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

Chapter 30

Leah

In just two weeks, Lina and I had transitioned from the refuge of the safehouse back to our pack lands. Initially, a sense of uncertainty gripped me about where I belonged. A part of me longed to join Roman and our people, to engage in the jubilant reconstruction of our pack. The log cabins rising anew from the forest’s embrace, crafted with love and respect for both nature and our ancestors, seem to call to me.

Yet, it was Kyle’s duty as the newly appointed Alpha to inhabit the heart of his territory, taking up residence in the Alpha’s manor house. I knew how much that house meant to him, steeped in both good and bad memories, echoes of his mother’s warmth alongside shadows of his father. The thought of him stepping back into that house stirred a protective instinct within me. My heart, unwavering in its commitment to my mate, beckoned me to stand by Kyle’s side, easing his transition into Alphahood.

We settled temporarily into Kyle’s current home in the Moonlight Pack. It was a whirlwind of activity as we redecorated, transforming the Alpha’s house into a home for our little family of three. Aanaga Maria’s frequent visits helped us navigate the transition back into the Moonlight Pack. Over cups of tea at the kitchen table, she shared stories about Tamara, Kyle’s mother, while he and our Moonlight packmates gradually decanted our belongings from one home to the other. Whenever Healer Maria’s duties allowed, she spent time with us, forging her own connection with Lina, eager to become the grandmotherly figure that Kyle hoped she’d be.

Finally, after two weeks of bustling preparations, we were ready to mark the momentous occasion—opening the Alpha’s manor during the full moon when Kyle would officially take up the mantle of Alpha. The silvery light washed over both packs gathered to hear Kyle’s announcement, the air thick with anticipation, a collective breath held in reverence for how we were reshaping our lives together. The battle against Reginald had tested our strength, but now it was time to banish the shadows of the past and embrace the future as Igaluk’s moon illuminated our way.

Beneath the bright full moon, Kyle stood tall, his jet-black hair blending with the shadows, his tanned skin glowing in the night. Dressed casually in a knitted jumper, with the white collar of his shirt peeking out, and jeans, he radiated a commanding presence tempered by contentment.

The back doors of the house had been thrown open to the cold, crisp wintery night, where we’d all gathered on the lawn. We’d lit a bonfire in the center of the garden, its warmth and glow reminiscent of gatherings from my Blood Moon Pack. On nights outside our cabins with the forest fringing our fires, we’d sing folk songs. I’d spotted some guitar cases and was greeted by Phoebe earlier, who’d promised to entertain us later with her wooden flute. I imagined the Blood Moons celebrating under the stars with music and laughter.

Standing before the united packs, Kyle looked every inch the confident Alpha. I could see the determination shining in his emerald eyes as he thrilled to greet the future head on, and it ignited a fierceness in me.

“Today, we mark the dawn of a new era,” Kyle began, his voice steady and resolute. “With Reginald’s end, we cast out the darkness he spread among us.” He drew a steadying breath. “My father, Reginald, constructed lies, sowing seeds of discord, and sought power at the expense of our families and our packs. From this day forward, I promise to look to Igaluk’s light to trust in those around me and to learn from their strength and knowledge so as to be the best leader I can be for you. I know in my heart that the moon goddess will guide us into a bright and brilliant future where both Moonlights and Blood Moons live side by side, in peace and harmony.”

Murmurs surged throughout the crowd, and I felt the weight of a hundred emotions cutting through the tension. Reginald’s remaining followers had been banished the day after the battle. With Kyle still in the infirmary, Healer Maria and Roman had upheld Igaluk’s justice together. Reginald’s followers had slunk away into the night, their long-held dominion shattered. Perhaps they’d become rogue wolves or darken their souls even more by looking for refuge with the Black Moon Pack, but they no longer darkened our packs’ futures.

In this moment, Kyle’s leadership shone brighter than ever, his mother’s strength and vision reverberating through him.

Roman stepped forward, pride radiating as he stood before our packs. The mantle of Alpha looked good on him; he appeared strong and confident, dressed in a dark blue wool sweater and jeans, his brown hair falling over his brow and azure-blue eyes glimmering with resolve. “With Kyle as the new Alpha of the Moonlight Pack,” he said, his voice carrying warmth and conviction, “I am pleased to uphold the alliance between our packs. Together, we have demonstrated that we are stronger united, and I hope to see that strength flourish as the bonds that join us grow from friendship to kinship.”

Cheers erupted from both packs, a thunderous response that shook the earth beneath us. The cheers were punctuated by howls as some of our packmates shifted, marking this new beginning with their most primal call.

I caught Mark’s gaze beside me; his expression was lit from within by the same love that filled my heart as he looked adoringly at Roman. The two had forged their bond through challenges, just as Kyle and I had, and it warmed my heart to see them having overcome them and their love flourishing.

