Lucas lifted an unimpressed brow. "Really, Leon?" he asked. "You were going to fight her? She’s pregnant, you moron."
And without waiting for a reply, Lucas drew back his fist and decked Leon clean across the face.
The sound was so satisfying, Kade muttered, "That’s going on my list of top ten monts of the year."
Leon hit the ground, nose bleeding, pride shattered, and utterly speechless.
Lucas turned to Ava. "You," he growled, jabbing a finger toward her swollen belly, "have so much to answer for, woman."
Ava’s magic slowly fizzled out, her stance relaxing into an irritated wife than raging goddess. "I know, I know," she sighed dramatically, waving a glowing hand. "Can we do this later?"
But before Lucas could respond, a fresh wave of gammas poured into the hallway, so helping their groaning comrades off the floor while others approached to defend their alpha.
Without hesitation, Ava stepped forward.
"Stand down!" she commanded.
And just like that, they obeyed.
Every werewolf in the vicinity froze as if soone had collectively pressed the pause button on reality. The scent of power still lingered in the air and no one dared move or breathe too loudly.
Ava, panting lightly but still holding her ground, turned back just in ti to catch her mate manhandling Leon—very unceremoniously—into the trunk of his car. Leon’s muffled protests were cut off by the thunk of the trunk slamming shut.
anwhile, Kade was grumbling as he bound Alaric with chains.
Dennis walked up to Ava slowly. He was still wide-eyed. "Okay," he said, taking a breath. "That was epic. But holy hell, Ava, you gave us all a heart attack! My soul left my body. Twice."
Ava gave him a tired but cheeky smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I had to protect my husband for a change. He always runs into danger headfirst. Alaric is dangerous. I knew I was the only one who could take him down."
Dennis looked her up and down with a blend of admiration and worry. "Yeah, well, you also looked like you were about to go into labor while hurling enemies through walls."
She chuckled. "Thanks for the concern. I’ll save the dramatic delivery for another crisis."
"I’ll take them to the High Council," he said with a nod. "You... go deal with your husband. Preferably before he turns into a volcano."
Ava nodded gratefully, wincing slightly as the adrenaline finally began to wear off. Her entire body ached with the weight of both power and pregnancy. She barely had ti to compose herself when Lucas, having finished locking Leon away, began stalking toward her with the grace of a predator and the fury of a thousand betrayed husbands.
His jaw was clenched. His shirt was half untucked. His eyes were glowing.
Ava swallowed, straightened her spine.
"Before you get mad," she said, putting up both hands in surrender, "listen. Look on the bright side."
Lucas didn’t slow his stride.
She took a step back, smiling nervously. "You finally have the Crimson Pack, eh? Huh? That’s progress! The High Council’s not going to give you hell. You’re welco. Really."
Lucas stopped a foot away from her, looking down at her belly, then at her face, and then sowhere between heaven and hell as he struggled to contain his fury.
"You snuck out of the fortress—alone. You evaded your guards, and marched, pregnant, into enemy territory without telling a single soul. Do you understand how many laws of sanity that breaks? You are the most reckless woman I have the dumbest luck of falling in love with. Do you have any idea what that did to , thinking soone had taken you again? Do you?" Lucas growled.
"I know..." Ava began, trying not to laugh. "But hey! Crimson pack!"
She wiggled her brows in that way she knew drove him mad—an infuriating mix of sass and smugness that made him want to kiss her and lock her in a tower at the sa ti.
Lucas stared at her. His chest rose and fell with the effort of swallowing down everything he wanted to say.
"I haven’t given a shit about the Crimson Pack," he said, "since the mont I realized I love you."
He closed the distance, arms circling her swollen belly. His lips found hers in a kiss.
When he finally pulled back, resting his forehead against hers, Ava whispered, "And... Crimson pack."
He sighed and buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent as if it might anchor him. "You’re crazy."
*****
Epilogue
There was celebration in the air. The Silver Fortress pulsed with joy, its stone walls practically vibrating with the energy of hundreds of werewolves gathered. Laughter echoed down the corridors, music played in every hall, and the kitchen staff had long since stopped counting how many roasted chicken they’d gone through.
