The First Threat

"Get away from the window," Vesperian growled, pulling me back by the arm before I could even register the sound of running footsteps outside.

I stumbled against his chest, one hand flying to my rounded belly. "What the hell is going on?"

He didn’t answer right away. His golden eyes were hard as he stared out into the courtyard where guards were doubling up at every entrance. A messenger had arrived moments ago, breathing hard and covered in road dust.

Vesperian finally looked down at me. "Prince Kieran. My brother. He’s gathering forces at the eastern border. The rumors of your pregnancy reached him faster than I expected."

I swallowed hard. "He knows about the baby?"

"Everyone knows now," Vesperian said, voice tight. "An impossible pregnancy with a male Omega. The prophecy they all fear. He’s using it to rally the disloyal packs. Calling you a curse that will destroy the empire."

The child kicked sharply, as if sensing the threat. I pressed both hands to my belly, breathing through the sudden wave of fear. "He wants to kill us."

"He wants my throne," Vesperian corrected, but his hand came down to cover mine on my stomach. "And he’ll go through you and our son to get it."

He pulled me away from the window completely, guiding me deeper into the royal wing. Servants and guards moved with new urgency, extra patrols, reinforced doors, weapons being distributed in the halls.

"You’re not leaving these chambers without me or a full escort from now on," he said, voice leaving no room for argument. "I’ve tripled the guard. No one gets near you."

I stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned to face him. "This is because of me. Because you dragged me here and put this child in me. If Kieran comes…"

"Then I’ll kill him," Vesperian said flatly. He cupped my face with both hands, thumbs stroking my cheeks. "I won’t let anyone touch you. Either of you."

The bond hummed between us, thick with his fierce protectiveness. I wanted to believe him. Gods, I did. But the fear for the child kept twisting in my gut alongside something warmer and far more dangerous, love for the man who had ruined my life to create this.

"You engineered all of this," I whispered, voice cracking. "And now the consequences are coming for us."

Vesperian pulled me into his arms right there in the corridor, uncaring who saw. "And I’ll protect what’s mine."

~~~~

That night, the claiming felt different. More urgent. More desperate.

Vesperian had barely closed the chamber door before he was on me, mouth claiming mine in a bruising kiss. His hands roamed over my swollen belly with possessive reverence, then lower, stripping away the silk.

"Need you," he growled against my throat. "Need to feel you safe around me."

He lifted me carefully onto the bed, positioning me on my side so my belly rested comfortably. Then he was behind me, sliding into my slick heat in one smooth thrust. I moaned loudly, gripping the sheets.

"Alpha…"

"Right here," he rasped, one arm wrapping around me, hand splayed protectively over the curve of my belly. "I’ve got you. Both of you."

He fucked me deep and steady, each thrust deliberate, like he could seal us together through sheer force of will. The child reacted strongly, kicking and rolling every time Vesperian pressed deep, almost like it was reaching for its father through my body.

"You feel that?" I gasped, tears pricking my eyes. "He knows you’re here. He knows you’re protecting us."

Vesperian groaned, hips snapping harder. "Good boy. Strong like his father." His hand stroked my belly in time with his thrusts. "I won’t let Kieran take this from us."

The intensity built fast. I pushed back against him, needing more, needing him closer. The draining magic stirred but I kept it gentle, balanced. The soul bond wrapped around all three of us, me, him, the child, creating a strange, terrifying moment of unity.

For a few precious minutes, it felt like family. Like something real and worth fighting for.

Vesperian’s knot swelled, locking us together as he came with a deep, possessive growl. I cried out, trembling through my own release, his arms holding me safe while the child fluttered happily between us.

We stayed locked like that, his chest pressed to my back, lips brushing my shoulder.

"I love you," I whispered before I could stop myself. The words slipped out raw and terrified. "Even after everything you did to me… I love you."

Vesperian went still. His arms tightened almost painfully. "Eli…"

A loud knock shattered the moment.

"Your Majesty!" A messenger’s voice came through the door, urgent and shaking. "Prince Kieran has formally declared his intent to Challenge for the throne! He’s marching with an army. He arrives within the week!"

Vesperian cursed under his breath.

At the same time, a sharp, stabbing pain lanced through my belly.

I gasped, curling forward. "Ah…fuck!"

The child kicked violently. Another pain followed, tighter and more ominous than anything I’d felt before.

Vesperian pulled out of me carefully but quickly, turning me to face him. His eyes were wide with fear I’d never seen in the Unbreakable Sovereign.

"Eli? Talk to me. What’s wrong?"

I gripped his arm, breathing through the pain as another sharp twinge hit. The child was still moving, but something felt wrong. Different. Dangerous.

The messenger was still outside, shouting more details about Kieran’s challenge, but all I could focus on was the terror gripping my chest.

This wasn’t just a threat from outside anymore.

Something was happening inside me too.