Lahat ng Kabanata ng Bullied By My Four Mates: Kabanata 181 - Kabanata 187

I woke to warmth—complete, encompassing warmth that I had missed for far too long. The familiar weight of bodies surrounded me, a living fortress of love. Theo's arm draped possessively across my waist, Noah's steady breathing tickled my neck, Callum's leg tangled with mine, and Oscar's hand rested on my hip. All four of my kings, home at last, arranged around me like the points of a compass with me at their center. Christmas morning light filtered through the curtains, painting our bed in soft gold, and for the first time in weeks, I felt whole.*They're all here,* Artemis purred contentedly within me, her joy mirroring my own. *Our pack is complete again.*"I know," I whispered, the words barely disturbing the quiet of the morning.I lay perfectly still, savoring the moment, memorising the weight and warmth of them. Theo and Noah had arrived just as Christmas Eve tipped into Christmas Day, exhausted but triumphant, their faces bearing the marks of their

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

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

Where 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