Page 59 of Lycan Prince's Secret Baby

Roman stepped forward, pride radiating as he stood before our packs. The mantle of Alpha looked good on him; he appeared strong and confident, dressed in a dark blue wool sweater and jeans, his brown hair falling over his brow and azure-blueeyes glimmering with resolve. “With Kyle as the new Alpha of the Moonlight Pack,” he said, his voice carrying warmth and conviction, “I am pleased to uphold the alliance between our packs. Together, we have demonstrated that we are stronger united, and I hope to see that strength flourish as the bonds that join us grow from friendship to kinship.”

Cheers erupted from both packs, a thunderous response that shook the earth beneath us. The cheers were punctuated by howls as some of our packmates shifted, marking this new beginning with their most primal call.

I caught Mark’s gaze beside me; his expression was lit from within by the same love that filled my heart as he looked adoringly at Roman. The two had forged their bond through challenges, just as Kyle and I had, and it warmed my heart to see them having overcome them and their love flourishing.

“We are committed to this alliance,” Kyle continued, “not merely as packs, but as a family. Together, the Blood Moon and Moonlight Packs will usher in unprecedented unity and prosperity!”

With fervent applause, the air vibrated with fulfillment, but Kyle was far from finished. “And speaking of unity,” he said, with that electric glint in his eye as he caught my gaze. “I have a question for Leah—myilak, my heart—will you marry me?”

The gardens fell silent, the world holding its breath, waiting for my response. Shock coursed through me, elation mingling with disbelief. Kyle had been hinting at his intentions over the past two weeks, but I’d never imagined he’d do ithere, in front of everyone. The weight of the moment crashed over me.

A mischievous thought sparked as I considered asking whether the alliance between our packs was conditional on my answering yes. But as I saw my handsome mate holding his breath while waiting for me, I blurted, “Yes!” Laughter bubbled up, joyous and unrestrained. “Of course, I will!” I ran to him, throwing my arms around him.

Cheers erupted anew, enveloping Kyle and me as our friends, family, and packmates surrounded us with well wishes.

Amidst the laughter swirling around us, I turned my gaze toward the forest stretching behind the manor. At the edge of the lawn, the trees danced in the breeze, seeming to beckon me with their ancient wisdom. As my gaze wandered back toward the Alpha’s manor—a tangible symbol of our life together—I was struck with disbelief. This was now my home. Our home. For a fleeting moment, doubt whispered in my heart, questioning if this was indeed the right choice.

But as I foundAanagaMaria cradling Lina, swaddled snuggly against the cold in her earthy-toned blankets, certainty coursed through me. This was exactly right for my daughter and me. Lina would grow up here, nourished and cherished by herAanaga Maria and her uncles,AnatchRoman andAnatchMark. It didn’t matter if the walls were concrete or wooden; it was what was behind them that counted. And I knew my mate and I would fill these walls with love.

Later that night, as the last guest departed, Kyle shut the front door, and anticipation zinged through me. We were finally by ourselves, and my body already pulsed with longing, knowing exactly how I wanted to celebrate our engagement now that we were alone. Lina slept peacefully, having barely stirred through the festivities, and I suspected she would slumber until earlymorning. Kyle had brought out a soft orange and green rug earlier from the attic, telling me it was his mother’s. I now sat on its downy softness in front of the warm, glowing hearth, waiting for him to join me.

He leaned against the doorway and watched me. I smiled softly, grateful to have him all to myself again. Our family and friends were wonderful, but like Roman and Mark, I still felt Kyle and I had a lot of lost time to make up for. I drank in the sight of my mate, powerful and relaxed. My body tingled with desire as I noticed the taut fabric of his shirt stretching across his chest, making me itch to peel it away.

A knowing smile danced on his lips, and I knew my desires must be written clearly across my face.

I recognized the awakening heat within me, reminding me that I was in my heat cycle once more, my body craving his with an urgency even deeper than usual. It burned with the sense that it would only be happy when it was full ofKyle. To think that this feeling had once been a trial, when now it thrilled me, made this feeling sweeping through me even sweeter.

Finally, Kyle sat down beside me, draping an arm around my shoulder and drawing me nearer.

“I’m ready for another new beginning,” I whispered in Kyle’s ear, leaning in closer before playfully pulling his earlobe between my teeth while my fingers danced through his hair.

A growl rumbled in his throat, igniting a fire within me as he captured my lips, his tongue plundering my mouth as if he was as ravenous for me as I was for him.

“I don’t know if you can call what we’ve been doing every day now for the last two weeks a new beginning,” he said with a grin, mischief flickering in his eyes. “But I’m definitely here for it.”

Heat flushed across my cheeks as I recalled every stolen moment seized over the last couple of weeks, which, given how much we’d been traveling and reorganizing the packs and our accommodation, was no small feat.

His smile turned saucy as his lips wound down my neck to my collarbone while his hands deftly began to strip away my blouse, fingers caressing the mounds of my breasts, coaxing soft moans of want from me, desire pooling between my legs.

This rhythm of worshiping each other’s bodies—just as Kyle had done on that first glorious night recently—had become as necessary as breathing. Tonight, however, was different. The intensity of my heat cycle magnified the anticipation, heightening the pleasure that radiated through me. I felt a new thrill as I stared up at him tonight, my body brimming with fertility and Igaluk’s full moon.

“It feels new when I’m in my heat cycle,” I whispered, gazing intently into his eyes, a shared understanding sparking between us.

His nostrils flared as he breathed me in deeply, attuned to the heady mix of hormones my body released—every signal whispering that I was fertile and ready for him.

Oh, so ready.

But then I saw uncertainty flicker in his green gaze. “Maybe we shouldn’t tonight,” he said, concern playing across his features.

Oh.

Disappointment pooled within me at his words.

“I just… after Lina’s illness, I thought we should maybe hold off,” he said softly, vulnerability threading through his voice.

My heart squeezed. The fact that he prioritized our future child’s welfare filled me with profound love, and another rush of need swelled within me. How had I ever dreamed of robbing this man of fatherhood? He was such a natural, nurturing force. A sense of fierceness surged within me, affirming that our family was meant to grow in this home.

“Didn’t you tell me that Igaluk doesn’t give us a challenge we can’t overcome?” Defiance flared within me, meeting Kyle’s gaze, which shone with affection for my determination. I knew he recognized my quoting of his mother, and it made my heart soar. “If our other children suffer from the Warring Wolves condition that Lina did, then we’ll help them through it, just like we did her.”

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