Chapter 8

Isabella's POV

When I closed my laptop, feeling cautiously optimistic for the first time since this nightmare began, a sharp knock sounded at the door. I knew who it was without looking.

"Come in, Gabriel," I opened the door, my voice steadier than I expected, "I've made my decision."

His pupils suddenly contracted, clearly not expecting me to be so calm.

Gabriel walked into the room. His gaze briefly lingered on my laptop before returning to my face.

"Well?" he asked casually. "Have you considered my offer? Let's sign the agreement."

I took a deep breath to steady myself. This was my only chance to ensure a place in my child's life. I couldn't afford to make mistakes.

"I will sign an agreement with you," I said cautiously, "but I need to understand a few more things first."

His jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with impatience. "Don't push your luck, Isabella. The terms I've offered are more than generous."

I recognized the danger signs—his canines slightly elongated, golden flecks appearing in his green irises. I needed to tread carefully, but I couldn't back down.

"I'm not trying to cause trouble," I said, softening my voice. "I just want to know how you plan to care for the child in the early days."

"That's not your concern. I'll hire nannies."

I moved closer, deliberately keeping my posture non-threatening. "Why hire strangers when the baby's mother is eager to do all that? Infants need breast milk and a mother's love." I paused, observing his reaction before continuing. "Forgive me for investigating you, but I know you're not married. A child needs a mother, and you can't possibly be with the baby at all times."

Something flickered across Gabriel's face—was it uncertainty? I had struck a nerve. He knew firsthand what growing up without a mother meant.

"Children are adaptable," he said, but his voice lacked conviction.

I held his gaze firmly. "Yes, they are. But why make things harder than they need to be?"

Gabriel turned and paced the small room. I could almost see the internal struggle through his stiff shoulders.

"There's something else to consider," I ventured boldly, playing my strongest card. "This arrangement could benefit your Alpha King campaign. Having a family, a partner, and an heir would gain you more support. You could introduce me as your girlfriend to the public."

Gabriel spun around, eyes narrowing. "You want more power? You're more ambitious than I thought."

"No!" I quickly explained. "That's not what I meant. I don't want to be your actual girlfriend. I could pretend to be a werewolf, appear with you in public." I continued before he could interrupt, "We can include this in our agreement. It helps your political situation, and our child gets both parents around. What do you think?"

"Absolutely not," Gabriel immediately rejected the idea. "We aren't fated mates. And I found my mate years ago."

"But you're divorced now," I pointed out softly.

Silence fell between us. Gabriel's expression became inscrutable as he stared out at the darkening sky through the window. I held my breath, waiting.

"I might consider it, but only for the campaign. This arrangement is temporary, dependent on your ability to make people believe our relationship is real. But understand, being a Luna is more than just standing by my side."

"What exactly is a Luna?" I seized the opportunity to ask.

Gabriel turned to me. "The Alpha's mate—his partner in leading the Pack. Werewolves can have different types of mates. There are fated mates, chosen by the Moon Goddess, and chosen mates, selected by the werewolf themselves."

A troubling thought occurred to me. "If you meet another mate later... would I still be allowed to see our child?"

His expression turned grave. "We'll discuss that if it happens."

Over the next hour, we negotiated terms, each of us standing firm on certain points and yielding on others. By sunset, we had drafted an agreement that allowed me to remain with the child as his partner during the campaign and stipulated terms for my continued involvement in the child's life afterward, regardless of Gabriel's future relationship status.

As I set down the pen, a wave of dizziness swept over me. My vision blurred at the edges, and my legs suddenly felt weak beneath me. Before I could fall, strong arms caught me, and Gabriel's scent enveloped me.

"You smell so good," I murmured, confused thoughts clouding my mind.

The world darkened around me as consciousness slipped away. In that strange liminal state between wakefulness and unconsciousness, I heard an odd growl—not from Gabriel, but seemingly from within myself. The sound was possessive, primal, and entirely unfamiliar.

Then darkness consumed me completely.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar room. The ceiling above me was high and ornate, and I lay on a bed far more luxurious than my own. Tasteful decorations that screamed wealth without being ostentatious were scattered around the room, clearly Gabriel's style.

Why had he brought me to his home? I scanned the room, my gaze landing on a note placed on the nightstand. It instructed me to stay put and not leave.

"As if," I muttered.

I fixed my disheveled appearance as best I could, then headed for the door. After several wrong turns, I finally found what appeared to be the main staircase. As I descended, a burly man in a black suit appeared at the bottom, blocking my path.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Morgan, but Mr. Vasquez has instructed that you remain inside until his return."

I lifted my chin and glared at the man. "Are you going to stop me?"

He looked like he wanted to. He frowned deeply, studying me carefully. I could almost see the thoughts running through his head. Yes, he had orders not to let me leave, but he also knew I was carrying Gabriel's precious heir. If I resisted, he couldn't risk treating me roughly.

After a moment, I decided to test his resolve by rushing straight past him.