Amelia's POV...

My hands lay over my stomach protectively.

I hadn't been invoiced with any other person, so how come... or was the pregnant test wrong?

A chilling breeze filled the cottage and made a chill run down my spine. The excitement I felt earlier that day when I saw the pregnancy result had just faded and was replaced with a feeling of confusion and uncertainty.

I checked my watch. It was already 7:00pm on the dot.

"Did he forget about me or he's still at the office?" I asked myself. "I'll wait a few more minutes. I'm sure he's still busy,"

Just then, the door creaked open and he walked in. My face instantly brightened when I saw him.

I stood up from the bench and went to meet him, aiming to embrace him. "Colton, what happened..."

I was cut off by his next action. He put his right hand In front of him, preventing my body from touching his. My wolf whimpered at that.

'It's okay Nyx. He must be tired from work'

Nyx is my wolf. She's amazing. Literally the best thing that ever happened to me. And she is the reason I survived my slave years.

"Why did you come to the office today?" He asked.

I blinked rapidly. "I come all the time. You normally ask for lunch and I get them for you,"

He sighed and looked away, running his hand through his hair. "Today was different. You shouldn't have come," he said, the air around us shifting as I could tell he was getting irritated.

I hung my head low in submission. "I'm sorry,"

He's never spoken to me like this in private before. He was always understanding and careful with me.

"Why did you come?"

I looked at him and opened my mouth to announce to him about our child... but then, what he said earlier sounded in my ears.

"I...I...uh" the words died in my throat.

"What is it Amelia?" He asked, this time around, his voice softened as he looked at me.

"I just wanted to see you," I lied. "To know if you're okay,"

He straightened up. "I'm always okay. You don't have to always come running to the office every time,"

My hands reached to my side and I felt the pregnancy test still intact.

If he denied wanting a child and that he tied his tubes, there was no way I could tell him I was pregnant. I didn't know the father of my baby.

"Victoria came back," I said, trying to change the topic. "What did she say?"

He moved away and sat on the bench I was sitting on earlier.

"Nothing much," he shrugged. "We just talked about random things,"

Random things?

To Colton, random could mean very important things or things he wasn't willing to talk about.

"There'll be a banquet tomorrow. It's a celebration,"

"A celebration? For whom?" I asked, nudging closer to where he sat.

He seemed so cold and distant today.

"For Victoria," he blurted.

My brows furrowed as I looked at him in surprise. "For Victoria... your ex,"

"It doesn't matter who she is, what matters is that she's back and we need to welcome her back to the pack,"

"Okay," I sighed. "Since it's a celebration... it means everyone will be there?" I asked and he nodded.

"So we're going together?" I asked again. Nyx purred. The thought of going together with him, his hands holding mine and walking into the hall made me smile.

"No," came his cold reply.

My face fell instantly. "No?"

'What does he mean by no?' Nyx asked.

'How am I supposed to know? I need to ask him first'

"Why not?"

"You'll just stay in the pack house with others that won't be attending," he ignored my question.

"But everyone will be there. No one would want to miss a banquet,"

"I'm talking about the servants that won't be on duty tomorrow night, those cooking... you stay with them,"

I gasped at what he said. "You want me to stay with the servants while you're away at a banquet for your ex?"

"Don't make things difficult here. You're not coming... just stay with them till everything's over,"

"But why can't I come? I'm your mate..." I trailed off.

"Just. Do. As. I. Said," he used his alpha tone on me and my wolf howled in surrender and I lowered my head.

"Yes Colton,"

He stood up from the bench and started moving. As he reached where I was, he stopped and leaned down.

"It's Alpha from now on," with that, he left.

Amelia's POV...

The next day...

The pack house was filled with activities. Everyone was getting ready for the banquet tonight. The atmosphere was so jovial, but I wasn't.

I was inside one of the rooms in the pack store.

'Why doesn't he want us to go?' Nyx asked.

'I don't know that. He clearly doesn't want to answer that"

'Why not we sneak into the hall and enjoy whatever activity they've got planned?'

'He's going to very angry if he finds out we snuck in'

I sighed and walked towards the door. I wanted to let Nyx out and go for a run.

I tend to think better and make good choices while on a run. Besides, I wanted Nyx to take control. It's been a while since I let her out.

I left the room and found my way to the exit, trying not to crash into anyone or anything. I stared at the woods in front of me. It seemed to be calling out to me.

I felt Nyx trying to crawl and free herself. I wanted to let her, but for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to leave the pack house.

Not with everyone busy with preparation for the banquet. What if I left, and entered into trouble, no one would know.

My shoulders fell and I turned back inside. As I sat on a chair in the room, the door opened immediately and Runa came in.

Runa was a female lead warrior. She usually fights in battle next to Colton if the other male warriors were wounded. She was very skilled and also very loyal to Colton.

"Good morning Luna," she bowed respectfully, holding the sword by her side, preventing it from dangling.

I smiled awkwardly. She was among the few persons that referred to me as Luna, others didn't.

"No need for so many formalities. You can rise,"

She rose immediately. "Alpha sent me to be by your side tonight,"

"He did?" I asked.

"Yes Luna," she replied and bowed again.

I smiled inwardly.

'He still cared about us,' Nyx purred.

I sat straight and squared my shoulders. "You can go then. I'll be expecting you tonight,"

I had plans of sneaking out and attending the banquet.

"I'm sorry Luna. Alpha said I should stay with you from this moment till the banquet ends,"

I frowned. "What? Colton... I mean... Alpha said you should stay till night?"

She nodded energetically.

This is unbelievable. I lowered my head and thought of how I could escape this woman.

An idea snapped in my head. "You know, it's such an honour to have the bravest and strongest female warrior by my side all day,"

She smiled stiffly. "Thank you Luna. It's a pleasure to also watch after you. I'm only performing my duties"

"Exactly. That is why you should go and come back later... at night. Just go rest and get ready to watch after me. You can go about your other duties. I don't mind," I tried cajoling her into leaving.

She lowered her head. "I'm sorry Luna... but I can't go anywhere else. This is my duty for today. I can't disobey the Alpha's orders,"

"You're not disobeying him. You're only stalling his orders,"

"I think you should inform the Alpha if you want some privacy, then I take orders from him to retreat. Other than that, I have to be with you,"

I forced a laugh. "Right," I looked away and rolled my eyes. One of the downsides of having a very loyal warrior.

My gaze returned back to her. I can still run away. I bet she'll be so tired from having to watch me during the day that she won't be able to keep watch at night.

***************

It was already 5pm. Just an hour before the hall gates opened... and Runa was still as energetic as ever. She didn't even seem a bit tired.

'Is this still going to work?' I asked Nyx.

'It has to. We can't have her ruin our plans of attending that banquet'

"Exactly" I muttered under my breath. She might be the bravest and strongest, but once Nyx and I decided on something, we must achieve it.

I saw a sweat trickle down her face and she wiped it immediately with her palms. She'd been standing for hours and hadn't sat down, yet she looked like she had just begun.

I smiled cunningly. She had better keep up that energy, cause she'd need it to look for me... when I'll disappear.