Page 66 of Fat Forced Mate

"Just finished, actually." Luna turns in my arms, studying my face. "You look tired."

"Border patrol debriefings." I rest my forehead against hers. "Everyone's still jumpy."

"Understandably so." Her hand comes up to touch my jaw, a feather-light caress. "Did you eat?"

The simple domesticity of the question tugs at something deep inside me. How many nights had I returned to empty quarters, duty fulfilled but nothing waiting except silence?

"I grabbed something earlier," I assure her, though truthfully, food had been the last thing on my mind. "How are you feeling?"

Her hand drifts to her stomach, still flat but carrying our secret. Well, not so secret anymore—we made the announcement to the pack three days ago. "Better. The morning sickness seems to hit more in the afternoon now."

I cover her hand with mine, marveling again at the faint magical signature I can detect. Our child, growing stronger each day. My wolf rumbles with satisfaction, with the primal need to protect what's ours.

"The garden group seemed to be hanging on your every word," I observe.

Luna smiles, still surprised by her changing position in the pack hierarchy. "Apparently, saving everyone from corrupted wolves earns you some credibility in herbal knowledge, too."

"You've earned more than credibility," I say seriously. "You've earned their respect."

Her answering smile is worth every hardship, every struggle, everything the world could possibly put us through.

***

Two weeks after the attack, Luna stands at my side in the Council chamber, officially recognized as my equal in pack leadership despite the mating ceremony still being on hold. Victoria's doing, mostly—she insisted tradition could adapt to circumstance when necessary. The rest of the Council agreed with minimal grumbling, which feels like its own kind of miracle.

"The information from the Black Pine Pack confirms what we suspected about the Cheslem Pack and the origins of the corrupt magic that overtook them," Thomas is saying, pointing to marks on the territory map spread across the table. "There's a concentration of corrupted magic in the eastern valley, about fifty miles from our boundaries."

"The source of the Cheslem corruption?" Elder Victoria asks, though her tone suggests she already knows the answer.

Thomas nods grimly. "Their scouts found what remains of three other small packs in the area. All showing signs of the same corruption."

A collective unease settles over the room. Luna's hand finds mine beneath the table.

"Could it spread here?" James asks the question everyone's thinking.

"The boundary wards should protect us," Luna answers, her voice steady.

I cut in. "But we should warn other packs in the region. This isn't over just because we defeated one immediate threat."

Luna nods once. I squeeze her hand, pride warming my chest. She's stepped into leadership at my side with a natural grace that many born to the role never achieve.

"We'll continue monitoring," I decide. "And reach out to allied packs about creating a joint research party. But for now—" I look around at the faces still bearing the strain of recent battles "—we focus on recovery and strengthening our own defenses."

The council meeting disperses, members breaking into smaller groups to discuss assignments. Luna remains beside me, studying the map with a small furrow between her brows.

"What is it?" I ask quietly.

"Just thinking about what my mother would do." Her finger traces the area where the corruption was found. "Her journal mentioned something about purification rituals for tainted land. I should review her notes."

"Later," I say, gently turning her away from the map. "You've been pushing yourself too hard."

She gives me a look that's half amusement, half exasperation. "Says the man who's been sleeping four hours a night since the attack."

I shrug, unable to deny it. "That's different.”

"Is it?" But she's smiling as we leave the council chamber together, her shoulder brushing mine in comfortable familiarity.

“It is.” I attempt a joke. “Thoughts of fatherhood can keep a guy awake like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve been looking up baby names half the night.”

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