Chapter 251 The Engagement

Elara

Hannah saw it on the border patrol’s encrypted group chat before I even had a chance to text her.

She called me, and I could hear her gear clanking in the background . "Elara! You and the Alpha King actually worked it out?"

"We did." I was smiling so hard my face hurt. "I was gonna call you, but someone beat me to it."

She laughed. "Yeah, that would be my father. He saw the announcement on the PackNet and texted the entire family chain. ’Congratulate Dominic Wolfe. He’s having a pup. Be nice.’ Direct quote."

That sounded exactly like Marcus.

"I’m so jealous," Hannah said. "Dominic Wolfe. The Alpha King. And he looks at you like you’re the only woman on the planet."

"He has his moments."

"You’re lucky. You know that, right?"

I did. I knew it better than she could imagine.

There was a pause. Then her voice shifted. Dropped about ten degrees.

"So. I might be getting married."

I stopped smiling. "Wait. Xavier? The guy from the blind date your mom set up?"

"Yeah."

I didn’t know what to say. Hannah was never like this. She was the one who cracked jokes while stitching up wounds. The one who’d rather face a Rogue pack than sit through a council meeting.

Hearing her sound this flat was wrong. All wrong.

"Hannah—"

"He’s so... proper. Old money proper. His family has a seating chart for Thanksgiving dinner." She let out a humorless laugh.

"I spent my teens chasing Rogues across the border and sleeping in mud. Now I’m about to marry a guy I’ve had maybe six conversations with."

My chest tightened. "It might not be that bad."

"Maybe." She was quiet for a second. "You know what’s funny? I can read a battlefield better than I can read a dining room table. I know how to track a Rogue through three miles of forest, but I have no idea what to say to a man who folds his napkin before he eats."

I wanted to say the right thing. Something that would make her feel less alone. But I didn’t have it.

Xavier seemed stable. Good family. No scandals. No drama. On paper, he was the perfect match.

But paper didn’t tell you how someone handled a crisis. What they looked like at 3 AM when the world was falling apart.

Maybe they’d surprise each other.

"Look," Hannah said, cutting through my thoughts. "I didn’t call to dump this on you. I just needed to say it out loud to someone who wouldn’t judge me."

Her voice came back up, lighter now. "But seriously, Elara. Congratulations. And I’m calling dibs. Godmother. I don’t care what anyone says. I’m the godmother."

I smiled. "You’re the only one I’d pick."

"Damn right. I gotta go — my father’s yelling about a breach in Sector 7. Love you."

"Love you too."

She hung up.

I set my phone down just as Dominic walked into the bedroom. His hair was still wet from the shower. He had that stupid grin on his face, the one that meant he was about to do something ridiculous.

"Babe," he said, dropping onto the bed next to me. "I want to hear the pup."

I stared at him. "Dominic. Our baby is four weeks old. It’s the size of a sesame seed. It doesn’t move. It doesn’t make noise."

"I don’t care. I want to listen."

Before I could argue, he slid down and pressed his ear against my stomach. His hands wrapped around my waist and held me in place.

I squirmed. "That tickles."

"Stay still," he mumbled. "I’m listening."

The room went quiet. Just the sound of my breathing and his warm breath on my skin. My face felt like it was on fire.

After a long minute I said, "Okay. Are you done?"

He looked up at me with that grin. "Yeah. She told me she’s a girl. I’m calling it now."

I groaned. "You’re impossible."

"I’m right."

I shook my head and tried not to smile. Then I remembered. "Hey. What do you think of Xavier?"

His face changed. Nothing dramatic, but his eyes got sharper. "Xavier? Why are you asking about him?"

"He’s engaged to Hannah. Their families are doing some kind of arranged thing. I’m just curious."

He pulled me closer. "He’s boring. He’s stiff. He’s not even as good as my pinky finger. And you’re carrying my baby, so you’re not allowed to think about other men."

I rolled my eyes. "Hannah is my best friend. I’m allowed to ask about her fiancé."

"Fine." He relaxed a little. "He’s boring. He probably sleeps in a suit. But he’s not a bad guy. Just not good enough for her."

"Wow. A fair take from Dominic Wolfe. Mark the calendar."

He ignored me and kissed my forehead. Soft and slow.

Then he caught my hand and started moving it down his chest. I pulled it back like I’d been burned.

"Dominic!"

He laughed, that low sound that always made my stomach flip. "What? I’m just saying."

"Go to sleep!"

I flipped over and pulled the blanket over my head.

Behind me, he moved closer. His arm slid around my waist and pulled me against his chest. His breath was warm on the back of my neck.

"Two months," he whispered. "The doctor said we have to wait two months."

I didn’t answer.

"I’ll be good," he said, his voice lower now. "I’ll wait. But after that? You’re mine again."

My heart was pounding so hard I knew he could feel it.

"Goodnight, Dominic."

He kissed my shoulder. "Sweet dreams, My Luna."

I closed my eyes and tried to ignore his hand resting on my stomach. Warm. Heavy. Protective.

This man was going to drive me crazy.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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