Page 55 of The Baby Contract

Elora's soft cry woke me from my sleepy state.

My senses were heightened, detecting even the tiniest bit of movement from my babies. My wolf purred softly, urging his daughter back to sleep, which she obliged.

The beat of Millie's heart on the monitor seemed to soothe them. It was slow and irregular.

As dusk arrived, a ray of sunshine shone over Millie's pale, lifeless state. Her skin was like snow, not the tan, olive color it had been before.

I stroked Millie's hair softly, almost as if I was afraid of waking her. Her hair felt softer than it did before without the cloud of Ember's mark.

My wolf replayed the doctor's prognosis on my mate. I shivered, looking helplessly at her monitors that played faint beats.

"Hey," Boris called softly from the door, looking between me and my sleeping babies.

"Hey," I whispered, picking up Millie's hand. Her IV stuck to the back.

Boris sighed, looking at the scene in front of him. "Did you sleep?"

"Yeah, like a baby," I joked sadly.

Boris smiled sympathetically. He looked at Millie, still lifeless in the bed. "The elders are ready to meet with us." He looked apologetic, sorry for taking me away from Millie and my pups. "We need to continue with Ember's trial."

I nodded, letting out a puff of air before standing slowly from the tiny, hard chair. "Let me feed the babies and change them before I go."

I did so quietly, studying their tiny features and chubby legs as I did so. Their smells made my heart swell and dance in bliss.

Aspen and Axel came to watch the pups. They didn't say a word as they came in, both of their eyes filled with tears and sorrow. Aspen hugged me sweetly, wrapping her hands around my torso. I felt her emotions more intensely than I ever had before.

I patted Aspen on the head and touched Axel's shoulder in thanks. "If she wakes up-"

"You'll be the first to know," Axel nodded in understanding.

I forced a smile in gratitude before taking one last look at Millie, somehow deep in my heart, hoping she moved even just a muscle.

"Let's get this shit over with," I grumbled, Boris in tow. "I don't want to be far from my mate for long."

Boris and I walked into my office, where we changed into our armor. "Ember's in the cells." He said, buttoning his pants. "The warriors chained her up in solitary confinement."

"Good," I said, as we walked to the conference room. "I don't need my mate questioning my love for her. We will show no mercy."

Boris's face lit up slightly. He seemed pleased by my answer.

Everyone stood when we entered. The elders were waiting at the table, all of them bowing in respect and sympathy. Mom, Dad, and Nova stood at the end.

"Everyone can be seated," I declared, going to sit by Boris at the end of the table, just as we had many times before. "There is much to talk about."

All eyes were locked on me. "First order of business," I looked at them. "The Eclipse pack will assimilate with Stormblade effective immediately. We will plan an initiation ceremony for later. They are a part of the pack now."

Nova's face brightened happily. "They have all been assigned rooms, Alpha. The pack is welcoming them openly. They have all been provided clothing and personal items." Boris reported. "They all came empty-handed."

Boris squeezed Nova's hand. He knew that also included her.

"Very well," I said. "We will start the job selection process next week."

The elders took notes on their pads of paper. "What is the status of the Eclipse lands?"

"There wasn't much to start, and not much to end with either. The pack house burnt down in flames," I recalled. "We will take control of the lands."

"Do you wish to rebuild, Alpha?" One of the elders asked from the end of the table. "How do you wish to use the new lands we have acquired?"

I looked over at Nova, who looked up at me hopefully. "The Luna and Beta-female will decide the fate of the Eclipse lands. Starting today, we will staff the borders with guards to keep out foreign enemies and rogues. If they wish to rebuild, we will do that."

The elders rumbled in a round of "Yes, Alphas."

"Now, in regard to Ember Howling," I started, a new feeling of anger and disgust rising in my throat. "We will give her a trial as we always do in Stormblade."

The elders jumped into action, listening carefully. "Ember Howling has used witchcraft to bond with me. She had a mate, Orion Eclipse. She rejected him. She has a child with him."

The elders gasped, looking at each other with wide eyes. "A child?" they gasped. "And, how old is the pup, Alpha?"

"He is about to be six."

"Is that where she was these six years?" Mom chimed in, looking sick. "She was with child?"

"Correct."

"Theo," Mom paled, the wrinkles in her forehead becoming pronounced. "Is the child yours?"

Everyone held their breath as they awaited the news. "No," I confirmed. "He is Orion's child."

"Absurd!" the woman with the cane called out. "Not only did she fake a bond with our Alpha, but she was also unfaithful to her mateship!"

The elders broke out in chaos after that. They were mad, and rightfully so.

"Elders!" I silenced. "Please. We have much work."

They quickly hushed, bowing their heads in apology at their outburst. "What a terrible woman!"

"Where is the child now, Alpha?" an old man asked. "Do we know his whereabouts?"

Just as I was about to speak, Boris chimed in. "I do," he announced, looking at me. "I didn't want to tell you yet. But he is here. He came with Eclipse. I knew he was Ember and Orion's child as soon as I scented him. I sent him with Ingrid."

"That crying boy?"

"Yes," Boris nodded. "I'm sure he doesn't know about his parents yet."

"What do you want to do with him, son?" Dad spoke. "Since his Dad was from Eclipse, you now have the choice as his Alpha."

I sighed, biting my lip slightly. "I will call Alpha Lunar and see if Ember's parents would like to take him. He is their grandchild."

The elders nodded in agreement. "As for his mother, under what charges will she be prosecuted?"

They spoke among themselves for a moment, analyzing the information they had been given. "Theo," Mom called softly, as she put her arm on Nova's leg and squeezed it. "What do you wish to come?"

Nova sat quietly in Mom's comfort. She knew this wasn't easy for her either.

I didn't have to think about it. "Justice for Millie. For us."

