Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Andrei

The Moonshadow estate was dark when I pulled into the driveway. Most of the guests had left hours ago, the cleanup crew had finished their work, and the staff had gone home. I should have been here earlier, playing the gracious host, but I couldn’t bring myself to care about appearances right now.

All I could think about was Jane’s small body in my arms, lifeless and cold from the lake water. The way she’d coughed back to life, looking up at me with those green eyes that were so much like mine.

The front door was unlocked. I stepped into the foyer, my wet clothes still clinging uncomfortably to my skin. I needed a shower, a change of clothes, and about three glasses of whiskey.

“There you are.

I turned to find Lilith sitting in the living room, illuminated only by the dying embers in the fireplace. She was still wearing her silver gown from the ball, although it was wrinkled now, and her makeup had smudged slightly around her eyes.

“You’ve been gone for hours,” she said, standing slowly. “I was worried.”

“I had things to handle.”

“Things.” Her lips twisted into a grimace. “You mean you went to check on that woman’s child.”

I didn’t deny it. There was no point.

“Instead of being here with me,” she continued, her hand moving to rest on her stomach, which was still flat for now. “The pregnant mother of your child.”

“Lilith-”

“Do you have any idea what this is doing to me?” Her voice rose slightly. “The stress? The worry? I’m carrying your heir, Andrei, and you abandon me to go play hero for someone else’s family.”

I stared at her for a moment, not sure what to say. I’d made myself pretty damn clear when I had told her that I had no intention of marrying her, or so I thought. But maybe not clear enough. “You’re fine,” I said flatly.” You’re not in labor. You’re not bleeding. You’re sitting in my living room, perfectly healthy.”

“For now. But if this stress continues…” She let her words trail off and shook her head, clicking her tongue.. Without a mate bond to strengthen me, this pregnancy could kill me. You know that.”

Five and a half years ago, it might have worked. The old Andrei, the one who thought he needed Lilith to be complete, might have given in to the emotional blackmail.

But I wasn’t that man anymore.

“I’m not marking you,” I said calmly.

Her face went pale. “What?”

“I’m not marking you, and I’m not marrying you. The night we spent together was a mistake.”

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“A mistake?” She looked like I’d just stabbed her in the chest. “I’m pregnant with your child!”

“Yes, and I’m glad about the baby, and I will ensure both of you are taken care of. But that doesn’t change what happened between us. It was still a mistake.”

Lilith’s eyes flashed with fury. “This is about her, isn’t it? You’re having an affair with Natalia.”

Well, she was spot on about that. I had had sex with Natalia on the night of the banquet and it had been so exquisite that I thought about it every night since then. I had nearly done the same with her during the full moon before she had run from me. Was it an affair, technically, if Lilith and I hadn’t been romantically involved for five years? Perhaps, to her, it was. Which was why I probably should have denied it.

But I was tired of lying, tired of pretending.

“What if I am?”

Lilith’s face blackened. “So you admit it.”

“I don’t admit anything. But even if I were sleeping with Natalia, it wouldn’t be any of your business. We’re not in a relationship, Lilith. We haven’t been since you went missing all those years ago.”

“That’s not true-”

“It is true. Everything between us has been for appearances. For show. You knew that from the beginning. We agreed on it, didn’t we?”

She shook her head frantically. “No, that’s not–we have history. We loved each other once.”

“Loved,” I emphasized. “Not love. And frankly, I think you just love the idea of being Luna. And I…” I paused, trying to find the right words. “I thought I loved you. But I was wrong.”

“Because of her.”

“Because you got me drunk that night and climbed on top of me when I could barely think straight, let alone make rational decisions.”

Lilith flinched like I’d hit her. “That’s not what happened.”

“I remember you coming in when I had drunk myself silly. I remember you climbing on top of me without my consent. And I remember waking up the next morning with no clear memory of how we ended up in bed. together.”

“You wanted me-”

“I was too drunk to want anything. Too drunk to consent to anything.” I leaned in, watching her face carefully. Did you plan it, Lilith? Did you wait until I was drunk to take advantage of me?”

Her silence was answer enough.

“Like I said, I’ll take care of you and the baby,” I said quietly, straightening. “You’ll have everything you But I don’t love you. I’m sorry.”

need.

Tears started spilling down her cheeks, but her eyes weren’t sad or hurt–just full of hate. “You’re making a mistake, Andrei. If you choose this path… if you choose her over me and your child… you’ll regret it.”

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“Maybe. But it’s my mistake to make.”

I turned and walked away before she could answer, leaving her standing alone in the dark living room. My footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as I made my way to my study.

The envelope was still in my jacket pocket, but I wasn’t ready yet. I poured a generous serving of whiskey into a crystal glass and sat down behind my desk, staring at the sealed packet.

Inside this envelope was the truth. The answer to the question that had been consuming me for weeks.

If those children were mine, what would I do? Our laws allowed Alphas full rights to their biological offspring if they wished it, regardless of the circumstances. I could take them from Natalia if I wanted to. Claim them as the heirs to Moonshadow.

But did I want to do that?

The thought of ripping Jane and Max away from their mother made me sick. They loved Natalia fiercely, and she loved them the same way. They were a family.

No. If the children were mine, I wouldn’t try to separate them from Natalia. I just wanted the truth. Needed to know, once and for all, whether I’d been right about everything.

I took a long sip of whiskey, feeling the burn as it slid down my throat. Then I picked up the envelope and carefully tore it open.

“Probability of paternity: 99.99%”

My hands started shaking as I read the words again, then again, then a third time, making absolute certain I hadn’t misunderstood.

Jane was my daughter.

Which meant Max was my son.

Natalia had never had a miscarriage. She’d never had an abortion. She’d given birth to my children and spent five years keeping them from me.

The twins were mine.

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