Unrequited Affection

"Congratulations, my lady! You're one week pregnant," exclaimed Doctor Homer, the academy's doctor stationed at the Emerald Dorm.

"I am... what?" I stammered, struggling to believe what I had just heard. My heart seemed to pause for a moment before racing with an intense beat. "C-Could you say that again, Doctor Homer?"

With a cheerful smile, Doctor Homer repeated, "You're going to be a mother soon, Lady Faustina." His words left me in shock, causing my jaw to drop in astonishment.

As the words sank in, I felt a mix of emotions wash over me like a tumultuous wave. Confusion, fear, and excitement collided in my mind, leaving me unsure of how to react. A week pregnant? How was that even possible? Alucard and I had only been together that one night, and I hadn't seen him since. My heart sank further, realizing that I would have to face the truth and the consequences of our impulsive actions.

"Shit... Is this for real?" I looked at Doctor Homer in disbelief while my hand was on my stomach, not feeling anything.

He nodded, acknowledging my condition. "The fatigue you're experiencing is due to this. I advise you to avoid stressful situations for your condition."

He even offered advice on how to manage my insomnia and suggested specific foods that would be beneficial. Although I was still processing the news of my pregnancy, I nodded along as if I fully understood everything he said.

"I am pregnant with Alucard's pup..." I muttered when I was on my way to Jaromir's dormitory, as those words kept chanting in my head. I was trying to gather my thoughts on what I should do next.

As I approached the grand palace gates, my heart pounded in my chest. The enormity of what I was about to do was sinking in. I was nervous, scared, and uncertain of how Alucard would react to the news of our child. Nevertheless, I knew I had to face him and let him know the truth.

The palace guards halted me and asked me to state my purpose. "I am Faustina Kerez, an acquaintance of Crown Prince Alucard. I need to speak with His Royal Highness," I replied, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"Did you have any appointment with him?" one of them asked, leaving me speechless since the purpose of my visit was unexpected and sudden. "No? Then, back away, my lady."

My heart raced, and I held my breath as they blocked my way with their spears. "But I really need to see him," I stated with a hint of panic, refusing to back away from this confrontation.

Just as they were about to push me away for my persistence, a familiar voice intervened, causing me to straighten my posture. "Lady Faustina?" the voice called out.

I gasped, upon seeing that person as my face brightened up. "Sir Elijah!"

Sir Elijah, the Crown Prince's assistant, approached with an inquisitive look on his face. "What brings you here, Lady Faustina? His Royal Highness wasn't expecting any visitors today."

"I know, Sir Elijah, but I need to speak with him urgently," I replied, my voice slightly trembling with nerves. "It's about something important, something that concerns him directly."

Sir Elijah glanced at the guards and then back at me, sensing the urgency in my tone. "Very well, I'll see if I can arrange a meeting for you. Please wait here for a moment."

He disappeared inside the palace by using his wolf speed, leaving me with the apprehensive guards. My mind was racing with a whirlwind of emotions as I waited. I had no idea how Alucard would react to the news of our unexpected pregnancy, but I had to be honest with him.

A few anxious minutes later, Sir Elijah returned, gesturing for me to follow him. "His Royal Highness has agreed to see you," he said, leading me through the grand corridors of the palace.

With each step I took, my heart beat faster, and my palms grew clammy. The reality of the situation was sinking in, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and fear about becoming a mother and the reaction of Alucard. The palace's opulence and grandeur seemed to blur around me as my mind remained focused on the impending conversation.

Finally, we arrived at a set of intricately carved double doors guarded by more sentinels. Sir Elijah exchanged a few words with them before turning to me. "You may enter," he said, offering me a reassuring smile.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped through the doors and found myself in an elegant study room, where Alucard stood by a window overlooking the palace gardens. He appeared lost in thought, his majestic presence exuding a sense of power and responsibility.

"Alucard..." My voice came out as a mere whisper as I approached him, my heart pounding in my chest. My wolf was even stirring inside me. He turned to face me, and I noticed a flicker of surprise in his eyes before it was quickly masked with composure.

"Make it quick. Ensure that what you have to say is of utmost importance. You have three minutes to state your intention," Alucard's icy tone sent shivers down my spine, reminding me of how he had coldly dismissed me when I confronted him about his engagement with Lady Charity and how things would go on since I was his mate.

