BALQIS’S POV

His long golden hair that was tied into a bun loosened and fell across my face as he whispered again, “Yes, I’m crazy. Crazy that I don’t get to fuck you once, unlike Julius that bastard.”

I looked up at him with urgency. His words didn’t make any sense to me. “Gamma, you’re saying nonsense. Let me go!”

He held me down and pinned me to his chest more tightly, “I really mean it. You intoxicate me each time I see you shake your hips.”

I wasn’t allowed to say anything else because his lips claimed mine at that instant, and I moaned crazily because a bulge brushed against my thigh.

Guilt flooded through me — this was wrong. I rejected Julius just now and I was in his friend’s arms. But why did wrong feel so right?

Adonai sucked on my lower lip, like it was a lollipop, and all my body could do was get wetter.

Damn! ‘What are you doing, Balqis? He’s Julius’ friend!’ my wolf screamed.

Yes! He knew Julius was cheating on me all along.

The realization of that fact got me so angry, and I pushed him back with all the power I could muster. “No. Gamma. Let’s not do this.”

He pulled me back, looking at me hungrily and wolfishly. “I can give you what Julius can never. This is wrong, but I want to do it.”

His words only added to my anger, “You brought your friend here, despite knowing he was my mate, why did you…”

“I didn’t have any choice! Julius once saved my life during a rogue attack. I owe him my life and I couldn’t refuse when he asked to stay at my place.”

I gulped hard and fast because I was lost for words again.

The alcohol seemed to have burned away from his system, replaced by raw desire and clarity in his eyes. He was drunk but now drunk with me.

He kissed my lips, this time slowly as he whispered. “Why is the best fruit always forbidden, Balqis?”

“Not all are forbidden,” I told him. “Some could cause harm, and that’s why they’re called forbidden.”

He sniffed against my body, drawing in my scent. “I don’t know what Julius did to deserve you, but I really want you. For a long time, I’ve always wished you were mine. I knew how he mistreated you in bed, I stayed silent because I didn’t want to ruin your relationship. But now…”

“Why…?” My breath became shaky from the effect of his magnetic touch against my body. “I’m a bastard. People call me a slut because I dance naked every night. Julius…”

“The bond between you two is now gone. Can you focus on me, please?” He whispered back, his hand fondling my bra.

“If we both cross this line, there’s no going back” I warned.

He smirked. “My first regret is not meeting you before Julius did. But now, I’m never letting you go.”

Just for tonight!

The movement of his body against mine made my slit drip with orgasm.

When had I last enjoyed sex this much? Julius only wanted to satisfy himself and not me.

Adonai stripped himself before climbing onto the bed and tearing away my dress.

“You’re wrong about fruits,” he whispered. “No fruit is harmful. They’re either forbidden or deserve to be worshiped.”

“And… And me?” I managed to ask shakily.

Adonai shifted my pants and inserted his finger, “You’re forbidden. But I chose to worship you.”

Just like that… He worshiped me with his hand, his mouth, his cock, his whole body… Every thrust erased Julius from my mind. Every gentle, unhurried kiss reminded me of what it felt like to be desired and not just used.

He was everything Julius had never been, and I wished…just wished I could have this experience once again but it would never happen again. Never.

~~>

I hastily dressed up in my half-tattered clothes.

Adonai got off the bed, his cock still erect. “It’s getting late now, Balqis. Sleep over and I’ll drop you off tomorrow morning.”

“Sleep over?” I faced him sharply, glancing at the clock on the wall flashing 8:00PM. “I must be at the club before 10 PM! My stepmom would be angry!”

Adonai helped me get my bag and hesitated before giving it to me. “I worshiped the forbidden fruit. I wished we could stay together longer.”

I heaved a long sigh, “Gamma. Let’s keep this secret till the day we both die. It’s so unheard of that I sleep with my mate’s friend so-“

“Your mate, you say?” His brow furrowed. “Julius is not your mate anymore.”

I managed to slip away from him and exit the room.

“Urgh! That was close…“ I breathed out in relief and adjusted my messed-up hair.

“Balqis?” The familiar feminine voice called my name from above my head.

“Hun?” I looked up urgently and saw Nirvana and Julius on the stairs above me, half naked and clearly not finished with each other.

My head spun with anger again. Can they even bring their sin to the living room now?

“Why are you still here?” Julius asked, coming down, and Nirvana followed, not bothering to wear her panties.

I rolled my eyes. His words twisted in my gut like a curse. “This is not your house, right?”

“Hey, Bally, you-“ Adonai, who came out after me, paused. He was now wearing shorts that did little to hide his arousal.

Immediately seeing him like this, Nirvana gasped. “Why are you coming out of the same room?”

Julius’s eyes turned green. Adonai reached out and gave me my hairpin. “You forgot this.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled as I took it from him, ignoring the people standing before me.

Adonai smiled at me, very charmingly more than I ever saw him smile.

Nirvana pulled my arm, “Are you blind or just pretending not to see us?”

