Liam’s POV:
As my eyes fluttered open in the darkness, the first thing I noticed was the muffled noises drifting through the open window.
Glancing at the clock, the angry red lights flashed at 3:07 AM.
Seriously?
I groaned and pulled the pillow over my head, hoping the sounds would stop and let drift back to sleep.
But after a few minutes of intermittent barking and talking, my frustration took over.
Throwing off the blankets with a huff, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
The wood floors were cold on my bare feet as I padded over and peered through the glass window.
The sky was heavy and dark with thick clouds, not a single star peeking through.
By the pale glow of the security lamps, thick mist swirled around the edges of the forest and yard.
As my eyes adjusted, I could make out several shadowy figures moving around below near the rear gate.
One masculine voice rose above the rest, barking orders with a tone of urgency.
Squinting closer, I recognized Caleb’s stocky build, pacing back and forth as he conferred with the others.
A few had already shifted, their hulking wolf forms visible even through the fog.
Sensing sothing was wrong, I hurried to pull on so clothes and boots before heading outside to find out what was going on.
One thing was clear - my sleep was over, but it seed a new drama was just beginning in the dead of night.
Now I just needed to get to the gate and get Caleb to explain what had these guys so stirred up in the middle of the night.
The cold night air bit at my hands as I swung open the door of the pack house and rushed outside.
The half-moon provided little light to see as my eyes scanned the darkness for Caleb.
A figure stepped away from the shadows near the trees.
"Caleb, is that you?" I called out tentatively.
He nodded grimly. "Liam. Why are you up at this hour?"
His voice was tight, filled with a strain I did not often hear from him.
Is he seriously asking why I’m awake at this hour? Is he not aware of how loud he and the other guys are?
I just let it slide.
"What’s happening?" I asked, bracing for bad news.
"The attack earlier, there are bodies everywhere on the borders. The head alpha asked us to take care of this matter." Always straight to the point, Caleb did not mince words.
"I’m coming with you," I stated, hoping he would not deny .
Caleb studied for a long mont, then gave a short nod.
Relief flooded through as, from the trees, the others began to shift forms under the moon.
Fur rippled across skin as bones cracked and reshaped; where n had stood, wolves now waited.
Caleb’s eyes t mine, wolf bright in the darkness.
With his permission granted, I stepped beside him into the shadowy forest, following silently as the pack led the way deeper into the borderlands, to perform our solemn duty.
When we walked deeper into the forest, the moon was our only light through the dark trees.
Thanks to our powers we are able to see perfectly in the darkness.
Soon we started finding the bodies.
They lay broken under the trees.
My stomach felt sick but I knew I had to get used to it.
The pack turned sad as they changed back into their human forms.
Their fur went away and skin ca out, so they stood naked in the moonlike.
I’m used to this from living in a pack for so long.
Seeing a butt-naked person walking around is like having a cup of coffee in the morning, very usual.
Caleb spoke first to break the quiet. "Gather our friends. We’ll burn the intruders." His voice was low and sad like us.
We did what Caleb said.
The pack gently took our own people away from the dead.
I helped pile up the intruder’s bodies in a clearing far off.
The work made feel sick inside but this land was my ho with these people.
When the wood was ready, I used fire to light it up as Caleb told .
We watched the intruders’ wolves burn away to smoke and air.
Our job there was over.
"Let’s bring our pack mbers to rest in the cetery," Caleb said softly.
So with a friend in our arms, we left that place of death and brought our losses ho at last, to lay in the dirt like they deserved.
I bid the others farewell, nodding to Caleb one last ti before turning toward ho.
The walk through the fading night seed to stretch on endlessly, each step heavier than the last.
As the familiar walls of the packhouse ca into view, a swell of exhaustion washed over .
My body ached and my feet dragged, weighed down by the hard work of laying our companions to rest.
Pregnancy had made it even more draining.
I slipped inside my room, leaning back against the fra for support.
Dawn’s light was strengthening beyond the windows, a new day dawning over our grieving pack.
I stood tired inside my room due to the difficult work and my pregnancy.
The warmth of the shower washed away the dirt and aches of the long night as I let the water soothe my tired muscles.
Feeling clean and refreshed in fresh clothes, I made my way to the cushioned chair by the window.
"Just you and now, little cub," I said softly, resting a hand on my belly. I smiled, imagining tiny fingers and toes. "You are a gift."
As thirst tugged at my throat, I rose to fetch a drink from the kitchen.
But hesitating in the doorfra, I saw Anastasia sitting silently by the kitchen island.
Her face showed no expression as she was doing sothing, seemingly lost in thought.
At my entrance, she did not turn or speak, though she must have sensed my presence.
I watched for a long mont, but her stillness gave no answers.
Not wishing to disturb whatever troubled her mind, I withdrew quietly with my water and gulped it down while staring at her.
I kept lookin’ at Anastasia by the sink.
I was still worried about her even though she’s a strong Trueblood.
That far-off look in her eyes bothered .
"Alpha, are you okay now? Are your wounds all better?" I asked softly.
She turned her head a little to look at with her usual no-emotion face.
After a long ti, she said really quietly, "Why did you wake up so early?"
"I went with Caleb and the others to get rid of bodies in the borders," I started telling her about what we did in the woods.
She listened without saying anything like she wasn’t surprised I helped out.
But when I was done, sothing different shone in her pale eyes, even if it went away fast.
Her face stayed the sa as always, but I felt sure - just for a second - that she cared if I was alright or not, in her own quiet way.
It made feel better seein’ that, fleeting as it was.
For now, being in the kitchen together quietly was comfort enough.
Anastasia kept looking at for a spell after I finished speaking.
Then she put her empty glass down and stood up slowly.
My heart started going fast as she walked closer, till my back hit the fridge with nowhere left to step.
"A-Alpha, are you alright?" I chuckled nervously looking at her pale eyes.
But she didn’t say anything, just stared with sothing in her gaze I couldn’t figure.
I was more confused than I’d ever been as she kept comin’ nearer.
"Is, uh, is there sothin’ I can do?" My voice was shaky askin’.
She lifted her hand and I felt a sudden panic, jumpin’ aside when she reached for my belly.
Walking back quickly, I laughed awkwardly. "Sure is gettin’ sleepy, we better go rest up."
But just as I turned to leave, Anastasia’s voice stopped cold. "Don’t leave, Liam."
There was sothin’ in her tone that made freeze to the spot, my heart racin’ sothin’ fierce.
I tried walking away again slowly, as nervous as anything with her standing so close.
But she just got angrier, telling sharp to not move.
My heart raced when she took my arm tight.
"Please, I..." I rubbed my neck awkwardly under her pale stare, hands shaking sothin’ fierce.
A sheen of sweat ford on my brow though the kitchen was cool.
She didn’t listen, commanding to stay still as before.
With her hand reaching again, I grabbed it in hold weakly one last ti.
"I’m not comfortable. Because I’m... I’m insecure." I tried explaining through the fear clenching my gut.
But she glared at to stop talking.
What choice did I have then but to obey?
My legs turned shaky standing there under her powerful gaze.
Her touch on my belly sent bolts of panic through my veins.
Each second dragged on longer, the air thick as forest fog between us.
I watched helplessly, unable to flee her penetrating eyes.
Ti itself seed frozen as Anastasia stared unblinking at my stomach.
When finally she lifted her head, I saw not anger in her face but knowing.
Cold and quiet, her next words shattered the heavy silence: "You are pregnant."
All the energy left my body in a rush.
She had seen right through each feeble lie and pretense to the truth growing beneath my skin.
Under that intense gaze holding paralyzed, I had never felt more vulnerable or alone.
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