Chapter 250 The Announcement

Elara

Dominic was vibrating in the driver’s seat. Not metaphorically.

His knee was bouncing, his fingers were drumming on the steering wheel, and he’d picked up his phone three times before I even had my seatbelt clicked.

"Dude," I said. "Breathe."

"I’m breathing."

"You’re not breathing. You’re hyperventilating with extra steps."

He ignored me. His thumb was already moving across the screen.

He pulled up his dad’s contact.

He hit call.It rang four times before a voicemail picked up. "Hey, you’ve reached Hunter Wolfe. Leave a message."

Dominic hung up. Didn’t leave one.

"Your dad didn’t answer?" I asked.

"He’s probably fishing. He turns his phone off when he’s on the water."

"So leave a message."

"No. I’m telling him in person."

He scrolled to the next contact. Grandma Elizabeth.

He hit call.

Grandma picked up on the second ring. "Dominic? Is everything okay?"

"Everything’s great, Grandma. Elara’s pregnant. We’re having a pup."

A beat of silence. Then a sharp intake of breath.

"Oh, honey." Her voice cracked. "Oh, honey. That’s—" She let out a wet laugh. "That’s the best news I’ve heard in years."

Dominic’s whole face softened. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. I’m gonna be a great-grandmother." Another pause, and I could hear her wiping her eyes. "Is Elara there? Put her on."

Dominic handed me the phone. "Your grandma wants to talk."

I took it. "Hey, Grandma."

"Baby girl. You’re pregnant."

"I am."

"I’m so happy I could cry."

"Then cry. I already did."

She laughed. "I’m coming to visit. Next week. Don’t argue with me."

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

"Good. Put my grandson back on."

I handed the phone back. Dominic took it. "Yeah, Grandma?"

"Take care of her. And take care of yourself. And don’t you dare stress her out with pack business."

"Yes, ma’am."

"Good. I love you both."

"Love you too, Grandma."

He hung up. Looked at me. There was a softness in his eyes that he rarely let anyone see.

"Your grandma’s gonna be here next week."

"I heard."

"She’s gonna spoil this kid rotten."

"You say that like it’s a bad thing."

He smiled. "It’s not."

He scrolled to the next contact. Yardley.

Yardley picked up on the second ring. "Dominic . Everything okay?"

"Elara’s pregnant. We’re having a pup. You’re gonna be an uncle."

A beat of silence. Then a slow exhale. "Congratulations, Dominic."

"That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don’t know. Something with feeling."

"Dominic , I’m standing in a lobby with a client."

"So? This is bigger than whatever meeting you have."

I heard Yardley sigh. The long kind. The one that meant he was counting to ten.

"I’m happy for you," he said. "Really. I am. But I need to go."

"You’re not even gonna ask if it’s a girl?"

"Is it a girl?"

"I don’t know yet. But I’m manifesting."

"Manifest all you want. We’ll talk when I get home."

"Fine. But you owe me a drink."

"I owe you several. Congratulations, Dominic. Give Elara my love."

The line went dead.

Dominic stared at his phone. "He hung up on me."

"You kind of deserve it."

"He should be more excited."

"He is excited. He just shows it differently."

"He shows it like a robot."

"He shows it like a businessman who just found out he’s going to be an uncle in the middle of a workday. Give him time."

Dominic didn’t look convinced. But he put the phone down.

"Okay," he said. "Now I need to tell the pack."

I raised an eyebrow. "The pack?"

"My Beta. My Gamma. My inner circle. They need to know before word gets out."

"Why?"

"Because this pup is the future of the pack. They need to hear it from me."

I thought about arguing. Then I didn’t.

"Okay. Call them. I’ll drive."

He nodded and picked up his phone again.

I pulled out of the parking lot and listened to him call Beta, then Gamma, the whole chain.

Each call the same structure. The announcement. The congratulations. A few quick instructions. Then hang up.

By the time we hit the main road, he was done.

He set his phone down in his lap and exhaled.

"You good?" I asked.

"Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair. "Your grandma cried."

"Of course she cried. She’s been waiting for this since we got married."

"She said she’s gonna be a great-grandmother."

"Yep."

He was quiet for a second. Then, so soft I almost didn’t hear it:

"I’m gonna be a dad."

I reached over and took his hand.

"Yeah, babe. You are."

He squeezed my hand. Didn’t let go.

Author

Alpha Zack had been staring at his phone all evening.

No call. No text. Nothing from Elara.

He’d laid everything out for her. Showed her the files. Played her the recordings. Given her proof that Dominic Wolfe was not the man she thought he was.

And she’d walked away.

But she’d come back. Eventually. She had to.

He refreshed his phone for the tenth time. Still nothing.

Then his news app pinged.

Breaking: Alpha King Dominic Wolfe Announces He’s Going to Be a Father

Zack’s vision tunneled.

He clicked the article. There was a screenshot of Dominic’s post. The baby onesie profile picture. The smug, cryptic caption.

His hands started shaking.

Pregnant.

Elara was pregnant.

With his pup.

Blood roared in his ears. His chest felt tight. Too tight. He couldn’t breathe.

The phone slipped from his hand and clattered onto the floor.

His wolf snarled inside him, clawing at his ribs. Furious. Betrayed.

The room tilted.

Then everything went black.

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