Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 58: Resurrection

Chapter 58: Resurrection

"Get out," Lucas ordered. Doctor Mary and the attendants who had been fussing over Ava hesitated for a second before scattering.

Ava watched him as he stood at the door, not moving, just staring at her. He was taking her in, absorbing every little detail.

She wanted to reach for him, to tell him she was okay, but before she could say anything, he moved. Not in his usual confident, powerful stride, but with small, hesitant steps. As if he wasn’t sure he was allowed to get closer. And then, without a word, he slid into bed beside her, wrapping his arms around her.

Ava melted into him, letting his warmth surround her. There were no words, no need for explanations. Their bodies fit together seamlessly, his arms firm but gentle, as if he wanted to hold her tighter but was afraid she might break. She could feel his heartbeat pounding against her chest, faster than usual, his breath uneven as he buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent.

Her fingers found their way into his hair, threading through the soft strands, and she felt him shudder. "Lucas?" she murmured, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.

He didn’t answer, just tightened his grip around her, pressing himself closer as if trying to merge them into one. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. "I have never been so afraid in my entire life."

Ava’s chest tightened at his confession. Lucas wasn’t a man who admitted fear.

"I’m sorry I scared you," she said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

He lifted his head slightly, looking up at her. His fingers trailed up her arm, then along her jaw, a touch so reverent it made her breath hitch. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

Her brows furrowed. "Tell you what?"

He studied her face, as if searching for a lie she wasn’t even aware of. His thumb traced slow circles on her cheek, his touch both soothing and torturous. "You were pregnant, Ava."

The words hit her like a thunderclap.

She blinked at him, her mind scrambling to catch up. She was pregnant? With Lucas’s child? Her heart slammed against her ribs. And then, realization struck. Was. He had said was.

Her throat tightened as she whispered, "Was?"

Lucas gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. His jaw tensed but he said nothing.

Ava’s world tilted. A sharp, aching void opened inside her chest. She had carried his child. Their child. And she had lost it without even knowing.

A single tear slid down her cheek before she even realized she was crying.

"Hey... hey, babe..." Lucas murmured, his voice rough, his hands cupping her face, his thumbs wiping away the tears she couldn’t stop. "Come on, don’t do this to yourself."

Her hands trembled as they moved down to her stomach, pressing lightly over the place where life had once been growing inside her. A silent, instinctual grief washed over her, drowning her in its weight. "I was pregnant?" she choked out, needing to hear it again, needing to confirm that she hadn’t imagined it.

Lucas exhaled sharply and pulled her into his arms again, tucking her against his chest. "It’s going to be okay, baby. Come here."

She let him hold her, let his warmth seep into her, but it wasn’t enough to push away the pain. "We lost a child, Lucas," she whispered against his shirt, her voice shaking. "And we didn’t even know she was there. How is that okay?"

He was quiet for a long moment, his lips pressed against her hair, his fingers tracing slow, soothing patterns on her back. Then, in an attempt to lighten the mood, he murmured, "I promise I’ll give you a dozen babies when you get better. A whole damn litter if that’s what you want."

Ava let out a choked laugh, even as more tears slipped down her face. "A dozen?" she sniffled. "That sounds exhausting."

Lucas smirked, his grip on her tightening just a little. "I have stamina, sweetheart."

"I could have lost you," he murmured against her skin, his voice raw. "You have no idea how close I was to tearing the whole world apart."

Ava’s breath hitched as his lips brushed the sensitive spot beneath her ear. A different kind of warmth spread through her, cutting through the grief.

"I’m here," she whispered, tilting her head to give him better access. "I’m right here."

Lucas growled softly, his hands sliding down to her waist, gripping her. "Damn right, you are."

He shifted, rolling her gently onto her back, hovering over her without putting any weight on her. "I love you, Ava," he murmured, his lips hovering over hers. "And I swear to the moon, I’ll never let anything take you from me again."

Ava reached up, threading her fingers through his hair, pulling him down until their lips met. The kiss was slow, deep, a promise sealed between them.

Her body was still weak, still aching, but none of it mattered when Lucas kissed her.

"Do you have any idea what happened, Ava?" Lucas asked, hoping for a name.

"No. One minute, I was trying to sleep and the next, it felt like something was cutting off my breathing." Ava explained.

"Its not going to happen again, Sugar. Never again." He promised.

*****

Lucas barely left Ava’s side as she recovered. When he did, it was only to ensure that every inch of the new quarters beside his was ready for her. His time was spent overseeing every detail, his frustration boiling over whenever something wasn’t perfect. Anyone who wanted to harm her would now have to go through him.

The rumor spread like wildfire. Lucas was going to announce his Luna.

Of course, they all knew who it would be.

Nelly tried to feign ignorance for the sake of peace but Lily and Sarah couldn’t deny the truth when they saw the luxurious quarters being prepared. Ava wasn’t just another woman in the fortress. She was the woman.

Sarah knew she had lost.

And Ava had won. Everything they had done had only pushed her closer to the alpha. Not that she planned to stop trying.

Lucas worked himself into exhaustion, but he didn’t care. This was the only way he could keep from going mad. The image of Ava lying weak and vulnerable in that bed haunted him. He had almost lost her.

No one would ever get that close again.