Chapter 32

Korren

As our collective anxiety grew to a fever pitch, Councilman Raza spoke up.

"I'm sure you're excited to celebrate the good news with your mates, but we must perform the ranking test first." He held out his hand like they were old friends. "Come, Brielle."

I stepped in front of her, hiding my unsheathed claws behind my back. "That won't be necessary. You've done quite enough for one day."

"I can assure you that the methods are quite safe for the pup—"

"I said no—as both a mate and a healer," I growled. It might have been the wrong move, but Councilman Raza needed to be humbled. "I don't know what method you're using to test unborn pups, but last I heard, you were without the Goddess's blessing to do so."

His face went red with anger, but I held his stare. There was nothing he could say. He wouldn't admit to using magic, and we both knew only a powerful healer could pull off something like that. The fact that he wanted to do a rank test now, instead of waiting for the birth, was proof that he didn't trust Hidden Creek after what had happened with Isolde.

"When the child is more developed, I will rank test it myself," I said.

Ezra stood at my back, waiting for someone to question me.

Something passed across Councilman Rhys's face, but his eyes hardened before the emotion could fully reveal itself. "The healer is right. There's no need to rush." Councilman Raza's eyes snapped to his, but Rhys continued, "Even if we discovered the child is an Omega, we wouldn't collect it until it was six years old."

His callous tone as he spoke of taking away our pup had me longing for his death. Ezra gripped my shoulder, keeping me present.

Councilman Raza wasn't happy about this concession, but appearing as a united front was more important than pursuing an argument he couldn't win.

Perhaps I was wrong, but something told me Councilman Rhys had other things on his mind.

Councilman Raza stood, and Councilman Rhys joined him. "I will see you in five months," Raza said before nodding to the Alpha and taking his leave.

Bishop followed them outside and watched them get in their car.

"Take Brielle home. I'll call you in for a meeting later," Alpha Wynn ordered.

I nodded and turned to Brielle, who looked pale but no worse for wear. It was a temporary victory, but we knew they wouldn't back down easily. The promise of their imminent return hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Once we were sure the Council members were off the premises, I reached for Brielle's hand.

"Let's go home."

She smiled and nodded. Silence fell as we left the Alpha's house and walked the familiar path to our den.

A pup. Our pup.

Was it possible for a heart to feel heavy and light at the same time?

"Nervous?" Valor asked Brielle.

"Aren't you?" she countered.

"Maybe a bit," he admitted, raking a hand through his hair. "Can't say I have much experience with pups."

Her smile was soft, hesitant. "I do. I'm not concerned about the mechanics so much as the circumstances."

"Let us worry about the circumstances," Ezra said as he studied her face.

Noticing her frown, I jumped in. "Not to say you can't be worried. Ezra just means it's already being taken care of. Alpha Wynn has a plan. Everything will be over and done with long before our pup turns six." The words were like a drug. A pup—our pup. Goddess. "There's nothing they can do before then."

She snorted but didn't argue. "This doesn't mean you win," she muttered.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

My gaze dropped to her stomach, and my hands itched to feel the life inside her.

"What?" she asked softly.

Why am I so nervous?

Her voice caressed my ears as she whispered, "Korren?"

Shit, I must have been quiet for too long.

Ezra and Valor watched the exchange with interest.

"Can I touch . . ." My eyes went to her abdomen.

She halted and followed my line of sight. "Oh. Can you feel it?"

"I can. But if you don't want me to, that's okay. I just thought maybe we all could feel." I glanced at Valor and Erza. "If that was something you guys were up for."

"You can project the feeling of our child?" Brielle asked, her voice awed. I nodded. "Then yes, Korren. Please."

I pressed my hand to her abdomen. Power bloomed in my chest and slid toward my fingertips. I unleashed it, allowing my ability to search through layers of skin and muscle. I took a deep breath when I found the blessing at her center. There, curled in Brielle's womb, was a flicker of light—our child.

Wild, hopeful, and new.

I opened our bond and pushed the feeling toward my family, letting it spill into the joined parts of our souls.

Our joy, love, and determination wound together until we were no longer four unique strands.

We were braided together as one.

There was only one thing left to do—one final commitment to honor the Goddess who brought us together.

"Brielle, will you accept our claim in the ways of old? Will you willingly bind yourself to us before our Goddess?"

It was almost unheard of nowadays. Traditional mating ceremonies were our way of accepting the Goddess's plan and asking for her blessing when connecting our souls. There was no point if there wasn't a fated bond.

But we were different. We were made for each other.

In my heart, I knew this was right.

Her eyes flooded with tears as she looked at us—her mates. "I will."