Chapter 64 I Accepted His Arm

Rachel's POV

We stood in front of a beautiful fountain, its sparkling water catching the sunlight. The centerpiece depicted two wolf cubs playing under the moonlight, their stone forms frozen in eternal joy.

This was clearly a monument to the Moon Goddess's blessing.

It wasn't grand or ornate like the royal fountains of Emerald City. No gold leafing or precious gems adorned its surface.

Instead, it possessed a simple, rustic beauty that somehow felt more genuine.

For a moment, my mind drifted to Nathan. I wondered what he would say if he stood beside this modest fountain with its playful wolf cubs.

He'd probably offer some cold assessment before falling silent, his eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts.

The realization that I was still thinking about him made my chest tighten. Even knowing he planned to kill me after I gave birth couldn't stop my heart from aching for him.

Carter must have sensed my emotional shift. "Would you like to sit for a while?" he asked, gesturing to a stone bench nearby.

"Sure," I said, forcing Nathan from my thoughts. My fingers unconsciously went to the moonstone pendant around my neck.

After we sat down, Carter waited a moment before speaking again, "So, midwife,"

I turned to look at him, surprised. "Midwife? Now?" I was still planning to leave soon.

"Yes, exactly. I have connections throughout here, and if you're still planning to move out on your own soon, I want to make sure you have the best midwife possible to care for you and the cub. Our werewolf pregnancies are only six months, not like humans, so we need to ensure everything is ready."

I stared at him for a moment, uncertain what to say. This kind of concern was so foreign to me, so different from Nathan's coldness.

Carter smiled. "Don't look so surprised, Rose. You know I care about you and the little one you're carrying, right? The more time we spend together, the more my instincts want to protect you. I want to make sure you're well taken care of."

How could I possibly refuse him? Though my mind cautioned me to remain wary, my heart was warmed by his kindness.

"Of course, Carter," I smiled at him, my eyes glistening with tears. "Thank you."

"It's my honor, Rose," he said, gently squeezing my arm, his touch warm and respectful. "At first, I thought I was just helping a mother wolf in need, but now I think we're friends."

Friends—I felt a pang of guilt for concealing my real name and identity.

"I hope I don't disappoint you," I sighed.

"How could you?" he laughed, seemingly taking my comment as a joke or modesty.

I couldn't meet his smiling eyes and turned my gaze to the fountain instead. How I wished I could be that wolf who simply trusted others, rather than a fugitive burdened with secrets and fear.

Later that evening, Carter and I sat in the dining room of his residence. The table was set with a simple but elegant dinner, the aroma of roasted venison making my mouth water.

"Rose," Carter said as he filled my glass with water, "I spoke with my Beta about recommending work for you. But we almost overlooked something important."

I looked up from my plate, my fork paused midway to my mouth. "What's that?"

His eyes flickered to my slightly rounded belly. "You're pregnant. Any of the jobs you mentioned would likely require you to lift heavy things, and you'd be on your feet all day. Are you sure that's good?"

The realization hit me hard. I hadn't thought about that at all. In my desperation to establish independence, I'd completely overlooked the practical challenges of working while pregnant.

"I... I didn't think about that," I admitted, setting my fork down.

Carter said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to be thorough."

"It's not your fault," I said, feeling foolish. "I wasn't thinking clearly."

I'd also failed to consider that I had no money, no identification, nothing but the clothes on my back and Nathan's moonstone pendant. Starting a new life wouldn't be as simple as I'd imagined.

"Speaking of pregnancy," Carter said, his tone brightening, "I have some good news. Care to guess?"

I looked up, grateful for the change in topic. "What is it?"

"I put out word that we were looking for a werewolf midwife, and we received many applications. And..." he paused dramatically, "one of the applicants is named Selena."

My heart skipped a beat. "You found her?"

Could it really be my Selena?

Carter nodded, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction. "She'll be here tomorrow morning to see you."

Selena!!! I don't even know why I'm so excited. We only met briefly in passing, but I guess she was one of the few people who showed me warmth during my difficult times.

The next day, I paced anxiously in Carter's villa, waiting for Selena to arrive. When the door finally opened and she walked in, I couldn't contain my joy.

"Selena!" I cried, rushing forward to embrace her. Then I added in a whisper, "Call me Rose now."

"Ra—I mean, Rose," she corrected herself quickly, returning my hug with equal enthusiasm.

Our wolves' scents mingled, showing our close bond. The familiar comfort of her presence washed over me, and for the first time since escaping, I felt truly safe.

"I've missed you, Selena!" I whispered, not wanting to let go.

"It's good to see you too, dear," she said warmly. "We need to arrange a check-up for you as soon as possible, so we can see how the baby is doing."

Back in my bedroom, Selena used a special werewolf stethoscope to check the baby's heartbeat. I closed my eyes, focusing on my enhanced senses and the mind link that connected me to my child.

The rapid, strong beating filled me with warmth. Through our bond, I could feel my baby's presence—tiny but vibrant, a little flicker of life growing inside me.

"The cub's heartbeat sounds strong today," Selena announced, smiling as she moved the stethoscope.

"Oh, it sounds so fast today," I noticed, a hint of worry in my voice.

"It's about the same as yesterday, just a little quicker. That's normal—cubs with Alpha bloodlines often have faster heartbeats than average wolf cubs."

"What causes the variation?" I asked.

Selena noticed the jar of blueberry jam on my breakfast tray. "Could be many things. I see you've been eating some of Carter's moonlight blueberry jam. That might be it."

"Is that bad for the baby?" I asked, immediately ready to give up the sweet treat I'd grown fond of.

"Not at all," she assured me. "It just contains elements blessed by the Moon Goddess that make cubs a bit more active for a while. Don't worry, your baby is fine, Rose."

She made notes in her little book, then smiled at me. "You'll make a wonderful Luna someday."

"Thank you," I said to Selena, "but why do you say that?"

"Because you care so much about every little detail, and your Alpha bloodline gives you natural instincts to protect cubs."

I imagined holding my little one—a tiny bundle with either Nathan's striking features or my own...

Our conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. Scarlet poked her head in. "Miss, Alpha Carter is here to see you."

I nodded. "Thank you."

Selena packed up her equipment. "I'll see you in a few days, Rose."

"Thank you for coming today," I said, walking her to the door.

She winked at me. "Enjoy your date."

"No, it's not like that!" I protested, my cheeks warming.

"Of course, of course, I know," she said, but her wolf scent clearly showed she didn't believe me.

After Selena and Scarlet left, Carter appeared in the doorway, holding a bouquet of delicate white flowers. "Good morning!" he greeted, his pine scent radiating happiness.

"Good morning, Carter," I responded, inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers.

"These are moonlight daisies for you," he said, handing me the bouquet. "They bloom on full moon nights and have a calming effect on wolf cubs."

"Thank you, they smell lovely," I said.

"Beautiful she-wolf, you're welcome," he replied smoothly. "What are your plans for today?"

"I was thinking of spending some time in the Moon Garden, maybe some light exercise to keep the cub active, but nothing specific. Aren't you handling territory matters today?"

"I was supposed to have a meeting with the border packs, but it was canceled. So I wondered if you'd like to go shopping with me at the castle courtyard market?"

"Are you sure I won't be taking up too much of your time? Being Alpha of the territory must keep you busy."

"My heart wouldn't let me offer if I didn't mean it," he said, his eyes flashing with warm gold.

"In that case, yes, I'd love to. Thank you."

As Carter extended his arm to me, I hesitated, my fingers trembling slightly as my heart raced with nervous anticipation.

With a deep breath, I accepted his arm, reminding myself that this was just a friendly outing, nothing more.