CHAPTER 71: CRAVINGS

"Go," the grandmother said coldly, her eyes still faintly aglow. "Apologize to him immediately. And bring him back with you...or else."

With a mere flick of her hand, the invisible force released its grip. Aster collapsed to the ground, coughing violently, his body trembling from shock.

The grandmother turned calmly, the air shifting back to stillness, as though nothing had happened at all.

Adrian and Lucien remained on one knee, pale and frozen, their hearts thundering in their chests. Beside them, Ash stood unmoved, his expression calm, almost serene.

The grandmother’s gaze softened when it met theirs. "Are you all right?" she asked quietly.

They both swallowed hard and nodded.

"Good," she said with a faint smile. "Let’s go inside."

Then, turning with quiet grace, she walked ahead. The two Alphas rose slowly, still in awe, and followed after her.

That night, the grandmother prepared her favorite meal for them; mashed turnips with tender roasted turkey. Adrian and Lucien ate heartily, the earlier fear momentarily set aside, washing down each bite with deep milk tea.

Between sips, the grandmother chuckled warmly. "I just can’t wait for my great-grandchildren to be born," she said, her eyes twinkling. "I’ll be making them mashed turnips and turkey just like this!"

Ash, Adrian, and Lucien laughed, imagining tiny versions of themselves enjoying her cooking.

Later, at bedtime, the grandmother handed Ash and Lucien some sarongs to wrap themselves in comfortably, explaining that since they were pregnant, it was healthier to wear something loose. Then, she decided they would sleep in Ash’s room, leaving Adrian to rest on the couch in the sitting room.

As Ash and Lucien lay quietly in bed, Adrian rested on the couch, feeling a mix of desire, longing, and cold despite the warm blanket. He picked up his phone and typed a message to Ash:

Adrian: I really miss you so much, puppy...can I come over? Grandma is already asleep.

Ash glanced at the message, frowning.

Ash: No.

Adrian: Why?

Ash: I don’t think Lucien would want to see you. He’s still angry with you. I also don’t want you near me. You slept with Celeste. You’re...dirty.

Adrian’s eyes widened, hurt flashing across his face at Ash’s words. After a moment, he typed:

Adrian: Find me near the goat shed...I will explain to you.

Ash: Why don’t you explain it to me here?

Adrian: Some things...need to be spoken face to face.

After a long pause, Ash carefully disentangled himself from Lucien, who was sleeping soundly with his arms wrapped around him. He moved slowly, not wanting to wake him, and tiptoed out of the house toward the goat shed.

There, he found Adrian leaning against a post, smoking a cigarette and wrapped in a sheet. When Adrian noticed Ash, he flicked the small cigarette to the ground with his foot and muttered, "I thought you wouldn’t come...you took too long."

Ash shivered slightly in the cold. "Tell me what you want to say. It’s cold here...I want to go back."

Adrian stepped closer, pulling the sheet around both of them. "I’ll keep you warm," he said quietly, guiding Ash to sit on the haystack beneath the goat shed, the sheet cocooning them together. His voice was low, heavy with tension. "About Celeste...I don’t even know how this pregnancy happened."

Ash’s eyes narrowed, his tone sharp. "What do you mean you don’t know? As long as you slept with her, that’s it."

"Stop being angry," Adrian said, holding up a hand. "Let me explain. That night...I was completely drunk when I got home, and my father insisted I share the same room with her. When I woke up in the morning, I was half-naked, just in my boxers. I don’t know if anything happened. But I have this strong feeling it didn’t. Even drunk, with the way she irritates me, I don’t think I could’ve gotten aroused."

Ash stared at him, incredulous. "Are you saying she could be lying about being pregnant for you?"

Adrian’s jaw tightened. "If she can fake losing her virginity to me, why not a pregnancy? I wish there had been a CCTV in my room to prove it. That’s why I’m waiting-until she gives birth, then I’ll do a DNA test to confirm if the child is mine."

He paused, then looked at Ash, determination in his eyes. "By that time, my father’s company will stand on its own without her parents’ help. And then...I’ll stand up for you and Lucien without fear, and claim both of my babies as mine."

Ash swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in.

"And if Celeste’s child is yours..."

Adrian fell silent.

A laugh cut through the tension, and they both turned to see Lucien standing a short distance away.

Ash blinked. "Lucien? Why are you out here?"