The elders adjourned after a few minutes. An old man stood with a piece of paper in his hand. "As the Elder Council here at Stormblade, we have decided to prosecute Ember Howling, of the Lunar pack, under the full extent of Stormblade rule under these charges- "

"Rejection of her Goddess chosen mate, infidelity, treason, impersonation, abuse of power, and use of witchcraft."

The man continued. "The elders have anonymously agreed that she cannot be released as she is a danger to our society."

"Since Alpha Stormblade is free from her mark," he looked up at us. "We have decided to pursue the death penalty, pending Alpha Theo Stormblade's and Beta Boris Darkmoon's final approval."

I didn't need to think. "Approved." I declared. Mom and Dad held each other for comfort.

They had many memories of Ember, just like I, but they knew this was the right decision. She was never the Ember we knew. She was a liar. Never meant to rule by my side.

Boris looked at me briefly. "Approved." He said, determined. His eyes flashed black with fury.

"Very well." I clapped my hands together. "She will be executed tonight."

The elders came up and gave me their blessings before shuffling out of the room. The woman with the cane grabbed my hands sweetly, squeezing them.

"My Alpha," she bowed. "May the goddess bless you and your family. We pray for the best outcome for our Luna, Millie Rose, and continued blessings to your pups, Elijah and Elora."

I squeezed her hands in response. "Your wishes were heard. Thank you. Please be dismissed."

As she walked away, the next elder came to give his well wishes. "We wish you continued healing and power, Alpha. May Stormblade be prosperous and free."

This continued until they had all left, leaving Boris, Nova, and my parents in the now-empty room.

"Theo," Dad clasped my shoulder. "Boris and I will take care of the execution."

"He's right, Alpha," Boris said. "We don't want you to suffer more. We will report back when we finish with her."

I understood them. Ember was once my mate. We were bonded by mark. We shared feelings and memories.

"Don't worry," I reassured them. "I have no feelings towards her. Not anymore. I will do it on my own. For my mate, for my family."

Eventually, everyone reluctantly agreed. Boris and Nova went with Mom and Dad to check on how things were coming along with Eclipse.

I was glad they eventually gave me space. I had to take care of some- overdue items.

I swiped everything that was Ember's into a big black trash bag. I reached into my office drawers, stuffing our pictures into the trash. The gold frame, which contained a picture of Ember and me on our honeymoon, was the first to go without a second thought.

Each piece of Ember that was gone made my wolf and me feel lighter, more powerful, and free from our tormented past.

The full, yellow manila folder with The Contract went in with it. My wolf sent me images of Millie to comfort me.

Then, it was time.

I alerted my warriors of my presence. I walked down the cold, dark hallway, a few of the cells filled with rogues. Some of them came up to the bars as I walked by, either screaming, pleading, or taunting my name.

Two warriors bowed, motioning to a closed, heavy metal door at the end of the cellar. "She's chained. Will you be requiring assistance?"

One of them took a freshly sharpened sword off the wall and handed it to me with a slight bow. "You've already assisted greatly. I can take it from here."

They bowed before both taking hold of the heavy metal and pulling it open.

Her scent floated into the air. It was once a smell I had loved so much, adored, bathed in. But now, it was not pleasing at all. In fact, it was pungent and filthy. My wolf growled in response.

The doors slammed behind me.

"Theo!" Ember shouted, struggling against her chains. "Theo, I'm so glad you're here. You won't believe what- "

I stepped on Ember's hand with my steel boot, making her hiss. "The committee has come to a verdict. You will die tonight."

Ember looked up at me from the floor, her hair messy and wild. "You can't do that to me, Theo. We are mates, we're mates. Remember?"

I took my boot and rubbed it into her skin, making her whimper in pain. "You are nothing but a monster who doesn't deserve forgiveness. Not only did you keep my true mate from me- "

"She could be dead because of you." I shook, my wolf ready to come out and rip her throat for hurting my Millie. "She may never wake up."

Ember winced. "If Millie dies, then you will need to take another mate."

My fist was as fast as her words. Ember coughed up blood and a piece of tooth. "You're nothing but a lowlife, Ember. Even when my mate is on her deathbed, you still think about yourself."

"You never thought of me all those years," I grabbed her jaw. "When you disappeared. I suffered. My wolf suffered. You made me weak. You made the pack weak."

I scoffed. "And just to think all those days I spent loving you, you snuck out and had sex with him, just to come back and have sex with me the next day."

"Theo- "

"Then, you got pregnant and decided to trick me into thinking that you were dead," I closed my eyes in disgust. "Now, that little boy will suffer without his parents."

"Orion's lying!" she spat, frantic. "He doesn't know if Levi is really his. He just wanted it so badly to be his. He could be yours!"

I pulled Ember's hair again, making her whimper. "Boris saw Levi. He didn't tell me he smelled like me. My beta would have told me if he smelled of Alpha blood."

"I never did a paternity test to be sure," Ember scrambled. "What if he's yours? Would you want to kill his mother?"

My wolf wandered. She's lying.

"You didn't care about killing Millie. You planned to do it all along, right? For her to return to Eclipse and finish her?"

"That was Orion's idea," she panted, tears streaming down her now bloody face. "He wanted to, not me. I only wanted him to sell her to you."

"Well, that was just a great little plan, wasn't it, Ember?" I grabbed her neck. "You better say your last prayers before you meet your maker. The moon goddess won't take lightly to your offenses."

Ember's eyes widened as I gripped my sword. "No!"

"Goodbye, Ember Howling."

Ember's scream, echoing the four walls of the chamber, was the last thing I heard before it went eerily silent.

That night, we celebrated with a big bonfire with the contents of the trash bag, courtesy of Ember's belongings. Removing her stain once and for all from my life. From all our lives.

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