Chapter 23
Tyler’s POV
I watched as Rachel processed the news, her eyes downcast while he hands trembled slightly in her lap.
“How… how many more times?” she asked softly,
Emma hesitated. “Well… it depends. But as many times as it takes. Alpha Nathan needs an heir.”
“May I return to the Luna Suite?” Rachel asked, her eyes imited with red, her voice barely above a whisper.
After a brief silence, Emma nodded. “Of course You need to rest.”
Rachel slid off the examination table and steadied herself, waiting for me to escort her back. I opened the door and led her from the medical ward, walking silently beside her down the corridor.
“I’m sorry,” Rachel said suddenly, breaking the silence “I’m sorry you have to deliver bad news to the Alpha. I never meant to be a
burden…
I stopped in front of her. “This isn’t your fault. Werewolf conception sometimes requires multiple attempts.”
I paused, choosing my words carefully. “Just follow Emma’s instructions and do your best. Please excuse me, I need to return to the training grounds to oversee the warriors.”
She looked up at me gratefully, nodding in understanding. When I closed the door to her suite, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of
relief.
Standing outside Rachel’s closed door, I took a deep breath and glanced down the hallway, attempting to gather my thoughts.
I made my way downstairs to Nathan’s office on the castle’s main level. He’d spent the entire morning in border security meetings. I knocked on his door and waited.
“Come in,” Nathan’s firm voice sounded distracted.
When I entered, he looked up from his paperwork, his expression shifting from irritated concentration to curiosity.
“Tyler, news?” he asked directly.
“Yes, Alpha, I do.” I hesitated, then stepped forward to hand him the report I’d received from Emma.
Nathan’s brow furrowed after a quick glance. “She’s not pregnant?”
“No, she’s not,” I managed.
Nathan stared at me, his gray eyes sharpening.
One second. Two seconds.
I spent ten million on a breeder and she’s not pregnant!” Nathan roared, throwing the report aside. “What am I supposed to do with a girl who can’t conceive? The King needs an heir!”
“It was only one time, Nathan.”
Tyler’s Poy
I watched as Rachel processed the news, her eyes downcast while her hands trembled slightly in her lap.
“How… how many more times?” she asked softly.
Emma hesitated. “Well… it depends. But as many times as it takes. Alpha Nathan needs an heir.”
“May I return to the Luna Suite?” Rachel asked, her eyes rimmed with ted, her voice barely above a whisper.
After a brief silence, Emma nodded. “Of course You need, to rest.”
Rachel slid off the examination table and steadied herself, waiting for me to escort her back. I opened the door and led her from the medical ward, walking silently beside her down the corridor.
“I’m sorry,” Rachel said suddenly, breaking the silence “I’m sorry you have to deliver bad news to the Alpha. I never meant to be a burde…”
I stopped in front of her. “This isn’t your fault. Werewolf conception sometimes requires multiple attempts.”
I paused, choosing my words carefully. “Just follow Emma’s instructions and do your best. Please excuse me, I need to return to the training grounds to oversee the warriors.”
She looked up at me gratefully, nodding in understanding. When I closed the door to her suite, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
Standing outside Rachel’s closed door, I took a deep breath and glanced down the hallway, attempting to gather my thoughts.
I made my way downstairs to Nathan’s office on the castle’s main level. He’d spent the entire morning in border security meetings. I knocked on his door and waited.
“Come in,” Nathan’s firm voice sounded distracted.
When I entered, he looked up from his paperwork, his expression shifting from irritated concentration to curiosity.
“Tyler, news?” he asked directly.
“Yes, Alpha, I do.” I hesitated, then stepped forward to hand him the report I’d received from Emma.
Nathan’s brow furrowed after a quick glance. “She’s not pregnant?”
“No, she’s not,” I managed.
Nathan stared at me, his gray eyes sharpening.
One second. Two seconds.
I spent ten million of a breeder and she’s not pregnant!” Nathan roared, throwing the report aside. “What am I supposed to do with a girl who can’t conceive? The King needs an heir!”
“It was only one time, Nathan.”
1/3
Chapter 23
His gaze snapped to me.