His demeanor caught me off guard, leaving me at a loss for words. My heart ached as I struggled to comprehend how he could speak to me, as if our past intimacy meant nothing. The pain of being treated like a stranger, after all, we had shared, weighed heavily on my heart.

I knew how to control my emotions, but my vulnerability had been unlocked, which only Alucard could make me feel like this. It was hard to control that my eyes were getting misty.

Gathering my strength, I took a deep breath and began to speak, my voice quivering slightly. "Alucard, I..." I needed to utter the words that would make him change his mind. However, if I revealed it, would he be able to... change? "I love you..." A tear fell from my eye as I silently scolded myself as to why I did not get to admit him about my situation.

"Is that it? Is that what you all wanted to say?" His voice raised before glaring at me. "You are wasting—"

"You are one of the most important people in my life." I chimed in before he could finish and hurt me through his sharp words. "I am still questioning your intention as to why you let me fall for you and deepened our mate bond." I started to sob, mindlessly placing my hand on my stomach. "Please... choose me. I am your mate."

I was desperate now. I couldn't find myself to be honest with him not until I knew that there was something I could still hold on to him.

Alucard's stoic expression wavered for a moment as he registered my words, but he quickly regained his composure. "My personal life is none of your concern," he replied coldly. "And you should forget me as your mate. I don't care about you anymore," he added.

The pain in my chest intensified, and I clenched my fists, fighting back tears. I had hoped that Alucard would at least show some understanding or compassion, but his response only added to my heartache. I realized that revealing my pregnancy now would do more harm than good, considering how distant and indifferent he was being.

"Alucard..." Through my sobs, I tried to speak his name, but the pain in my heart was too much to bear. It felt like my emotions were spiraling out of control, and I wanted to rip my heart from my chest to end the torment. My wolf, too, was howling in pain and anger, unable to comprehend how Alucard could be so callous and apathetic to my suffering. The deep connection we once shared now felt like a distant memory, and it tore me apart inside.

"Can't you see that I am already engaged with someone? Yet you persist in approaching me," Alucard declared with a stern tone, his eyes piercing through mine. "Leave now, or I shall summon the royal guards to drag you out of the royal palace."

My heart shattered upon hearing that from him. It had never occurred to me that Alucard would treat me this way.

Once, he was a tender-hearted man, my beloved mate, who enveloped me in affection. He made grand promises, vowing to grant me the world.

Him...

Alucard Forest de Carteret.

The Crown Prince of the Sowinski Kingdom.

Unbeknownst to me, I wasn't aware of his position. He showed up one day to my pack as he was being saved from being drowning in the river during the storm. Cloaked in temporary amnesia, he approached me, boldly declaring that I was his destined mate.

"Alucard..." Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pleaded desperately. "Why are you doing this to me? You said... You said you love me..." Despite his passive expression, I sank to my knees before him, confronted by a cold demeanor I had never witnessed before. It emanated from him, glistening in front of me like an icy facade. "I am your mate..." I hiccuped.

I was prepared to be the lowest of the lowest. I loved him. It wasn't because I was aware of his royal status, but rather because I found myself falling for him as he became my unwavering pillar of support during my darkest moments.

And now... he was shunning me away. I discovered that he was betrothed to another person, even as he engaged in an affair with me. I wasn't aware. I did not know.

It hurt to know that fact he was toying with me, but here I was, begging him to choose me over that woman that was betrothed to him.

"A stranger told you that he loved you, and you easily believed him?" There was a disdain smeared on his tone. "I do not like a woman who easily flung herself to a man." He smirked before he roughly removed my hands that were clinging to the hem of his tunic. "I have never loved you, Faustina. Remember that."

His words echoed in my ears, and each one pierced through my heart like a thousand daggers. The pain was unbearable, and I felt my spirit breaking apart. How could he deny our love, our connection? The memories of our stolen moments together, the whispers of affection and promises of a future, all seemed like cruel illusions now.

I mustered the strength to lift my gaze, my eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and anger. "You lie, Alucard," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "I may be naive, but I can see the truth behind your words. I refuse to believe that our love was a lie."

