Chapter 147

Charlie’s POV

Three Months Later:

My wife looks gorgeous. She is looking down at her pregnant stomach with love, and I feel like my heart will burst. I’m amazed by how much my life has truly changed in such a short amount of time. If you had asked me a year ago if I thought I would be married with a baby on the way, I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. I’ve never really believed in instant love, so I would have laughed whoever asked me right out of my office. But I believed in it now, and Ana was worth the wait.

Ana has bloomed with the pregnancy. She already loves our son to the moon. Her hands now splayed on her baby bump as evidence of our love. The dress she designed was beautiful. Fitted on the top, with a slit that ran to the seam under her breasts.

As soon as the plane touched down and I powered on my phone, the notification chime went off like a machine gun, threatening to shred my last nerve.

The screen lit up with dozens of missed calls and voice messages–every single one from Alpha Foster.

He’d been blowing up my phone since last night, sending a message almost every hour:

At 7 PM, his first “apology“:

[Summer, last night was my fault. I lost control.]

[I bought gifts for you and Felix. I’m coming home soon.]

By 8 PM, desperation crept in:

[Summer, why can’t I reach you?]

[Where are you and Felix? Please, just reply. I’m worried.]

By 10 PM, the mask came off:

[Summer, I really messed up. Don’t ignore me, please. I can explain everything…]

[Come home. I can’t live without you… without Felix.]

Voice messages flooded WhatsApp, each one a full 60 seconds long–like they were trying to drag me back from the edge I was finally escaping.

I frowned, disgusted, and shoved the phone back into my bag.

Every word he sent was a cruel reminder of how foolish I’d been–how I was the one who led Felix and myself into that abyss.

If the divorce wasn’t still pending, I would’ve blocked him ages ago.

“Was that Alpha Foster?” came a deep, smooth voice from the driver’s seat.

I looked up and caught Alexander’s gaze in the rearview mirror. His emerald eyes were full of concern. I tried to keep my tone steady. “Yeah.”

“Do you want me to step in?” he asked gently, his voice calm but carrying a steel–like resolve.

I glanced down at the sleeping little boy in my arms–even in sleep, his dark lashes quivered slightly–and shook my head. “No. I can handle it. You’ve already done more than enough.”

“I’ll never see helping you as a burden, Summer.”

His words were like thunder cracking through my chest. I couldn’t breathe.

I thought he’d moved on. After everything, after we both walked away so cleanly, I believed whatever had once connected us had long withered. But the way he said my name… it didn’t feel distant at all.

I didn’t know how to respond. I didn’t even want to consider the possibility of developing feelings for anyone again. Alpha Foster had shattered my heart into pieces–it would take time to heal.

Thank god for Felix.

“Mommy?” Felix stirred in my arms, rubbing his eyes groggily. “Are we there yet?”

I let out a breath, grateful for the interruption. “Almost, baby. Just rest a little longer.”

As we crossed the mountain ridge, the Blackwood territory finally came into view.

I had never seen anything so breathtaking.

The Blackwood Packhouse wasn’t a house–it was a fortress. A masterpiece carved from earth and sky. Classical limestone columns stood side by side with sleek glass facades–contrasting, yet somehow harmonious. The setting sun cast golden light over its metal trim, making the structure glow with quiet authority.

Inside, polished marble floors reflected the warm light beneath our feet. A massive crystal chandelier hung overhead. Priceless artwork adorned the walls. The air smelled of luxury… and of Alexander.

“This way,” Alpha Alexander said, guiding us through hallway after hallway, all while eyes followed us.

Every Omega. Every warrior. Every unmated wolf…

They were all watching me. Watching Felix.

“Summer Winster?” A surprised male voice called out.

I turned to see Beta Ethan striding toward me, handsome features lit up with shock and delight. “It really is you!”

Before I could react, he pulled me into a warm hug. “It’s been so long.” ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ FindN()vel.net

I smiled and hugged him back. “Yeah, it has.”

And then I felt it–that burning gaze behind me.

I turned to find Alexander watching us, his expression unreadable, lips tightly pressed together, his eyes practically nailing Ethan’s arm in place.

Was he… jealous?

“Ahem.” Alexander cleared his throat, his voice tinged with something subtle and sharp. “Let me show you to your room.”

He gently placed a hand on the small of my back.

The touch was barely there, but it sent an electric jolt through me. His warmth seeped through the fabric of my shirt, making my heart race.

We turned a corner, and Alexander opened a carved oak door. I held my breath.

The suite was stunning.

A wall of floor–to–ceiling windows revealed rolling hills bathed in moonlight. Velvet curtains shimmered in the soft glow of crystal sconces. The king–sized bed was dressed in pristine Egyptian cotton, inviting and impossibly plush.

“The bathroom’s to your left,” Alexander said, gesturing to a marble–clad doorway. “An Omega will come up to help you settle in. If you need anything…”

He hesitated, and a flicker of something passed over his face. “Call me. Anytime.”

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “Thank you, Alexander.”

“You know you never have to thank me,” he said softly, reaching out to ruffle my hair like he used to.

The familiar gesture shattered something inside me.

Tears welled up before I could stop them. My shoulders trembled as I looked down.

“I’m sorry…” I whispered. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away. If I had handled things differently, maybe…”

“Shh.” Without hesitation, he pulled me into his arms–wrapping me in strength and warmth. One hand cradled the back of my head, the other stroked slowly down my spine.

“It’s over. Let the past stay in the past.”

I leaned into him, burying my face in his button–up shirt.

His scent–cedar and lavender–wrapped around me, taking me back to a simpler, happier time.

I don’t know how long we stayed like that.

Slowly, my sobs subsided. But every second, his body heat, his scent, his heartbeat against my cheek–it all felt too close.

Too intimate.

Damn it, why did it feel so good to fall into his arms again?

Then I noticed the damp patch on his shirt from my tears.

“I… I’m sorry I ruined your shirt.” I tried to pull away, but his arms only tightened.

“Summer…” His voice was rough and low, his breath warm against my ear. “You think I care about a shirt?”

My heart skipped a beat. His fingers brushed against the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

“What I care about…” he paused, his other hand wiping the last of my tears away, “is why you were crying.”

“I…” I looked up at him, only to be caught in those deep, burning eyes. They were too intense. I looked away quickly. “It’s late. I should get cleaned up. You should rest too.”

He let me go, but just before he stepped away, his fingers lightly grazed my chin–as if he needed one last touch.

“Goodnight, Summer.”

I practically fled into the room, pulling the heavy door shut behind me.

Leaning back against it, I could feel my heart thudding. My ears, my cheeks, even my collarbone felt like they were on fire.