Abandoned While Pregnant, Claimed by the Alpha novel Chapter 73

bert’s POV

The golden light spilled across Ashley’s face, highlighting the faint fuzz on her skin in the backlight. She looked like an angel who’d accidentally stumbled into the mortal world.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. On the hike up earlier, she had clung to my neck out of fear, like a terrified koala glued to me. That soft, delicate sensation still lingered on my chest, like a small flame, burning me from the inside out.

I loved it when she trusted me so completely.

Inside me, the wolf was going wild, pacing and growling with an almost primal joy. It wanted this moment to last forever, wanted to keep running even if my lungs gave out as long as she stayed in my arms.

But Ashley had been so scared, and I couldn’t bear to keep her in that state.

She turned her head and her eyes collided with mine.

“It’s gorgeous,” she said, pointing to the sea of clouds in the distance.

“Yeah,” I replied, not bothering to look away, my gaze fixed on the strands of hair the wind had tossed out of place. “Way better than the sunrise.”

She froze for a second, the flush on her face–initially from the cold wind–deepening ever so slightly.

“I was talking about the view, Hebert.”

“I wasn’t.”

I stepped closer, closing the space between us.

The air suddenly felt impossible to breathe.

She stepped back, but I didn’t let her get away. I moved closer, trapping her between me and the railing of the cliff.

I heard it: thump, thump, thump.

Her heart was pounding so hard it was like it might burst through her ribs. The rhythm was so fast, and I knew- this wasn’t just fear. The air was heavy with her lily–like scent, but it had shifted, growing richer, more intoxicating.

She wasn’t just scared. She was reacting to me.

That realization hit like pure adrenaline.

The wolf inside me roared with hunger: Kiss her! Right now Make her yours!

I lowered my head, my gaze dropping to her slightly parted lips. Those soft, pale pink lips caught the morning light, shimmering like petals waiting to be touched. They seemed to silently beckon me closer, as if asking to be claimed.

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

Slowly, I leaned in, my nose almost brushing her cheek. He scent overwhelmed me, filling my lungs until I was barely able to think straight. Every muscle in my body was tense, coiled like a spring ready to snap. I felt her breath hitch, saw her lashes trembling wildly. But still, she didn’t turn away

+15 Bonus

This was it.

I tilted my head, my lips mere inches from hers, when-

A hand pressed against my chest.

It wasn’t a hard shove, just a gentle touch, but it stopped me cold, like someone had poured an entire bucket of ice

water over me.

Ashley turned her face away, dodging my kiss. Her palm stayed on my chest, her fingers trembling ever so slightly against my heated skin.

“Hebert,” she said softly, her voice shaking with breathless unease. “You need to take a deep breath.”

I stopped just a few centimeters away from her, staring into those eyes wide with fluster and resistance.

A bitter chuckle almost escaped my throat.

She thought I wasn’t calm enough right now?

She had no idea. She had no clue how much effort it took for the man standing in front of her not to just pin her against the railing and kiss her moments ago. No idea how the beast inside my head had been clawing at its cage, desperate to break free and devour her whole.

I wanted to hide her away. Wanted to sink my teeth into her throat, re–mark her and erase any trace of that bastard Brian. Wanted to hear her cry my name with nowhere to run.

Now that would’ve been losing control.

I shut my eyes, swallowing hard, forcing that violent, feral urge back into the darkest corner of my mind.

When I opened them again, I grabbed her hand–the one she had pressed firmly against my chest.

Her skin was soft and warm against my palm. I tightened my grip and guided her hand to rest over my heart, letting her feel its erratic rhythm pounding beneath.

I didn’t dare move further. I couldn’t risk scaring her off.

Ashley froze, her lips parting slightly like she wanted to say something–anything–but the words never came.

I let go and stepped back, putting space between us. The cold wind rushed into the gap, snatching away whatever lingering tension had been there moments ago.

Standing half a step behind her, I made no move to close the distance again.

That surge of uncontrollable impulse was forced back into its cage. My wolf paced restlessly, letting out low growls–desperate to reach out, to possess, to have this woman fused into its very being. But I had to stay calm.

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