Chapter 162 When hope took the floor
IRIS
A guard pushes open the towering doors, and warmth pours out—a rush of sound, candlelight, and hundreds of bodies gathered under the vaulted ceiling. The chandeliers spill glittering reflections across polished stone; the scent of fresh pine from the decorations mixes with roasted meats, spiced wine, and the faint floral perfumes worn by noblewomen.
For a heartbeat, I stop.
Because every single head turns toward us.
A ripple moves through the crowd like wind brushing a field of grass. People bow. Some lower their heads deeply; some place fists over hearts. The respect isn’t demanded—it’s offered freely.
Darian leans closer, voice soft but meant only for me. “Breathe.”
I do. Slowly. And I step into the hall beside him.
Daisy appears first, pushing through the crowd with all the elegance of an enthusiastic puppy. Adrian trails behind her, trying and failing to mask how smitten he is, though he straightens instantly when Darian’s eyes flick toward him.
“You two look incredible,” Daisy gushes, her hands flying up in excitement. “Everyone’s staring at Iris, by the way. I mean—obviously.”
Darian lifts an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
Daisy grins. “Oh, completely. You should’ve seen the way Alpha Rowan nearly dropped his drink when she walked in.”
Adrian clears his throat in warning. “Daisy.”
“What?” She throws her hands up. “It’s true!”
I try not to laugh, but it slips through anyway. Darian’s hand subtly tightens against my back, warm and grounding.
“Come,” he murmurs. “It’s time.”
We approach the raised platform at the end of the hall. Musicians fall silent. The murmuring fades. Darian steps forward first, his presence alone commanding the room’s focus. I stand slightly behind him, but his arm reaches back, fingers curling around mine, drawing me forward so I’m beside him.
No hiding. Not anymore.
Darian’s voice rings out, low and steady, echoing through the hall.
“Thank you all for joining us tonight. We come together not just to celebrate peace in our lands, but the future of our kingdom.”
Eyes flicker toward me. Warmth creeps into my cheeks, but I hold my chin high.
Darian continues, “Today, I share with you the greatest honor the Goddess could grant me. My queen, Iris, and I are expecting our heir.”
The room erupts.
Cheers, applause, shouts of celebration. Some people cry out blessings to the Goddess; others clap so hard their palms must sting. Daisy screams loud enough for three people. Even Adrian breaks into an ear to ear grin.
My throat tightens. I hadn’t expected this overwhelming joy, this sea of faces beaming back at me. The weight of the moment settles in my chest, but instead of pressing down, it lifts something. The kingdom is happy. Truly happy.
Darian’s hand squeezes mine. When I look at him, warmth softens the sharp line of his smile.
He whispers, just for me, “They love you.”
I swallow, breath trembling, and whisper back, “I hope I give them reason to.”
“You already have.”
As the cheers mellow into joyful chatter, the Alphas begin to approach for formal greetings. Alpha Rowan bows first, tall and imposing with a deep scar across his brow.
“My king. My queen.” His voice rumbles like distant thunder. “This is a blessed day. The Goddess smiles upon your union.”
“Thank you, Alpha Rowan,” Darian replies, but then Rowan shifts his gaze to me, warm and approving.
“If the child is even half as strong as either of you, our kingdom will prosper for generations.”
His words make something flutter in my chest, fear and pride braided tightly together.
Next is Alpha Maren, graceful and sharp-eyed, with hair braided in gold threads. She offers a respectful tilt of her head.
“I am honored to witness this moment,” she says. “The prophecy has taken much… but it has gifted us hope in return.”
Her voice thickens slightly at the end. I don’t miss it. Darian notices too, his jaw tightening, but he nods gratefully.
“Your loyalty has always been invaluable, Maren. Thank you.”
She steps aside, allowing others to come. A steady flow of Alphas, nobles, pack leaders, emissaries. Each one has a different way of offering congratulations, some soft-spoken, some loud, some tearful, but they all share the same warmth.
I can feel it like a physical thing, wrapping around me.
Darian never lets go of my hand.
At one point, Daisy squeezes between two Alphas and nearly trips on her own skirt, catching herself on Adrian’s arm. “Iris, I swear, if they bow any deeper they’ll hit the floor.”
Adrian murmurs, “Daisy,” in that quiet warning tone, but she waves him off and continues rambling happily about how she has already imagined the baby’s future outfits.
Darian leans toward me, amused. “She hasn’t stopped talking since I walked in.”
“I know,” I whisper back. “Its almost like she’s vibrating.”
“She is,” Adrian confirms tiredly from behind Daisy, though there’s affection in his eyes.
Hours pass in a warm blur of dancing flames, clinking glasses, congratulations, and gentle music. At one point, Darian steps away to speak with a council elder, leaving me by the edge of the dancefloor with Daisy.
“You’re doing so well,” Daisy murmurs, squeezing my arm. “Look at you. Queen. Mother-to-be. Absolute perfection.”
I snort. “You’re biased.”
“I am,” she agrees proudly.
Across the room, Darian’s gaze flicks to me, anchoring me instantly. Even at a distance, his presence wraps around me like a low, steady hum. His eyes soften when they meet mine, something possessive and warm flickering beneath the calm kingly mask.
Daisy sighs dreamily. “If Adrian ever looks at me like that, I’m going to faint.”
“He already does,” I tease.
She stares at me, scandalized. “No. Stop. Really?”
“Yes,” Adrian says dryly behind her, making her jump.
They fall into bickering—soft, affectionate, utterly them—and I smile, warmth flooding my chest again.
Then Darian returns.
He approaches silently, the crowd parting for him. When he reaches me, his hand finds the small of my back with ease, fitting there like it belongs.
“Are you tired?” he asks, voice dropping into something quiet and intimate.
“A little,” I admit.
His expression softens. “We can leave whenever you wish.”
I shake my head. “Not yet. I like… this.” My hand lifts slightly, gesturing to the hall. The lights. The people. The joy, thick enough to feel.
Darian studies me for a long moment, then nods. “As you wish.”
The musicians shift into a slower melody. Some couples drift onto the dance floor. Darian turns to me, offering his hand.
“Dance with me?”
I take it.
His arm slips around my waist, pulling me close enough that I feel the warmth of his breath along my cheek. We move slowly, swaying in time with the music, and the rest of the hall blurs into color and sound.
“I’m proud of you,” he murmurs.
“For what?”
“For standing here with such grace.” He pauses. “For giving this kingdom hope. For giving me a future.”
Emotion swells so fiercely in my chest I have to inhale sharply to steady myself.
“You give me one too,” I whisper.
His forehead dips toward mine until they nearly touch.
We sway. We breathe. And as the song carries us, the kingdom celebrating around us, I realize something quietly, deeply true.
This is the happiest I’ve ever been.