Juno’s POV
I woke up at five in the morning with my stomach growling like an angry wolf. Skipping dinner last night had been a mistake, but I’d been so exhausted after the interrogations that I’d crashed before eating. Being pregnant only amplified the hunger pangs, making them almost painful.
The thought of breakfast made my anxiety spike. Matthew and Kieran were still in the manor, which looking into Matthew’s eyes and seeing the hurt there made my chest tighten uncomfortably.
meant facing them both across the table. The idea of
I reached for the phone beside the bed and called one of the staff members.
“Could you bring a sandwich to my room? Anything with meat will do.” My voice was still rough with sleep.
“Right away, Luna,” came the prompt response.
I hung up and started pacing the room. Matthew had always been an early riser too.
I shook my head, trying to dislodge the memories. Matthew had been my best friend before he was my husband. We’d grown up together, trained together, fought together. He was the one person I thought would never break a promise to me.
But he had.
“Berry, what’s wrong?” Augustin’s deep voice came from the bed. He was propped up on one elbow, watching me pace with concerned eyes.
“Nothing. I’m just hungry,” I replied, avoiding his gaze.
He sat up fully, the sheets pooling at his waist. “You’re pacing like a caged animal. It’s not just hunger.”
I stopped and sighed. He could always see through me.
‘I’m… nervous about seeing Matthew and Kieran at breakfast,” I admitted.
Augustin’s expression softened. He held out his hand, and I walked over to take it. He pulled me down to sit beside him on the bed.
I’m not angry, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he said, wrapping an arm around my waist. “I understand this is difficult for you.”
Tears pricked at my eyes unexpectedly. “I don’t know how to face Matthew. It’s just… complicated.”
Augustin pulled me against his chest, and I let myself be enveloped in his scent. It calmed me instantly.
“Listen to me, Berry,” he said firmly. “What happened isn’t your fault. Matthew should have refused Isabelle publicly. He should have made it clear where his loyalty lay. He created this problem, not you. He lost you. Charles just took advantage of the opportunity Matthew created.”
His words hit me hard. Memories flooded back, Matthew bringing Isabelle everywhere, letting her watch over the pack, people whispering and laughing at me behind my back. How helpless I’d felt. How Matthew and his wolf had broken my heart.
‘You don’t owe Matthew anything except friendship,” Augustin continued softly. “And even that is more than many would give.”
I nodded slowly, his words sinking in. “You’re right. Everything led me to you.” I looked up, meeting his eyes. “You’re the only man that matters in my life now. You don’t care about my past. You loved me when I was broken and helped me forget. You’ve kept every promise you’ve made to me. You make me
whole.”
Augustin’s eyes darkened with emotion. ‘I’ll always keep my promises to you, Berry.”
“I’m sorry for being so caught up in the past I began, but Augustin pressed his index finger to my lips, silencing me.
Then his mouth replaced his finger, his lips claiming mine in a heated kiss. His hands slid down my body, pulling my nightgown over my head in one smooth motion. I gasped as the cool air hit my skin, but soon his warmth enveloped me.
1/2
Chapter 264
He lowered his head to my breast, taking a nipple into his mouth. I arched into him, a moan escaping my lips. His hands roamed my body.
‘You’re so beautiful, he whispered, laying me down on the bed. He paused to look at me, his eyes roaming over my naked form with appreciation. Then F bent to kiss my rounded belly, his stubble tickling my sensitive skin. I smiled, feeling a rush of happiness as he showered attention on the place where our baby grew,
We made love, our bodies moving together. At some point, there was a knock at the door, probably my sandwich being delivered, but we ignored it, too lost in each other to care.
Afterward, I was still hungry, perhaps even more so than before. I slipped on Augustin’s shirt and retrieved the sandwich that had been left outside our door. One sandwich wasn’t enough to fully satisfy me, but it would hold me until breakfast.
As I ate, I felt a new confidence growing inside me. Augustin’s words had cleared something in my mind. I didn’t need to feel nervous about seeing Matthew Maybe I could even encourage him to work things out with Isabelle, especially if the baby was his. Maybe Isabelle wasn’t my enemy.
I’d seen firsthand how hard it was to raise children in a broken family. If Matthew and Isabelle could work through their problems, that would be worth trying. The child deserved that chance.
And Kieran? He was a different story. He’d been an asshole, plain and simple. He’d missed his chance. He chose his alliance with Forestvale over me, and he needed to accept that and move on too.
Even the alliance that happened was because Kieran fell into Charles’s trap. Quinn was an idiot and paid a heavy price for it. They all paid for their stupidity.
After finishing my sandwich, I joined Augustin in the shower. I brushed my teeth quickly and stepped under the hot spray with him, feeling his hands immediately encircle my waist.
‘Let me wash you,” he offered, taking the soap and working it into a lather. His hands moved over my body with gentle care, paying special attention to my sensitive areas. Before long, we were making love again, my back pressed against the cool tile wall as he thrust into me.
I knew what he was doing, making sure his scent was strong on me, sending a clear message to both Matthew and Kieran. It was adorably possessive, and I loved him for it. I came with a cry of his name, my body shuddering around him.
Once we’d finished and cleaned up properly, we dressed for breakfast. I chose a simple but elegant blue dress that complemented my eyes, while Augustin opted for a dark suit that made him look every inch the Alpha King.
‘I need to speak with Isabelle today,” I told him as we prepared to leave. And I should check on Nia and Remy too. Plus, Eliza might have more ‘news‘ to share.”
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