“We are committed to this alliance,” Kyle continued, “not merely as packs, but as a family. Together, the Blood Moon and Moonlight Packs will usher in unprecedented unity and prosperity!”

With fervent applause, the air vibrated with fulfillment, but Kyle was far from finished. “And speaking of unity,” he said, with that electric glint in his eye as he caught my gaze. “I have a question for Leah—my ilak , my heart—will you marry me?”

The gardens fell silent, the world holding its breath, waiting for my response. Shock coursed through me, elation mingling with disbelief. Kyle had been hinting at his intentions over the past two weeks, but I’d never imagined he’d do it here , in front of everyone. The weight of the moment crashed over me.

A mischievous thought sparked as I considered asking whether the alliance between our packs was conditional on my answering yes. But as I saw my handsome mate holding his breath while waiting for me, I blurted, “Yes!” Laughter bubbled up, joyous and unrestrained. “Of course, I will!” I ran to him, throwing my arms around him.

Cheers erupted anew, enveloping Kyle and me as our friends, family, and packmates surrounded us with well wishes.

Amidst the laughter swirling around us, I turned my gaze toward the forest stretching behind the manor. At the edge of the lawn, the trees danced in the breeze, seeming to beckon me with their ancient wisdom. As my gaze wandered back toward the Alpha’s manor—a tangible symbol of our life together—I was struck with disbelief. This was now my home. Our home. For a fleeting moment, doubt whispered in my heart, questioning if this was indeed the right choice.

But as I found Aanaga Maria cradling Lina, swaddled snuggly against the cold in her earthy-toned blankets, certainty coursed through me. This was exactly right for my daughter and me. Lina would grow up here, nourished and cherished by her Aanag a Maria and her uncles, Anatch Roman and Anatch Mark. It didn’t matter if the walls were concrete or wooden; it was what was behind them that counted. And I knew my mate and I would fill these walls with love.

Later that night, as the last guest departed, Kyle shut the front door, and anticipation zinged through me. We were finally by ourselves, and my body already pulsed with longing, knowing exactly how I wanted to celebrate our engagement now that we were alone. Lina slept peacefully, having barely stirred through the festivities, and I suspected she would slumber until early morning. Kyle had brought out a soft orange and green rug earlier from the attic, telling me it was his mother’s. I now sat on its downy softness in front of the warm, glowing hearth, waiting for him to join me.

He leaned against the doorway and watched me. I smiled softly, grateful to have him all to myself again. Our family and friends were wonderful, but like Roman and Mark, I still felt Kyle and I had a lot of lost time to make up for. I drank in the sight of my mate, powerful and relaxed. My body tingled with desire as I noticed the taut fabric of his shirt stretching across his chest, making me itch to peel it away.

A knowing smile danced on his lips, and I knew my desires must be written clearly across my face.

I recognized the awakening heat within me, reminding me that I was in my heat cycle once more, my body craving his with an urgency even deeper than usual. It burned with the sense that it would only be happy when it was full of Kyle . To think that this feeling had once been a trial, when now it thrilled me, made this feeling sweeping through me even sweeter.

Finally, Kyle sat down beside me, draping an arm around my shoulder and drawing me nearer.

“I’m ready for another new beginning,” I whispered in Kyle’s ear, leaning in closer before playfully pulling his earlobe between my teeth while my fingers danced through his hair.

A growl rumbled in his throat, igniting a fire within me as he captured my lips, his tongue plundering my mouth as if he was as ravenous for me as I was for him.

“I don’t know if you can call what we’ve been doing every day now for the last two weeks a new beginning,” he said with a grin, mischief flickering in his eyes. “But I’m definitely here for it.”

Heat flushed across my cheeks as I recalled every stolen moment seized over the last couple of weeks, which, given how much we’d been traveling and reorganizing the packs and our accommodation, was no small feat.

His smile turned saucy as his lips wound down my neck to my collarbone while his hands deftly began to strip away my blouse, fingers caressing the mounds of my breasts, coaxing soft moans of want from me, desire pooling between my legs.

This rhythm of worshiping each other’s bodies—just as Kyle had done on that first glorious night recently—had become as necessary as breathing. Tonight, however, was different. The intensity of my heat cycle magnified the anticipation, heightening the pleasure that radiated through me. I felt a new thrill as I stared up at him tonight, my body brimming with fertility and Igaluk’s full moon.

“It feels new when I’m in my heat cycle,” I whispered, gazing intently into his eyes, a shared understanding sparking between us.

His nostrils flared as he breathed me in deeply, attuned to the heady mix of hormones my body released—every signal whispering that I was fertile and ready for him.

Oh, so ready.

