Impregnated By The Female Alpha

Chapter 44: Calm Before The Storm

Deep in the woods, the night was enveloped in darkness, its inky tendrils stretching out in every direction.

The air was heavy with an eerie stillness, broken only by the distant howls of wolves and the rustling of leaves underfoot.

Liam found solace against the rough bark of a tree, his back pressed firmly against it.

Anastasia groaned lowly, her movements slow and tentative as she fought to regain consciousness.

Liam held her arms, offering stability and support, his eyes searching hers for any sign of recognition.

And then, Anastasia’s eyes opened, revealing a glimmer of awareness.

Confusion clouded her gaze as she surveyed the aftermath of the battle, the lifeless bodies of wolves strewn across the forest floor.

Her gaze finally settled on Liam, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "Snow, is that you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Relief flooded through Liam as he replied, his voice filled with tenderness, "Yes, Anastasia, it’s me. It’s Liam."

He watched as her brow furrowed, her expression a mix of relief and apprehension.

Anastasia slowly pushed herself upright, gently removing Liam’s hands from her shoulders.

Though her touch was delicate, it felt like a rejection, a pang of hurt surging through him. But he pushed the feeling aside, knowing there were more pressing matters at hand.

Her gaze shifted from his face to his stomach, and Liam’s breath caught in his throat.

No, please do not look there!!

Can she feel their baby?

Can she hear their heartbeats?

No, she can not know now about them.

Every beat of the tiny heart was a reminder of the delicate balance he was trying to maintain. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

He was terrified that if Anastasia discovered the truth, it would change everything between them.

He didn’t want her to feel forced or obligated to accept him as her mate because of the baby.

He did not want her to hate their baby because of him, because he was the reason why he did not stop her that night because of his heat.

He did not want to baby-trap her in their Bond when she did not want it nor did she want the baby.

He respected her desires and understood that she did not want children.

Revealing the truth could potentially anger her, and he could not bear the thought of losing her or causing her pain or making her feel like he was a burden in her life. frёewebηovel.cѳm

"You are bleeding," Anastasia spoke softly, her hand reaching out to touch the side of his stomach.

A faint dust of concern etched across her face, she probed further, "You are injured. How did you even get to here? Didn’t I ask you to stay safe in the Packhouse? Answer me, you disobeyed my order, Snow.

Relief flooded through Liam as he realized that Anastasia stared at his stomach because she thought he was bleeding, not because she could hear the heartbeat of their unborn child that was growing in his stomach.

Gratefulness washed over him, and he fought to suppress a smile, reminding himself to maintain a serious demeanor. "I’m not bleeding. This is not my blood. I followed you and the others when you left, I’m sorry for the disobedience. I was just worried about you and the others and wanted to have your back in case anything happened."

Anastasia hummed, her eyes scanning his face before shifting her focus to her mate as she whispered under her breath "My fated mate."

Liam’s heart skipped a beat.

She inquired about his appearance, describing the gray, 15-foot-tall wolf she had encountered.

Liam’s excitement swelled within him, eager to reveal that he was the one she had seen especially when He noticed how Anastasia wanted to find that gray Wolf again.

But his joy was short-lived as Anastasia’s words shattered his hopes. "His wolf was the same size as mine and Philip’s. He is a true blood for sure, I know it. Only a true blood is worthy of having me as his mate."

Oh.

A true blood.

She thought he was a true Blood...

The air seemed to grow thin, suffocating Liam as the weight of indirect rejection and hatred toward himself and his rank settled upon him.

He swallowed hard, forcing a small smile. "I’m happy you found your mate, alpha, but I’m sorry because I did not see any gray wolf with those descriptions when I was out there. It was mostly black and brown wolves around."

Anastasia fell silent, disappointment etched across her features.

Liam could sense her longing, her hope that he had actually seen her destined mate.

The weight of her unfulfilled dreams hung heavily in the air.

Assisting Anastasia to her feet, Liam offered to carry her in his arms. "Alpha, your leg is not okay. Would you allow me to carry you?"

