CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHTZOEYThe day was calm, eerily so. The kind of quiet that made you suspicious, like the world was holding its breath for something big.I stood on the balcony just outside our bedroom, the breeze gently tousling my hair. Below, I could see warriors training, their movements precise and sharp, but my mind was far away. My hand rested protectively over my belly, though there was barely anything there yet. Still, I could feel the change happening within me. A flicker of life growing stronger with each passing day.Graham stepped out behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. “You’ve been standing out here for a while,” he murmured. “What are you thinking about?”“Nothing,” I whispered, but he didn’t believe me. I felt him smile against my neck.“You know I can feel you, right? You’re not exactly a blank slate.”I chuckled lightly. “I’m just… processing. It still doesn’t feel real.”“It’s real,” he said gently, placin
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINEZOEYThe house was quiet. Peacefully so. It was the kind of rare calm that made you want to believe everything was finally settling down. I stood by the window, my hand resting on the curve of my stomach. It still didn’t feel entirely real but it was, I was pregnant.A quiet knock came at the door, and when I turned, Hannah poked her head in.“Are you decent?”I gave a small smile. “Come in.”She stepped inside and shut the door softly behind her. Her presence always felt safe like an anchor in the middle of a storm. She looked at me, her eyes going straight to my hand.“You’re still doing that thing,” she said gently, crossing the room.“What thing?”“Touching your belly every five seconds like you’re trying to make sure it’s still there.”I gave a soft laugh, sitting on the bed. “I can’t help it. It’s like… if I don’t touch it, it might all be a dream.”She sat beside me, her hands resting in her lap. “It’s not a dream. You’re growing a little lif
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVENZOEYThe night sky was scattered with stars, soft and silver above the pack grounds. Laughter echoed from the courtyard, where some warriors were still celebrating. Children darted around with leftover sparklers, their giggles rising into the quiet evening. The air smelled like roasted meat, pine trees, and summer fire.I stood near the edge of it all, just a little apart. One hand resting on my belly, the other clutching a warm cup of tea that Hannah had insisted I drink for “baby strength.” I smiled faintly at the thought.Baby.The word still felt too big to say out loud. Even though Graham knew now, even though his reaction had melted every single one of my fears. I hadn’t stopped thinking about the way he kissed me after I told him like I’d just handed him the moon.I heard his footsteps before I saw him.“You disappeared,” Graham said, coming up beside me. He didn’t sound worried, just gently curious.“I just needed some air,” I said, offerin
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIXZOEYThe room smelled like jasmine and fresh bread, so unlike the cold corridors I’d once tiptoed through, fearing shadows and whispers. Now, sunlight poured in through the tall windows, soft music hummed from the corner, and Lily sat curled on a velvet chair, grinning from ear to ear.“You’ve gained weight,” she said the moment I walked in.I rolled my eyes, laughing at her strange compliment. “Nice to see you too.”She sprang to her feet and wrapped her arms around me. “Shut up. I missed you so much I nearly died.”“I missed you too.” I laughed hard.She pulled back just enough to study my face. “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”“Because I haven’t,” I muttered, plopping down on the couch. “Everything’s… intense. Still very intense.”Lily flopped down beside me, tucking her feet underneath her. “Well, now you’re here and I have exactly one goal: making you forget the world is ending outside.”I smiled, already feeling lighter just being aro
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVEGRAHAMZoey stood by the door with her arms folded and her jaw set in that stubborn way that always meant I’d already lost the argument even before it started.“You’re not going without me,” she said for the third time. “I want to see Lily.”“This isn’t a casual visit, Zoey,” I said, tugging my jacket over my shoulder. “I’m going to discuss strategy with Viktor. That’s not exactly a spectator sport.”She lifted her chin. “Then I’ll sit in the corner and keep my mouth shut.”“You? Keep your mouth shut?” I muttered, and her eyes narrowed.“Graham.” She whined.I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “It might not be safe.”“I was safe the last time we were there. Viktor’s not the enemy anymore. You said that yourself.”She wasn’t wrong. Still, my instincts were on edge. The rogues were getting bolder by the day, and Kelvin was still out there, watching and waiting but Zoey’s eyes were sharp with something stronger than stubbornness. It was worry and m
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FOURZOEYI’d never felt fear like this.Not when I’d been captured, not when Graham had nearly died in my arms and not even when Viktor had taken me away from everything I knew.This? This quiet moment in our room, with Graham seated beside me on the bed, talking softly about border security and rogue movements, this was the most terrifying thing I’d ever lived through.Because I knew I was about to change everything.He looked relaxed, one arm resting behind me on the bed, his other hand playing idly with mine. He hadn’t noticed my silence yet, but he would soon since I usually chimed into this kind of matters but now, I wasn’t in the mood.I stared down at our fingers, how strong his hand looked wrapped around mine, how warm and real he felt beside me and I wondered if I was about to break something we’d only just begun to heal.I swallowed. My throat was dry. My lips felt like paper. “Graham,” I said quietly.His voice stopped mid-sentence, and his e