Four months had passed since I'd left Rhea's village.
Two months of moving, hiding, barely surviving.
I sat by a stream washing my face, my reflection staring back at me. I looked awful. Dark circles. Sunken cheeks. Hair a tangled mess.
But my stomach was round and seen clearly and impossible to hide now.
I placed both hands on it, feeling them move inside. The kicks were strong. Too strong for how far along I was supposed to be.
"Easy," I whispered. "You're gonna break a rib at this rate."
A hard kick answered me, like they were saying "good."
I smiled despite everything. "Yeah, I know. You're tough. Got that from your dad probably."
My throat went tight thinking about him. Silver eyes. That voice calling me little moon. The way he'd held me like I was something precious.
I missed him.
God, I hated that I missed him. Hated that late at night I'd think about that golden thread connecting us and want to reach through it. I want to let him find me.
"Your father was beautiful," I told my stomach quietly. "Had these eyes that glowed in the dark. It made me feel safe." I pressed my hands harder against the kicks. "I wish I could tell him about you. I wish we could be together. But it's not that simple."
Because he was connected to the throne. To the people who'd murdered my parents. And these babies would be in danger if anyone knew who their father was.
"I'll protect you," I promised. "No matter what happens. You're mine and nobody's taking you from me."
The golden thread pulsed. I felt him through desperation, frustration, that searching feeling that never stopped.
He hadn't given up. After all this time.
Part of me wanted to let him find me. The tired, scared, lonely part.
But I couldn't. Wouldn't.
A twig snapped behind me.
I spun around, heart jumping.
An old woman stood there. Gray hair, kind face, worn clothes.
"Didn't mean to startle you, dear."
I relaxed a bit. Just a villager.
"It's okay."
Her eyes went to my stomach. "How far along?"
"Three and a half months."
"Showing quite a bit for that." She studied me. "You're alone, aren't you?"
I didn't answer.
"I have a spare room. Hot food. A real bed." She smiled gently. "You look like you need it."
Every instinct screamed not to trust her. But I was so tired. So hungry. And the babies needed better than sleeping on the ground.
"Just one night," I said finally.
"However long you need."
---
The woman's name was Marta. She fed me soup and bread more than I'd eaten in days. Gave me a bed with actual blankets.
I wanted to cry from how good it felt.
"Thank you," I whispered. "You don't know what this means."
"Rest now, dear. You're safe."
I fell asleep almost instantly.
---
Shouting woke me.
I sat up fast, heart racing. Early morning light. And voices outside angry, multiple.
"She's in there! The runaway from Bloodhowl!"
No.
I ran to the window. Five men in the village square. Pack scouts. Armed.
And Marta was pointing at her house.
She'd sold me out.
"Bitch," I hissed.
One scout looked up and saw me. His face split into a grin.
"There!"
I grabbed my bag and ran. Out the back door, into the trees. Behind me footsteps, shouting.
"Stop running! You're just making it worse!"
My lungs burned. My stomach made me slow, clumsy. But I kept going.
Then the golden thread yanked so hard I fell to my knees.
I bit down on my hand to keep from crying out. The babies kicked frantically, sensing my fear.
"Not now," I gasped. "Please not now."
A howl cut through the air.
Not a wolf. Deeper. Louder. The kind that made your blood freeze.
Lycan.
Another howl answered. Then another. Different directions. Getting closer.
He'd found me.
Through the bond I felt him fury and desperation and relief all mixed together. So close now. Too close.
I forced myself up and ran.
More howls behind me. The sound of massive paws hitting the ground. They were hunting in Lycan form now.
I was dead. There was no outrunning them.
Unless I hid.
Up ahead a massive fallen tree, roots torn up creating a hollow space underneath. Big enough for me to squeeze into.
I dove for it, crawling into the tight space. Pressed myself back as far as I could go. Pulled dead leaves and branches over the opening.
Then I grabbed my sleeve, bit down on the fabric, and went completely still.
My heart was pounding so loud I was sure they'd hear it. The babies were moving, kicking. I pressed both hands to my stomach, trying to calm them.
*Please be quiet. Please please please be quiet.*
Footsteps. Heavy. Multiple.
The howls stopped. I heard sniffing they were tracking by scent.
"She came this way," a male voice said. "I can smell her."
"Spread out. Check everywhere."
More footsteps. Getting closer.
I bit down harder on the fabric in my mouth. The babies kicked. I pressed my hands over my stomach, silently begging them to stop moving.
A massive Lycan walked past my hiding spot. So close I could've reached out and touched it. Silver and black fur. Easily twice the size of a normal wolf.
It stopped.
Started sniffing the air.
My blood turned to ice.
