CHAPTER 44: HAVING KIDS

Lewis jerked his hand back fast, almost wolf-instinct fast

and I stayed exactly where I was, lips parted, breath stuck in my chest.

I could still feel his taste on my tongue, warm and faintly metallic, carrying the subtle scent of his wolf.

His fingers were long and elegant, like the hands of a man who once played instruments...

but they weren’t soft.

There were calluses on them rough patches from years of training, working, or pushing the wheels of his chair.

So when my tongue touched him, it wasn’t smooth.

It was textured.

Real.

My face caught fire.

"S-sorry! I didn’t mean to it was just instinct."

"It’s fine."

His voice was calm... but his neck was not.

His pale skin usually cool and untouched by sunlight was turning red.

From the tips of his ears... down his throat... disappearing into the collar of his shirt.

My gaze stuck there longer than it should have.

I wondered before I could stop myself

Would the rest of him turn red this easily?

No. No. Stop thinking.

Even though we’d known each other as part of the same extended pack for years,

we had never been this close and it felt a bit strange.

"I need a minute," I blurted, escaping to the bathroom before I embarrassed myself further.

I leaned against the door, breathing hard.

In the mirror, my cheeks were a deep, soft red. I looked younger, softer...

almost like a pup with her first crush.

It had been so long since I’d seen myself this way

alive, bright-eyed, not burdened by expectations or pain.

For years, I lived to please others.

I forgot who I used to be.

The girl staring back at me looked like she was finally waking up again.

When I finally stepped back out, Lewis was sitting by the wide window, silent,

Lewis’s back was straight, his shoulders tense.

Even from the side, I could sense something heavy inside him

a sadness he never spoke of, but that clung to him like winter air.

I walked to his side, my voice soft. "What are you thinking about?"

He didn’t answer right away. Just looked at me with eyes that never revealed enough.

Then he said quietly, "The car is ready. Let’s go."

"Alright."

He reminded me, "It’s freezing outside, get a jacket. The new house might not have heating yet."

I smiled a little. "Okay, Alpha Hale. I will."

I hurried to my room, grabbed a thick down jacket, and wrapped a soft blanket around his legs werewolf or not, he was still sensitive to the cold.

"All set, Mr. Hale. Ready to go."

He gave a quiet, almost shy "Mm."

As I wheeled him downstairs, we crossed the main hall, Julian, sprawled on the couch, looked up sharply.

The moment he saw us together, his eyes lit with interest and something else.

Something darker, I just hope he is not up to something sinister again

"Uncle Lewis," Julian asked, "are you two heading out?"

Even though Lewis wasn’t fond of Julian, he never disrespected him directly.

Pack structure. Family ties. Appearances.

There were rules.

Before Lewis could answer him, I flashed Julian a playful grin.

"We’re going to check out our future Home."

Julian’s brows pulled together.

"It’s freezing outside. The Winter Moon Festival is almost here. What’s the rush?"

His tone was too sharp, too aware.

And his gaze... it kept slipping between Lewis and me like he couldn’t look away.

I knew why.

It wasn’t because he cared about Lewis.

It was because of my face the face of the womanhe once claimed as his mate.

Even if he told himself I wasn’t Elena, some instincts never died.

A wolf always senses its past bondwhether he wants to or not.

I leaned closer and said sweetly, just to twist the knife,

"’No rush’? Julian, living in this pack house is nice... but I’d rather have a home we can call our own. Especially since we’ll need space for the pup once I get pregnant."

Everywhere went silent

Lewis’s jaw flexed, and the skin along his neck warmed into a soft red

Julian stuttered,

"Y–you’re already talking about children?"

Lewis didn’t say a word, but I could tell he was thrown off just as much.

Well... I started this.

I may as well finish it.

Without hesitation, I lowered myself right onto Lewis’s lap, settling against him like I belonged there.

And honestly... having a mate-husband who couldn’t walk away had its advantages.

If I wanted to curl into him, I could.

And since he didn’t push me off...

I relaxed into the warmth over his legs, wrapped in thick blankets, and slipped my arms around his neck. My head found his shoulder easily. My voice softened into something sweet, almost innocent.

"Of course I want his kids. Lewis is a good man. What woman wouldn’t want that?"

Lewis didn’t respond, but his eyes went distant thinking, processing, maybe even imagining.

Julian looked like someone had just punched the wind out of him.

"Aren’t you too young to be thinking about pups already?" he snapped.

My mind flicked back to my old life

twenty-eight, finally carrying his child, hoping he would care.

He didn’t.

Not even a little.

If only I could whisper in his ear now:

"You didn’t value our child when it was yours. Why care if I have ten with another male now?"

The thought made a quiet, satisfied warmth curl through me.

Out loud, I gave him a smug little smile.

"Julian, don’t insult me. I’m an adult . And Lewis and I are bound by the pack laws. And just because he’s in a chair, don’t assume he’s not... capable. He’s more of a man than anyone I’ve known."

Lewis’s neck turned deep crimson.

His throat bobbed with a nervous swallow

a rare crack in his self-control.

Julian’s jaw practically hit the floor.

"Wait... so you two already...?"

I flashed him a sweet, wicked grin.

"Oh, Julian. You’re a married wolf you should know how mates are during their honeymoon phase.

Or... maybe not. Right, I forgot you never even made it to your own wedding night."

The blow landed hard.

Beautifully hard.

His expression tightened.

Still playing the affectionate mate, I turned back to Lewis.

My fingers brushed his cheek slow, soft, deliberate.

His breath hitched.

"Lewis," I whispered, "you’re incredible. But my back’s been so sore lately... Could you give me a massage later?"

Every ounce of color drained from Julian’s face.