LOGINWhere Oscar had been exuberant, Theo was intense—his movements controlled but charged with emotion. His hand at my waist was protective, his eyes rarely leaving my face as we moved through the steps of a traditional wolf dance."You should rest soon," he murmured, ever vigilant. "You've been on your feet for hours.""I'm pregnant, not invalid," I reminded him, though his concern touched me. "Besides, I'm enjoying myself too much to stop now."His expression softened slightly. "You do look happy, Ava. Happier than I've seen you in years.""I am," I admitted, the simple truth of it swelling in my chest. "Completely, utterly happy."The dance ended, and Callum stepped forward for the final royal pairing of the evening. His style was different again—solid, reliable, but with moments of surprising grace. He held me securely, creating a bubble of calm amid the swirling activity of the ballroom."You'll tell me if you need to leave," he
"Tonight, as we celebrate the conclusion of our festival, I ask you to carry this spirit of renewal forward. To nurture the seeds of hope in your own hearts and communities. To remember that even the longest wait can culminate in blessings beyond imagination."I could practically feel the curiosity from my Kings—this wasn't the ending we'd rehearsed. But I couldn't help myself. The joy I carried demanded expression, even if veiled in metaphor."Let us dance tonight not just to mark an ending, but to celebrate the countless beginnings that await us all. For I believe with all my heart that this coming year will bring wonders we have only dared to dream of."I raised my glass, and the hall followed suit, hundreds of goblets lifting in unison."To our kingdom," I declared. "To our future. To dreams fulfilled."The response was immediate and thunderous—cheers and raised glasses, wolves standing from their seats to honor the toast. As I turned
I stood before the mirror in our royal chamber, fingers tracing the emerald silk of my gown where it draped over my still-flat stomach. Six weeks pregnant with twins, and not a soul knew beyond the five of us. The secret nestled beneath my heart felt like a flame—warm, bright, growing stronger with each passing day. Tonight marked the end of our Christmas festival, culminating in the Grand Ball where I would address our kingdom surrounded by my four Kings. My speech, carefully crafted to celebrate renewal and future joy, now held deeper meaning than anyone but Callum, Oscar, Theo, and Noah could possibly understand.*You look radiant,* Artemis murmured within me, her presence warm and satisfied. *Our pack will see your glow and wonder.*"Will they guess?" I whispered aloud, smoothing the fabric once more. The gown had been designed months ago, before I'd known about the pregnancy—its empire waist a fortunate coincidence that now served to conceal any changes my bod
I nestled deeper into the nest of pillows my kings had insisted on arranging around me, watching the last light of Boxing Day fade beyond our windows. My body ached pleasantly from the celebrations—not from any strain, as they'd barely let me lift a finger, but from the constant, joyful tension of containing emotions too large for my frame. Two days of knowing I carried twins, of watching revelation and wonder bloom repeatedly on four beloved faces, had left me simultaneously exhausted and more alive than I'd ever been. Artemis hummed contentedly within me, her presence a warm blanket wrapped around the tiny sparks of life nestled beneath my heart."Comfortable?" Noah asked, his voice a low rumble as he settled beside me, one hand automatically reaching to adjust a pillow that didn't need adjusting."Any more comfortable and I might melt into the mattress," I replied, smiling as Oscar flopped dramatically across the foot of our enormous bed, his blonde hair still d
I couldn't stop grinning. Even as I helped Theo arrange the silverware on our private dining table, my face ached with the strain of a smile that refused to fade. Twins. Ava was carrying twins. After five years of waiting, of watching hope flicker and dim in her beautiful green eyes with each disappointment, our queen was pregnant with two pups. The knowledge buzzed through my veins like the finest champagne, making my movements jerky with barely contained excitement. Dionysus prowled restlessly within me, his joy manifesting as a constant, pleasant pressure against my consciousness."Oscar, the forks go on the left," Noah reminded me, his voice gentler than the correction would normally warrant. Even he, our most composed king, couldn't hide the tremor of excitement in his hands as he folded napkins into elaborate shapes."Right. Left. Same difference," I replied, quickly swapping the utensils while throwing a glance toward the bedroom door. "Shouldn't Callum be b
Silence fell over the bed as they processed the clues, each looking from their box to the others', piecing together the fragmented riddle. I held my breath, watching comprehension spread across Oscar's face first—his eyes snapping to mine, lips parting in shocked delight."Ava?" he whispered, the single word loaded with question.I nodded, tears already gathering in my eyes.Callum caught on next, his steady gaze locking with mine as understanding transformed his features. His hand moved instinctively toward my stomach before freezing mid-air, as if afraid to touch me.Noah and Theo realised almost simultaneously—Noah with a sharp intake of breath, Theo with a sudden stillness that seemed to stop time itself."You're pregnant," Noah said, the words not a question but a statement filled with wonder. "You're actually pregnant."Tears spilled onto my cheeks as I nodded again. "Six weeks," I confirmed, voice breaking with emotion. "I