It moved toward the tree. Toward me.
*No no no—*
The babies kicked hard. I nearly gasped but bit down harder on the cloth, tasting blood.
'Please stop moving. Please.'
The Lycan's head turned toward my hiding spot.
"Anything?" another voice called.
The Lycan hesitated. Sniffed again.
I held my breath. Didn't move. Didn't blink.
The baby kicked again. Hard enough that my stomach visibly moved.
The Lycan's eyes narrowed.
Then another howl echoed through the forest. Loud, commanding. Calling them.
The Lycan in front of me turned and ran toward the sound.
I waited. Counting heartbeats. One minute. Two. Five.
The sounds faded. They were moving away.
I finally let the cloth fall from my mouth and gasped for air. Tears were streaming down my face.
"We're okay," I whispered to my stomach. "We're okay."
But we weren't. He was here. His wolves were everywhere. It was only a matter of time before they found me.
I had to move. I had to get farther away.
I crawled out of my hiding spot slowly, listening for any sound.
Nothing.
I started moving through the forest, staying low, trying to be quiet despite my size.
The golden thread blazed. I felt him so clearly now, anger, desperation, fear.
He was scared. For me? For the babies he didn't even know about?
*Stop,* I thought about him through the bond. *Stop looking for me.*
But I knew he wouldn't. Could feel his determination like a wall.
A branch cracked behind me.
I spun around.
A Lycan stood there. Smaller than the others. Gray fur. Yellow eyes locked on me.
We stared at each other.
Then it threw its head back and howled.
"No!" I have to run.
Behind me answering howls. Multiple. They were coming.
My lungs screamed. My legs burned. The babies were kicking frantically.
"I'm sorry," I sobbed as I ran. "I'm so sorry."
I could hear them behind me. Getting closer. Could feel him through the bond so close now, so close….
Up ahead a ravine deep, with a river at the bottom.
Dead end.
I turned. Six Lycans surrounded me. Massive. Deadly.
One stepped forward. The biggest one. Black and silver fur. Silver eyes that glowed in the fading light.
Those eyes.
I knew those eyes.
He shifted. Bones cracking. Form changing. Until a man stood there.
Tall. Dark hair. That face from the cave.
But wearing royal armor now. The Lycan King's crest on his chest.
His eyes went to my stomach. Saw the swell. The proof.
His face went white.
"Lara," he breathed.
I took a step back. My heel touched the air—the edge of the ravine.
"Don't," he said, holding up his hands. "Please don't run. I just want to talk."
"Stay away from me," I managed.
"Those are mine, aren't they?" His voice cracked. "You're carrying my children."
I pressed both hands protectively over my stomach.
"Please," he said again. "Just let me explain. Let me help you."
"Help me?" I laughed bitterly. "You want to help me?"
"Yes. God, yes. I've been searching for three months—"
"You're the Lycan King." The words came out flat. Dead.
He froze. "How did you—"
"The coin. The seal. I figured it out." Tears were streaming down my face now. "You ordered my parents killed. The Moon Scholars. You murdered them."
"No." He took a step forward. "No, I didn't. That order was forged. I swear—"
"Liar!"
"I'm not lying!" He looked desperate. "Please, Aelara—"
"How do you know my real name?"
"Because I've been searching for you. Because you're my mate—"
A sharp pain tore through my stomach.
I gasped, doubling over. My knees hit the ground.
"Aelara!" He was there instantly, reaching for me.
"Don't touch me!" I scrambled back too close to the edge—
My foot slipped.
I felt myself falling backward.
His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. Yanking me forward.
We both went down. Him on his back, me landing on top of him.
His arms wrapped around me immediately. Protective. One hand going to my stomach.
"I'm here ," he said. "You're safe, please relax a little.."
The babies went crazy. Kicking and moving like they recognized him.
"Let me go," I sobbed.
"I can't." His arms tightened. "I've been searching for you for three months. I'm not letting you go."
"Please—"
"Feel that?" His hand pressed against my stomach where the babies were kicking. "They know me. They can feel their father."
"Don't—"
Another pain. Sharp. Wrong.
I cried out.
"What's wrong?" His voice was panicked. "Aelara, what—"
Warm liquid ran down my legs.
We both looked down.
Blood.
"No," I whispered. "No no no—"
"HEALER!" he roared. "I NEED A HEALER NOW!"
Everything was spinning. The pain was getting worse.
"The babies," I gasped. "Something's wrong—"
His arms tightened around me. "They're going to be fine. You're going to be fine. I promise."
My vision went dark at the edges.
The last thing I felt was his hand on my stomach and his voice in my ear:
"I've got you, little moon. I' will save you and our babies ,"