Alpha Nathan Pov.

I made absolutely certain to keep Emily confined to our bedroom as much as possible, inventing reasons why she needed extended bed rest. I allowed her to continue stealing from me, watching as she grew more confident in her thievery. She was far too naive to realize that I was fully aware of her activities. She truly believed she was being clever and secretive.

"You need to rest more," I would tell her, adjusting her pillows. "The doctor says it's critical for the baby's health."

"But I feel fine," she would protest weakly.

"I insist," I would reply firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Not only did I notice her stealing, but I actually discovered exactly where she had hidden all my possessions and money! She had created a secret stash in the bathroom adjacent to our bedroom! She cleverly chose the one bathroom she knew I never used personally. So that became her hiding place, thinking herself quite smart for choosing such a location.

"Should we remove the items, sir?" my head of security asked when I showed him the hiding place.

"No," I replied with a cold smile. "Let her think she's winning. For now."

It was a perfect arrangement for her scheming purposes, and ironically, it worked perfectly for me too. I could monitor exactly what she was taking and planning. But any feelings of guilt I might have harbored for my own deception had completely vanished. I didn't hold even the slightest emotional attachment to her anymore - not even enough to feel mercy for her situation.

"She had such a difficult past," one of the older maids mentioned sympathetically. "Perhaps she's just afraid."

"I don't care about her past," I replied coldly. "That doesn't excuse betrayal."

Yes, she had endured an awful and traumatic past before coming here - I knew that. But why should that make me feel sorry for her or excuse her current behavior? She was fundamentally incompatible with me and my world. She was human, after all - fragile and temporary in ways my kind was not.

"Do you think she suspects anything about us?" my beta asked one evening. "About what we really are?"

"No," I replied confidently. "She's too focused on her own plans to notice anything unusual."

I deeply regretted ever accepting her as my maid-turned-bride! I hated that entire arrangement with every fiber of my being! It had been nothing but a desperate measure born from years of loneliness and the burning need for an heir.

"What will you do after the child is born?" my closest advisor asked carefully.

"Whatever is necessary," I responded grimly.

But despite everything, I was genuinely grateful that she had been able to successfully carry my baby in her womb this whole time. I sincerely hoped she would be able to deliver my pup safely when the time came. That was all that mattered to me now - my child's safe arrival.

"The doctor says everything looks healthy," I told my beta. "The baby is strong."

"That's good news, Alpha," he replied. "Soon you'll have your heir."

To advance my strategy, I deliberately filled our bedroom with an excessive amount of cash and valuables, making them easily accessible to her. When she finally worked up the courage to question this unusual display, her voice quivered with poorly disguised curiosity.

"Nathan," she asked hesitantly one evening, "why is there so much money in our room? There must be thousands of dollars just sitting in these drawers."

I simply shrugged my shoulders and fixed her with an intense stare. "It's for you, Emily. All of it is a gift from me to you for giving birth to my child. Your delivery time is expected within days, according to the doctor."

Her eyes widened dramatically and I could see her body trembling slightly, as if she was on the verge of confessing that she had already been stealing from me for weeks. But at the last moment, she swallowed her words and quickly changed the subject.

"Oh yes," she said nervously, "let's hope the baby comes into the world safe and healthy. That's what matters most, right?"

I couldn't help but smirk at her transparent attempt to redirect the conversation. "I hope so for your sake," I replied ominously.

She raised her eyebrows, clearly confused by my tone. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, a new worry creeping into her voice.

I let out a deliberate sigh, laying my trap carefully. "Let's hope you remain healthy and breathing after the delivery. We can't know for certain if you'll survive or not."

She hurriedly adjusted herself, sitting up straight on the edge of the bed with alarm written across her face. "What? Is there some kind of risk I don't know about? Why hasn't anyone told me?"

I deliberately arranged my features into a sad, concerned expression. "Honestly, I don't know for sure. I've never had a child with a human before. Let's just hope for the best outcome for you."

Yes, I was intentionally playing psychological games with her, manipulating her fears to keep her confined to our bed for as long as possible. I needed to delay her plans until after the birth.

"The human body is more fragile," I added for effect. "There are always complications that can arise."

I changed into my sleeping clothes while she sat there, visibly lost in worried thoughts about what I had just told her. She absently rubbed her swollen belly and whispered, "What if something happens to me during childbirth?"

I leaned down and positioned myself next to her in bed, kissing her lips softly despite feeling nothing but disgust at the contact. "That's precisely why I've been telling you that you need to stay in bed and avoid unnecessary movement or stress," I said with false tenderness.

I carefully covered her body with the thick blanket and pulled her close against my chest, pretending it was to warm both her and my unborn child. In reality, I just wanted to ensure she couldn't slip away in the night.

"Everything will be fine," I whispered into her hair. "Just rest."

I genuinely wanted everything to proceed normally with the birth. To be completely honest, I didn't wish for her death! I wanted her to come through the delivery in good health and even to find happiness eventually. But that happiness would need to come after she accepted my terms - take the money and leave my baby with me.

"After the birth, we can discuss arrangements," I told her vaguely. "There will be plenty of time."

Because if she refused my terms when the time came, I would not hesitate to force the issue! My child would remain with me, no matter what.