Abandoned While Pregnant, Claimed by the Alpha novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Hebert’s POV

The wind at the mountain peak carried a sharp, liberating chill, sweeping away all the heaviness in my chest. I looked at Ashley, bathed in golden sunlight, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to quiet down. I snapped a photo, capturing her in her most genuine and unguarded moment.

My heart felt full in a way I’d never experienced before. This date? It was going better than I expected. Sure, nothing concrete had happened between me and Ashley yet, but there was this undeniable shift in the air between

1. us.

It was like ivy, creeping and wrapping itself around my heart. I could feel her trust in me, even though she made

an effort to mask it. I could sense her attraction toward me, even as she worked hard to deny it.

Everything seemed to be heading in the direction I hoped for.

I remembered something I’d read online once–it said that gifts are a solid way to build a better connection. That made sense to me.

So, I called Marcus. “I need your advice,” I said.

“Oh? Our Alpha finally getting the hang of things?” Marcus’s voice instantly turned playful.

“Tell me, how’s it going with Ashley?” He sounded way too interested, like someone sitting front–row at a soap opera. “I’ve made significant progress,” I said, keeping my voice steady, even though a wave of excitement was bubbling inside me, barely contained.

“Significant progress?” Marcus’s tone shot up dramatically full of exaggerated shock. “Wait, did you officially seal the deal? Or, oh, did you finally get her into bed?”

“Neither,” I replied, lowering my voice.

“Neither?” He sounded genuinely disappointed, but soon enough that familiar smug tone crept back in. “So… you guys just kissed, then?”

My fingers tightened unconsciously. That word–kissed–touched on a delicate subject, something I hadn’t fully crossed into.

I stayed quiet, letting the topic drop. No way I was going to dig into that with him. Instead, I shifted gears.

“What kind of gift should I get her?” I asked directly.

There was a brief pause on his end, followed by an exaggerated sigh.

“So, not even a kiss? Seriously? And you’re calling this ‘significant progress‘? Alpha Hebert, do you even know what that means?”

My patience was running thin. He was really testing his limits now.”

Marcus.” My voice dropped, each word cold and sharp, like tossing icy stones. “If you keep dragging this conversation off track, you’re not gonna like the consequences. And trust me, you don’t want to find out.”

The other end of the line went completely silent. Marcus knew I wasn’t bluffing. He understood exactly what I was capable of and how far my patience stretched.

“Alright, alright,” Marcus finally sighed, a hint of exasperation in his tone. “Let’s pick the damn gift already”

He paused briefly, like he was mentally sorting through options.

+15 Bonus

“Females are usually into visual stuff,” he said at last, sounding a little more serious. “Good–looking Alphas, stylish bags, pretty clothes, stuff like that.”

I thought about it for a moment, realizing he might actually be onto something.

I’d noticed it before–the way her heartbeat would pick up when her eyes landed on me, even for a split second. That raw, instinctual reaction she tried so hard to mask but couldn’t quite hide from me.

Her breath would catch, her cheeks taking on this soft, rosy hue. She’d try to avoid my gaze, but her eyes always found their way back to me–it was a pull neither of us could fully ignore. That undeniable, primal connection between us.

“Bags and clothes?” I asked, skepticism slipping into my voice. “Isn’t that a little… you know, basic?”

“Not at all,” Marcus replied, chuckling like I’d asked something ridiculous. “Hebert, you’ve got a lot to learn about women. Bags and clothes? Total essentials, trust me. He continued, “If she sees it once, she’ll know it’s from you. And every time she uses it, wears it, she’ll think of you. It’s like leaving a subtle mark.

“Also, everyday items are much easier for people to accept if you suddenly gift something extravagant, like a pricey set of jewelry, it might stress her out. She could feel like your intentions are too obvious, maybe even push her away.”

I mulled over Marcus‘ words carefully. He kind of had a point.

I decided to personally pick out some clothes and bags. I wanted to choose pieces that suited her perfectly, ones that would highlight her unique charm.