But then I saw uncertainty flicker in his green gaze. “Maybe we shouldn’t tonight,” he said, concern playing across his features.

Oh.

Disappointment pooled within me at his words.

“I just… after Lina’s illness, I thought we should maybe hold off,” he said softly, vulnerability threading through his voice.

My heart squeezed. The fact that he prioritized our future child’s welfare filled me with profound love, and another rush of need swelled within me. How had I ever dreamed of robbing this man of fatherhood? He was such a natural, nurturing force. A sense of fierceness surged within me, affirming that our family was meant to grow in this home.

“Didn’t you tell me that Igaluk doesn’t give us a challenge we can’t overcome?” Defiance flared within me, meeting Kyle’s gaze, which shone with affection for my determination. I knew he recognized my quoting of his mother, and it made my heart soar. “If our other children suffer from the Warring Wolves condition that Lina did, then we’ll help them through it, just like we did her.”

“Children?” he parroted, arching a brow, surprise flickering across his features.

“The full moon is known for its potency, Ilak ,” I whispered, an air of invitation in my coy smile.

His lips found mine once more, a promise hanging in the air between us. My hands glided over his shirt, urgently stripping it away to caress every taut muscle as if I wanted to soak in his strength. Tenderly, I traced the scar on his right flank—a reminder of our challenge and our victory. I kissed the three thick silver slashes running across his tanned skin, coaxing him to lay back on the rug. As my lips traveled down his bare chest and over the hard plane of his stomach, I could taste the sweat mingled with his pine scent, tracing the treasure trail that led to his belt buckle.

Already, I felt his hardness pressing against his pants. Running my hand over his length, I loved his deep intake of breath and the way his body reacted to my touch. I soon liberated him from his jeans, teasing him through his boxers. He bucked against me as if desperate for my touch, and anticipation surged through me.

When Kyle’s boxers fell away, his erection sprang free, and I licked my lips eagerly. A heady groan of desire escaped him as he gazed down at me with heavy-lidded eyes, his dilated pupils urging me onward.

I leaned forward, taking him in eagerly, savoring the taste of him. My tongue danced over his shaft, curling and caressing, coaxing more of those delicious groans from him.

“Leah,” he rasped, the sound urging me to continue until he hit the back of my throat, and a rumble of pleasure reverberated through him.

Part of me wanted to keep working him with my mouth, but as I looked up and saw him biting his lip, I knew if I wanted him in me tonight, I needed to stop. With one final lick, I withdrew, lying back on the rug by the fire.

Kyle lifted himself over me, his hands moving with intent. Stripping me of my bra, he kneaded and kissed my nipples until I moaned. In a moment, he’d removed my jeans and knickers. His skilled mouth came between my thighs, and I trembled and moaned as his tongue sank between my folds. His fingers delved into me, stroking my clit, and a whimper escaped me. The ache to be full of him was all I felt.

“Kyle,” I moaned. “Please, I need you,” I begged.

He moved above me, his body poised to fill me, but just before he did, I said, “Mark me.”

Kyle’s desire-filled gaze flared with a primal light, his focus sharpening. Anticipation pulsed through me as I watched Kyle’s mouth become fuller, his fangs shifting in an instant. He dipped his mouth to my neck, and as his canines sank gently into the soft flesh of my throat, I gasped at the mix of pleasure and pain flooding my senses. As the warmth of his bite enveloped me, my senses exploded in a riot of euphoria. My wolf surged to the surface, howling with delight and fierce possessiveness, echoing the primal need to be tethered to my mate. She reveled in the mark that was a symbol of our bond.

I loved that he didn’t tease me but instead knew my deep need for all of him. Parting my thighs, he thrust into me. I cried out as the pain disappeared completely, and a pleasure I’d never known rocked my entire body as he sheathed himself inside me. His fangs gently withdrew, leaving behind a throbbing warmth as he licked the wound with sensual tenderness, sparking more whimpers from me.

The firelight danced over his tanned skin, and I felt like something divine as I drank in his tensed muscles rippling over me. Kyle teased the soft skin of my clit, caressing and filling me as we moved.

“Kyle,” I gasped, losing myself in the overwhelming pleasure of our connection, the warmth of his presence, and the intimacy of being marked by my mate. I could feel him—every ounce of him —his spirit and his strength mingling with mine as he moved within me, thrusting deeper.

With every single movement, our connection deepened, amplifying the fierce love we shared. Each motion pulled at my heart, and I could tell he felt it, too. We were one in every way now. The world faded around us, our minds cleared, and all that mattered was this—us, enveloped in love and light, in the glow of the fire and the exquisite potency of the full moon above.

As he drove into me, I wrapped my legs around his waist, urging him deeper as if I were pulling him into every facet of my being. I felt more alive than ever, every touch a promise, every thrust a vow.

