Mated To Alpha Kessler

I forcefully wipe away the tears threatening to spill. I’m sure Kessler can hear the tiny heartbeat. I feel a mix of emotions-regret for lashing out at her in anger, and the feeling of my heart breaking all over again.

Just when I thought I wanted to go against all odds and give Kessler and me a chance to break down the walls I’ve created around me.

I struggle to make sense of it all. I glance at Kessler, his expression unreadable, With a shaky breath, I gather my resolve.

I calmly turn to Kessler and Annie, and say, “Shut the door behind you, I need to take a nap.” Kessler tries to move closer to me, but I raise my hand in the air, stopping him. There’s a flicker of regret in his eyes as if he has many things he wants to say.

But I already know what he has to say. “Can we talk about this?” he says, while I rehearse it in my head at the same time.

“Please leave,” I say, pointing to the door.

Kessler hesitates for a moment, I can see the words forming on his lips, the pleading look in his eyes, but I steel myself against the urge to give in.

Annie, on the other hand, watches the exchange with anger and frustration, her tears now replaced by a steely judgment. She opens her mouth, perhaps to protest, but a glance from Kessler silences her.

With a heavy sigh, Kessler nods reluctantly, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Fine,” he murmurs.

Kessler takes one last look at me, shaking his head in resignation, my heart sinks. He holds Annie’s hand tightly and drags her out of my room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I slump onto the bed, tears streaming down my cheeks, my heart feeling pierced and torn into pieces. Sasha, sensing my despair, nudges closer, her presence offering some small comfort.

But her words only deepen my pain. “Annie would be the one to give Kessler an heir.”

I don’t want to think about it. After all, he only marked me. We can reject each other when he gets married to Annie. I wouldn’t stand between them in any way.

But despite my attempts to push the thoughts aside, the ache in my heart remains, For now, all I can do is allow myself to grieve and hope that someday, somehow, I’ll find the strength to move forward.

Julie walks in, her expression filled with concern. It’s clear Kessler sent her to check on me.

I give a small laugh, trying to mask the pain. “I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” I say, repeating the words like a mantra in my head, hoping they’ll ease the ache in my heart.

But Julie sees through the facade. “Oh Lyra, you’re hurting,” she says softly, her voice filled with empathy. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I shake my head, unable to find the words as fresh tears begin to stream down my cheeks.

“J.. Julie,” I call out between hiccups, struggling to compose myself. “When I decided I’ll give Kessler a chance…”

“Okay, I’m listening,” she responds, her voice gentle and reassuring.

“Annie is pregnant for Kessler,” I blurt out, unable to hold back my sobs.

Julie’s shocked reaction is evident, and she asks me, “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I confirm through my tears. “They just left my room.”

“They?” she questions again, her confusion palpable.

So I proceeded to narrate everything that had transpired while she was away, pouring out the painful details of the scene that unfolded in my room.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Oh, Lyra, I’m so sorry,” Julie says sympathetically. “I’ve never liked Annie for once. While you were away, she was always around Kessler. I’m sure she feasts on his vulnerability to get him to sleep with her.”

I nod, grateful for Julie’s understanding and support. “Please wipe your tears,” she continues, her tone gentle. “I know we will weather this storm that is raising its ugly head.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart and wipe away my tears as Julie’s words sink in.

As I compose myself, my stomach growls loudly, breaking the tension in the room. I smile weakly, feeling a surge of hunger. “Get me some food, please,” I say, covering my face in embarrassment.

She nods her head and stands up. Once she’s at the door, she turns and looks at me.

“What?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

“Please, I want to see you here in the room when I get back,” Julie says earnestly.

I know she’s referring to the last event of tricking her to clear the plate to the kitchen. I roll my eyes at her request. “Please, get me food. I’m starving,” I reply with a sigh, feeling too drained.

Julie nods understandingly and leaves to fetch some food. Left alone, I decide to take a hot bath, hoping it will soothe the ache in my heart. The pain feels excruciating, weighing heavily on my chest.

But as the water burned my skin, I could feel the rawness of my emotions. Despite the physical discomfort, I stay under the stream of water, lost in my thoughts and struggles.

I wash myself of every pain I’m feeling, my mind reeling with thoughts. I sense Julie is back, which makes me turn off the faucet. I look in the mirror and realize how red my skin is.

It’s a reminder of what I’ve been through. I step out of the bathroom with my towel wrapped around me.

Julie had already placed some comfortable clothing on my bed. I was grateful as I moisturized my skin and wore my clothes.

Julie has placed a platter of delicious food. I devour it in a minute as she looks at me amused.

“What?” I ask her.

“Nothing,” she says, stifling a giggle.

Go ahead and speak your mind. I won’t get angry.

Are you sure you won’t get angry?

No, I won’t. Say it.

“Are you eating for two?” she asked.

“For two? As in, if I’m pregnant?”

She nodded her head.

In case you’re curious, nothing happened between me and Tristan while I was away. I was surprised myself because I’ve been nothing but his… *sigh* … his… “fuck mate.”

He could take me anytime he felt like it, whether it was in his office, the kitchen, my room, or anywhere he felt like it.

I didn’t have a say over my body when it came to him. He took away my innocence and didn’t stop at that, but continued whenever he got the chance.

I know he wanted a powerful heir. My mother is Lycan, while my father is an Alpha, so the combination of these two should give him what he desires.

I’m sure he’s expecting me to get pregnant, the way he would pump me hard and release his seed inside me, and then send me to the doctor for a check-up.

But unknown to him, the doctor always gave me something to take that would prevent me from getting pregnant.

I didn’t know what the doctor saw in me, but I felt he took pity on me because of something that had happened in his life.

My time at Croftwood Pack reminds me of how Kessler had been nothing but kind to me. Though I hate him for what he did to my father, I know he’s trying to refrain from something, but I can’t quite tell.

Droplets of tears fall from my eyes as I relive the past. It’s something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I’ve been through thick and thin, and I hope I’ll be vindicated in the end.

I look at Julie and ask, “Are you satisfied with your curiosity? I’m not pregnant.”

I notice tears streaming down her face. She feels for me, and she can’t hold back any longer. She gives me a bone-crushing hug and says, “I’m so sorry, Lyra. You’ve truly been through a lot.”

I smile and ask, “Did Kessler put you up to this? To find out if Tristan had his way with me?”

“Not at all,” Julie replies, “just amused by the way you were able to finish the food in a go.”

Suddenly, Julie panics. “What is it?” I ask her.

“I just got a mind link from Kessler. Lyra, you’ve been summoned.”

“Why? What have I done?” I ask, my heart racing with apprehension.