Chapter 186
Since we’re going to announce the pregnancy to our family over dinner, we go straight to the castle. A part of me wants to go home, just so I can see it again. We spent four days after Ragnar showed it to me cleaning it. and I have to admit that I kind of fell in love with the idea of it.
While I was in training and school, I sent over some personalized changes to the house for both Ragnar and me to help recharge our affinities while we wound down and rested. I had to get Ana involved when the designers got a little rude with the time frame. I can’t wait to show Ragnar that I did, in fact, incorporate the giant fish tank into his study room.
“I like this confidence in you.” Ana says as we make our way to what used to be the suite built for Ragnar and
I stop when I see that Elder Baldr has fixed the fish tank. The entire area was recreated, but being here sets off little alarms that shouldn’t be there when you think of home. I quickly wash up and try to take deep, even breaths.
Ragnar is outside the door when I open it. He holds his hand out for me, probably seeing how uncomfortable I am being here. Before I can say I want to go home, Ivar steps out from behind him.
“Hey, I blurt out and run to him. He laughs, and I feel a whole lot better with him here.
“You look very stressed out,” he says, pulling away. “Your hair is long as hell”
“It’s the suite,” I admit
“I know. I put it back together in case you guys do need to stay, and I even upgraded it. Motion sensors, tech detectors, and if you’re not signed into the personalised Wi-Fi, nothing works,” he holds up his phone. “We got our own security app.
“That’s really cool, dude.” I look up at him. “You kept going to the classes?”
“Working on my master’s now. Maybe digital design wasn’t my fate. I really like the cybersecurity stuff. Some of the alphas have insane engineering degrees.”
“Alpha Norman and Kyle?”
“How do you know that?”
“They helped with the vaults we broke into,” I remind him. “Where’s Kaylee?”
“With Eliza
“We should catch up.” Ragnar says.
“Where did Ana go?*
“To let the dog in. he smirks.
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Chapter 186
“Don’t call him that.” I smack his arm. The two of them laugh. I missed the three of us together like this.
“Dad said your mate is holding you hostage.” Ivar laughs.
“She is. Quite the little tyrant,” he scoffs. “One inconvenience and boom blood spinning.”
“Damn, remember when she said she didn’t want that kind of power?” The two of them laugh.
“Well, now you know why,” I scoff, only making them laugh more.
“Why did you assholes call a family meeting?” he glares at me directly.
“You’re going to find out when everyone else does,” I roll my eyes. “How is Kay’s wolf doing?”
“We’ve followed every step on your to-do list. Waiting on you,” he says with a smile on his face.
Ragnar doesn’t like that. I can feel his disapproval through our bond. I think he was hoping that we let her wolf life span run its course. I can’t in good faith do that even if I did hate her. I would never be able to look Ivar in the eyes if I didn’t give this my best.
“Okay,” I stop him before we go into the dining room. “This isn’t a guaranteed thing. I’m following the instructions the scribes gave me. If it doesn’t work, it’s not her fault. You understand that, right?”
“Yes,” he says, placing his hand on my shoulder. “It’ll work.”
Ragnar and I look at one another when he walks in ahead of us. Everyone gets up when we walk in together, and I am more than happy to see everyone again.
“Are you taller?” Aimee laughs.
“I did stretch about two inches. Last year. The physicians measured me three times to make sure it was right,” I nod. She leans in to whisper in my ear.
“That’s what happens when you go for a run during a full moon,” she pulls away and winks at me. I press my lips together, trying not to laugh, but she’s giggling like a schoolgirl who just found out the meaning of an innuendo.
“What the hell was that?” Ana laughs.
“Nothing” I grin. She steps aside to reveal Xavier. He smirks and takes his right hand out of his pocket to offer it to me. “Xavier.”
“Little Omega,” he smirks.
“Her name is Sophia, and she is your queen now that you belong to Anastasia,” Ragnar comes up behind me to make sure I don’t take his hand. All that’s missing is the growl. “Your majesty or my queen.”
“Can we get seated? Yes, Sophia is really pretty, and she’s a big girl now. Sit the fuck down. I’m starving.” Elder Baldr growls.