“Yes, Kyle,” I cried out as we found our release at the same time. Breathing in the warmth of our shared breath and the scent of desire, I knew in my heart that we had just begun anew—as fated mates, bound together forever and ready to face everything that lay ahead.

A couple of weeks later, beneath the stars, we celebrated our grand mating ceremony—a culmination of everything Kyle and I had endured together.

Lyvia arrived to join our celebration. With her vibrant spirit and wise heart, she helped bathe my hair and plait floral wreaths into it before the ceremony, magic and love braided into each of her tender ministrations. All my Blood Moon packmates, Mary, Lucy, and Phoebe, got ready with us, too, happy to stand as my bridesmaids alongside me on my big day. They took turns looking after Lina, doting on her, and making her part of our celebrations.

As I walked down the aisle, flanked by the vibrant hues of our united packs, Kyle awaited me at the altar, an embodiment of all my dreams come true. The magnetic pull of his emerald eyes was as potent today as the first time we’d met. But the strain of conflict, tautening his chiseled jaw and shoulders, was gone. He stood in his tux, charm and ease vibrating through every line of his tall and muscular figure.

The ceremony unfolded beneath a canopy of sparkling sikin crystals that Lyvia had enchanted to dangle from the trees lining the garden. They glimmered, making up for the absence of the moon. Igaluk’s moon was new today, and only the stars bore witness to this sacred night.

As I walked up the aisle, my heart fluttered with both anxiety and joy. I leaned on Roman’s steady arm, his warmth anchoring me among the swirling emotions. Memories rushed through me—how Kyle had once gripped my wrist on a dark night like this, pulling me back through the Blood Moon quarters. Far from the past hurting, I felt the shadows of my memories fuse into something beautiful, illuminating this moment. Kyle stood waiting for me at the altar—strong, steady, and resolute. The sikin crystals cast dappled light on his face, and I saw the way his eyes shone with tenderness, reflecting an unwavering love. Beneath this dark moon, I knew he would always be there to guide me through any shadows that might obscure our way.

When we reached the altar, Roman leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead, making my eyes sting with tears, full of love for my anuk . Excitement danced through me as he carefully placed my arm in Kyle’s.

Only Alphas, Elders, or witches had the power and right to preside over our sacred rites like marriage. Kyle and I had asked Alexis, the fierce Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack, to oversee and bless our union.

His presence was commanding yet grounded, his short black hair tousled in the evening breeze as he stood tall, radiating strength.

“Friends, family, and packmates,” Alexis began, his deep voice resonating like rolling thunder, “we are gathered here tonight to celebrate and join in the sacred union of Kyle and Leah.” His words wrapped around us, and my heart drummed in anticipation.

Kyle’s gaze was unwavering, shining with tenderness and pride as he prepared to share his declaration of love. “Leah, my Ilak and heart,” he began, his voice deep and resonant, each word laced with emotion. “You are strong, beautiful, and resilient.” I smiled as his words brought back to me the moment he’d declared his love for me back at the safehouse.

“You fill every moment with your light and warmth,” he said, “weaving everyday moments into magic. I promise to love and worship you every day for the rest of our lives with my spirit, mind, and body.” His eyes bore into mine, softening the world around us and anchoring me to this moment.

With tearful eyes, I cleared my throat, knowing my voice would be raw. A quiet vulnerability wrapped around my heart as I said, “Kyle, every day, you make me see that it’s not weakness to want. In fact, it shows strength to want to change things, to want to alter the world around you, like you do with so much vision and compassion. I promise to love you with the same fierceness and intensity of spirit that you have awakened in me, now and forever, Ilak .” As the last word left my lips, I feared emotion would get the better of me, but I held his gaze, grounding myself to this wonderful moment.

Our friends smiled and cheered as we sealed our vows with a kiss. As I glanced around our happy gathering, I caught sight of Roman and Mark, standing hand in hand, their bond a palpable testament to the strength of love and how, just as Kyle and I had proved, all challenges could be overcome with its force.

Alexis’s strong voice announced, “By the power vested in me by the moon goddess, Igaluk, I now pronounce you, man and wife. May the Igaluk’s new moon, so known for its potency in fostering new beginnings, bless your union and usher in prosperity and richness to your lives.”

As Kyle and I stepped down the aisle hand in hand, the world around us erupted into applause and joyful howls. I felt the presence of our families and friends, their love encircling us, assuring us that we were never alone.

Hand in hand, we walked into a future rich with promise, knowing our love held the strength to conquer whatever lay ahead and that together, we would cultivate our community and nurture our shared dreams and family. Each step taken was a testament to our resilience, and as we left the altar, hearts full and spirits entwined, I felt ready to embrace the luminous journey that awaited us.