Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 128: Bonus Story-Keep This For Me, Please-Part 2

I didn't really have errands to run, so I headed to the harbor where boats were pulling in, took a seat on a bench and watched people load and unload the ships.

But no matter how many people I saw, there was only one person occupying my mind.

I glanced back at the way I'd come and scoffed at myself. Maybe what I did deep down was just me selfishly trying to force Soren to make a choice between me and his past.

I thought I loved him, so I'd love everything about him, including his past. However, I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to try to compete with his past, nor was I going to share him with the memory of another woman.

I acted like I was being thoughtful of him, but deep down, I was just a coward. I couldn't bring myself to beg him to stay, so I threw the difficult decision to him and I escaped—again.

I rubbed my stomach and watched several more ships unload, one pulled out from the harbor and head out into the ocean. I wondered, would Soren take a boat and disappear on the horizon just like that?

If he had gone back, I wouldn't see him for a very long time. I'd have to tell our child all about him —fortunately, I wouldn't be alone because I'd have our child.

As the afternoon wore on, the docks got quieter and slower. Fewer people were there working. The setting sun reminded me that it was time to go back. However, my feet were dragging.

I wasn't sure I was prepared to return to an empty house, but I still forced myself to head toward the bungalow.

There was a faint glimmer of hope thrumming in my heart—maybe he was willing to give up his past for me and our family.

But when I got to the house, I sighed and bowed my head.

All the lights were off.

So, he had made the choice and went back to his hometown. After everything, Soren had chosen to leave me behind and return to his past.

For a moment, bitterness mixed with fury flared in my chest.

Sighing, I shook my head and sent the anger away. This wasn't Soren’s fault. If anyone was to blame, it was me. I'd been the one to push him to make a decision. Had I not offered him the Moonlit Crystal, knowing him, he would probably never ask me for it.

I rubbed my belly.

“You, my precious, it is just going to be the two of us for a while. Don't worry, no matter how much time goes by, I'll make sure you know who your father is. Someday, I don't know when, but you'll get to meet him."

I smiled at my belly, as if the baby could see me. Whatever happened, we would still be a family and Soren was welcome to return to us any time.

When I got inside, I left the lights off. It was late, and after everything, I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep. This late in my pregnancy, I was too exhausted to stay up much longer and do all anything extra after my walk today.

Not to mention the pain in my heart from Soren's absence.

I went to the master bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. In the dark, I could see that the room hadn't changed at all.

Had Soren not taken anything with him?

His clothes from the night before were neatly folded and placed on the nightstand.

He probably could only take what was necessary, some clean clothes and such.

Sighing, I stared at the clothes, and our lovemaking the night before replayed in my mind. Heat climbed up my face, but soon it faded away. It already felt like a distant dream, even though it happened less than 24 hours ago.

Sniffling, I realized tears were dripping from my eyes and streaming down my face. I wiped them off and swallowed the rest of my tears.

“From now on, I will only smile for my baby... My baby is all I'm living for now."

The moon outside the bedroom window shone brightly, glinting off the glass. It was so beautiful and cast lovely silver light into the bedroom.

I was glad that I could still appreciate the beauty of nature.

Standing up, I went to the window and pushed it open. From that window, I had a great view of the backyard.

"What...!" I gasped, glancing down at the yard.

The patio was covered in little, flickering candles. Several luminous stones laid out on the grass formed a path that led into the nearby woods.

My hands shook and my heart pounded in my chest.

What was going on? None of those were there when I'd left!

Rushing down the stairs, I went onto the patio, where I found flower petals scattered over the floor between the candles.

The luminous path was made of stones that had been carefully laid out one by one. They glowed in the grass, much dimmer than the flickering candles, but clearly leading in a specific direction. Someone had set this up.

My heart thudded heavily. I rubbed my clammy hands on my sides, taking in a deep breath before stepping off the patio to follow the path.

It led me all the way to the edge of the woods and continued deep into the small forest ahead of me.

Without hesitation, I kept going. My heart pounded faster with every step I took.

The glowing path stretched through the dark forest and eventually took me to a clearing.

I was stunned by the dream-like scenery in front of me.

The circle-shaped clearing was outlined in a ring of luminous stones. All the little blue stones lit the clearing with a lovely, magical glow. I felt like I'd stepped right onto the surface of the moon!

On the opposite side of the opening, the trees parted over a cliff. The ocean waves rumbling below. The moon hung over the cliff, its reflection massive on the restless ocean below.

