Zara

The next day, we were supposed to leave for the pack house. So, when Kane fell asleep in my room, having devoured me like a starving beast, I put on my nightgown and smiled at his imposing presence—my bed seemed small in comparison.

Tucking him under the blanket, I kissed his hair tenderly. He snuggled close to me, even in his sleep.

I smiled wholeheartedly at this muscular man, with all his flaws, who had stolen my heart and refused to give it back.

Closing the door quietly behind me, I crept downstairs to find Dad.

***

My chest was pounding, my heart was racing. This man had destroyed me.

And then his mischievous gaze settled on me, his lips glistened with excitement, and a victorious smirk slowly lifted his full lips.

"Have you had your fill yet, or do I need a second round, my beautiful Blue Rose?"

***

Alpha

In an instant, I saw Zara turn pale, and I had to suppress a chuckle at her expression.

"What? No, let me breathe." She snorted, sitting up and taking a glass of orange juice from the table.

Her cheeks flushed and hollowed as she sucked on the straw with her hibiscus-colored lips.

I smiled knowingly, shook my head, and stood up. My hands reached for the buttons on my shirt, and I began to unbutton them. I took off my shirt and tossed it onto the lounge chair.

Then I dropped my shorts and walked out, letting them fall to my feet. My dick was hard and erect; I needed a swim to relax.

"Swim with me when you’ve caught your breath," I teased Zara, and she poked me with her tongue, her nostrils flaring.

Giving her a wide, smug smile, I descended the ladder and jumped into the water for a swim.

The chill of the water crashed down on me, my legs and arms trembling, making it impossible for me to stay afloat. I cut through the water, sinking deeper and deeper.

My senses calmed; there was no responsibility here, no bloodshed, no difficult decisions.

Just us and the endless expanse of water.

Zara was right, this was paradise, and I understood why she loved it so much.

I spotted a silvery fish swimming away, reflecting the sun’s rays.

I followed it for a while until it disappeared from view. Taking a deep breath, I dove underwater, studying the seabed.

I found some shells and seaweed. Bending down, I grabbed a pink shell and swam back up, breaking the surface.

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with oxygen.

Turning around, I saw Zara getting up from the lounge chair. I swam back, and by the time I reached the stairs, she was already lying on the steps, a thick towel under her back to prevent the edges from pricking her.

Her feet rested on the bottom step, touching the moving water, and her elbows rested at her sides.

She deliberately left her legs spread, inviting me with a slight tilt of her head. "Have you had a swim?"

My cock twitched at her actions as her eyes slowly scanned my body.

I emerged from the sea, dripping. My wet hair stuck to my face as I stood between her legs, towering over her.

Drop!

A drop!

Water from my hair fell onto her stomach, forming a small puddle. I carefully brushed the wet hair out of her eyes.

"Here!" I leaned over and placed a small, round, empty shell on her stomach.

Her gaze slid over it, and she immediately smiled, as if I’d given her a priceless gem.

"Ah! How cute." She picked it up with a joyful smile and looked at me. "Thank you."

"It’s just a shell." I pressed my index finger and thumb to the tip of her nose before lowering myself between her legs and sitting down.

"It’s a gift, and all gifts are precious and priceless." She hugged my chest, resting her chin on my shoulder, and pressed her warm body against mine.

She found happiness in small things, even though she came from a wealthy family; she wasn’t a materialist.

"You are priceless, most priceless." I turned my head slightly to the side and gently kissed her hand.

She rubbed her body against mine, letting out a soft moan. Her ample breasts pressed against my firm back. Her nose brushed against my neck.

"Make love to me, Alpha. Here, on these steps. I want to feel you inside me."

The doctor advised us to be careful with sex. She didn’t forbid it, but she said to be cautious and not overdo it.

That’s what I needed to do—treat her gently.

Slowly, I turned to face her, pressing myself against my magnificent mate, her hair like melted rubies.

My hands cupped her sweet cheeks, pressing her face into my palm. I connected our lips.

Instantly, she relaxed even more, responding to my gentle kiss. I whispered against her lips: "We’ll do this slowly, and if you feel any discomfort, you tell me right away."

She nodded, connecting our lips again.

I took my time, savoring her, her touch, and her soft body. Running my lips down her neck, I began sucking on the tender spot between her ear and her neck.

My hands slid between us, cupping and twisting her breasts.

She arched her body, letting out a soft moan.

"Please! Kane. I want you to...It was inside me."

I wanted to prepare her so she wouldn’t feel any discomfort, but apparently, my mate was already quite aroused and ready. And I couldn’t refuse her.

She spread her legs, and I settled comfortably between them. My throbbing cock pressed against her entrance, my hands gripping the steps, taking all the weight off her.

"Look at me, darling," I commanded, and our gazes met like two merging galaxies exploding thousands of stars.

I moved slowly forward, and her mouth dropped open, her pupils dilated, and her cheeks flushed.

Her hands reached out to grab my wrists, trying not to tremble beneath me.

The most beautiful sight: my wife, spread out beneath me, taking my cock inch by inch.

"Haa! "Oh my Goddess," she breathed, lifting her legs and placing them on my shoulders. Her heels dug into my back as I entered her completely.

So warm, so wet, her insides clenched against my penetrating length.

The sun played in her hair, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

"This is my girl, you take me so perfectly. I’ll never tire of seeing you like this."

She squealed with relief as I saw her face reflect a multitude of emotions and expressions, but the most important of all was the glint of love in her eyes.

She loved me, and that satisfied my heart more than anything as I began to move rhythmically, giving her and myself equal pleasure.

***

(Seven Months Later)

We’d spent the last seven months furnishing our Pack House, the nursery, and settling into our new life.

