My emotions were getting the better of me. I mean, here I was, sitting on my couch and cuddling a pillow while crying…at a fucking Hallmark commercial on tv.

I wiped my eyes and sniffed as my shoulders shook with fresh sobs over the tender moment on the screen.

A few seconds later, I composed myself and felt disgusted by my asinine behavior. I tossed the pillow to the other side of the couch, groaned and leaned up against the cushions on the back of the couch.

Then, I heard a knock on the door which made me freeze in place. I glanced at the digital alarm clock on the shelf beside my tv. It was dark outside, nearly eight o’clock in the evening.

Who would be coming to my door this time of night? I wasn’t expecting anybody tonight that I could recall.

I stood up and wandered over to the door. I leaned up on my tip toes to gaze out the peep hole, but it was too dark out there and all I could see were shadows.

My porch light was out, and I cursed myself for being too lazy to replace the bulb because now was a really good time to need it.

“Who’s there?” I called out apprehensively from the safety of inside my house.

At first, I was met with silence. I peered through the peep hole one more time and saw a shadow move.

I gasped and pushed myself away from the front door. “Whoever is there, go away. I have a…a…gun!” I cried out. I tried to sound as threatening as possible, but I knew it was a feeble, last resort type of effort.

I heard a man’s voice roar with laughter on the other side of the door. I thought for a fleeting moment that I might recognize that sound. My senses prickled, and my heart drummed with eager anticipation.

“Do you really think that is supposed to scare me?” The voice chuckled with patronizing flare on the other side of the door.

“Riley?” My voice squeaked. It couldn’t be. It sure sounded like his erotic, sexy hunk of a voice though.

“Yes, it’s Riley,” he laughed again, “who the hell else do you think would be at your doorstep this late at night?”

I scowled. “I resent that,” I retorted and walked toward the door.

I unlocked the deadbolt and shot open the door with a breeze. As soon as I saw Riley’s face, I was conflicted with a hundred different emotions. I was thrilled, elated and overjoyed, but at the same time…I was desperate, hopeless and filled with unquenchable longing.

He was dressed in jeans, a black leather jacket and his dark eyes were handsome and brooding, piercing through my soul.

“Hello,” I said meekly and stepped aside to allow him to pass through into the entrance of the loft.

“Is that any way to greet your Alpha?” Riley spun around, and his eyes were lit up with playfulness as his lips curled into a devious smirk.

“Oh…sorry…I…uh.” I was fumbling, faltering for words.

I hadn’t been expecting Riley to show up on my doorstep unannounced no matter how much it warmed my heart to finally have him here with me again.

“I’m only kidding with you, silly Omega.” Riley roared with laughter again and drew me in for a hug.

His cologne drove me wild and made my heart flip with desire and impulse.

“That’s good to know,” I said sheepishly and returned his hug, embracing him as if I were afraid that he’d vanish, vaporize into thin air if I let go of him.

Riley trotted around my loft as if he owned the place. I watched him with inspired awe as he walked over to my kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator.

He inspected the contents inside, and then decided on a bottle of water. He unscrewed the top and guzzled down a sizable gulp of the liquid.

“Ahh,” he said and smacked his lips once he was finally done. “That hits the spot. To be honest though,” he said and looked around with a chuckle. “I’d rather have a beer.”

“Oh,” I said and blushed. “Sorry, I don’t have any of those lying around anywhere.”

“That’s okay.” Riley shrugged as if it didn’t put him out too terribly.

He walked over to me and stopped when he was only an inch or two away. I could feel the heat radiating off of him. His energy floored me, immobilized me to the point where I thought I might pass out from how sexy he was.

He cast his eyes up and down my body, drinking me in. It made me feel vulnerable and exposed, but in a deliciously naughty sort of way.

“It’s good to see you.” He nodded. His tone changed to almost professionalism as if he were speaking to a colleague that had been on extended vacation and had just returned.

I flicked my eyes to my bare feet and realized with ample amounts of mortification that I was also wearing pajama’s that had the humiliating print of little sunglasses adorning cats playing tiny pianos.

“Yeah…” I trailed off faintly. “It’s good to see you too.”

I didn’t understand where my bashfulness was stemming from all of the sudden. I should be so immensely elated to see Riley again that in reality…I should be jumping up and down with exhilaration.

“So…” Riley said and screwed the top back on his water bottle. He belched loudly and made me grimace, even though he was still excruciatingly handsome standing over there…playing substantial games with my emotions.

“So…” I chuckled anxiously.

Riley’s eyes blazed through me. I was powerless and love-struck under his tantalizing gaze as if he’d cast a swooning spell on me.

Riley inched closer to me until I could sense his Alpha heat. He towered over me and made me tremble with longing.

“I’ve heard that you’ve been looking for me,” he said in a hushed whisper.

I glanced up at him and swallowed hard. “That grapevine rumor is true,” I confessed.

Riley’s eyes flashed with amusement and intrigue. “You missed me.” It was a testament of fact, not a question.

I admired his self-assurance. I only wished I could convey that ample amount of confidence. I glanced at the floor again. “Yes,” I said quietly. Then, I gazed into his eyes again, searching the window of his soul for meaning and profound depth. “Did you miss me?” My question was pathetic and hung in the air like trapped, stale cigarette smoke.

Riley scoffed. “Of course I did. Why would you even assume to ask?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I guess Omega’s need more encouragement than Alphas.”

I meant it to be a joke to be taken lightly, but Riley only furrowed his brow and grunted in response. I licked my lips and sat back down on the couch where only moment’s ago I’d been sobbing over a ridiculous Hallmark commercial.

I’d never have the guts to admit that little private fact out loud to Riley and was fine to keep it to myself, long after the grave.

