Chapter 7
Lyrian
I never expected living with an alpha to feel like this. The thought just never crossed my mind. Everything I knew about them—about being owned, controlled, caged—crumbled in the face of how Zoren treated me. He was different, better. I never thought he was. I never thought my time with him was going to be as great as it was.
The first week in his penthouse suite atop the Nightshade Tower was a revelation. My own space, filled with books and magical artifacts he thought I'd enjoy studying. There was so much to see! Freedom to come and go as I pleased, though I rarely wanted to leave. To be honest, I shouldn't. Despite the protection of the cartel, there were still people looking for me, and they wanted to hurt me.
And Zoren himself... gods, the way he looked at me like I was something precious rather than something to possess. I could never forget the way he looked at me. There was never a chance that something like that could happen, as he always came to see me every day.
This morning, I woke to find him watching me, those amber eyes soft with an emotion I was starting to recognize. His hand traced lazy patterns on my bare skin, each touch sending sparks of magic through my body. All my instincts screamed to press closer, to let him claim me again, and that just might happen.
"You talk in your sleep," he murmured, nuzzling my neck where his mark would eventually go. The thought made me shiver in a good way. "Ancient spells, mostly. Where did you learn them?"
I curled into his warmth, allowing myself this moment of vulnerability. It didn't happen often, so I was relishing it. I just hadn't had many opportunities to let my guard down.
"My grandmother. She was the last of our coven before..." I trailed off, but Zoren understood. He always seemed to understand. One could say it was one of his powers.
His arms tightened around me. "Tell me about her," he whispered against my skin, and somehow, I did.
I thought I would never tell someone about my family, but with Zoren, it was different.
Stories spilled from my lips—of midnight lessons in moonlight magic, of healing spells and protection wards, of a strong woman who taught me to value my power rather than fear it. Zoren listened with the utmost attention, asking questions that showed genuine interest rather than strategic probing.
He wanted to know because he wanted to make me feel better, and not because it benefited him.
"She would have liked you," I admitted, tracing the wolf tattoo on his arm. The magic within it responded to my fingertips, making him growl. "She always said I needed someone who could match me, not master me." And that person was him.
His kiss was gentle but hungry, mirroring the need deep within his wolfish heart. "Smart woman," he breathed against my lips. "Because mastering you would be like trying to capture moonlight, and as much as some people may try to do it, it's just not possible."
My magic surged at his words, reaching for his automatically now. The mate bond between us grew stronger each day, making it impossible to hide how much I wanted him, needed him, and craved his presence in every way.
Later that same afternoon, I found him in his study, surrounded by ancient texts. He'd been researching moon-blessed omegas, trying to understand my powers better. Good for him and us. I also wanted to know more about who I was.
The sight of this powerful alpha dedicating himself to learning about me, about us, made my heart clench. His dedication to us was impressive. I had never seen anything quite like it.
"Did you know," he said without looking up, "that the strongest pack bonds in history were formed with moon-blessed omegas? Not because they were controlled, but because they chose to share their power."
I moved behind his chair, letting my hands rest on his shoulders. His muscles were tense from hours of reading. I thought about giving him a massage, but then I remembered I didn't know how to do it.
"And what else have you learned?" I asked, beginning to massage the knots away. His satisfied groan sent heat pooling in my belly.
"That I'm the luckiest alpha alive," he replied, pulling me around to straddle his lap. The position brought our faces close together, our magic growing thicker between us. "Having you choose to stay, to trust me... It's something I thought would never happen."
I silenced him with a kiss, pouring all my growing feelings into it. His hands slid under my shirt, leaving trails of fire on my skin. Every touch between us was charged with magic and desire, making it impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
"You make me feel safe," I confessed against his lips. "Powerful. Like I don't have to hide anymore, and it's the best feeling I've ever had."
His eyes darkened with desire and something deeper. "Because you don't. Not from me. Never from me." His words rumbled through me, making my omega nature purr with satisfaction. He always made me feel the way, even when he wasn't trying to.
We spent evenings exploring each other's powers, finding ways they complemented and enhanced one another. My lunar magic amplified his natural alpha strength, while his steady presence helped me channel abilities I'd always feared to use.
"Again," he encouraged as I practiced a particularly complex spell. The moonlight streaming through the windows seemed to bend toward us, responding to our energy. "You're stronger than you realize, little moon."
The nickname should have felt patronizing, but from him, it was an endearment that made my heart soar. I always had to be strong before, but with him, I could let him take charge.
Just like the way he touched me—possessive but reverent, demanding but giving. Each kiss, each caress, and each breath we shared brought us closer to complete bonding.
Later that same night, as we lay tangled together on his ridiculously large bed, I found myself tracing the scars on his chest. I had always wondered about them. Now was the time for the tables to turn and for him to tell me more about himself.
"Tell me how you got these," I whispered, pressing gentle kisses to each mark.
His breath hitched as my lips moved lower. "Territory wars," he said, voice rough with desire. The words brought back memories. "Before I became Alpha. When I was still proving myself."
