Lycan Prince’s Secret Baby (Moonlit Forbidden Love #1)

Chapter 22

Leah

As Lina’s tiny fingers grasped mine and Kyle’s, a magnetic pull surged through me—a raw awareness of her deep need for comfort. My pulse quickened, revealing the truth I’d buried. Morning light streamed through the window, casting a golden glow over the room, illuminating the wooden rafters adorned with shells, feathers, and dried flowers—each a protective talisman to keep me and my daughter safe.

Now, cradled in our family’s warmth, Kyle’s power felt overwhelmingly protective. Lina’s reach was a plea for it. The moment pressed against my chest. My wolf prowled beneath my skin, restless and screaming for closeness as Kyle’s warmth ignited my senses.

My wolf’s power thrummed through my veins, wild energy ready to envelop Lina. The air crackled with electricity, signaling we were straying into uncharted territory. Intuition told me Lina craved her parents’ combined strength. It was as essential as the milk I gave her. Kyle sensed it, too.

His eyes fell shut, tension enveloping us like twilight. Every fiber of his being vibrated in sync, summoning his beast’s strength for our daughter. I followed suit, letting my wolf surge to create an ethereal connection. We began channeling our energies toward Lina, weaving them together in an unbreakable harmony. This infusion felt different—electric. The intensity of wolf spirit flowing between us was unlike anything we had felt before. It sparked a heat and connection that awakened our wolves, pulling us into a primal rhythm. Each quickening heartbeat echoed in my chest, compelling me to acknowledge the emotions flooding me. My wolf wasn’t merely guarding Lina; an undeniable warmth blossomed from Kyle’s presence beside me. As our spirits mingled within our daughter, I felt my resilience intertwined with Kyle’s fierce intensity, transforming into something extraordinary within her tiny form.

The heat of our infusion blazed, igniting my wolf and sending a wave of longing coursing through my veins. My eyelids fluttered open, instinctively drawn to trace the strong angles of Kyle’s jaw and the lean, chiseled planes of his face. The sunlight shifted over his face, and I felt as if I’d wandered into a beautiful sunlit forest, his pine scent engulfing me like majestic trees. As if sensing my gaze, his own eyes blinked open, revealing a depth of awareness that crashed with my own. His pupils were blown wide, alive with a mix of confusion and desire that made my head spin. His breath shallowed, a flickering echo of my own reckless longing.

Before I could contemplate the consequences, I found myself leaning closer, magnetically drawn to him by a need that surged through my body like wildfire racing through dry grass. Our lips met softly, the touch delicate, as if afraid to shatter the fragile magic of this moment. The kiss was a mixture of wonder and breathlessness, like fresh petals unfurling to greet the sun’s tender warmth. My lips searched his, and with each gentle brush, the tension and yearning of unspoken words melted away like morning dew. This was all that mattered. My lips ached for his more than they ever had for anyone or anything before.

The heat of our kiss grew, our tongues tangling together as if we were two streams merging into one. I could see Kyle’s aura dance with mine in my mind’s eye—his vibrant green echoing the intensity of his emerald gaze, intricately woven into the cerulean hue of my own. My free hand found its way into Kyle’s short hair, fingers grazing his scalp, eliciting a groan from him that vibrated through me, urging me to kiss him deeper, to pull him closer.

Amidst our communion, Lina’s small hands remained gently clasped around our fingers, a reminder of the innocent bond we were nourishing. The way we connected must have felt primal to her. All she knew was that she wanted both of us near, the warmth enveloping her tiny spirit. It was almost as if I could sense her happiness blossoming through our love, and in that moment, she was undoubtedly part of us, bound together in this hallowed space.

I sensed my daughter’s joy radiating through this shared moment, and the green and blue hue within my thoughts grew into a kaleidoscope of color. Lina’s dreamscape spilled through my thoughts, painting a blissful picture of the three of us together in a warm, resplendent world, free from fear and concern. Images flickered like old film reels in my mind—visions of our family together, laughing, carefree, and whole . The warmth enveloped us, cocooning our very essence within a bubble of protection and love. And within this dream, the beautiful melody of the Blood Moon folk song wove its way through the air, wrapping around us with a familiar sense of comfort:

The rivers sing with secrets old,

Of tales of courage, of hearts so bold.