“Thank you,” I mouth as Ragnar leads us over to the head of the table.
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Chapter 186
I take a seat to his left, across from his father, feeling hungry and a little tired. Maybe even a little jet-lagged He smiles and sits back as the food is brought out for us. The table falls to a low, polite chatter.
“You seem a little out of it.” Elder Baldr says, after a while. “Yesterday too.”
“I just have a lot on my mind,” I admit. “How did everything go with the wolf bill you presented?”
“Excuse me, what wolf bill? Kaylee finally speaks up.
“I had the ownership laws changed.” I inform her. “Elder Baldr here was supposed to present the new bill, did
you not?”
“I did. It passed last week,” he smiles. “No one was happy about it.”
“We knew they wouldn’t be,” I shrug.
“You can’t just change things regarding the wolves whenever you want,” Kaylee growls at me.
“Yeah, she can. She’s the Lycan Queen, Ivar says. “It’s in her job description”
“It’s not actually. I just wanted to help with this one,” I turn my attention to her. “Um, I didn’t mean to overstep. I know they belong to you. I just wanted to make things a little fairer. I declined your petition for the city to rejoin the packlands. That’s never going to happen again”
“Sophia-” she starts getting angry.
“Before you get mad, stop. I sigh. “They lost this war. It’s over. It’s been over. Trying to rejoin the packlands is insane. They’re a mess, and it’s getting worse with everyone questioning Alex.
“The bill passed, which means you’re the official Marchioness of the city. Wolves are no longer classified as slaves. They’re an extended division of General Axel’s militia here in the capital, as your mate. You can handle the tax stuff, right?”
Everyone stays quiet for a while. She stares at the plate in front of her without saying a word.
“Is that what you called this meeting for?” Ivar smirks.
“No, it was just a conversation I was having with your father. Ragnar has something to tell you guys,” Ragnar almost chokes on his drink.
*Me?” he coughs.
“Yeah, I feel like you’d enjoy doing the honors since I have to do everything else,” I shrug. He laughs and sets his glass down.
My teeth ache at the moment the scent of blood hits my nose. Saliva fills my mouth, and my body comes alive as if I were mid-hunt. I swallow and try not to focus on the scent. It’s been a long time since I’ve had. freshly hunted deer. Elize was the one who would hunt every Saturday.
“Are you okay?” Ragnar places his hand over mine.
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“The deer is rare,” my voice comes out as a growl. He laughs and reaches for it to place a few pieces on my plate.
“What’s wrong with you?” Kaylee asks worriedly.
“Sophia has trouble with her hunting instincts. It’s her wolf genetics clashing with her lycanthropy genetics. I don’t know how she didn’t kill more of your kind when she was in the city,” Ana smiles. Kaylee’s eyes turn to me, and she shifts uncomfortably.
“What’s the news?” my grandmother pats my other hand. I stab a piece of deer and stuff it in my mouth. I can’t help the purring sound that comes out of me.
“Before everyone starts thinking you’ve finally lost your mind.” Ragnar laughs. “Sophia is pregnant.”
A collective “What?” echoes in the room. I want to badly repeat what he said, but I can’t stop eating the deer, so I just smile at everyone and nod.
“It’s going to be a long eleven months,” my grandmother laughs.
“Eleven?” I ask and swallow my mouthful of food. “It takes eleven months for Lycan babies to develop?”
“It does,” Aimee grins.
“I feel like you should know that. You’re a doctor, Kaylee laughs.
“Sophia has trouble remembering that she’s no longer a wolf and an omega. We’ve been working things out in therapy. It’s getting better’ Ragnar smiles at me
“I have to make changes to my schedule,’ I sit back, feeling sleepy all of a sudden. “Eleven months of pregnancy is insane. I’m going to have to rethink the four kids.”
“Nope. You signed the contract, and it’s not four kids. It’s four pregnancies.” Ragnar reminds me. “More than one fetus doesn’t count as they are connected to become one.”
“Always read the fine print,” Ana shakes her head. “And always get a second opinion.”