I looked up at him, seeing the strength and vulnerability in his expression. I never thought he could look vulnerable, but now he was. "And now?"
"Now I have something more precious to protect," he growled, flipping us so he hovered over me. The weight of him, the heat of his skin against mine, made me arch upward with need. "Someone who makes all those battles worth fighting, and because of that, I fight harder than before."
His mouth claimed mine as our powers surged together, creating that familiar feedback loop of pleasure and connection. Every day, it became harder to remember why I'd ever wanted to run from this, from him.
When we finally broke apart, breathing with difficulty, I saw my own wishes reflected in his eyes. The mate bond hummed between us, growing stronger with each second, each revealed truth, each tender touch.
"Stay with me," he whispered, not an order but a plea. His fingers traced the crescent mark behind my ear, making me shiver. "Be my mate, my equal, my moon-blessed omega."
And for the first time in my life, staying didn't feel like surrendering—it felt like coming home.
◆◆◆
The first sign was subtle—a change in how my magic felt, like moonlight filtered through water instead of its usual sharp clarity. It was weird. I wasn't going to deny it, but didn't think much of it at the start.
I dismissed it, telling myself I was imagining things. After all, I had been using more magic these last few weeks, practicing with Zoren, letting my power flow freely for the first time in years. It was bound to feel different, wasn't it? At least, that was what I thought.
But then came the morning sickness. Not the dramatic kind you see in movies, but a persistent queasiness that made certain scents unbearable. The coffee I usually loved suddenly made me gag. Even Zoren's favorite cologne, which I'd grown to associate with safety and desire, now turned my stomach.
I hated myself for feeling that way. I didn't want to feel that way, especially about him.
"Are you feeling alright?" He asked one morning, concern evident in his amber eyes as I pushed away my breakfast untouched. I should have realized that eventually he would figure out something was wrong with me and wouldn't give up until he got the answer.
His hand reached for my forehead, checking for fever, and I had to force myself not to flinch away. It was the first time his touch didn't feel good. "You seem... different."
"Just tired," I lied, hating how easily the deception came. We'd promised no secrets between us, but this... this was too big, too terrifying to voice yet. I had been trying to push it away from me, but it wasn't going to work for long. "Been practicing too much magic, maybe."
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. That was one thing I loved about him—he knew when to give me space. For now, at least. I knew that his behavior would change soon. At the same time, I felt his worried gaze follow me throughout the day.
The third sign was impossible to ignore. My magic began reaching for something that wasn't there yet, curling protectively around my midsection when I slept. I'd wake to find my hands cradled over my stomach, a soft glow of lunar energy pulsing beneath my skin. What was going on?
"No," I whispered to my reflection one morning, after Zoren had left for an early meeting. "It's not possible. Not yet." But even as I said it, I knew I was lying to myself.
Moon-blessed omegas were notoriously fertile, especially with compatible alphas. And Zoren wasn't just compatible—he was my fated mate. Our magical resonance was perfect, our bond growing stronger each day. Of course this would happen.
He must have gotten me pregnant that one time… Still, at the time, I hadn't thought it would happen. I hadn't thought it was so easy to get pregnant.
I needed to know for sure, though. Without undeniable truth, I was still only imagining things.
Mae was the only one I could trust with this. I found her at the Howling Pine during the quiet afternoon hours, just like I knew I would. I thought that maybe I shouldn't come back to the same place I worked, given everything that happened to me, but didn't have a better choice.
The moment she saw me, her weathered face creased with knowing concern.
"Well, look who's back," she said, setting aside her inventory clipboard. "I was wondering when you'd come see old Mae about this."
I froze. "About what?" Did she really know? If so, how?
She gave me a look that saw right through me. "Child, I've been helping omegas for longer than you've been alive. I can sense the change in your magic from here. The real question is, why haven't you told that alpha of yours?"
Another question was how she was able to feel the change in me without being near me. Did she have some kind of special power I didn't know about?
The tears I'd been holding back for days finally spilled over. Mae immediately rounded the bar, pulling me into her arms like my grandmother used to do. Her embrace smelled of herbs and comfort. Everything she did reminded me of my grandmother. It was one of the reasons we became friends.
"I'm scared," I admitted into her shoulder. "What if... what if this changes everything? What if he—"
"If you finish that sentence with any nonsense about him rejecting you or this child, I'll smack you upside the head," Mae interrupted. "That man looks at you like you hung the moon itself. But first, let's make sure, shall we?"
She led me to her private office upstairs, where she kept her special supplies. Not just a regular pregnancy test, but one designed for supernatural beings. The kind that could detect not just pregnancy but magical potential too. She'd once told me everything about it, as though she already knew this moment was going to come.
"Now, we do this properly," she said, setting up a small ritual circle. "Your regular drugstore test won't tell us what we need to know, not with your kind of power. This has to be done this way."
The waiting was excruciating. Mae had me lie on her old couch while she worked, combining modern medical testing with ancient magic. The room filled with the scent of burning herbs and the soft glow of spelled crystals.
I was surprised by how much she knew about omegas. I knew she was very experienced, but never thought that her knowledge was so vast.
