Rejected and Pregnant: Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince-Chapter 680: Do what you’re told

Aisha looked at her phone, the glowing screen reflecting her impatience as she wondered when Karmen would finally arrive. The approaching car drew her gaze upward. Karmen’s car glided to a halt in front of her; he applied the brakes smoothly and gave a quick tilt of his head, gesturing for her to get in.

She slid into the passenger seat and clicked her seatbelt into place.

"I was late. Sorry," Karmen apologized, his eyes lingering on hers for a second before he shifted gears.

"It’s alright," Aisha replied, leaning back into the leather seat. "From tomorrow, the Christmas week off starts." She watched the familiar scenery of the residential complex fade away as Karmen steered the car toward the main road.

"Will you go home for the holidays then?" Karmen asked.

"No," Aisha said. "I’m thinking of celebrating it in my new house."

"Then I’ll be joining you on Christmas Eve," he stated.

Aisha adjusted the strap of the shoulder bag on her lap, her fingers tracing the stitching. "What about your family? They’ll surely want you home for the holidays," she murmured.

"I’ll just tell my parents that I have to celebrate it with my girlfriend," Karmen replied easily.

Aisha’s heart gave a sudden, violent thud, and her breath caught in her throat for a brief moment.

"I won’t tell them it’s you," Karmen added, glancing at her reaction, "unless you want me to."

"It’s better to keep it a secret for now," Aisha stated, her voice regaining its steady rhythm even as her mind raced.

"Okay. As you want," Karmen replied, his voice steady as he kept his eyes on the road.

"Thank you for understanding," Aisha said softly. She turned her gaze toward him, studying his side profile against the passing city lights. A quiet guilt gnawed at her, making her wonder if she was inadvertently taking advantage of his unwavering devotion.

"Eryx didn’t trouble you, did he?" Karmen asked, his tone shifting to more guarded one.

"No, he didn’t," Aisha replied, shaking her head.

"He won’t dare to," Karmen said firmly. "Still, if you feel even a hint of fear, just call me. I’ll get to you as soon as I can." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

His protective instincts made Aisha’s heart flutter. It was overwhelming to think about their journey, how he had once been just a boy in her class, watching her from a distance while she was with someone else. He had grown into a man who never demanded her love, only her happiness. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her bag, a silent tension gripping her as she questioned if she was finally doing things right this time, or if she was simply seeking shelter in his kindness.

Karmen reached over, briefly placing his hand over hers. The warmth of the gesture forced her to look at him, but he didn’t say a word; he simply offered a reassuring squeeze before returning his hand to the gear shift.

Shortly after, they arrived at the restaurant Karmen had chosen for their first official date. It was a hidden gem, tucked away from the city’s frantic pace and framed by a breathtaking landscape. A vast, frozen lake stretched out before the building, reflecting the pale moonlight, while a jagged, snow-capped mountain stood like a silent sentry right behind it.

Karmen held her hand firmly, guiding her inside where the air was thick with the scent of pine and roasted spices. They settled into a cozy corner, lost in the quiet intimacy of the night.

However, the peace was fragile. Across the room, tucked into a shadowed booth, sat the same friend of Eryx who had witnessed the tension at the bar that morning. His eyes widened as he watched Karmen with Aisha.

Excusing himself from the date he had come with, he came out to the corridor and dialed Eryx’s number.

"Eryx, you aren’t going to believe this... Karmen and Aisha are together," he informed him, his gaze fixed on the couple.

"Tell me where they are!" Eryx said, drinking the alcohol from the glass as the wound on his mouth stung.

~~~~

After dinner, Karmen and Aisha took a slow walk near the restaurant as they wandered toward a quiet forest trail.

"Do you feel cold?" Karmen asked, noticing the slight mist of her breath in the air. He stopped walking, rubbed his palms together vigorously to generate heat, and then gently pressed them against Aisha’s cheeks.

Aisha leaned into his warmth, a genuine smile breaking across her face. "Wolves have a natural ability to stay warm, Karmen."

"Yeah, but Betas still feel a bit of a cold compared to Alphas," Karmen reminded her, his thumbs grazing her cheekbones. "And I don’t want my girl shivering on our first date."

Aisha’s heart skipped at the casual way he claimed her, but the moment of serenity was cut short. Deep in the shadows of the treeline, a twig snapped with a sharp, unnatural crack.

Karmen immediately dropped his hands, his posture shifting into something rigid and predatory. He stepped slightly in front of Aisha, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness behind the thick trunks.

"Stay behind me," he whispered, his voice vibrating with a low, primal growl as his protective instincts surged.

Karmen’s eyes darted through the underbrush, catching the glint of yellow eyes reflecting.

"Two, four, five... Ten," he counted under his breath. They were completely surrounded.

Was this Eryx’s doing? He was the only one petty enough to hold a grudge this deep, but ten wolves was an ambush.

"Karmen, there are too many," Aisha whispered, her voice trembling. She glanced back toward the faint glow of the restaurant lights in the distance. "The restaurant... We’ve come too far from there."

"Don’t worry," Karmen said, his gaze fixed on a massive gray wolf creeping forward from the center. He gave her arm a firm, grounding squeeze. "Run back to the restaurant the second I signal you to. Don’t look back, and don’t stop. Promise me."

"No! I’m not leaving you. Let’s fight together," Aisha refused, her own wolf spirit stirring in defiance.

"Do what you’re told, Aisha! Some of them are Alphas," Karmen commanded, his voice reaching a tone of authority she hadn’t heard before. "You’ll run when I give the signal."

Before she could argue further, a large black wolf lunged from the shadows with a snarl. Karmen reacted instantly, giving Aisha a push toward the clear path and shifting mid-air.

Aisha stumbled back, her eyes wide as the remaining nine wolves began to close the circle, their teeth bared and ready for their blood.