Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 192: Contraction

Chapter 192: Contraction

Kade casually leaned against the doorway. "Yeah, I know. Back from the dead. Surprise."

Sarah blinked. Her jaw dropped. "You... We were told you were dead. That Lucas killed you!" The name came out in a rush, followed by a guttural groan as another contraction hijacked her insides. She grabbed the headboard again and hissed through her teeth. "Oh for the love of...ow, ow, OW..."

Kade’s expression morphed instantly. "Are you okay? Should I call someone?"

"Yes! Yes, I’m fine!" she snapped, waving him off, then doubled over slightly. "I mean, no. But also yes. Look, the baby’s coming but I can’t have it. Ava is going to take the baby away and kill it."

"Right," he said, unsure of what to do with his hands, or himself. "I came here to talk to you. Didn’t realize you’d be in labor while I did it."

"Yeah, well, I didn’t plan it either," she growled, then sat back and exhaled. "Why are you here, Kade? What are you doing here?"

He shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. "To talk. About... the baby. And you."

Her eyes sharpened. "Have you heard from your father?"

He hesitated, his gaze dropping. "He’s dead."

The words hit her. No one was coming. No one had power anymore.

Sarah let out a laugh, wild and bitter and almost giddy. "Oh, I am so fucked."

Kade didn’t respond.

"No one is going to save us," she whispered.

"Well," he said after a moment, "not no one. I am going to raise the baby. And you will be banished."

"Really?...Okay then, please get someone, because this baby is coming and it’s coming now!" Sarah growled. Sweat dripped from her brow, her eyes blazing with fire. She looked positively feral.

Kade who wasn’t prepared for labour pains of any kind, let out a very undignified squeak. "Right! Okay! Yep! Someone! I can get someone!" He spun around and stumbled to the dungeon doors.

He opened it and barked at the guard stationed just outside. "Doctor Mary. Now. It’s happening. The baby’s...she’s...just GO!"

The guard didn’t ask questions. One glance at Kade’s panic-ridden face and he was off.

*****

Meanwhile, in the East, Dennis was slowly but surely losing his mind.

He was a newly wedded man. An alpha turned king. A royal husband! And yet, instead of waking to soft kisses, and warm sheets, or even the occasional marital snuggle, he had inherited a throne and a cold and empty bed.

Zoe couldn’t move into his royal quarters. She maintained her old room in the barracks like nothing had changed except for the title slapped on her shoulder: Gamma General. And she wore that title like she was born in steel.

Zoe trained till her knuckles bled and her bones ached. She whipped the soldiers into shape like she was preparing for a war that hadn’t been declared yet. The men both feared her and adored her.

Dennis was left to rewrite the kingdom’s story.

Now, as he passed by the training grounds on his way to yet another council session, he caught a glimpse of her. And of course, he paused.

How could he not?

There she was, in sexy training outfit that hugged her. Her hair was tied back, her arms glistening under the morning sun, and her eyes sharp. She was sparring with three men and somehow, they were the ones losing.

Dennis leaned on the rail, lips parting slightly as he watched his wife make stronger men out of strong men. And he thought, Dear gods, I married a war goddess.

As he turned to leave, he glanced back one more time.

The council had finally been reinstated. Dennis was finally sitting in a room with functioning advisors. Rothe had managed to track down two other surviving members from the noble families of the fallen councilmen.

For that alone, Dennis was grateful.

They were in the process of helping him organize decrees, restructure the kingdom’s finances, and draft new constitutions. But if Dennis were being completely honest with himself, he didn’t care about tax reforms or jurisdictional boundaries right now.

He cared about her.

As soon as he settled into the large, overly ceremonial chair that came with his title, the first words out of his mouth were:

"Any progress on Zoe’s assessment to be Queen?" he asked.

Rothe stood. "Your Highness," he began, "we understand the situation you are in...truly, we do."

Dennis raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

Rothe gave a small smile. "We know you want her as Queen yesterday. But the decision was entrusted to us."

Dennis groaned and slumped back in his chair. "why are we dragging this out?"

Rothe clasped his hands behind his back. "Because, your Highness, while the people do not desire the return of the old regime, they also do not know you. Your brother conquered the throne. It was a violent shift. Understandable, perhaps necessary, but still... jarring. You rule now, but to many, you still have to prove yourself before they can even think of a queen."

Dennis fell silent.

"We beg for more time, your Highness. Hold on just a bit longer. Let the people’s hearts speak."

Dennis gave a trembling breath. He nodded dutifully and pushed the weight of his emotions aside. "Any word from the neighboring villages on resources?" he asked.

And so the meeting went on.

And on.

And on.

It was meant to end hours ago, but Dennis kept circling back to questions he already knew the answers to.

By the time the sun dipped low, the meeting finally adjourned. Councilmen bowed, yawned, and shuffled out.

Dennis lingered for a bit more.

He wasn’t looking forward to returning to the royal quarters. Because despite the grandeur, what greeted him every night was not companionship, but absence.

By the time he got back, his dinner was ready, as always. His bath was prepared. His bed was fluffed. And yet...

He felt empty.

Sitting at the long dining table, one that could seat ten dignitaries if needed, Dennis suddenly felt small. Not just emotionally, but physically. He looked at the empty chairs and sighed.

He turned to one of the servers. "Would you please get me the Qu...Zoe?"

(Shout out to: @Tallahassee_Slim, @Addicted2fantasy, @MD_Loves_Books: thank you for the gifts.

@kie, @ASgoog, @nolegirl: your support means the world)