My chest felt like being squeezed to the maximum strength, hearing my heart near its breaking point. I loved this man... I did not want to let go of all of the memories we shared. Our lovemaking... How he made me feel whole as a woman.

There was no way that I was going to give up on us.

His eyes narrowed, his expression hardening further. "You dare accuse me of lying? I have been nothing but honest with you now, revealing the truth of my engagement. It's time for you to accept reality, Faustina, and move on."

He continued, "I merely sought a pawn to fulfill my carnal desires, and you foolishly succumbed. You exist solely for the purpose of satisfying my needs; there was never any love involved. Did I even utter that I accepted our mate bond?" I opened my mouth to rebut, but there were no words coming out. What I wanted to say was we marked each other, however, I couldn't mutter it. He was asking me as if he had forgotten about that fact. "See? I did not say anything. What else are you expecting?"

His words were like a slap across my face, and the tears that had momentarily ceased began to flow again. I wiped them away with a trembling hand, summoning the last shreds of my pride.

"I may be a mere werewolf, Alucard, but my heart is not so easily discarded. I loved you with every fiber of my being, and I refuse to be treated as if our bond meant nothing."

Alucard scoffed, a derisive smile twisting his lips. "Love? Such a foolish emotion, especially for someone like me who has responsibilities and duties to fulfill. You were but a distraction, a temporary indulgence."

His words struck me like a physical blow, the pain seeping into my bones. The man I loved, the man I believed in, had become a stranger, callous and cruel. My heart screamed at me to fight for our love, to make him see reason, but deep down, I knew it was futile.

My wolf was hurting already. Every word he was uttering seemed like a sharp knife coated with wolfsbane, making me unable to recuperate from the bruises and wounds he caused.

Alucard... Why were you doing this to me?

Summoning all the strength I had left, I slowly rose to my feet, my eyes fixed on his cold gaze. "If that is truly how you feel, then so be it, Alucard. But remember this, love may be a weakness in your eyes, but it is also a strength. And one day, when you realize the emptiness of a life devoid of love, I hope you remember the pain you inflicted upon me."

Alucard's plump lips pulled a condescending smile. "Fret not. I will never regret what I did. So, shall I reject you now? This mate bond we had is a nuisance to me. I did not want my fiancee to be bothered by it."

I gripped my skirt, trying so hard not to shed a tear again. "O-Of course." My lips were quivering when I caught something flickering in his forest-green orbs. But it vanished in a blink of an eye.

Alucard took a step back, his gaze shifting away from me as if unable to bear the weight of his own actions. The air around us grew heavy with the impending rejection, and my heart sank further with each passing moment.

"Very well, Faustina," he said, his voice devoid of any tenderness. "I, Alucard Forest de Carteret, hereby reject Faustina Kerez and I's mate bond. Let it be severed, never to be acknowledged again."

His words cut through me like a knife, and the bond that had once connected us felt as if it was being ripped apart. A surge of pain radiated from within, but I refused to let him see my weakness any longer.

With a heavy sigh, I nodded and forced a small smile, masking the turmoil inside me. "If that is your decision, then so be it." My voice smeared with nonchalantness. "I, Faustina Kerez, accept Alucard Forest de Carteret's rejection of our mate bond."

His gaze briefly met mine, and in that fleeting moment, I saw a glimmer of regret—a trace of the man I once believed in. But it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by an icy indifference.

"I'm glad we see eye to eye, Faustina," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of remorse that he quickly concealed. "Now, I advise you to depart and ensure our paths never intersect again. Our time together has reached its conclusion."

I wanted to say something, to voice the ache in my heart and the injustice of it all, but I held my tongue. There was no use in struggling against a battle that had already been lost. The love I had for Alucard would forever remain a bittersweet memory, a lesson learned in the fragility of trust and the pain of unrequited affection.

As I walked away from Alucard and the royal palace, the weight of his rejection heavy upon my shoulders, I reminded myself of my worth. I was not defined by his rejection or his callous actions. I was a strong and resilient woman, capable of rising above the pain and rebuilding my life.

More tears were clearing my vision as I placed my hand on top of my stomach. "Seems like it'll be just you and me, little one..." I whispered to my stomach, acknowledging the growing life within me.