Stars twinkled in the sky like little fireflies and the star filled sky spread on forever.

It was absolutely breathtaking.

In the shadow of one of the trees, I saw a familiar, dark figure in a familiar dark suit leaning casually against a large rock. One hand in his pocket and his back towards me.

I took a step closer, thinking I had to be dreaming.

Snap!

A twig snapped under my foot.

The figure turned around. Moonlight shone on his face and he beamed, “Miss Hathaway, what took you so long?"

I stared at him; my jaw ajar. I was at a loss for words. Seeing him was beyond elating. I hadn't expected him to be here at all, let alone setting up this beautiful scene for me.

"S-Soren!?" I finally managed to speak. I covered my mouth with my hands. “Why are you still here?" Groaning inwardly, I wanted to bite off my tongue. Why did I ask the question in a way that almost sounded like I wished he wasn't there? Goddess knows how happy I was. I was beyond ecstatic to see him!

My hands shook, and my entire body vibrated with joy and excitement.

Soren chuckled. It didn't seem like he cared what I said.

“I'm here because I knew you would come... eventually.” He answered my question. “And here you are."

I looked around again, still stunned by how beautiful this place was.

"Was it all for me?" I asked, trying to find something to say. “You...you didn't have to do all this..."

“I didn't have to, but I wanted to.” Soren's face looked serious. “Mila, as you know, I came here from another realm and I do have family there.”

My heart sank. Was this Soren's way of saying Goodbye? I'd wanted to avoid a painful scene!

“The fact of the matter is... I ran away from there years ago because the woman that took my heart didn't choose me."

I didn't want to hear it any more. “Soren—"

“Listen to me, please. I thought I loved her. And because of that, I thought love was just pain... until I met you."

I lifted my eyes.

Soren had moved a lot closer to me. He still had one hand in his pocket.

“I said that to you before but I don't think you truly believe it. I'm not sure what else I can do to convince you and persuade you.” He took a deep breath in.

I held my breath, waiting for him to continue.

He looked me in the eye. “I want you to know that I may have places I want to go, but I'll only go to those places if you are with me."

My heart lifted and I felt some new hope and excitement growing in me.

“Mila, keep this in mind. Wherever you are, that is where I belong. Unless we find another Moonstone so that we can both go, I'm not leaving here without you."

Tears pricked my eyes and I shifted my weight from foot to foot. I had no idea what to think. So much joy and hope swelled inside of me and I couldn't contain it!

“I spent all day pondering. There was only one way that I could think of to convince you that I don't want to leave your side. Wherever you are, Mila, that is my home. It doesn’t matter what realm we are in, as long as we are together. And I'm going to prove that."

I nodded slowly, unsure where Soren was going with this. Seeing him here and hearing his words was enough to make me believe him.

He stayed there all day and prepared this beautiful scene for us. I couldn't ask for a more romantic setting.

And he clearly wasn't here to say goodbye to me. So, what else could he do to prove himself to me? I kind of thought he already had by being here.

“So... I'm putting my heart out there again, and I am hopeful that I know you well enough to not crush it into a million pieces.”

Soren chuckled and pulled his hand out of his pocket. He held up a little silk cushion with a ring on it

I gasped and took a half step back.

The ring was lovely. It had a gold band etched with blackfire flowers. In the moonlight, the gold almost looked like orange flames.

Instead of a diamond, the Moonlit Crystal had been set into the band, flickering in the moonlight and glowing deep in its center.

Soren went down on his knee in front of me.

“I'm going to ask you what you asked me earlier. Would you keep this for me, please?"

I kept staring at the ring, my mind completely blank and hysterical as I thought about what was going on.

“l...I..." I murmured but couldn't form a sentence.

"Will you accept my love forever and marry me?" he asked.

Fresh tears wet my eyes and I looked into Soren’s gray-blue orbs.

My heart fluttered so wildly that I thought it would grow wings and fly away.

Soren was proposing!? Soren was proposing! I could hardly believe it. He really did love me and wanted me by his side forever!

How could I ever have doubted that?

When I stared into his eyes, I saw such depth and vulnerability. He was opening his heart and soul to me, risking his views on love again, and he was trusting in me and our love.

"Yes..." I gasped, dropping my hands from my face.

"What was that?" Soren asked, leaning closer.

“Yes! Soren, yes, I will marry you!"

Grinning in the moonlight, Soren stood up and slid the ring on my finger.

“Now the deal is sealed, Mila. Don't even think about getting rid of me again!"