Just as he made the suggestion, a pained groan escaped her lips, a result of her broken ankle.

She sighed, a momentary silence enveloping them, he could see how much she hated depending on someone but her body was failing her.

As stared at her broken leg and the blood that was all over her body, she could feel intense physical pain in her limbs as she sighed before finally accepting his offer. "Yes, you can help to get to the Packhouse."

A surge of elation coursed through Liam as he lifted her gently into his arms, carrying her bridal style.

It felt incredible to hold his mate and carry their baby at the same time, a sense of completeness washing over him.

Yet, as they embarked on the long walk from the woods to the Packhouse, Liam couldn’t shake the realization that Anastasia desired only true blood as her mate and define not an abnormal rank like him.

With each step, his heart grew heavy, and the distance between them seemed to widen.

The weight of Anastasia’s preference settled upon him like a dark cloud.

He felt torn between the love he had for her and the knowledge that he could never be the true blood she longed for.

Touching his stomach with his elbow sideways, feeling the life growing within him, Liam found strength.

He vowed to be strong for himself and his unborn child as if their presence alone would fortify him in the face of adversity, even if Anastasia does not want him, at least he has a part of her with him.

As they made their way to the Packhouse, Anastasia, and Liam engaged in conversation, his voice hushed but filled with a mix of tension and concern while hers as usual sounded monotonous.

Anastasia expressed her disappointment about Liam putting himself in danger and breaking the rules by venturing into the woods.

Liam reassured her, masking the turmoil within, and apologized for his actions.

Anastasia’s voice sounded unbothered as she spoke. "Liam, I don’t understand why you followed me. I appreciate your concern, but you went against my order. You will not get away with that."

She had no idea he was the gray wolf who saved her and their pack, if she knew, she would have been so proud of him.

He wanted to make her proud of him but at the same time, he could not let her know about it.

Liam’s voice quivered, a blend of fear of losing her and determination. " Yes, I understand. I will be happy to receive the punishment for what I did. I take full responsibility for the consequences of my actions."

Anastasia fell silent, her eyes searching his face for sincerity.

The weight of their conversation hung heavily in the air, both of them grappling with their own fears and desires.

Liam tightened his grip on her, silently conveying his unwavering support.

Finally, they reached the Packhouse, where doctors rushed to attend to Anastasia’s injuries.

Liam watched anxiously as they examined her, asking questions about her well-being and any lingering pain.

The room buzzed with urgency and concern, Anastasia’s parents arriving soon after, their faces etched with worry.

Anastasia’s mother clasped her daughter’s hand tightly, her voice trembling. "Are you okay, sweetheart? What happened out there? And those attackers, are they taken care of?"

Anastasia nodded, her voice steady. "I’m fine, Mom. The attackers are dead. Please tell Caleb to take care of the bodies they left in the pack’s borders and send condolence to the families of the warriors that lost their lives."

Liam stood at a distance, his heart pounding with a mix of relief and apprehension.

He yearned for Anastasia’s well-being, her safety his utmost priority.

The doctor advised Anastasia to rest for a couple of days to allow her system to fully recover from the effects of the wolfsbane and for her wounds and injuries to heal.

As Anastasia was ushered into a room to rest, Liam was sent to his own room.

Alone in the quiet, he placed a hand on his stomach, feeling the faint stirrings of life within.

It was at that moment that he vowed to protect and defend his mate and unborn child, no matter the challenges they would face.

He can protect Anastasia secretly just like today.

As he lay in bed, memories of the night flooded his mind.

The fear, the worry, the fleeting moments of joy—all were intertwined in a tapestry of emotions.

With a contented smile on his face, Liam drifted off to sleep, knowing that he had held his little family in his arms, if only for a moment.

Little did he know that the calm he was now experiencing was merely the calm before the storm.

The challenges and trials that lay ahead would test his love for Anastasia, and test to see if no matter what she does, his love will remain love or change into hatred.