“Excuse me, Beta?” he growled, his eyes flashing dangerously gold.
I slowly poured him a glass of whiskey and began explaining, “You didn’t catch her at her optimal heat cycle. Emma needed to wait until after the first time to determine when she’d be ready. It was he first heat ever, and it wasn’t natural. They induced it with medication–don’t look at me like that, I’m just relaying what the doctor said.”
Nathan sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “So I need to keep trying?
“Yes. Emma says Rachel is fertile and capable of conception, You just need to continue until she becomes pregnant.”
Nathan replied, “This is the last thing I need to worry about on top
the border attacks and the King’s summons, Tyler,
“I know, but the good news is at least now we have a better time frame,” I said.
A moment of silence fell between us as Nathan sat in his chair, looking out the window overlooking the castle courtyard.
“How did she take the news?” Nathan asked, his voice suddenly calm.
“What?” I was surprised that Nathan would inquire about Rachel’s reaction.
I cleared my throat, trying to hide my surprise. “She was upset, cried. She seemed disappointed and asked to return to her suite.”
“Damn it! I buy her, she can’t get pregnant, and now I’m the bad guy!” Nathan’s harsh, angry words caught me off guard.
Then it hit me–did Nathan care what Rachel thought of him?
“No,” I needed to clarify quickly. “I think you misunderstand. She’s upset because she wants to be pregnant… she wants to carry your child, Nathan.”
Nathan’s gaze swept back to me, and I could see the anger rapidly fading from his eyes, his expression transforming into something different.
I hadn’t become Nathan’s Beta solely because I was the strongest warrior, but because I understood my friend better than anyone, could read every one of his expressions.
“Have Emma send me the time frame,” Nathan said.
I nodded, turning to leave, but hesitated again. “May I ask a question?”
Nathan turned slightly, impatiently gesturing for me to speak.
“Once she’s pregnant, could she be allowed to at least walk in the castle gardens? With an escort, of course. Emma says she needs sunlight and fresh air–it’s good for fetal development.”
Nathan paused, fixing me with a dark, intense look before saying, “Fine. But not beyond the castle grounds.”
I quickly turned and left before he could reconsider and change his mind.
The gardens behind the castle, outside the glass conservatory, hadn’t been properly tended to in months, not since Nathan’s mother died. Remembering how it used to be, I decided to take action.
“John!” I called out to the castle gardener.
2/3
Chapter 23
A dark–skinned man ran toward me from the greenhouse.
“Yes, Beta, he quickly responded, bowing his head. “How may I help you?”
“Do you know the Luna gardens behind the castle?” I asked slowly.
John frowned in confusion. “Yes, Beta… I know which ones you mean.. nobody’s been there since… the incident.”
“Good. I want to see them cleaned up and restored. Can you prioritize this over the next few weeks?”
“Of course, Beta. Is this for… a new Luna?” the gardener carefully inquired.
I shook my head. “No, for the breeder. But I’d like you to keep quiet about it, not spread rumors.”
“Yes, of course, Beta.”
My mind was still on Rachel’s situation, not just the pregnancy issue, but also about Madison–Nathan’s future political marriage.
“Beta,
a voice called from behind me.
I turned to see Mia, Nathan’s Gamma, standing there. “What is it, Mia?”
Mia, the third – in – command under Nathan in the pack, was a powerful and wild – looking warrior in a mysterious leather suit.
“I wanted to inform you that there’s word Gina will be returning from abroad. She’ll make a brief stop in Emerald City before arriving at our territory next month.”
I was confused. Why wasn’t this news being delivered directly to Nathan?
Gina was Nathan’s half–sister, same father but different mother. Last year, she’d been sent to an elite school abroad to ensure she was far from her stepfather’s abuse. Now she’d graduated from college and was ready to return to work in the family business.
“How did you come by this information?” I asked.
“She contacted my sister, asked her to tell me, then asked me to inform you,” Mia explained; her sister was around Gina’s age and had been friends with her since childhood. “I’m guessing she’s still upset with Alpha for sending her away?” She shrugged.
“Thank you. I’ll tell the Alpha.”
Mia nodded and left, and I sighed deeply.