I patted the empty seat next to me. “Come,” I beckoned him.

Riley looked skeptical at first. “Why are you looking for me?” he quizzed.

I inhaled sharply, an exotic deep breath that encompassed my lungs in all the oxygen they’d probably ever need. “I need to talk to you,” I admitted.

“Hmm. About what?” Riley remained in his stance position a few inches away from me. “I thought you said there would be no hope for us ever having a relationship since you have to go through with the fake engagement?” he sneered, spitting out the words with foul animosity.

I shook my head regretfully. “I know you are bitter about that…but…this is important.”

Riley rolled his eyes and plopped down beside me. “Okay, you sexy little Omega you, you have piqued my interest. Now spill the beans.”

“Right.” I smiled and took a brief moment to prepare myself. “The reason I’ve been searching all over Alaska is because I have some big news to share with you.”

Riley leaned in. “This better be epic, Kyle. You sure know how to reel an Alpha in and tease him.”

“In more ways than one.” I winked back at him as I got a second wind of confidence. I knew I just had to be forthcoming and burst out with the bombshell news already.

“So, spit it out.” Riley was squirming on the couch and his expression leaked of impatience bordering annoyance with me.

“Well…” I grinned with giddy enthusiasm and wrung my hands together. “I’m…pregnant.”

“You’re…pregnant?” Riley appeared shocked and surprised and I watched as his facial features as they darted back and forth between realms of subconscious that I had difficulty deciphering.

“Yes…pregnant…” I whispered and trailed off, now feeling sheepish and on the brink of a panic attack.

Riley’s reaction wasn’t exactly the elation I was hoping for, but then again, I didn’t know what I should expect from an Alpha.

Riley continued to stare at me, or more like through me for a few painful moments where I couldn’t breathe.

It was agony. I had no idea why he was so dumbfounded and appeared as if he’d just both received the worst news of his life or had seen a ghost.

Maybe it was only a figment of my imagination. Perhaps my emotions were running a little rampant lately and I should cut him some slack.

I had no idea what was going through his head, mainly because he wasn’t divulging that information, but I should at least give him the benefit of the doubt until he began screaming at me.

I was already feeling sensitive and on edge as it was, and perhaps it was all in my head. I just wished that he would say something…anything to subdue the sheer terror jolting like lightning bolts through my mind.

The silence was deafening and scaring me shitless. I was terrified now that I would have to raise this child alone, in an already harsh and cruel world.

I would be able to raise a baby with an Alpha and would be more than willing to jump at the chance even if I hadn’t become knocked up.

I just couldn’t imagine the pain for me or the child having to go through life with just the two of us. I needed an Alpha to pose and instill values on our pup. I needed the support of an Alpha and in my viewpoint, Riley fit that description perfectly.

Being a single parent wasn’t exactly my dream come true, but I supposed I would have to take the hand I was dealt in the end and be as strong as I could for the baby growing inside of me.

Fresh tears of angst and conflicting torment pooled in my eyes and threatened to spill over, revealing how hurt I was. I didn’t want to taste their salty bitterness, not in front of Riley.

As Riley’s eyes focused in on my pain and suffering, his demeanor softened, and his expression lit up with elation.

I chuckled, sniffed and wiped my eyes dry. “Are you happy?”

Riley stood up and began pacing the living room of the loft, leaping back and forth with powerful swoops and strides.

“Are you kidding me?” His voice was high, full of vibrancy. “Happy is the understatement of the century.”

Riley jogged over to where I still sat on the couch. He crouched down to be eye level to me. His lips spread into a wild and thrilled grin. “I’m ecstatic for the news beyond anything I could ever attempt to explain to you with words.”

His joy was infectious, and I too began to smile through blurry tears. “Really?” I sniffed again.

“Yes!” Riley wrapped his arms around me in an affectionate, strong and masculine embrace. His actions brought me comfort and relief.

I sagged my shoulders and allowed myself to melt into his hug. “Thank you,” I whispered, burying my face into his chest.

“I’ve always wanted a child. Always.” Riley spoke with a burst of enthusiasm and genuine cheerfulness. “It’s always been a dream of mine,” he added for an extra slice of reassurance.

“I am thrilled too,” I admitted and glanced into his eyes. “It’s going to be complicated though.”

Riley shook his head vigorously. “No, we aren’t going to stress ourselves out with the details yet,” he quipped firmly.

“I know…” I trailed off, but I knew it was going to be a pressing issue we would have to face sooner or later.

“I’ve always wanted pups of my own. I want a huge family.” Riley gestured with wide arms and made me grin.

“A big family, huh?”

“Yep.” Riley nodded proudly. Then his face became tender again and he cupped my chin in his hand. “The fact that you are carrying my child is just a dream come true…the icing on the cake.”

My heart flipped with his compliments and I burned with the beautiful and relishing agony of desire.

I allowed myself to sink into Riley’s arms, feeling such a rush of relief that he reacted favorably to the enormous news. We hadn’t discussed having children together that night after the bar, and for all we both knew it would turn out to be a one-night stand.

They say a baby changes everything, and how this little growing pup in my belly would link us together for life.

“I haven’t told my pack about the pregnancy yet,” I said with a grimace. I tensed up to gauge Riley’s reaction, but he tenderly stroked my hair.

“Don’t worry about it,” he crooned into my ear.

“I’m certain that they will react with anger and hostility about it though,” I confessed.

Riley didn’t respond. I knew he wanted me to think ahead to a future marked with splendid horizons of joy. For now, I would stay wrapped up in his arms and swaddled by the fact that he was going to take care of me. Maybe that’s all that mattered in the end.