Lucien raised an eyebrow. "I should ask you the same. Why did you come out here? For me, I was craving anthill."

Ash froze, scanning the ground. "Anthill...at midnight?"

Lucien nodded calmly. "Yes, my craving couldn’t wait for morning. It’s delicious and nutritious. Want some?"

Before Ash could reply, Adrian looked at him and murmured, "Instead of taking that, I can give you something delicious...something nutritious," his hands sliding around Ash.

Before Ash could respond, Adrian pressed his lips against him, kissing him. Ash’s pregnancy hormones, his longing for Alpha dominance, flared, and he responded instinctively, returning the kiss.

Lucien watched them quietly, letting out a soft sigh. "This excuse about waiting until your father’s company stands on its own...it’s getting weak. Just accept my help, from my school’s funds and hotel, and it’ll be done."

Adrian broke the kiss briefly, breathing heavily. "I don’t want..."

Then he kissed Ash again, ignoring Lucien.

Lucien pressed on, his voice firm. "If you’re too proud to accept my help, I can ask my friend to step in..."

Adrian, unbothered, continued kissing Ash.

"...my friend Stephene," Lucien added casually.

At the name, Adrian’s rhythm faltered. He bit Ash’s lip sharply, making him pull back. "Ouch!"

Adrian’s eyes blazed. He stepped toward Lucien, one hand resting on his neck. "You know how to get on my nerves by saying that name," he hissed, his grip firm but controlled. "Just so he can claim you...and my baby you’re carrying..."

Lucien muttered under his breath, "Leave me alone..."

Ash’s voice trembled, "Don’t hurt him."

Adrian’s gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained sharp, "I’m not. I just want to teach him a lesson."

Adrian dragged Lucien toward the haystack and shoved him down, tearing off his sarong in a rush and leaving him exposed; bare skin flushed, his cock rigid and unashamed in the open air. Lucien tried to push Adrian away, but Adrian’s strength was absolute.

"Just stay still. I’ll teach you a lesson," Adrian snarled, his voice hungry. "Next time, don’t mention his name in front of me." He yanked down his own pants, letting his thick cock spring free.

"I don’t want your dominance," Lucien protested, his voice trembling, though the hardness of his own dick betrayed him.

Adrian laughed, eyes lingering on Lucien’s swollen shaft. "If you really don’t want me, then why is your cock so hard?" Lucien’s cheeks burned as he turned away. Ash, watching from the shadows, smirked and stepped closer, eyes intent.

Adrian forced Lucien’s thighs apart, exposing his hole, pink and vulnerable. Without warning, Adrian pressed the head of his cock against Lucien’s entrance and slid inside, the movement rough and unforgiving. Lucien gasped, his moans escaping uncontrollably as Adrian into his hole with a relentless rhythm.

"Please, Adrian, be gentle. I promise...I won’t mention him again," Lucien pleaded, voice breaking between gasps.

Adrian ignored him, driving harder, sweat dripping down his body as Lucien’s moans filled the air. "Shut up, Lucien, you’ll wake Grandma," Adrian growled, never slowing.

Lucien sobbed, tears streaking his face, his body shivering with sensation. "It feels so good," he whispered, lost in the intensity. Ash, still watching, stroked his own cock in rhythm with them, then leaned in and pressed his lips hungrily to Lucien’s, their kiss desperate and fevered.

Adrian climaxed deep inside Lucien’s hole, both of them collapsing in a tangle of heavy breaths and slick skin.

Ash, pulling from Lucien’s lips, looked down at their spent, glistening bodies, his own cock still throbbing. "You’ve finished, but I haven’t," he muttered, gripping himself. Adrian glanced at him, a wicked smile on his lips. "Who said I’m done?"

Before Ash could reply, Adrian beckoned him over, guiding him to lie atop Lucien, who wrapped his arms around Ash and kissed him deeply. Adrian, hard again, pressed his cock to Ash’s hole and pushed in, thrusting deep as he stole kisses from Lucien, who continued to kiss Ash.

Suddenly, Matata’s bleating pierced the air.

Adrian cursed under his breath. "What’s wrong with that animal? It’ll wake Grandma, and I haven’t finished yet." He told Lucien, "Widen Ash’s legs for me." Lucien obeyed, and Ash gasped, "Adrian, harder."

Adrian increased his rhythm, driving harder and deeper into Ash’s hole.

Then Grandmother’s voice rang out, "Matata, what’s wrong with you?"