*~Hazel’s POV~*
"And since when do you co to sleep in my room?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
He turned his head slightly, lips curving into that maddening smirk. "Well, well... I don’t think I need to explain myself again. I don’t think it’s safe for you and my babies to sleep alone tonight."
"Oh, sobody has suddenly beco an overprotective father and a good husband?" I scoffed. "That’s strange, because I don’t recall ever seeing you act like that."
"Everything begins with a small step," he said smoothly. "So things change overnight, darling. Now, go to sleep."
"I’m not ready to sleep."
"Why not? You have a big day tomorrow."
"I don’t know," I muttered. "I’m just... not ready to sleep."
"Hazel, go to sleep," he ordered, his tone dipping into authority. "Or I’ll drag you there myself."
I squawked when he suddenly did. The man practically hauled onto the bed.
"I don’t want my wife to have puffy eyes tomorrow," he murmured, pinning under the covers.
"Well, I don’t want to sleep now!" I shot back.
"Hazel," he said again, more firmly this ti, "sleep."
And I don’t know what ca over —but the submission tugged at , gnawing, weakening my resistance. Against my will, I laid back down and pulled the sheets over myself.
"Good."
He slid into the bed beside , slipping under the sa sheet. I yanked the fabric all to myself. He tugged it back. I pulled harder. He pulled harder still.
"We’re supposed to share the sheets," he said flatly. "This is a bed for two people."
"Well, this is my room," I shot back. "You barged into my room, so you live by my rules."
"Oh, really?" His smirk widened. "This is my High House. My Pack House. I own every room here. So technically, you’re living by my rules."
"Fine," I hissed. "If this is your room, your Pack House... then go eat it." I snatched the sheets and a pillow, climbing off the bed.
"What are you doing?"
"I’m going to sleep outside. That way, I won’t have to live by your rules."
"Fine. Go sleep outside. I’ll watch you," he said, infuriatingly calm.
So I stord out, pillow under one arm, sheets bundled in the other. I crept downstairs. The halls were silent, everyone asleep. For a mont, I considered going to Caspian’s room—but it was the middle of the night, and I could already imagine Cayden following , claiming Caspian’s room was part of his house too, and that I’d still have to abide. No, thank you.
So I went outside.
The night air bit into my skin instantly. The cold seeped into my bones until they rattled. Still, I laid the sheets across the ground, tossed the pillow down, and stubbornly laid myself on the floor.
A shadow shifted at the window above . Then his voice. "Don’t tell you’re seriously sleeping on the ground."
I tilted my face up, glaring at him. "With this attitude of yours, I doubt you’ll ever be a good father."
He smirked, utterly unbothered. "My babies are inside, sleeping peacefully because of . I put them to sleep. And yet you’re still doubting ?"
"Well, their mother isn’t with them right now," I muttered. "Good night."
I closed my eyes, letting the night wrap around .
That was when the thunder clapped.
My eyes flew open, heart racing, as a sharp howl tore from my throat, thinking danger had arrived. But then, rain began to fall—soft at first, then steady, drizzling across my sheets and pillow.
And then I heard his voice again, calm but carrying through the storm.
"Won’t you co inside? It will soon start raining."
The rain kept pouring, heavier and colder, until my bones rattled beneath my skin. My hair clung to my face, drenched, and the sheets and pillow I’d carried outside were utterly ruined—sodden, useless weights.
Oh my God, I’m going to catch a serious cold.
Still, I clenched my teeth. I wasn’t going to give in. "I’ll stay right here," I muttered stubbornly. "I’ll wait until morning. Caspian will bring inside. Since Cayden wants to be arrogant—"
A deafening thunderclap cut off. The sky cracked open, light flashing so bright my heart jolted painfully in my chest. I scread, body trembling violently.
And then—warmth.
Arms pulled in, strong and unyielding. My face buried against a massive chest, broad enough to shield completely from the rain. His body radiated heat, wrapping around like fire against the storm.
I looked up. Ash-red eyes burned into mine, soft streaks of rain glistening down his striking face. For a mont, I froze—caught in the dangerous beauty of him. Then, panicked, I shoved him back.
"Fine! I’m sorry. Take your damn sheets for yourself."
"They’re soaked," he pointed out dryly, gesturing at the dripping bundle.
"There are others inside," I snapped. "And I’m not sharing them with you."
He exhaled sharply. "Stop behaving like a child. You’re a woman. Now co inside."
I hesitated, teeth chattering, but he’d already noticed. Without another word, he shrugged off his cloak and wrapped it firmly around . Instantly, warmth seeped into my body. My breath steadied, though my gaze darted away from his.
Still, my eyes betrayed —slipping back to him, lingering on the lines of his well-toned body as he guided back into the High House.
Inside, he lit a candle, its glow chasing away the damp shadows.
That’s when we noticed her—our baby girl—awake, her tiny feet shoved straight into her mouth.
Cayden chuckled, striding over. He gently tugged her foot free, only for her to imdiately shove it back. She let out a wail when he removed it again, and shoved it back once more with determined little fists.
"See?" Cayden laughed, shaking his head. "Not only does she look like her mother, she’s just as stubborn."
"I am not stubborn," I retorted, folding my arms. "And she’s not stubborn either. She just... likes it."
He tried again, removing her foot. She wailed louder and shoved it back.
"Putting her feet in her mouth, really? This is what she loves?" Cayden muttered in disbelief. "What kind of habit is this?"
"Well, at least my boy isn’t like that."
Cayden smirked. "Exactly. Look at him—sleeping peacefully, like . Calm. Collected."
"That’s because he takes after his father," I teased. "But the girl? She’s exactly like her mother."
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
"I’m saying," he replied with mock solemnity, "you passed your stubborn genes down to the girl, while I passed my calm and respectful genes to the boy. That’s why he sleeps like an angel while she fights us with her little feet."
"Don’t you dare discriminate between our babies," I snapped.
"I’m not discriminating," he said quickly, hands raised. "Just... observing."
"Mm-hmm." I rolled my eyes.
"Fine," he sighed, shaking his head. "Let’s stop arguing."
He moved toward the fireplace, stacking wood and striking a fla. The fire roared to life, casting golden warmth through the room.
"You should be asleep by now," he said gently, glancing back at . "Tomorrow is the ceremony. And..." His voice dropped lower, his eyes catching the firelight. "Sothing important is happening."
I tilted my head. "Sothing important?"
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