Chapter 78 Will The King Believe Her?

Chapter 78 Will The King Believe Her?
REIKA'S POV

Morning light spilled softly into the room, golden rays slipping between the curtains. I stirred awake slowly, the warmth of Apollo’s arms still wrapped securely around me. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm beneath my cheek, his heartbeat a comforting drum that reminded me of the peace I had found in the night.

But then the dream came rushing back, the vision the Moon Goddess had given me. My pup, glowing in her light. His tiny hand wrapped around mine. Her words echoed like a song in my soul: He will be the bridge between two worlds.

My hand instinctively drifted down to my stomach, cradling the life hidden there. I smiled through the tears that pricked my eyes. Hope had never felt so real, so alive, as it did in that moment.

By then, I had noticed that my tummy had grown significantly in the past few days. My baby has grown so fast. The thought of seeing him motivated me not to burn bridges with my father. We are family, and we'll remain that way until I build mine with Apollo.

Apollo stirred then, a low hum in his throat as he blinked awake. His eyes fluttered open, groggy but still filled with warmth the instant they landed on me. “Morning, my Luna,” he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

I tilted my face up toward him, brushing my fingers along his jaw. 
“Morning,” I whispered back. For a moment, I just looked at him, 
memorizing the softness in his features that only sleep could bring. Then my chest tightened, and I knew I couldn’t keep the vision to myself.

“I had a dream,” I began, my voice trembling slightly.

Apollo blinked, his arm tightening around me. “A dream?”

I nodded. “No… more than that. It was a vision. The Moon Goddess came to me.”

That caught his attention. He propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes sharp now, searching mine with urgency. “What did she show you?”

I swallowed, my hand pressing against my stomach as if to protect the secret still growing there. “Our pup,” I whispered. “She placed him in my arms, Apollo. A boy… with my eyes. He was strong, even as an infant; I could feel his wolf spirit stirring.”

Apollo’s breath hitched, his hand moving to cover mine over my belly. “Our pup…” he murmured, his voice thick with awe.

Tears welled in my eyes, but they were tears of joy. “The Goddess told me he won’t inherit the curse. She said he will inherit strength. That he will be the one to break what was broken and heal what was torn apart. She said he’ll be the bridge between two worlds, the son of an Alpha and the heir of a Lycan.”

For a moment, Apollo was silent, his eyes locked on mine, his thumb brushing away a tear that slid down my cheek. Then he let out a shaky breath, pulling me into his chest, holding me so tightly I almost couldn’t breathe.

“Do you know what this means, Reika?” he whispered into my hair. His voice was unsteady, but there was hope in it, fierce and unrelenting. “Our pup is not a curse. He’s a gift. A promise.”

I nodded against him, my tears soaking into his shirt. “I know. And I believe it with all my heart.”

Apollo leaned back just enough to kiss my forehead, lingering there as though he never wanted to let me go. “Then whatever comes, we’ll face it together,” he said firmly. “Your father, Aurelia, the curse, none of it matters. The Moon Goddess has already chosen our path.”

After breakfast, Apollo and I sat together in the quiet of our chamber. The weight of my dream, the vision, still pressed heavily on my heart. It was not something I could keep hidden, not when it could change everything. Apollo agreed.

“We should tell your father,” he said firmly, his hand covering mine. His eyes, still tired but filled with conviction, held mine. “If the Moon Goddess herself showed you this, it cannot be ignored. It may be the only way to change his mind.”

I nodded, though my chest tightened with worry. My father was not an easy man to sway; he had lived with duty etched into his very bones for longer than I had been alive. Still, I couldn’t shake the warmth of the Goddess’s promise, the strength I felt when I held our child in the vision. 
If anything could reach him, it would be that.

Later that day, we found him waiting in one of the great halls, his presence as imposing as ever. The sunlight from the tall windows spilled across him, catching in the streaks of silver in his dark hair, making him look both regal and weary. His eyes lifted when we entered, softening slightly when they landed on me.

“Father,” I began carefully, my voice steady despite the racing of my heart. “I need to tell you something.”

He motioned for us to sit, his gaze flicking to Apollo before returning to me. “Go on, my child.”

I took a breath and told him everything about the Moon Goddess, about the vision, about the boy with golden eyes who would grow into a leader that united not just packs but entire kingdoms. I told him how the Goddess promised our child would not inherit the curse, that he would be the bridge between two worlds. My voice cracked when I spoke the words, but I held firm, because I knew this truth was bigger than my fear.

When I finished, the hall fell into silence. My father leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable, though I could see the turmoil in his eyes. Apollo reached for my hand beneath the table, grounding me.

Finally, my father spoke. “Reika,” he said slowly, “you know I have lived long enough to hear many tales, many promises of prophecy. Some come to pass, some fade into nothing. My first duty will always be to Aurelia, to ensure our kingdom survives.”

“I know,” I whispered, my eyes stinging. “But this was not a tale. It was the Moon Goddess herself. She has chosen my child, Father. Our child. 
You cannot deny her will.”

He sighed, the sound heavy, his eyes softening as he looked at me. “You are so much like your mother,” he murmured. “Lyanara once spoke with the same fire, the same certainty.” He shifted his gaze to Apollo then, sharp once more. “You have given me much to think about, Alpha.”

Apollo inclined his head respectfully. “I will protect Reika and our pup with my life, my King. And if the Moon Goddess has chosen our child, then I will honor that path.”

My father was silent again for a long time. I held my breath, watching the way his hand tightened on the armrest of his chair, the way his jaw worked as he considered his next words.

At last, he said, “I will not force you to return to Aurelia, Reika. Not now. But I will not abandon my duty, either.” His eyes pierced through Apollo then. “You both will visit Aurelia when the time is right. I would see with my own eyes the truth of this vision, and I would know if the Moon Goddess’s promise truly holds.”

Relief poured through me, my shoulders sagging. It wasn’t full freedom, but it wasn’t chains either. My father had taken a step back, and for now, that was enough.

I reached across the table, touching his hand gently. “Thank you, Father.”

He gave me a small nod, though his eyes still carried the weight of his crown. “Do not thank me yet, my child. The future is still uncertain. But… perhaps the Goddess has spoken.”

I clung to Apollo’s hand, hope blooming in my chest.