearily as I sat back down in my chair across from her. Ember threw her head in her hands, shaking it. "I'm sorry for how I acted, Theo- "she cried. "It's just been such a long six years away from you."

"Ember, lift your head," I ordered coldly. "You owe me an explanation about everything."

Ember gulped, her demeanor changing from the once horny wolf to looking like a sad and defenseless she-wolf. "I was kidnapped the last night I saw you."

"That's it?" I breathed in disbelief. "Why didn't you scream? If someone was trying to take you, I would have come and saved you."

"I know." Ember blinked sadly. "I couldn't," she coughed, struggling to recall that night. "I tried, but you wouldn't have heard me; they had their hands over my mouth."

I softened a bit as Ember recalled the events. "Who kidnapped you?"

"I don't remember- "Ember gripped her hair frustratedly. "It all happened so fast, and they were wearing masks."

"Where did they take you? What did they do with you?" I probed, my chest tightening at her answers.

Ember's body shivered as she closed her eyes. "I can't remember. It was cold and dark." She answered. "They kept me in a cellar."

"That's it?"

"As far as I can recall-"Ember stumbled, shaking her head. "It was all just a big blur."

I sighed, rubbing my hands down my face. "Did they say why they wanted you?"

"No-"Ember answered. "I'm sure it had something to do with me being your Luna."

"And now," I shook my head. "You finally escaped? Six years later?"

"Yes-"Ember breathed painfully. "I was able to make a run for it. Back here to you."

"That doesn't make sense," I frowned, recalling that night. "Our bond broke that night. The pain was excruciating."

Ember seemed genuinely shocked, her head popping up quickly. "I fell into a deep sorrow of pain and suffering. I wasn't even able to function as a leader of this pack until- "

Millie came along.

"I know. " Ember nodded sympathetically, leaning forward to offer me her hand. "But now we will be together again. Forever." She smiled. "And this time- "

"We have a baby on the way!" Her smile brightened. "What we have always wanted, Theo. To raise a child together. To have our own pup."

Ember shook her head in disbelief. "Molly looks like she's about ready to pop too," she chuckled. "We better come up with a name for the little pups."

"I'm thinking-"Ember tapped her chin. "Maybe Aurora for the girl and Adam for the boy?"

My body tensed at the mention of names. "That is not your place," I corrected her. "They are not your pups. They are mine."

"I'm your mate-" she tilted her head. "So in any case, your children are my children and Molly is just a surrogate to us."

"Stop it!" I growled, clenching my fist. "Her name is Millie. And you will call her as such."

"Right-"she coughed. "Millie. My apologies."

Ember yawned, stretching her arms in the air. "Maybe we could take this conversation upstairs to our suite?" she suggested. "I'm so exhausted."

"Actually, there's something I need to tell you." I stood, stopping her. "Millie is sleeping in my suite."

With us, my wolf reminded, jumping up and down excitedly. We sleep with Millie.

"In our suite?" Ember's eyes widened in disgust. "Theo, what the hell? She can't sleep in our room. In our bed! And what about my things? Did she touch my clothes?"

"I permitted Millie to sleep in the suite," I said. "If you don't like it, you take it up with me."

"Don't like it?" Ember huffed. "I hate it! How could you let that woman sleep in our room? She needs to get out immediately!"

"And, and-"Ember scrambled. "The maids need to come and clean it from head to toe! I don't want her scent anywhere even near my stuff! Oh-"

"That poor maid better have kept her hands off my things!" Ember squealed, throwing a fit like a toddler. "I'm sure she's already looking to steal all my designer bags and jewelry!"

I groaned loudly, sliding my hands down my face. "You are not sleeping there, and that's final. Millie will stay where she is."

Ember's body shook with jealousy. "What has gotten into you? How could you just put a poor maid into our suite?"

"I'll tell you why, "My wolf rumbled, shaking off all of Ember's attempts to get close to him. "Because I love that poor maid. I love her, Ember."

"I love Millie."

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