All of the issues had been settled, and there wasn’t any work left to do, so Axel went home. Sophie, on the other hand, had been anticipating his advent. She wanted to tell him what happened to her day. How the people on the border supported her on her every practice. How she went out with some of the Omega and Luna. Axel had been coming home tired and she couldn’t find time to tell him, but today was different. It was only six on the evening. That must have mean he finished his work early, and has still enough energy to listen to what she had to say.
The moment she saw his car from the window from her room, Sophie went out to greet him. She was on a rather good mood, these days. Sophie felt like her life is becoming better. The changes in Axel’s behavior, the Border’s acceptance as her becoming their new Queen. Luck has been on her side, and she felt overwhelmed. Wasn’t it a good sign that everything that was happening was right?
Sophie breathed hard, as she waited for him from the doorway. He was the only one who went out from the car, which means he really had his work finished. She smiled. At least, they’d have a peaceful time together! Axel had been really working hard for the pack and she acknowledge it!
“Alpha…” Sophie called him softly, before she tried to reach him to kiss him on his lips. “Welcome home.”
Axel showed her a small smile. “I missed you, Sophie.”
Axel pulled Sophie into a hug. He was tired, just a while ago. But seeing his Luna after all of that extracted his excess baggage from work. This was exactly what he needed. Sophie. Her hugs. Her kisses. She was the only person ever capable of lifting up his mood, nowadays.
“I missed you too, Alpha.”
The two entered the palace together. Sophie then started talking about what had happened the past days. Everything. Every little detail that she remembered. But Axel wasn’t focused enough to listen. He was thinking about taking a leave to his work. For a few days, to focus to Sophie, after the crowning.
Axel drew a deep breathe, before he stopped walking. “I want an heir, Sophie.”
Sophie’s steps halted. Heir?
“Of course….” Sophie tilted her head, a little bewildered. “I’d love that, too… but why would you suddenly bring that up?”
“I just thought I should let you know.”
“Do you…” Sophie’s brows puckered. “Do you mean, within the year?”
“I want to spend time with you after your coronation.” Axel lent his thoughts. “I figured we should focus on producing an heir.”
An heir.
She would love to. Afterall, that’s what their relationship would be all about. To produce a life that could be the pack’s next generation Alpha. But she felt like it was sudden. She felt like there was more than wanting to produce an heir. Was the Borders, perhaps, pressuring Axel?
Sophie held his arm, and caressed it. She wanted to ask, but she didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. “Then, we shall.”
Axel’s eyes glistened with conviction. He nodded to Sophie, before he held the back of her head to kiss him on her forehead.
The couple made their way to the kitchen. Axel’s concerns were somewhat resolved. Every negativity ceased. But it wasn’t until Sophie’s coronation. After Sophie was officially announced the Border’s Queen, Rebecca appeared with his doctor. The pack, who were celebrating, were visited with joys after the pregnant Lycan finally showed herself. She was greeted by her family, and she thanked all of them, veiling the dark thoughts that lies beneath her sweet smile.
Sophie, who was a little confused, because she hadn’t heard a thing from her beloved Alpha, approached Rebecca to honor her.
“Congratulations for your pregnancy.” Sophie greeted her with a smile. “This was such a surprise.”
“Surprise?” Rebecca pretended to be confused. “Didn’t Axel tell you I was? The members of the pack already knew. I asked Axel to pass the message when we saw each other a few days ago.”
The smile from Sophie’s eyes fell. They saw each other? When? She had no idea. They had been talking, and planning, but she didn’t hear anything about that.
“He probably forgot…” Sophie tried to composed her expression. “He was really working hard these days….”
Rebecca then let out a smile. A taunting one. “Oh, really?”
Sophie breathed hard. “Yeah.”
Rebecca nodded. “Congratulations to your crowning, by the way…”
“Well, soon enough, Sophie should also be blessed by an heir.” Rousel, who was nearby, entered the conversation.
“Aren’t you two planning on taking a vacation after this day? The Alpha had already informed us.”
Upon hearing that, Rebecca let out an amused smile. A vacation. Then, I presume he was affected by the news. She smirked before she took a sip on her milk. I knew it, Axel.
“Uh, yeah.” Sophie tried to smile. She didn’t really know but the conversation was starting to feel uncomfortable.
“You know,” Rousel spoke again. “I could tell the Alpha’s pressured. These days a rumor has been spreading that the reason he wasn’t able to give Rebecca a child was because he was infertile––“
“Speak another word and I will cut your tongue.”
A cold baritone voice disrupted Rousel from talking. The three of them turned to their left, where the Alpha was standing. He started to walk to closed the gap. His gazes were sharp, as he looked at his Beta, who just performed a blasphemous behavior.
“Rousel, I didn’t think you would have the courage to speak ill of me, in front of my own Luna” Axel stopped walking. His appeal and charisma screamed intimidation. “Perhaps, I showed you kindness enough to think you could commit such act and get away with it.”
Rousel bowed down his head, stupefy. “I beg your forgiveness, Alpha.” Shit. Rousel closed his eyes shut. “I did not know what I was talking about.”
“Sure, you don’t.” Axel took a sip on his wine. “So, why don’t you take a leave with me, Rousel?”
“A-alpha?”
“I’m saying I’m stripping you off your position.”
Sophie deeply inhaled. “I don’t think that’s necessary, Axel. He said it was a rumor.”
Axel turned to her. “And I believe I heard him say he knew I was pressured.”
Sophie shook her head, before she took a step closer. Axel had a bad temper, she knew that. Especially when people disrespect him.
“Come on, let’s go, Axel.” Sophie held his arm. “We had our fun.”
Axel emptied his drink, before he put it in a small table. He allowed her Luna to drag him away from the two. She knew things could go even wrong if they stayed longer. He would leash out at his trusted men, Rousel. And it’s uncalled for.
Unless, of course…
“You didn’t tell me Rebecca was pregnant…” Sophie said, almost a whisper.
“It slipped my mind.”
Slipped his mind? How could he have forgotten to tell her when they have been talking about producing an heir? It was so related he could have recalled and tell her!
“You also didn’t tell me you met…” Sophie looked away. “When was that?”
“The other day, Sophie. I didn’t tell you because it was unimportant.”
“Unimportant?” Sophie stopped walking. “All them knew. I was the only one who didn’t. How was that unimportant, Axel?”
“I didn’t think it was necessary to tell you. Her pregnancy has nothing to do with us…” Axel’s brows furrowed. “Why are you even bringing all of this up?”
“I don’t know, Axel.” She let go of him. “Probably, because the moment you found out she was pregnant, you wanted me to carry yours, too.”