Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

ANDREI

“You need to rein her in before there’s nothing left to salvage.”

My mother’s voice was sharp, clear, and unforgiving as she stood in my office, arms crossed in that imperious way she used when she knew she was right. Which, in this case, she probably was.

“She’s only been back for a few days,” I said, already exhausted by the conversation. “She needs time to reacquaint herself with the rhythms of pack life.”

Mother’s eyes narrowed. “Reacquaint? She’s issuing orders to warriors, reallocating patrols, questioning the Beta in front of others. Do you have any idea how furious the ranks are?”

I turned away, pacing behind my desk. It was easier than facing her.

“She’s not Luna yet.”

“Try telling her that. The pack sees her acting like one, and they don’t like it. Natalia would never have overstepped this way.‘

I flinched.

It wasn’t that she was wrong. It was that I didn’t want to hear it.

Mother softened her tone. “Andrei. You can still undo this. You’re not married to Lilith yet.”

I shook my head, still thinking about my ex–wife, who was now likely dead. “It was Natalia who wanted the divorce.” (1

“Was it?” she asked quietly. “Or did she just give up when she realized you’d already chosen someone else?”

The silence between us said more than either of us could. I hadn’t chosen. I had let go. There was a difference. At least, that’s what I told myself.

“I respected her decision,” I said. “She wanted out. I gave her freedom.”

Mother’s sigh cut through me. “And what if she was only trying to protect something? What if she was trying to protect herself–and your child?”

The door opened before I could respond. One of my guards stepped in.

“Alpha, the doctor is here. The one who treated Natalia.”

“Send her in.”

The physician entered, head bowed. She looked nervous.

“I appreciate you coming,” I said.

“Of course, Alpha.”

た

Chapter 7

+25 Bonus

“What can you tell me about her condition before she left?”

She hesitated. “I don’t normally discuss patient matters without consent.”

I growled, low and warning. “She’s likely dead. You’ll make an exception.”

She nodded quickly. “Yes, Alpha. Natalia was showing signs of stress–induced instability. Hormonal changes, fluctuations in the mate bond. I advised her that without a steady bond, the pregnancy could be at risk.”

A cold spike settled in my chest.

“She could lose the baby?”

“Yes. If the mate bond is unstable, the pregnancy itself can destabilize the wolf’s entire system.”

“She never told me,” I said under my breath.

The doctor shifted awkwardly. “She asked about what would happen if the bond were severed… if there was a rejection. I thought it was hypothetical at the time.”

“But it wasn’t.”

It hit me like a punch to the gut. She hadn’t wanted to leave. She had been afraid. Maybe afraid of me. Or of what I

would choose. Maybe she had believed I’d never choose her.

She had walked away for the sake of our child.

M

I could have marked her. I could have marked her and none of this would have happened. Why didn’t she ask me to mark her? Why didn’t I offer?

Why hadn’t I done it all those years ago when we were first married?

All the could–haves, would–haves, should–haves were swirling through my mind so fast I was dizzy.

The lunch I’d eaten earlier in the day threatened to make a reappearance.

I dismissed the doctor and turned to my Beta, who had arrived and stood waiting in the doorway.

“What have you been able to find?”

“Not much, sir,” Carlos said.

I sighed.

“Start a full–scale search. Every inch of the territory, every road. I want to find her..”

“Yes, Alpha. But… there’s something you need to see.’

He handed me a file of grainy photos and a short video clip.

“This is from the highway surveillance. We confirmed Natalia’s car. She was driving alone. But… the footage from

the moment of the crash is missing. Tampered with. All we have is this.”

Chapter 7

+25 Bonus

He pulled up a frame. Her car. Headlights glowing. A shape behind it. An SUV.

Then the next clip: her car plunging through a guardrail and disappearing into darkness.

I couldn’t speak.

My chest felt like it was caving in.

“She’s gone?”

“Not necessarily. We’ve found debris. No body.”

I swallowed, throat dry. My wolf pushed to the surface. Not gone. Not dead. Not her.

み

Just then, there was a knock. And then, as if summoned by the very worst timing, Lilith stepped inside, carrying a tray of tea and pastries.

“I thought you might need something warm,” she said sweetly.

I couldn’t muster a thank you.

Her eyes darted to the monitor where Natalia’s car was still displayed. “Oh… is that…”

I said nothing.

She sat down across from me, her smile faltering. “Andrei, I–this is all my fault, isn’t it?”

I looked at her finally. “What are you talking about?”

She clasped her hands together, fingers trembling in well–practiced sorrow. “Natalia left. She filed for divorce. Then she was attacked. It all happened so fast. If I hadn’t come back–if I hadn’t tried to reclaim what we had-

she wouldn’t have left at all.”

I sighed. “This wasn’t your fault.”

“But it was! I feel terrible. Just tell me what I can do. Should we reschedule the engagement ceremony? Would that make things better?”

I blinked at her. “Are you serious?”

She paled. “I just thought… we had everything planned, and-”

“Not now, Lilith.”

Her expression crumpled. But I didn’t have the bandwidth to comfort her. Not when all I could see was the haunted look on Natalia’s face when she handed me the divorce papers. Not when I remembered every time she tried to tell me something–and I didn’t listen.

All I could think about was the baby we should be having together. The baby I had always wanted.

The baby I had always wanted with Natalia. I could picture its soft, sweet chocolate colored hair. Its green eyes, so like its mother. Would it have been a boy? A girl?

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify