Lisa's POV
My breath caught in my throat.
The stranger from the bar. The man I had spent one reckless night with. The father of my child.
He stood before me now, not in the dim lighting of some seedy bar, but in an opulent office, dressed in a black dress shirt that hugged his frame perfectly. His golden eyes locked onto mine, and that same unsettling calm I remembered washed over me.
"Hello, sweetheart. It's been a while."
I couldn't speak. My mouth opened, but no words came out. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure everyone in the room could hear it.
The warriors who had dragged me here exchanged confused glances, clearly sensing the tension between us.
"You..." I finally managed, my voice barely a whisper. "You're the Beta?"
A slow smile spread across his lips, the kind that made my stomach flip. "Not quite."
Before I could process his words, one of the warriors stepped forward. "Beta Grayson is away on pack business, Alpha. We thought you'd want to handle this personally."
Alpha.
The word hit me like a slap to the face.
My legs wobbled beneath me, and I had to fight to stay standing. Alpha. Not Beta. This man, the one I had given myself to in a drunken haze, was Alpha Ragnar Crimson. The Undead King. The most feared Alpha in the entire realm.
"Leave us," Ragnar commanded, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
The warriors hesitated for a moment before bowing their heads and filing out of the room. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving me alone with him.
The silence was suffocating.
Ragnar leaned against his desk, crossing his arms as he studied me. His gaze dropped to my stomach, lingering there for a moment before returning to my face.
"You're pregnant," he stated, though it wasn't a question.
I wrapped my arms protectively around my belly, instinctively shielding my child from his scrutiny. "That's none of your business."
His eyebrow arched. "Isn't it?"
Heat flooded my cheeks as the implication of his words sank in. Of course it was his business. He was the father. But I wasn't ready to admit that. Not to him or anyone.
"I didn't know who you were," I said quickly, my voice defensive. "That night... I was drunk. I wasn't thinking clearly."
"Neither was I," he admitted, his tone softening slightly. "But that doesn't change what happened."
I bit my lip, tears threatening to spill. "Why did you leave?"
The question slipped out before I could stop it, and I immediately regretted it. I sounded desperate and needy. Everything I didn't want to be.
Ragnar's expression shifted, something unreadable flickering in his golden eyes. "I had my reasons."
"That's not an answer," I shot back, anger flaring in my chest. "You just... left. No note. No explanation. Nothing."
"Would it have changed anything?" he asked quietly.
I didn't respond. He was right. What would a note have done? I still would've ended up here, pregnant and alone, rejected by my pack.
A sudden warmth spread through my chest, unfamiliar and overwhelming. My wolf stirred, whimpering softly.
"Mate."
The word echoed in my mind, and my eyes widened in shock. No. That couldn't be right. The Moon Goddess had already paired me with Roman. She couldn't have made a mistake.
But as I looked at Ragnar, as I breathed in his scent of lavender and mint, I knew it was true. This bond, this pull I felt toward him, was stronger than anything I had ever felt with Roman.
Ragnar pushed off the desk and took a step toward me. I instinctively backed away, my back hitting the wall.
"You feel it, don't you?" he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "The bond."
I shook my head, even though I knew it was pointless to lie. "I was already mated. To Alpha Roman. The Moon Goddess chose him for me."
"And he rejected you," Ragnar said coldly. "Roman was never your true mate, Lisa. I am."
Hearing my name on his lips sent a shiver down my spine. "How do you know my name?"
"I know a lot of things," he replied, stepping closer until he was mere inches away. "I know you were rejected in front of your entire pack. I know you were beaten and disowned. I know you've been wandering for a week, searching for a place to belong."
My breath hitched. "How...?"
"I have my sources," he said simply. "And now you're here, in my territory. Carrying my child."
"I didn't come here on purpose," I insisted, my voice trembling. "I didn't know this was your land. I was just passing through."
"I believe you," he said, surprising me. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're here now. And I'm not letting you go."
Panic surged through me. "You can't keep me here. I'm not your prisoner."
"No," he agreed, his golden eyes boring into mine. "You're my mate. And that child you're carrying is my heir."
I opened my mouth to protest, but the words died on my lips. What could I say? He was right. The child was his. And the bond between us was undeniable.
"I don't trust you," I whispered, tears finally spilling down my cheeks. "Everyone I've ever trusted has hurt me. How do I know you won't do the same?"
For a moment, Ragnar's hard expression softened. He reached out, gently brushing a tear from my cheek. The simple gesture sent sparks racing across my skin.
"You don't," he said honestly. "But I'm asking you to give me a chance. Stay here. Let me prove to you that I'm not like the others."
I wanted to say no. I wanted to run as far away from him as possible. But I was tired. Tired of running. Tired of being alone. And despite everything, some part of me wanted to believe him.
"What happens if I say no?" I asked quietly.
His jaw tightened. "Then you're free to leave. But know this, Lisa. If you walk out that door, you'll be walking away from the only person in this world who will protect you and that child. Roman rejected you. Your pack disowned you. Where else will you go?"
His words stung because they were true. I had nowhere to go. No one to turn to.
"And if I stay?" I whispered.
A slow smile spread across his face. "Then I'll make you my Luna. And no one will ever hurt you again."
The promise in his voice was absolute, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a flicker of hope.
But hope was dangerous. Hope had shattered me before.
"I need time," I said finally. "I need time to think."
Ragnar studied me for a long moment before nodding. "You'll have it. But you'll stay here, in the pack, where I can keep you safe."
Before I could respond, he turned and strode to the door, pulling it open. The same warriors from earlier stood outside, waiting.
"Take her to the guest wing," Ragnar commanded. "She's to be treated with respect. Anyone who lays a hand on her will answer to me."
The warriors bowed their heads. "Yes, Alpha."
Ragnar turned back to me, his golden eyes softening. "Rest, Lisa. We'll talk more tomorrow."
I nodded numbly, too overwhelmed to argue.
As the warriors led me away, I glanced back over my shoulder. Ragnar stood in the doorway, watching me with an intensity that made my heart race.
For better or worse, my life had changed again.
And this time, I had no idea where it would lead.
