CHAPTER THREE

ALPHA KONAN'S POV

Werewolves are always excited when they hear of mates, their fated ones. And if by age eighteen, their fated ones have not been found, they are thrown into anxiety, sometimes leading to incurable depression that consumes the soul.

But I? I scoffed at the concept. To me, it was an age long nuisance of werewolves. It was upheld by fools, who couldn't see the chains it placed on their freedom. I resolved early not to follow that traditional part.

I hadn't rested from the installation ceremony, and the council of elders was up and about encouraging me to commence the journey of parenthood and bear children who will continue the legacy. They spoke of legacy, honor, and the importance of choosing a Luna.

Together, without much of my consent, they put on a mate-choosing ceremony. I had no option but to be present because it was the first event I was going to attend as the new alpha.

The anticipation in the great hall was high. I felt nothing, only indifference. The elders whispered among themselves, confident that I would pick one of their daughters as my mate. Each girl paraded before me with charm, grace, and carefully rehearsed skills, all eager to become the Luna of the pack.

I watched the whole show with an expressionless face. They were beautiful, no doubt, but beauty alone could not lead a pack. I wanted a fierce, intelligent, and strong mate. Someone who could fight by my side, make decisions in my absence and submit when necessary. These girls, no matter how skilled or charming they looked, were all bound by their fathers' shadows.

The thought of tying myself to one of them disgusted me. I would not sit and have my decisions manipulated or my leadership questioned because of familial ties.

When the last girl finished her display, all eyes turned to me. I rose from my seat, commanding the silence without even trying, and passed out my judgment.

I rejected every single one of them.

Their silence was unusual. The reaction was immediate. The elders, composed a while ago were visibly shaken. Their carefully crafted alliances and dreams of power had just crumbled at my words.

The weight of their disappointment didn't faze me as I walked away. They could stew in their displeasure for all I care. I am the alpha, and my decisions are not subject to their approval.

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MADELINE'S POV

For weeks, the talk about how alpha Konan rejected all the selected girls who were daughters of influential elders in the pack was the bone of contention.

The fathers of the selected girls even threatened to revolt against Alpha Konan. Alpha Konan had been extremely quiet. It was like a calm before the storm started raging.

Ever since that night, I still couldn't believe how I ended up in Alpha Konan's room, let alone his bed. My memory of that evening was blurry, and I was sure something was wrong with the last drink I had. Maybe I was drugged, or something strange happened. I lost control and did something I never thought I would, something I deeply regretted.

For days, I felt nauseous, constant emotional discomfort, tender breasts, and a weird appetite. I clung strongly to denial. My period was already two weeks late and it caused me to seek answers.

The pack hospital confirmed my fears.

"Congratulations Madeline," Petra chirped, misinterpreting my silence. I am so happy for you. Drey will be so happy to hear this. I am truly elated for you both." I wasn't even listening to what Petra was saying. Her joy was a cruel mockery of my reality. The world was spinning around in front of me, and abortion wasn't an idea I wanted to opt for.

"Madeline," Petra called. You don't seem happy about this. Don't you love Drey anymore? Or Is this a mistake?"

"Drey isn't the father of the baby in my womb Petra", I blurted out.

Petra found the news unbelievable. "What do you mean?" she asked scrunching her face.

"It is exactly what you heard, I replied. Drey isn't the father of the child in my womb."

"Then who is the father?" Petra asked.

"The alpha, alpha Konan."

"Ugh______," she exclaimed drawing attention from people passing by. Her expression shifted from surprise to a mixture of shock and confusion in seconds.

"Oh," I hushed her.

"How did Alpha Konan become the father," she whispered to me.

"I don't know," I cried. It happened on the night of his installation ceremony. I barely remember anything. One moment I was at the feast, the next... I woke up in his bed." My voice broke, tears threatening to spill.

"Is Drey aware of it?" Petra asked.

"No he isn't", I replied her.

"Madeline this is a disaster. Has anyone told you that you are some crazy-ass bitch? You kept this information from Drey till it advanced to this," she gestured pointing to my still flat stomach.

