Erik wasn’t ready to reconcile himself to being stuck with her, but he also knew that if he wasn’t willing to give her to another male, she would end up becoming his mate. He had limited control over his urges for her, and it was only getting worse as time went on.
His train of thought came full circle. If he was already responsible for her wellbeing and had no plans to give her up, then what difference would it make if they had a pup?
Erik toyed with the idea of having a pup. He pictured a male that looked like him. He could teach his son how to hunt, fight, and lead like a proper alpha. Once Erik grew old, he could pass leadership of Amarok on to his son—provided he wasn’t worthless, like Zane.
But he wouldn’t raise a worthless pup. The more he thought about it, the more Erik realized that he should have a pup. He was too good of an alpha to not pass his strength and skills down to the next generation.
While he’d been having his epiphany, the human had somehow managed to fall asleep. He wanted to tell her what he’d decided, but he knew it could wait until she woke.
So he woke her.
“Astrid.”
Her eyes sprang open and she shot up, her head banging into his chin. She looked around the room, eyes wild.
“Bears?”
“No.”
Her posture sagged with relief. “Oh thank God. You scared me. I keep forgetting that you know my name.” She laid back down on his chest. “Why did you wake me?”
Erik was still scowling and rubbing his chin when he said, “To tell you that I will give you a pup.”
He found himself looking at her expectantly, anticipating that this news would make her happy. Instead, she blinked up at him several times.
“What are you talking about?” A look of horror came over her face. “Wait, are you going to steal somebody’s baby for me? Don’t do that!”
The way her mind worked would never cease to baffle him.
“No,” he said dryly. “I will take you as my mate. But do not assume it will change anything between us. It will simply be an arrangement for procreation.”
She frowned. “That sounds very romantic, but I can’t have kids, Erik. Believe me, I tried for a long time.”
“You did not try with me,” he said dismissively.
She rolled her eyes at him, something she’d likely picked up from her sister. “I’m sure you’re quite virile, but I don’t ovulate, so there’s no way you could possibly get me pregnant.”
Erik leaned back against the wall. “I am quite virile,” he said, closing his eyes. “And I will give you a pup. Now go back to sleep.”
“It doesn’t work that way. And even if I could have kids, what makes you think I would want them with you?”
Why wouldn’t she want them with him? “I am an ideal sire.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’d have great looking kids, but you’d probably make a terrible father.” The last part came out as a mumble, as though she realized too late that it would probably piss him off. “None of that really matters though. Like I said, I can’t have kids, so it’s a moot point.”
“You will be carrying my pup before the winter is out,” he told her. “Now, sleep.”
“Wanna bet?”
Why had he woken her up?
“I don’t make bets.”
“If you can manage to get me pregnant, I’ll stay. But if you can’t, then come spring, you have to let me go. One of your wolves has to take me to the nearest town.”
Erik groaned and rubbed his face. “Why would I accept a bet in which I had nothing to gain?”
“If you’re so sure of yourself, why not accept? Unless of course, you’re not so sure about your virility.”
He hoped she could see him glaring at her.
“If I accept, will you let me sleep?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
Erik knew that by springtime, the bargain would be long forgotten, and he did not spare it a second thought. For the first time in days, he let himself relax completely. He fell asleep listening to the soothing sounds of the snowstorm and of his soon-to-be mate’s breathing.
PART FOUR
Bad news awaits Erik back at the den, but it isn’t enough to deter him from taking every opportunity to mate with Astrid.
Meanwhile, Astrid begins testing the new limits of Erik’s patience, with unexpected results.
Coming October 27th
***
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Enslaved by the Alpha: Part Three Page 5