I looked at Nirvana with a raised eyebrow, her face disgusting me more than poop, but I managed to reply, “I must go back to dance my life out. You can go back to finish what you started, sis.”

Nirvana’s expression was terrible. But I walked past her, my shoulder and Julius’s brushing but I didn’t care.

“Come back here, Balqis!” Julius ordered in the most irritating voice ever.

I stopped in my tracks. Not because I was fazed by his words, but to see the expression on his face. “What’s the matter?”

His eyes didn’t leave Adonai’s, but the question was directed at me. “Why are you two coming out of the same room?”

My gaze swept past Adonai before replying. “How is that any of your concern? We did what you guys are doing, so what’s your problem?”

“Really?” Nirvana gasped. “You’re now bold enough to fuck your way through his friends?”

“I’m not talking to you!” I snapped at her.

In that instant, Julius rushed to his friend, and immediately, his palms were pinning Adonai to the wall. “What did you do to my woman, you drunkard!!?” Jealousy and possessiveness twisted his face — something I’d never seen before. But he’d thrown me away, and now he’s jealous?

Adonai choked under his grip, “J..Julius, you’re choking me!” He cried.

Nirvana didn’t bother to help, she stepped aside with an amused smirk. “Two men fighting because of you…how flattering” she drawled sarcastically.

“Let’s separate them, he’ll kill him!” I pulled her.

She was reluctant but we managed to pull Julius from Adonai.

Adonai coughed several times before standing up to meet his friend’s gaze. “Are you out of your mind?”

Julius aimed for Adonai again, “I should ask you that after you slept with my woman!”

I dashed him a glance. His woman? Like he ever treated me like one?

Adonai charged back at his friend this time, “You don’t deserve Balqis!”

“Adonai!” Julius cried painfully.

“What?” Adonai countered before I could intervene. “You piece of trash. I tolerated your madness because you once saved my life, and you think that would hold me back from throwing this in your face?”

“Gamma, you have to stop now,” I pulled Adonai back. I really can’t deal with another tirade right now.

My stepmom would be very furious by now. Nirvana had the guts to stay since it’s her mum’s club, but me?

No.

“Balqis, so you intended to fuck my friend all along?” Julius asked me with a painful smirk.

The words sounded like a hammer against my eardrums. The man who slept with my stepsister was getting angry that I slept with his friend?

I shoved Adonai behind me and faced him head-on, “You slept with my sister, right?”

“Balqis!!!” Julius roared. “He’s my fuckin friend!!!”

“And she is my sister!!!” I yelled back, letting all the pent-up frustration fall out through my yelling. “I’ve rejected you, so don’t bother me again!”

“You’re making a scene, Balqis” Nirvana said coldly. “We’re step sisters!” She emphasized the ‘step’

I turned and hissed at her in disgust. “I hate every drop of the blood we share, Nirv”

I turned to leave. Adonai called me back, “Balqis, wait! Let me drive you” But I ignored him and left the castle.

Time was now 9:15 PM.

Only if I hadn’t come here today.

Outside, it was pitch black save for the streetlights and the full moon that stood elegantly in the sky above me.

Dragging my feet, I walked out of the gate and hailed a cab.

This was the first time another guy, except for Julius, would sleep with me.

But why did it have to be Gamma Adonai, his friend?

Balqis’s POV

One month has passed since that terrible night at Adonai’s place. I’d thrown myself into work at the club, dancing until my body gave out, trying to forget Julius, and trying to forget the touch of Adonai’s hand against my skin. But my body had another plans.

“Bally, are you vomiting again?” Nirvana asked from the living room.

I flushed the stench and came out of the bathroom exhaustedly. “I really don’t know what I ate. Perhaps I danced too much last night. Can I borrow a few cents to get some drugs?”

“Go check my purse, you’ll see some change in there.”

“You’re not getting any drugs!” Mrs Kathy, my stepmom, interrupted, coming into the living room.

We both looked back. “Why did you say that mum? She’s been vomiting for the past two days now.” Nirvana said, frowning in confusion.

“Are you both idiots?” Mrs Kathy fired angrily, and both Nirvana and I frowned in confusion. “Balqis is pregnant!!” Mrs Kathy announced before grabbing the remote control.

Of course. She’d notice. She’d been watching me like a hawk ever since Julius and I broke up, probably hoping I’d do something to embarrass the family before Nirvana's wedding.

My heart slammed immediately, currents of shock ran through my veins, “What did you say mum?”

“When did you last seen your period?” She asked, casting me a mocking glance.

“But I...” I stopped immediately. I remembered that I hadn’t seen my period this month.

But how did I… The realization hit me like ice water.

Nirvana’s eyes met mine, and I saw understanding dawn on her face because she was there too. “Adonai” I whispered, my voice shaking.

“You actually… with him?” Nirvana’s eyes widened.

I...I’m pregnant with Gamma Adonai’s child?

No. It can’t be. “See Mum, we can’t just jump to conclusions like that. You know...”

“Don’t give me that crap, I’ve been through this before” she yelled, finally setting my heart in flames.