"How do you want to go about it? You know how ruthless alpha Konan is. Do you think he is going to believe a mere servant girl like you? He would think that you want to impose a baby that is not his. It was just a one-night stand, Madeline, and you don't stand a chance."

"Petra, there's evidence. He took my dignity that same night," I said

"Madeline!!!"

"You think the ever-formidable Alpha Konan is this gullible, tying him down with the excuse that he took your dignity?"

"This is so complicated, Madeline. Drey has been so good to you. This pregnancy is going to change the relationship you both had, it is going to destroy him. Drey's reaction to this is going to be...... I don't even want to think about it," she said, anxiously.

"How do you intend to break the news to Alpha Konan?"

"No idea", I replied to her.

She shook her head in disbelief and started down the tracks that led to the servant quarters.

My emotions fluctuated between my fear for Alpha Konan, guilt towards Drey and the impending challenges of motherhood merged with the fear that I may be an outcast among the female servants and members of the pack when it comes out in the open.

I was going to let Alpha Konan know of the child in my womb. It was either he accepted it or rejected it and I was prepared more for the latter.

I started down the road that led to Alpha Konan's quarters. I found myself standing nervously outside the door of his study, anxious to knock at the huge wooden doors. My heart was pounding heavily.

I thought of ways to break the news to him. The door opened suddenly in front of me, and Dan, his beta, came out of his office, thoroughly assessing me.

"Who are you and what are you doing here? What business do you have with the Alpha?"

"I don't have a prior arrangement with him. Just let him know Madeline is here to see him", I replied in the most polite way, my heart still pounding within my chest. He went in and announced my presence and after a short while, I was ushered in to the study.

"Why do you want to see me," Alpha Konan's voice echoed within the confines of the room. I was met with his intense gaze as he sat behind his grand desk.

"Alpha Konan, there is something I want to share with you. My voice showed obvious vulnerability. It took a lot for me not to make a mockery of myself. Alpha Konan crossed his palms under his jaw, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"I am listening Madeline." His voice sounded cold and demeaning that I immediately blurt out the information without thinking.

"I am pregnant with your child." I dared not look at his face.

My composure faltered in every way and I hoped the ground would open up and swallow me. Alpha Konan left his huge mahogany desk and walked up to me. He lifted my jaw to make me look at him. His face was expressionless.

"You say you are pregnant with my child Madeline."

"Ye....s Alpha Konan".

I presented to him the test results from the pack hospital. He collected the piece of paper from my hands and read through the words written on it. I dared not to look at his face. He called Dan in and Alpha Konan whispered something into his ear and he nodded in approval. Dan left and there was a momentary silence between us. It was a silence which could be compared to a double edged sword.

In a short while, Dan appeared with a woman who seemed to be in her fifties and left. She also like me was also scared of alpha Konan's presence.

"Strip Madeline," Alpha Konan commanded.

My breath hitched. Alpha Konan's unexpected demand hung in the air, my eyes widened in surprise, and a gasp escaped my lips. My posture faltered deeply, and my face held a mixture of fear and disbelief.

"What? You mean I should completely go naked in front of everyone here," I softly challenged. He raised his eyebrows in annoyance.

"The everyone here is just me, you and nurse Maude. You claim to carry my baby, so strip, let her do a thorough check on you. Don't want to? Do you need my help? Which is it, Madeline."

Nurse Maude looked at me, her eyes telling me to obey him without riling him up further. Humiliation burned my skin as I stripped myself of everything I wore. In seconds, I was bare in front of him and nurse Maude. Nurse Maude went further and gave me a pregnancy check up the crude way.

"Alpha Konan, she is indeed pregnant." "Congratulations Alpha Konan."

"How many weeks gone?" he asked.

"Four weeks gone Alpha," nurse Maude replied.

"You can leave," he told nurse Maude. I was still unclad and his icy stare caressed my body.

"Dress up and leave. I will call for you when I need you. For now, keep your mouth shut about this".