My Innocent Mate

XI

"Why are you here?" my mom asked, with a surprised look on her face.

"Glad to know that I'm welcomed," I said, furrowing my eyebrows. "Is your health okay? I haven't been gone that long, but you've changed a lot?" 

"I was so worried! Are you okay? What happened at the gala?" she said, fidgeting with her shirt.

"I'm okay... I don't really remember what happened at the gala. Asher saved me from a pair of people who were trying to kill me. The next moment, I was in his dorm. That's all I remember," I said, trying to remain calm. Just thinking about him made my heart quench in anguish.

"Who is this Asher?" Alpha Steven asked. 

I was surprised by his voice. Immediately, I kneeled down in submission. "Pardon my intrusion, Alpha Steven."

"You may rise," he said, roughly.

I slowly stood up and looked straight into Alpha Steven's eyes. There was an awkward tension between us for a second.

Then, at the same time, we fist bumped, did the jellyfish, had a thumb war, and to finish it off,  a professional handshake with a salute.

"What's up, Ella? It's been a while! I was worried!" Alpha Steven said, with a grin. 

"Hey! Nothing much... I found my mate?" I said, awkwardly rubbing my shoulder. 

"Oh really? Where is he? I want to see him!"

I mentally prepared my brain for a brief second and said, "Actually... I ran away."

Alpha Steven stared at me with a confused look on his face. "You did what?"

My mom stepped in and asked, "What happened?" 

She also had a worried look on her face. 

I sighed. "Long story short, I don't think he values me as me. Before I came here, I heard him talking to his beta about how I wasn't what he expected."

"Beta? Wait, does that mean your mate is an alpha?" my mom asked. 

I nodded. 

"Well then, who is this Alpha? I'm going to knock some sense into him!" Alpha Steven exclaimed, furious. 

"No!" I shouted. "Don't. Please. I just need somewhere to stay for a while and I was wondering if I could crash here?" 

"Of course Ella! However, your mom has something to tell you," Alpha Steven said and slightly pushed my mom toward me. 

I raised an eyebrow. 

My mom took a deep breath. "You should probably brace yourself."

"Okay?" I said, slightly concerned.

There was a silence between all four of us: me, my mom, Alpha Steven, and Luciel.

"You see, you're room isn't yours anymore. Ella... you're going to be a big sister."

Um, what?

"W-what? Mom, you're pregnant?" I exclaimed. "With whose child?"

I was so utterly confused and shocked. There have been no traces of my mom wanting a child before this. At least, I haven't noticed it. 

My mom's eyes traveled onto Alpha Steven's.

I almost vomited. "Dear Man and Moon, please save us," I whispered, staring at my mom and Alpha Steven.

"You're telling me that you and Alpha Steven had intercourse?" I asked, whispering the last part. Everything was fuzzy and I didn't know how to react. 

"No, no, no! He was my... sperm donor," my mom explained. "Ella, I'm sorry for not telling you. I've just wanted another child for so long. Having you was the best thing that has ever happened to me and I want to relive that experience."

"I-I really don't know how to react to this," I said. "I come back to find you pregnant with Alpha Steven's child. Where was my say in this?"

"Yeah, Steven. Where was my say in this?" Luciel interrupted.

My spine shivered as I felt a tense aura from Luciel. I totally forgot he was behind me, listening to everything. Not only did he and Steven not do anything besides work, but now he had to discover his own mate donated their sperm to someone else, not considering his feelings. My heart ached for Luciel.

"Luciel... I'm sorry," Alpha Steven said, looking straight into his mate's eyes with guilt that flooded his face.

"That's not going to cut it this time," Luciel said in a serious tone. "I... I think I'm done."

And with that, Luciel walked away. Despite his calm manner, I knew he was deeply wounded. I assumed Alpha Steven did too, with the pained expression he had on his face with clenched fists.

"Alpha Steven, I think you really messed up this time. Alpha Steven, you need to think about what you've agreed to. And mom, I don't really understand why you didn't tell me. I would've been all for it, but the fact that you asked our Alpha was out of the question. Maybe it's just me who thinks this is all very unsettling." I said and bowed to Alpha Steven as a farewell. "I'm sorry, I need some time to sort things out. I'll be in one of the guest cabins." 

I scurried out of the garden, entering a place where there were about ten guest cabins. Knocking on the nearest one to make sure no one was residing in it. There was no reply, so I entered and locked the door. With a big sigh, I plopped down on the fluffy mattress, exhausted.

I'm exhausted a lot these days.

First, there was Asher, and now my own pack? I wondered how Asher was faring and if he was looking for me. Not that I wanted him to retrieve me or anything...

And my pack... my loving family. My mom doesn't know what she's doing. She's going to have the Alpha's child. That means, my little brother or sister will carry on the alpha blood. I hope Alpha Steven recognizes this. I can't imagine the agony Luciel is feeling right now. He had no say in this. I get that they could never have a baby with both their blood, but to not get to choose who will carry their baby... it must be very painful. 

I just didn't understand what both my mom and Alpha Steven were thinking. Hoping this was all a prank, I rested my tired eyes and gradually faded off into a slumber.