Chapter184:King's Bargain

|| Lilac’s POV || The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of Alaric's bedroom, painting golden stripes across the rumpled sheets where he should have been. My fingers traced the cold, empty space beside me— another night he'd come home after I'd fallen asleep, another dawn he'd slipped away before I woke. Always gone. Always exhausted. Always running after the rogues and witches! I sat up, pressing a hand to the subtle swell of my stomach. The baby— our baby— was still small enough to hide beneath loose blouses, but soon, that wouldn't be possible. Soon, the whole world would know. If only I could tell him first. A knock at the door startled me. "Luna?" Mira’s voice, gentle but firm. "May I come in?" "Of course," I called, hastily tugging the blankets higher. “Did you tell him last night?” She asked as soon as she entered. I couldn't hide it from her or from most of the she-wolves in the pack but they were loyal and kind enough to keep it to themselves. I had all the help h