Rest your head on the earth so warm,

In my embrace, you’ll find your form.

Each note threaded through our connection, the earth shaping our wolves as we kissed. With every stroke of our lips, the heat of our embrace nurtured Lina’s spirit, fostering the burgeoning wolf within her. The bliss we shared was intoxicating, Kyle’s pine musk making me feel as if I’d gotten lost in that mighty forest, which I never wanted to leave. I wanted to live within this space forever, to sink deeper and deeper.

Kyle’s hand caressed the nape of my neck, coaxing a moan from me as he devoured my mouth.

But then, within the bliss, a gnawing anxiety crept in—coiling like smoke around us. The warmth began to twist, the vibrant colors of our shared moment dimming into muted shades. My blue aura pulsed with fear, which seeped into the harmony around us. It was an unwelcome intruder threatening to shatter the fragile bond between us all. Reality crashed down on me, each thud echoing painfully in my chest.

What am I doing?

This overflowing intimacy among the three of us was too dangerous to sustain.

This is a mistake.

In the dreamscape, Lina’s eyes shone with a fragile hope as she gazed up at us, yet I could feel the weight of the risk I was taking swallowing me. If Kyle knew the truth of who she was to him, then we might lose the independence I’d fought so hard to carve out for us.

The beautiful, soothing harmony of the Blood Moon song was still thrumming through Lina’s dreamscape,

Hush now, my darling, the stars are bright,

They whisper dreams of our pack tonight.

In the heart of the forest, where wild things roam,

You’ll find the strength to call it home.

Despite my instinct to nurture her with our familial bond, fear pulsed through every corner of my heart, and I pulled away from Kyle, breaking the connection.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted, the words barely escaping my lips. “I can’t.”

As I broke our tether, the dream dissipated, and the warmth that had filled me was now replaced by a chilling emptiness. Pain lanced through my chest, and I felt the absence of Kyle’s lips as if I’d lost a piece of myself—the very part that made me whole.

Kyle’s expression morphed from blissfulness to confusion and hurt. But, then, he shook his head, a seriousness etching itself across his features. “Leah,” Kyle said, his tone laced with concern. “Wait. We need to talk about what just happened.” His voice, now edged with urgency, broke through my fog of fear.

I forced myself to push him away, my heart racing with a primal urge to protect Lina. I needed distance. I needed something, anything other than this intoxicating heat that still lingered in me.

I snatched Lina up out of the bassinet, holding her as if she were a lifeline. I was acutely aware of the fallout that would follow if Kyle discovered the truth. I needed to get away from him. I settled on going to Lyvia’s room. It was just down the hallway, and suddenly, it felt as if it was the only place of safety left to me.

But before I could escape, I felt a gentle tug at my heart, a soft plea that pierced through the veil of confusion. Lina’s small hand shot out, reaching for what she sensed slipping away—reaching for the connection I had just shattered. Her delicate fingers wrapped around Kyle’s hand, tightening instinctively, and I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

Horror mingled with awe as I watched Lina’s yearning to keep her father close.

How is this happening?

My protective instincts roared within me, battling against my daughter’s innocent desire to forge a natural bond with her father. I struggled to suppress the turmoil surging through my heart. I felt myself tensing. Defensiveness vibrated through me as if I were a deer caught out on the open, desolate tundra. Each breath that I took grew shallower. Each thud of my heart told me that all the hanging charms and protective magic decorating our little room were about to be blown away.

Lina’s eyes flickered open, shimmering with a clarity that belied her tender age. Understanding emanated from her, and an instinctive bond pulsing among the three of us left me ensnared in an emotional tug-of-war.

Kyle’s expression was rigid, a mixture of confusion and wonder playing out across his handsome features. “Lina,” he whispered, entranced by our daughter. His voice was barely more than a breath.

The tension in the air crackled, a palpable electricity as if the spirit of our wolves were tearing apart the fabric of the room. Lina’s wide, expectant gaze was unwavering, locked on Kyle, her innocence a stark contrast to the turmoil raging through me. A shiver raced down my spine, chilling me to the core as the harsh reality crystallized: I could no longer hide. The truth I had fought so desperately to conceal loomed like a shadow, poised to suffocate the fragile future I had painstakingly built.