I’d never imagined sharing a room with anyone, but now I couldn’t even imagine sleeping without her in my arms.

She stirred, still fast asleep, her floral scent drawing me to kiss her neck tenderly. My hands caressed her pregnant belly. It had grown so much in the last few months.

Our baby had grown, and the doctor had set the due date exactly one week later. Kissing her neck, I slid down and crossed to the other side.

Lifting the hem of her nightgown, I peeked inside and placed my lips and hands on her belly.

She shuddered, and her sleepy voice said, "Kane?"

"Hello! Good morning, my beautiful Blue Rose. Just waking up our little one."

We never found out the sex of our baby, keeping it a secret, but the doctor told us he or she was healthy and ready to be born.

Arata opened her nightgown and looked at me with sleepy eyes but a perfect smile. "She’s about to start kicking." My radiant wife’s hands gently intertwined with my hair, brushing it back from my forehead.

Zara was certain we were having a girl.

I pressed my cheeks against her protruding belly button, pressing it in, and she laughed like beautiful music to my ears.

A slow push hit my cheek, and I felt my heart double with love for this tiny creature I had yet to meet.

"Oh! She’s awake and will recognize her father’s touch." Zara pulled me even closer to her belly, making me feel closer to them both.

"Your father loves you, my little watermelon." She laughed at all the nicknames I’d given our little one. I always asked how big the fruit was.

"The watermelon will be born soon. Prepare yourself for the colors and screams that will follow." Her fingers slowly reached toward my face. Her touch always drove away the darkness that came with my work.

I tried to protect her as best I could. From the bloodshed, from the despair that followed it.

At times, she was my rock, understanding how the killings had affected me. She held me without judgment, without questioning, simply there, like the presence I needed.

Peace, there was no peace like the one I felt with my face pressed against her pregnant belly.

"I’m ready. I can’t wait to hold our baby in my arms." I smiled back at my beautiful wife, and my phone rang, ruining the precious moments between us.

Zara leaned closer to the nightstand, picked up my phone, and handed it to me.

Involuntarily, I straightened up, breaking contact with her, and glanced at the phone.

Hades, the name of my wolf, appeared on the screen. He called so early in the morning; it couldn’t be good news.

With a sigh, I answered the call, and Zara sat up straight in bed and wrapped her warm arms around me, pressing her lips to my back.

"Sorry to bother you." "So early in the morning, but we caught him."

Someone was extorting money from local shopkeepers in our name. We’d received the complaint several times, and my men had handled it, but I was afraid it was one of our own.

My back straightened, and my body tensed, even through Zara’s embrace.

"Who?"

"Jakal!" Hades answered calmly, the name of one of our men. This angered me, and rage boiled inside. Her lips instantly pressed against my neck, pinning me to the ground.

"Nobody touch him. I’m on my way." After finishing the conversation, I simply closed my eyes and let her touch calm me.

"Bad news?" she asked quietly.

"I’m afraid. As much as I’d love to spend more time with you like this... I have to go."

Her hands slid over my bare arms. "I’ll be here when you get back. Go take care of it. I love you." She kissed my cheek one last time and squeezed my forearms.

I liked how she always understood my work hours.

I climbed off the bed and turned to face her.

"When I get back, we’ll continue from here. Tonight, you’ll both sleep on my lap."

She smiled and nodded in unison. "Agreed."

"Eat a healthy breakfast." My mother was here because we were so close to her due date, and I knew she’d be at peace with her.

"Good."

I freshened up, changed, and left with Kaysir.

Hades was waiting for me in the dungeon, where Jakal was bound to the wall with metal chains, his hands tied to a hook in the ceiling.

The ominous red light must have made me look like the devil when I entered the room and cast him a withering glare.

The fear that flashed in his eyes at my appearance was like that of prey about to be hunted down and devoured by an apex predator.

"Alpha... uh!" his voice trembled, his body shaking. I stood directly in front of him, arms crossed, legs spread wide.

"You used Toledo’s name to collect money from the poor shopkeepers under my protection?" I asked, my anger growing as I struggled to break free from his control.

"I... was going to bring the money to you, Alpha." The lie, the sheer audacity of it, made me clench my fists, and I hit him in the nose so hard it broke.

A hideous sound echoed through the air, followed by his scream.

"I hate thieves, but I hate liars even more." Unbuttoning my cufflinks, I pulled back the sleeve of my shirt. I didn’t want to stain it. Taking out my phone, I handed it to Hades.

My blows rained down on him, and he began to thrash and whimper.

"Alpha!"

I didn’t stop until his nose was completely broken and blood was seeping from every hole and pore on his face.

"Bring me the pliers," I ordered Hades, and he immediately handed them to me from the table.

"When I’m done with him, I want his body hung in the common room." Let this be a reminder to everyone of what happens to those who betray me and abuse their power against the poor."

Forcibly prying apart the remains of his mouth, I placed the pliers on his front incisor and pulled it out with all my might.

Angered screams and gurgling blood followed. I couldn’t care less.

Before I could pull out all his teeth, the phone rang in Hades’s hand.

"Alpha! It’s your mother." My heart sank at his words. I knew she would only call in case of an emergency.

And the only emergency that could happen was with Zara.

Looking at my bloodied hands, I ordered Hades: "Take the call and hold the phone to my ear."

Hades immediately did as I was told.

"Kane!" her worried voice rang out. "Zara’s water broke; you need to go to the hospital immediately." "We’re almost there." Before she could hang up, I heard Zara’s heart-wrenching scream, and the pliers fell from my hands, clattering to the floor.

I needed to get to my mate; I couldn’t miss the birth of my child.