I looked at Nirvana, who shook her head desperately, telling me not to involve her no matter what.

Nirvana was betrothed to the Alpha’s son, and their marriage was set for next month.

As expected of a bride-to-be, she should be on her best behavior, as any slight mistake could send her and her family’s head rolling on the floor.

When had I last seen Gamma Adonai? I’d made sure to avoid him completely since that night. When he came to our house with the Alpha’s son entourage to visit Nirvana, I’d hidden like a coward. When I spotted his car near the club, I’d take a different route home. I couldn’t face him after what we’d done.

But now, I was pregnant with his child?

No, it can’t be. Mrs Kathy went upstairs, and while she was gone, Nirvana rushed over to me. “Balqis, Gamma Adonai… came into you?”

I pushed her back, “All this happened because of you! If you hadn’t slept with Julius, I wouldn't have been compelled to do it.”

Mrs Kathy came back downstairs with a pregnancy test strip and handed it to me, “Go test yourself.”

~~~

“Mum, this is not necessary,” Nirvana pressed. “Balqis can actually take care of herself even if she’s really…”

“Take care of herself by abortion?” The woman fired at her daughter again. Nirvana kept quiet, and I felt I needed this confirmation, or else I’m going to lose my mind.

Mrs Kathy and Nirvana paced up and down, sighing simultaneously, while I sat on the sofa like a lost soul.

I stared at the little device lying on the table, the message flashing on it haunting my brain the more I looked at it: “PREGNANT”

After pacing for what seemed like ages, Nirvana stopped and stamped her feet to the floor. “Balqis, you’re aborting this pregnancy,” she concluded.

I didn’t move from my spot. I just listened with several possibilities running through my mind.

Can I take care of a child alone? Probably not, right? I don’t even have a stable job, just bouncing from one part-time gig to another while Mrs Kathy pays me just a dime to take care of my personal necessities. But… I’m now pregnant?

Julius would definitely mock me if he found out. The pack would call me a whore who got kicked out by her ex-mate’s best friend and Mrs Kathy would never forgive me for ruining her reputation.

“Stop talking about abortion as if it’s nothing!” Mrs Kathy fired back at her daughter. “She was impregnated by Gamma Adonai, right? Then let’s go and tell him”

“Mum!” Nirvana warned. “How sure are you that he would want a child?”

Mrs Kathy stopped in her tracks, and her piercing, wicked eyes locked into mine. “Then she shouldn’t have opened her legs for him!”

I could see the wheels turning on her head. A baby woth Gamma Adonai meant money, connections to power. Of course she’d want me to keep it for her own sake.

Cold shivers ran down my spine as she said this. Only if I hadn’t gone to his house that day to find Julius, then I wouldn’t be facing this now.

But now, I have two options laid before me. Either get an abortion or inform him about it.

“No!” I interrupted the mother and daughter’s arguments, making them look at me in confusion.

I stood up, each word I was about to say choking my throat like tiny little needles. “I will go and tell Gamma Adonai about this myself.”

I turned to the stairs. “Mum is right. I laid my pussy for him, and he should take responsibility for this.”

“Balqis,” Nirvana called, and I turned. For the first time, I caught a concerned gaze on her face, though I couldn’t tell if it was concern for me or fear of scandal. I couldn’t tell. “Can you handle it alone? Should I come with you?”

I forced a smile, “You don’t have to.” She’s the reason I’m in this mess anyway. No amount of her niceness would make me ever forgive her.

I departed upstairs with tears running down my face. Why did this have to happen on my first time sleeping with another man?

How could I not even know when he was emptying his scrotum into my womb?

I changed my dress with tears and trembling hands, tears streaming down my face. What would I even say to him? Would he want this baby, or reject me like Julius had?

I came down the stairs, my heart still hammering with anxiety over Adonai’s possible reactions, but Nirvana stopped me halfway through. “Go back upstairs, Balqis.”

I tried pushing my way through her, “Nirv, let me go.”

She held me back, her voice breaking as she spoke. “For your own sake, go back upstairs.”

Her mum was standing before the TV, frozen, and this hinted to me that something was happening.

“No, Nirv,” I argued and forced my way out of her grip and rushed to the TV, only to see the most gruesome news flashing.

“No,” I shook my head, withdrawing. “This can’t be true”

Nirvana rushed to me and held me. “Take heart, Balqis. The goddess knows the best.”

“No!!!” I cried painfully, wishing the news was false. “Nothing must happen to Adonai at this time.”

I yelled at the top of my voice. My chest ached from crying too much, my heart bleeding with anguish.

Not now. Not when I’m carrying his child. Not when I never got to tell him .

My hands moved instinctively to my still flat stomach. “I’m sorry” I whispered to the tiny life inside me. “I’m sorry your father will never know you existed”

Showing on the TV were photos taken from an accident scene, and not an ordinary accident scene, but a plane crash. Involving none other than Gamma Adonai — the father of the baby I was carrying!

“…..unfortunately, no survivors were found at the crash site...”