The Pregnant Luna Mated to Ex’s Best Friend (Aria) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166: What About Me and the Pup?

Chapter 166: What About Me and the Pup?

(Arla’s POV)

After Dominic calmly stated his piece, he gently wrapped his arm around my shoulders, ushering me away

from Alexander and Silvercrest Hospital. His powerful Alpha presence surrounded me like a protective shield, gradually calming my agitated wolf.

“Aria!” Alexander’s voice

I walked away witho Called out behind us, desperate and pleading. “Don’t go! We need to talk!”

I walked away without a backward glance, my wolf surprisingly calm beneath my skin. Each step felt liberating, as if I was finally breaking free from chains I’d carried for years.

The automatic doors of the hospital slid shut behind us with a soft whoosh, cutting off Alexander’s voice completely. The cool evening air hit my face, crisp and refreshing.

Once outside, a wave of bittersweet emotions washed over me. My hand instinctively moved to my belly where our pup was growing, the gentle swell a constant reminder of our future together.

I felt a pang of guilt for my neglect towards Dominic. How could I have been so blind? I had become so

consumed by the Northern Medical Consortium project – a venture crucial to the herbal remedy company’s

–

future that I had completel

overlooked his burdens.

He had always been my rock, seemingly invincible. Handling everything with such ease that I had

unconsciously placed him on a pedestal, expecting him to be superhuman.

It was in this moment of introspection that I realized I had forgotten he was still a werewolf. Susceptible to pain, exhaustion, and the crushing pressures of Alpha leadership just like anyone else.

“How stupid I’ve been,” I whispered to myself, my wolf whimpering with regret.

Lost in my thoughts, I was jolted back to reality when Dominic suddenly stopped. I almost collided with him, his powerful Alpha presence immediately steadying me with gentle hands.

He turned to me with a knowing smile, his silver–gray eyes warm and understanding. “Why have you been so

quiet? Is there anything you want to say to me?”

This unexpected directness caught me off guard, my wolf whimpering softly within me. I had expected him to

avoid this conversation entirely.

I confessed, my gaze fixed on his handsome face, “Why did you hide the company’s troubles from me?”

Dominic feigned ignorance, his Alpha/scent shifting slightly as he raised an eyebrow. “Hide what? I don’t

know what you’re talking about.”

“Alexander told me about the plagiarism allegations,” I said firmly, not letting him deflect.

“Ah,” he nodded, his expression clearing with false understanding. “So that’s how you found out. Iould have known Alexander would use that against me.”

Frustrated by his attempts to divert the conversation, I grabbed his arm. My pregnant wolf demanded honesty from my mate, needed the truth more than anything.

Chapter 166 What About

“I want a straight answer, Dominic. No more games.”

Seeing my growing agitation, Dominic smiled playfully. His powerful presence somehow gentle as he nodded. “Alright, alright. I’ll answer whatever you want to know.”

Then he had the audacity to tease me further. “But what was your question again? I forgot.

My eyes welled up with unshed tears, my earlier guilt and distress now compounded by his lightheartedness. My wolf whimpering with distress at his casual dismissal of my concerns.

“This isn’t funny,” I said, my voice trembling slightly.

Noticing my reaction, Dominic immediately dropped his playful facade. His Alpha authority softened as he stepped closer, his cedar scent wrapping around me protectively.

“Hey, I’m sorry,” he said with genuine seriousness. “I didn’t mean to hide it from you. It’s just, I can handle these things myself. There’s no need to worry you unnecessarily.”

His earnestness melted my heart, the sincerity in his voice impossible to ignore. I could see the exhaustion he’d been hiding, the weight he’d been carrying alone.

Looking up at him, my reflection mirrored in his deep eyes, I said softly, “But if I had known, I would be even more worried about you.”

He softened his voice, his hands coming up to cup my face gently. “I know. My fault. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

He raised three fingers in a solemn oath, his expression deadly serious. “I swear from now on, whether it’s big or small, I’ll tell you everything. If I ever hide anything from you again, may I be struck-”

“Dominic!” I cut him off, horrified, my wolf howling in distress. “You’re talking nonsense!”

I continued, my voice trembling with raw emotion, “What kind of oath is that? If… if something happens to you, what about me and the pup?”

Tears streamed down my face, releasing all the accumulated guilt and heartache. My pregnant wolf was overwhelmed by the possibility of losing our Alpha mate.

The thought of facing this world without him, of raising our pup alone, was unbearable.

Dominic pulled me into a comforting embrace, his powerful arms enveloping me completely. “Shh, I’m sorry.

I’m such an idiot.”

He even attempted to slap himself, but I quickly caught his hand, stopping him. “Don’t you dare!”

I glared at him through my tears, my wolf fierce in protecting our mate even from himself.

He looked at me with bright silver–gray eyes, his expression soft and remorseful. “Mate, forgive me this once. Never again.”

I pouted, feigning anger while my heart melted at his endearment. “You said it yourself, never again!”

As he wiped away my tears with gentle fingers, I raised my hand to dry my own. The salt taste lingered on my lips.

Just as I was about to ask about the herbal remedy company’s specific situation, he cupped my chin, pulling me close. His lips descended upon mine, their breath mingling with his clean, cedar scent.

< Chapter 166: What About

It was a kiss so intoxicating it threatened to consume my last shred of reason. My wolf purring with contentment as his Alpha pheromones surrounded me.

I pushed him away, glancing around in embarrassment. “Are you crazy? We’re outside!”

Other werewolves were passing by, some openly staring at the intimate display between two mated Alphas.

He chuckled, his Alpha humor evident in his sparkling eyes. “What’s wrong with being outside? We’re legally mated; a kiss is perfectly fine.”

As he leaned in for another kiss, I placed a hand over his mouth. “Don’t change the subject! First, tell me about the company!”

I knew he was trying to distract me with his Alpha charm, and I wasn’t going to let him get away with it this

time.

He sighed dramatically, took my hand, and interlocked our fingers. “Let’s talk in the car. It’s more private

there.”

Once inside his luxury SUV with the Shadow Pack emblem, Dominic reached over to buckle my seatbelt. His

protective Alpha instincts were evident in every careful movement.

“There,” he said, making sure I was secure. “Safety first, especially with our pup.”

Impatiently, I asked, “Alright, now can you tell me everything?”

He smiled faintly, his silver–gray eyes becoming serious. “It’s nothing too dramatic, really. Someone just reported my herbal remedy company for formula plagiarism to the Northern Territory Business Council.”

My heart pounded, my wolf whimpering anxiously within me. “Is that accusation false?”

I pressed, my voice laced with anxiety, “How could your remedy development be plagiarized? You’re too

principled for that.”

I knew this Alpha intimately. Though he appeared laid–back and casual, he was fundamentally principled, especially when it came to copying others‘ work.‘

Dominic hesitated, his powerful presence shifting uncomfortably. “Well, it’s not entirely false…”

My heart sank, my pregnant wolf stirring with distress. “What do you mean? You did plagiarize?”

He quickly shook his head, his hands moving expressively as he explained. “No, no. The herbal remedy formula was initially conceived when I was working with a colleague from the Northern Medical research

division.”

“We developed it together, but it was rejected by the research committee,” he continued. “I then decided to

pursue it independently through my own company.”

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