Chapter 5 HIS PROMISES

Keren's POV

"Keren," the voice came again, but also in my head. I only closed my eyes and watched myself fall until I heard Aarav's voice again.

"What are you thinking about?" His voice came again, and I could clearly hear that he was yelling as he snapped his fingers continuously over my face. I gasp and jerk back to reality.

I looked around slowly and realized I was only falling in my head. Not only that, but I blinked continuously, so confused that I could have imagined such a thing. This bittersweet relationship with the alpha and my new life are all so overwhelming, but never have I thought I would want to take my own life.

"Just give me back my book and stop daydreaming." He muttered, and I glared at him with scorn in my heart.

I hesitated a bit but finally handed the book to him, suddenly a thought crossed my mind.

I took one glance at him and immediately ran towards the railing without looking back.

Lifting the hem of my dress, I crossed my right leg over and made to cross the left when I felt his strong arms around my waist, pulling me back to the ground.

"What on earth do you think you're doing? Do you want to kill my child?" He yelled and tightened his grip on my arm.

"Why do you care, Aarav? You don't love me at all, so why do you care what happens to me?" I cried and tried to release my hand from his grip, but it was next to impossible.

"Let go of my arm; you're hurting me, Aarav." I whined and kept twisting my arm out of his palms.

"What are you saying, Keren? Of course, I care about you; I care about you more than anything in this world," Aarav said softly and released his hand slowly.

I looked up at him with teary eyes and tried to find even the tiniest atom of honesty in them, but I couldn't see through his deceptive looks.

"How do you want me to believe your words when all you've ever done to me is abandon me?

You've shown me no love, no care, no affection!

This child was supposed to keep you by me; this child was supposed to be the reason you wake up with me by your side every morning, but from the conception of this child, Aarav, you have abandoned me!" I yelled back and fought back my tears at the same time.

His pupils dilated, and he dropped his hands from my arms. He lowered his gaze, and after staring at nothing for a few seconds in total silence, he took my hands in his and looked into my eyes.

"Keren, I love you more than you know; I love you as much as I love this child, and even more.

I know I have wronged you, and that is why I'm here now to make it up to you. I'm here now to love you the way you deserve to be loved." He whispered and pulled me in for a hug.

I buried my face in his clothes and filled my nose with his scent.

Tears fell freely down my red cheeks, and I tightened my hands around his neck. My throat felt like a thousand pins were being thrust through it; no one has ever given me such assurance, and I didn't even know whether he meant it or not.

"Don't ever think of jumping off that rail again. Don't think of harming my child." He said it into my ears, and I nodded slowly.

A part of me was happy that he didn't let me jump off that rail because, even though I never wanted to jump off in the first place, if he hadn't stopped me, I would have made a fool out of myself because I couldn't even picture the idea of hurting my first fruit.

But at the same time, a bigger part of me jogged with whether or not Aarav really is in love with me or if he's just protecting his child.

Someone who really loves you would never wait for desperate situations like this before they decided to take their responsibilities seriously.

"Now I want you to promise never to attempt this ever again." Aarav said and pulled away from my embrace.

"I promise never to attempt this ever again," I muttered, and he smiled broadly.

He hugged me again, tighter this time, and after he detached himself, I held on to my stomach as if to make sure he didn't take out my child while hugging me.

"I'll be leaving for something important now, but trust me, I'll be back, I promise.

I will never leave your side ever again," he said, and I nodded without any emotion on my face.

"Where's that beautiful smile of yours?" He asked and brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

I put up a smile, and he didn't even bother to ask whether it was an honest smile or not; he just patted my shoulder and walked away with his hands crossed behind him.

"What am I supposed to believe now?" I asked nobody in particular and just stared at the darkness for heaven knows how long.

Alsie's words came flooding back into my head. Was she being serious when she told me about my stepfather not seeking a way to get me out of this hell house?

"Why would he do such a thing to me?" I asked and walked over to the rail, placing my hand on the cold metal.

Did he really sell me off?

I stared into the emptiness, the vast woods, wondering how safe it would be for me to run away alone with a baby-not just any baby-a werewolf, the alpha king's son. How would I even get the hunters to believe that I am harmless and that I do not mean to harm them?

"My Luna," Dustfang calls, and I quickly turn around. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't even realise it when he walked in.

"Yes?" I whisper.

"Dinner is served," he replied, and I nodded slowly.