When she finally turned to me, her eyes were wide with wonder. "Oh, my dear," she breathed. "You're not just pregnant. You're carrying twins."
The world tilted sideways. "Twins?" I echoed as though my voice was disappearing.
"Two little ones, already bright with magic. Moon-blessed, like their parent." She paused, studying the magical readings more closely. "And something more. Something I haven't seen in all my years..."
My hands flew to my stomach as though something was threatening my children. "What is it? Are they okay?"
"More than okay. Their magical signatures... they're perfectly balanced. One pulling toward lunar magic, one toward terra magic. Light and earth, moon and wolf. Do you understand what this means?"
I did. The implications hit me like a physical blow. Twins born to a moon-blessed omega and an alpha of Zoren's power would be extraordinary enough. But this perfect balance of powers... it was the stuff of legends. The kind of potential that could either heal the rifts in our world or become a target for those who would exploit such power. It was kind of terrifying.
"Mae," I whispered, terror and wonder warring in my voice, "what am I going to do?" I really didn't know.
She sat beside me, taking my trembling hands in hers. "First, you're going to breathe. Then you're going to tell that mate of yours, because these little ones are going to need both their parents' protection. The Nightshade Wolves aren't just your best option anymore—they're your only option."
I knew she was right, but still had an objection.
"But what if—"
"Stop with the 'what ifs,'" she said firmly. "I've seen how that man looks at you. How his magic reaches for yours even when you're across the room. He's not going to abandon you. If anything, he's going to become even more protective."
She was right, of course. Zoren had proven himself again and again, showing me that he wanted me for who I was, not what I could give him. But this... this would change everything.
I knew it was going to. The moment he found out, our relationship wouldn't be the same, and it was for that reason I was afraid.
"The magical community will go crazy when they find out," I said, voicing one of my deeper fears. "Two perfectly balanced children, born to a moon-blessed omega... People will want to know. People will want to see me, and I don't want the attention."
"Which is exactly why you need to tell Zoren," Mae insisted. "The Nightshade Wolves have the resources and power to protect you and these little ones. But more than that, he deserves to know he's going to be a father. He can keep you hidden from everyone."
I closed my eyes, letting my magic reach inward. Now that I knew what to look for, I could feel them—two tiny sparks of life, already burning bright with potential. One cool and silvery like moonlight, the other warm and solid like earth itself. My children. Our children.
Thinking about that brought tears to my eyes. It was such a wonderful feeling. I had always known I wanted to be a father, but I never imagined it would bring me so much joy.
"How far along?" I asked, opening my eyes to find Mae smiling softly at me.
I knew that was a question I should know the answer to, but I still wanted to know what she thought.
"About six weeks, by my reckoning. Still early, but with supernatural pregnancies, especially ones this powerful, the signs show up sooner." She squeezed my hand. "You need to start taking care of yourself properly. No more skipping meals, no more hiding symptoms. Those little ones are already drawing on your magic—you need to stay strong for them."
Otherwise, something bad could happen, and I didn’t even want to think about it. I really had to be strong for the little ones.
The reality of it all was starting to sink in. I was going to be a parent. Zoren and I had created two new lives, two beings that would need us, depend on us, and change our world completely.
"I don't know how to tell him," I admitted.
I had already decided that I was going to tell him, but I had no idea how to approach the subject. It was going to be complicated, no matter what I tried.
Mae's eyes twinkled. "Sometimes the simplest way is the best way. But do it soon, dear. He's not stupid—he's probably already noticed changes in your scent and your magic. Alphas can be quite perceptive about these things, especially with their mates. You should already know that."
She was right. Zoren had been watching me more closely lately, concern evident in his eyes whenever I turned down food or tired too easily. How long before he figured it out on his own?
Perhaps he already knew. Like me, he might be struggling to figure out how to broach the subject.
"Tonight," I decided, standing up. "I'll tell him tonight."
Mae pulled me into another hug. "Come see me tomorrow. We'll start proper prenatal care—the magical kind. Those little ones are going to need special attention."
And I knew she could provide something better than what the hospitals could. And the best thing about it was that I wasn't going to have to pay anything.
As I left the Howling Pine, my hand rested on my still-flat stomach. Two lives growing inside me, already so full of potential, already so precious. The terror wasn't gone, but now it was mixed with something else—a fierce determination to protect these children, to give them the safety and love I'd lost so young.
This entire time, it turned out that everything I needed was to talk with someone I trusted. Mae was that person.
I might not have chosen this timing, might not have planned for this to happen so soon, but as I felt my magic curl protectively around those tiny sparks of life, I knew one thing for certain: I would do anything to keep them safe.
The walk home was a blur of emotions and planning. How would I tell him? What words could possibly convey the magnitude of this news? And how would we protect our children from those who would seek to use their power?
I didn't have to worry too much about the last thing. I knew that Zoren was going to figure something out. He always did.
As I entered the elevator to our penthouse, I placed both hands on my stomach and whispered, "Don't worry, little ones. Your father is going to love you so much. He's going to protect us all."