Chapter 29

(Julia’s POV)

As the days went by, I continued to struggle with whether or not I should tell Ronan the truth. I ran through a dozen different scenarios in my mind, wondering if maybe I could tell him part of the truth, or if it would just be better to get everything off of my chest.

Even with everything else going on in my life, this topic still managed to consume my thoughts. With every kindness Ronan showed me, every display of respect for my mind and talents, I grew more and more convinced I should reveal all to the Alpha.

One night, I couldn’t get to sleep. I tossed and turned, unsettled by Ronan’s absence. I had gone to bed early tonight, feeling fatigued from the baby’s kicking, and Ronan had told me he would be right behind me, as soon as he finished some work.

After a few more minutes of restlessness, I gave up and climbed out of bed. I shuffled out of the bedroom and down the hall, hoping to encourage Ronan to stop working for the night and come to bed with me.

However, my pace slowed as I heard Ronan’s voice, tense and frustrated, coming from the open door of his study. “I know, Alex,” he said gruffly. “The Alpha inheritance ceremony is vitally important, which is why I’m putting so much work into this merger. We must make sure it’s in a stable place before the ceremony.”

I shook my head fondly. Poor Alex, I thought. He must be the most overworked Gamma in the city. But he must think it’s worth it — he works just as hard as Ronan and I, and he seems to get the same satisfaction out of it that we do.

However, after I properly digested Ronan’s words, I frowned. The Alpha inheritance ceremony? But I thought that was happening months from now, if not years. Why haven’t I heard anything about it coming up? Why hasn’t Ronan said anything about it to me?

There was a moment of silence as Alex replied to Ronan’s comments, then Ronan’s voice said harshly, “Don’t you think I know that? That’s all I’ve been able to think about! Why else do you think I first approached Julia with this arrangement? I know how important the baby is for my claim on the title.”

It felt like the world dropped out from under me. My heartbeat pounded in my ears and I put out a hand, holding the wall as my knees buckled. I almost couldn’t understand it. What did Ronan mean? And how could my child have anything to do with his claim on the Alpha title?

I began thinking over the events of the last few months, remembering every act of kindness, every show of support, every conversation that led me to believe he respected me as a Beta and a soon-to-be mother.

Is that all this was? I thought, a sick feeling in my stomach. A means to an end? Were my baby and I just a bargaining chip for Ronan? I felt tears prick at my eyes. I felt like such a fool. How could I have honestly believed Ronan genuinely saw me as an equal…and a friend?

Somehow, I managed to make my way back to the bedroom, where I collapsed on the bed. My head was spinning. What could I do? Where could I go? And did I want to go? I shook my head and laid down. I couldn't think about any of this right now. I would come up with a plan tomorrow.

(Ronan’s POV)

It had been a long week. We were drawing closer and closer to the Alpha inheritance ceremony, and my stomach was in knots. Making things worse, I hadn’t told Julia about it. It was surprising to me how it had become second nature for me to share every part of my life with her. Keeping this from Julia felt wrong somehow.

I leaned back in my desk chair, listening to Alex’s list of details about the upcoming ceremony. He was focused on the small things because he knew how nervous I was and, like a good Gamma, he was trying to keep me calm.

Nothing could keep me calm, though. I was very anxious about how the inheritance ceremony would go. While there weren’t any real challengers who could make a good claim to the Alpha title, I still knew that my success hinged on the merger’s success.

“...and we’ll be in a good place if everything goes to plan with Julia.” I tuned back into whatever Alex was saying, perking up at the sound of Julia’s name. Alex continued, “I mean, her pup could be a major bargaining chip in all this.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” I growled. “Why else do you think I first approached Julia with this arrangement? I know how important the baby is for my claim on the title.” I felt sick as I said the words, angry at my past self for being so callous with Julia and her unborn child.

I had seen them as a bargaining tool at first, it’s true, but now…now, I saw them as so much more. “But things are different now,” I told my Gamma. “Julia is important, both to me and to PackHouse. She and her child do not need to be a part of this.”

“I understand, sir,” Alex replied. We ended the phone call shortly after, but I didn’t immediately get up from my desk. Things had gotten so complicated so quickly. I had once thought all I wanted was the title of Alpha, but things were different now.

Now, Julia was the most important thing in my life, as well as her unborn pup. It sounded crazy to say, but it was true. I would do anything for her and the child, and that meant taking them out of my plans to secure the title of Alpha.

Finally, I got up and went to bed. Hopefully, another night spent at Julia’s side would soothe my restless mind and give me the same sense of peace that her presence always did. I opened the door quietly, expecting her to be fast asleep.

However, Julia was awake, sitting on the side of the bed and staring off into space. “Julia?” I said quietly. “Are you alright?” She didn’t immediately respond, but after a few seconds, quietly said, “I’m fine, Ronan.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “I guess I just assumed you would already be asleep by now. Is the baby keeping you up?” Julia’s hand went to her stomach and she smiled a little; her default whenever the baby was mentioned.

“Everything is fine,” she repeated. “I just want to go to bed.” And with that, she slipped under the covers and snapped the bedside table lamp off. I stood in the darkness, blinking with confusion. What was that about?

Julia was never so short with me, so terse…unless she was upset about something. I went over the events of the last few hours in my mind, trying to see where I might have gone wrong. Everything was fine at dinner, and then she went to bed, while I went to my office. Maybe she’s upset I’m working so much?

I shook my head and quickly took my clothes off, sliding into bed beside Julia. She was laying with her back to me; another strange part of this already-strange evening. I knew I should probably ask her what was wrong, but it was late and I was stressed, and in the end, decided it would be better to address the situation in the morning.