Alaric sat in his study, a book lying open before him, though his eyes barely glanced at the pages. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Selene. Their encounter earlier that day had stirred something deep within him—something he couldn't quite define. It wasn't just curiosity or sympathy. It was a strange, undeniable pull, as if her presence had reignited a part of him that had been long dormant.
He leaned back in his chair while his fingers lightly grazed the armrest as he replayed the moment in his mind. The warmth of her hand on his, the gentle curve of her baby bump beneath his touch, and the miraculous flutter of tiny kicks. A smile crept across his lips at the memory, unbidden but impossible to suppress. For reasons he didn't fully understand, that fleeting connection had
