ra’s POV

    5 vouchers

    I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Theughter bubbled out, loud and unrestrained, catching me off guard. But as soon as it echoed into the night, something in me faltered, and the joy twisted into a bitter knot in my chest. When was thest time he’d made meugh like that?

    The thought hit me hard, like a punch to the gut.

    “Back in the Grace Ruin,” I muttered, voice low, the words carrying more weight than I meant.

    Dorian’s expression softened. “The Grace Ruin,” he repeated, nodding. “Yeah, we were neck–deep in danger, and you had no idea who I was. But we had fun, didn’t we?”

    It was the best time, I knew that much. But that was before the world twisted everything up. Now, the air between us felt heavier, like I was carrying a burden I didn’t know how to set down.

    I wasn’t about to get lost in the past. It had a way of sinking its teeth into me, dragging me down into emotions I didn’t want to face. So, I forced myself to focus on something else.

    “Do you think your godmother, Medline, will be an issue?” I asked, shifting the conversation. “I can feel her hostility like a weight on my chest.”

    Dorian’s lips tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly as if the mention of Medline stirred something in him. “Don’t worry about her,” he said, shaking his head. “Medline’s just… Medline. Harsh, stern, a little mean, but she’s always had my back. My mom and she were close. When my mom died, Medline promised her she’d look after me, and she’s done a damn good job of it.”

    I wasn’t convinced, though. Something about her icy demeanour made my skin crawl. “But if she finds out. about the kid… this baby isn’t yours.”

    His eyes softened, and his voice dropped to a low, almost urgent tone. “Then we make sure she doesn’t. And about that…” He paused, hesitation flickering in his gaze. “How long does it take for a werewolf to give birth?”

    “Ten months,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Why?”

    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “The Lycan’s five months. And we don’t exactly give birth to human babies… we have pups.”

    My heart dropped. “What?” The word escaped my lips before I could stop it, my stomach tightening as the reality hit me.

    Dorian’s frown deepened. “I didn’t know this either. I just found out. We’re in uncharted territory here, ra.”

    It wasn’t just the Lycan’s five–month timeline that bothered me; it was everything. This hybrid child of ours- half werewolf, half Lycan–was an anomaly. And anomalies? They didn’t stay hidden. They didn’t stay safe.

    “What are we supposed to do, Dorian?!” I snapped, panic threading through my voice. “There’s no way we can‘ fake this. Five months, ten months–that’s a massive difference! You think I can just push a baby out of my body and pretend it’s something else?”

    b8:14 /bbSun/bb, /bbSep /b14 N

    5 bvoucher /b

    He grabbed my hand, his touch firm, steady. “ra, calm down,” he urged, his voice smooth but binsistent/b. “There’s a way. We’ll handle it.”

    I shivered involuntarily as he pulled me into his arms, his warmth a smallfort in the face of bthis/bb. /bimpossible situation. “There’s a way to keep this secret,” he said, his voice low and steady, trying to bcalm /bbme/bb. /b“I’ll arrange for the birth to happen outside of the castle. No one will know except the people I trust. And bas /bfor the timing… Well, this child is the first Lycan–werewolf hybrid. Common rules don’t apply here.”

    I wanted to believe him, I really did. But there were so many ways this could go wrong. One misstep, and bwe’d /bbe done for.

    “Dorian, you forced me into this,” I said through gritted teeth, the weight of my frustration boiling over. “You made me stay. Now you fix this.”

    “I will.” His voice was solid, resolute, and he nted a soft kiss on my forehead. “I’ll take care of everything. You and this child are mine now, and I swear on my life, I will protect you both.”

    His words should’ve been afort, but a knot of unease tightened in my chest. The weight of the promise felt like too much to carry, and deep down; I wondered if we were walking a path we couldn’te back from.

    Three dayster, the day of the Mating Ceremony arrived. The castle was packed with guests from all over, some arriving by horse, others by carriage, all flocking to witness the wedding of the century. The streets were alive with people, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.

    The ceremony was held outdoors, atop a mountain summit, as the sun began to dip below the horizon.

    At precisely six o’clock, just before sunset, the carriage pulled up to the castle, and I stepped out, my pounding.

    heart

    I was dressed in a satin wedding gown that clung to my form, the cathedral–length veil sweeping behind me like a ghost, its edges embroidered with delicate lily patterns. As the carriage made its way through the winding path, lined with white roses, ca lilies, and tulips, the streets were flooded with vigers, all eager to catch a glimpse of the bride.

    The air was thick with the scent of flowers, the cheerful sounds of the crowd, and the hum of life.

    When the carriage finally stopped, my heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.

    This was where dreams were supposed toe true, but the ce where I was meant to marry… felt more like a gilded cage.

    The summit had been transformed into a fairnd. Lilies and fairy lights adorned every corner, ineir glow casting a soft, magical light over the ceremony. The scent of the flowers mixed with the mountain air, filling

    my senses.

    A gentle breeze yed with the petals on the ground, and I could hear the faint sound of a mountain stream in the distance. Everything was so beautiful, so perfect, but none of it mattered to me.

    I didn’t want any of it.

    But I couldn’t deny that Dorian had created a dream for me.

    b8:14 /bbSun/bb, /bbSep /b14 N

    I stepped forward, my gaze fixed ahead as I walked down the petal–strewn path toward him.

    5 vouchers

    When I finally reached the end, I faced Dorian. For a moment, neither of us moved. But then, as if on cue, we both smiled at the same time.

    “I’ve got to admit,” Dorian said, his voice small but sincere, “I’m nervousb./b”

    I chuckled softly, feeling the tension in my chest loosen just a little. “This bis/b… really nice. Thank you.”

    His eyes sparkled with something I couldn’t quite ce. “You like it?”

    I nodded, though the truth was, I didn’t want to like any of this. But the wedding… it was perfect. I couldn’t deny that.

    “Yes,” I whispered. “I like it.”

    Love and passion glimmered in his gaze. “I want to give you everything, ra. Everything you want in life.”

    How could he say that with such sincerity? The same man who had stolen the one thing I had ever wanted for myself.

    The words clung to my chest like a heavy weight.

    “I will protect you, and our child, with everything I have,” he vowed.

    I didn’t speak for a moment. What could I say? The truth was, I couldn’t fake happiness.

    “Me too,” I finally whispered. “I look forward to the birth of our child.” I paused, meeting his eyes. “But you better keep that promise.”

    The elder, who had been watching with a raised brow, nodded, clearly waiting for something more, but I gestured for him to move on. I wasn’t interested in more words.

    The elder turned to Dorian. “And now, the groom may kiss the bride.”

    Dorian’s hands moved to my veil, lifting it gently as he leaned in, his lips pressing to mine with a fierce, lingering kiss. The crowd erupted into apuse, their cheers echoing around us.

    But as we pulled away, I caught sight of something in the distance. A figure standing at the end of the aisle, watching us with a burning intensity. His eyes full of rage, disappointment, and something else… elief.

    It couldn’t be.

    Not him.

    “Thorne?” I whispered under my breath, heart mming into my chest.

    And with that, everything changed.