The streets of the town glowed as the news rippled through every ho: the Crimson Pack had fallen under Silver rule and Alaric was now bound and gagged, awaiting justice from the High Council.
The High Council had officially backed off—though they made a show of promising to "observe Alpha Lucas Raventhorn more closely in future."
A hush fell over the grand courtyard as Lucas stepped onto the ceremonial platform, flanked by two guards and Zari behind him, holding the most important creature in the world: his son.
The crowd’s cheering quieted as Zari passed the child into Lucas’s arms. The big Alpha—once feared, once untouchable, once known more for breaking bones than breaking into smiles—looked down at the tiny bundle of joy now nestled against his chest.
The baby yawned, stretched a little chubby fist, and promptly sneezed.
Lucas’s heart cracked into pieces for the thousandth ti since he first laid eyes on him.
No one would have believed it if they hadn’t seen it. Lucas Raventhorn, the terror of the east, gazing down at his infant son as if the boy had been forged from moonlight and miracles.
"This..." Lucas began, clearing his throat as emotion tightened his voice, "...is our future. Our hope. And the reason I will burn kingdoms to the ground before I let any harm touch this pack again."
Lucas lifted the small bundle high above his head, holding the infant aloft. "I present to you, the Heir Apparent—Nolan Raventhorn."
The courtyard erupted into thunderous applause, cheers ringing out. Jubilant music burst through the air, rhythmic drums and lively flutes setting feet to dance. It was the kind of celebration that hadn’t been heard since Lucas first claid his Alpha status.
Lucas’s strong arms lowered the baby back into Zari’s waiting embrace. His duty complete, he felt a magnetic pull toward the one who’d carried this fierce little life inside her for months.
The room was quieter, calr—the Luna’s bedroom where the birth had taken place just hours ago. Ava lay back against the pillows, her exhaustion plain in the heavy lines beneath her eyes and the slow rise and fall of her chest. It had been a difficult birth. She’d predicted as much—Raventhorn n always ca with complications, after all, and she knew exactly how stubborn and wild they could be. But she made it through. She had to.
Doctor Mary hovered nearby, fussing over Ava with gentle ministrations. anwhile, Zari cooed softly to the newborn, her hands steady and loving.
Lucas crossed the room. He knelt beside Ava’s bedside, and with a crooked smile, he whispered, "My little virgin."
Ava’s tired eyes snapped open, and she shot him a glare so sharp it could have carved stone. "Lucas, I just pushed a Raventhorn out of . You think that nickna has outlived its purpose?"
He grinned, undeterred by her scolding tone. "No, it’s a reminder of our beginning. Of how far we’ve co."
She shook her head, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips despite the fatigue. "It seems so long ago, doesn’t it? Back then, you were the Silver Pack butcher—the na alone used to frighten ."
Lucas’s eyes twinkled with mischief. "You didn’t seem frightened. If anything, you seized every opportunity to defy at every turn. You practically made it your full-ti job."
Ava let out a small laugh. "And yet here we are. You and . And this little terror." She nodded toward Nolan, who yawned loudly, waving his tiny fists.
Lucas’s gaze settled on her. "I never imagined I’d be here—like this, with you, with him. You changed everything for ."
She reached out, tracing the curve of his jaw with her fingertips. "And you changed . From terrified to... well, still terrified, but hopeful."
He chuckled low and pulled her hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "We’re going to be fine. All three of us. Because together, we’re stronger than any darkness that cos our way."
Their laughter mingled with the quiet coos of the baby and the soft footsteps of the caretakers moving about. In that mont, surrounded by love, and the promise of a future, they both knew the battle was over.
I would like to appreciate everyone for staying with this story.
A special appreciation to these people for the success of this book. You believed in the story. you stuck with it, through the boring parts even. I have no words but ’thank you’.
addicted2fantasy
Tallahassee_slim
MD_Loves_books
paulinecaroline
PrincessH
Harmonyque
Lindsey_Tennyson
Alicia_ Zeigler
gan23c
Stay tuned for the side story about Dennis and Zoe.
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