Seraphina’s POV
I pressed my hand over my mouth. Trying not to laugh out loud.
From my hiding spot behind the bedroom door, I could see everything. The dining room. The table. And Damien standing there like soone had just told him the world was ending.
His hands were shaking. Actually shaking. This powerful Alpha who’d faced down rogues and survived death itself—trembling over a little white box.
God, I loved him.
He reached for the ribbon. Pulled it slowly. Like he was defusing a bomb.
I bit my lip harder. The urge to laugh was almost painful.
The lid ca off. He stared down at the contents. His face went through about seventeen emotions in three seconds.
Confusion. Recognition. Shock. Disbelief.
Then—
"SERA!"
The roar shook the walls. I swear the windows rattled.
I clapped both hands over my mouth now. Shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Tears pricking my eyes.
He grabbed the test. Held it up to the light like he was examining a diamond. Making absolutely sure those two lines were real.
"SERA!"
Louder this ti. More desperate. His voice cracking on my na.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I slipped out of the bedroom. Padded down the hall on bare feet. He was still standing there. Back to . Staring at that little plastic stick like it held all the answers to the universe.
"SERA! Where are you? I swear to God if you’re hiding—"
I wrapped my arms around him from behind. Pressed my cheek against his back. Felt the wild hamring of his heart through his shirt.
He froze. Every muscle going rigid.
"Hi," I whispered.
He spun around so fast I nearly fell over. His arms caught . Lifted . Suddenly I was airborne, my legs wrapping around his waist instinctively.
"You—" He couldn’t finish. His eyes were wet. Actually wet. "We’re—"
"Pregnant." I cupped his face. Kissed him softly. "Yes. We’re having a baby."
The sound that ca out of him wasn’t quite human. Sothing between a laugh and a sob and a growl of pure joy.
He buried his face in my neck. His whole body shaking. "Another baby. We’re having another baby."
"We are." I ran my fingers through his hair. Felt his tears hot against my skin. "You okay there, big guy?"
"Okay?" He pulled back. His face was a ss. Tears and laughter and disbelief all mixed together. "I’m more than okay. I’m—God, Sera. I don’t even have words."
"That’s a first."
He laughed. Kissed again. Deeper this ti. His arms tightening around like he’d never let go.
"How long have you known?" He asked when we finally ca up for air.
"A few days." I smiled sheepishly. "I wanted to find the right mont. Then I thought—why not make it fun?"
"Fun." He shook his head. Still holding . Still not putting down. "You almost gave a heart attack. I saw that box and I thought—"
His voice cut off. Sothing dark flickering in his eyes.
"You thought I was leaving again." The realization hit. Guilt twisted in my chest. "Damien, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think—"
"No." He silenced with another kiss. "Don’t apologize. I was being stupid. Old fears. They don’t matter anymore."
But they did matter. I could see it. The shadow of those months apart. The pain I’d caused him.
"I’m never leaving again." I held his face. Made him look at . "You hear ? Never. You’re stuck with forever."
"Promise?"
"I promise." I kissed his forehead. His nose. Both cheeks. "You, , and the kids. That’s all I want. All I’ll ever want."
His arms tightened. "I love you. So much. More than I can ever—"
"I know." I smiled against his lips. "I love you too."
We stayed like that for a long mont. Just holding each other. Breathing together. Two hearts beating as one.
Then a thought crossed my mind. Sothing I’d been carrying for months. Sothing I needed to say.
"I missed it, you know." The words ca out quiet. "With Adrian. With Lily. I missed so much."
He went still. Listening.
I stopped. The mories too sharp. Too painful.
"Sera—" His voice was thick.
"But this ti is different." I pulled back enough to et his eyes. "This ti we have peace. Safety. A real ho. A real family."
"This ti I want to do it right." Tears slipped down my cheeks. "I want us to be together for every mont. Every kick. Every craving. Every sleepless night."
"We will be." He wiped my tears with his thumbs. Gentle. Reverent. "I swear to you. I’m not going anywhere. Not missing a single second."
"I want our kids to grow up knowing what a real family looks like." My hand found his chest. Right over his heart. "I want them to see their parents love each other. Support each other. Be partners in everything."
"They will." He covered my hand with his. "That’s exactly what they’ll see. Because that’s exactly what we are."
I smiled. Watery but real. "Partners?"
"In everything." He kissed my palm. "Always."
The mont stretched. Perfect. Complete.
Then—
"MOMMY! DADDY!"
The thunder of small feet on stairs. Lily’s voice at maximum volu. Adrian’s quieter footsteps following.
They burst into the dining room like tiny tornadoes. Lily’s blonde hair flying. Adrian’s silver-blue eyes wide with excitent.
"Is it true?" Lily demanded. She was bouncing on her toes. "Is it really true? Ophelia said we were getting a surprise but she wouldn’t tell us what!"
Damien set down. Kept one arm around my waist. Both of us facing our children.
"It’s true," I said. Crouching down to their level. "You two are going to be a big sister and big brother again."
Lily scread. Actually scread. The sound probably carried to the next territory.
"A BABY!" She launched herself at . Nearly knocked over. "We’re getting a BABY!"
Adrian hung back slightly. More cautious. More thoughtful.
"Really?" His eyes searched my face. Looking for confirmation. "You’re pregnant?"
"Really." I held out my arm. Drew him into the hug. "What do you think about that?"
He was quiet for a mont. Processing. Then a small smile curved his lips.
"I think..." He paused. "I think I’ll be a good big brother. I’ll teach them everything. How to shift. How to fight. How to—"
"Let’s maybe wait a few years for the fighting lessons," Damien cut in. He’d crouched down too. All four of us in a tangled family huddle.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Lily demanded. She was practically vibrating with excitent. "I want a sister! No wait—a brother! No—a sister!"
I exchanged a look with Damien. Smiled mysteriously.
"Actually..." I let the pause stretch. Watched their faces. "It’s both."
Silence.
Then—
"BOTH?" Lily’s eyes went impossibly wide. "What do you an BOTH?"
"Twins." I couldn’t stop grinning. "We’re having twins. A boy and a girl."
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