Chapter 170: The Arrival of Other Dragons

Intrigued, Loric nodded, his big eyes shining with curiosity and innocence.

When they reached Caleb and Lya, the little boy blinked, noticing the oddly solemn yet reassuring expression on their faces.

Lya gently reached out her hand toward her adoptive son. "Come here, sweetheart."

Loric immediately nestled against her, and Lya placed his small hand on her stomach.

"Do you feel it, my love?" she murmured with infinite tenderness.

The boy remained still, his brows slightly furrowed in concentration. He was still just a child, but he understood that something important was happening.

Then, a shiver ran through him. The same wave of magic that had enveloped Lya and Caleb now passed through Loric’s small body. The baby recognized their brother, even if they weren’t related by blood.

His eyes lit up, and a small, crystal-clear, joyful laugh escaped his lips.

"It moved, Mama!" he exclaimed, fascinated.

Caleb and Lya exchanged a knowing glance, touched by his innocent wonder.

Elora, watching silently, struggled to contain the emotion swelling inside her. When she reached out a hand, Lya took it without hesitation and guided her palm against her still-flat stomach.

A breath of astonishment slipped from the former Luna’s lips as she felt the wave of magic pulse through her.

"Oh..."

It wasn’t just movement—it was energy, warmth, a pulsing, living presence.

A single tear rolled down Elora’s cheek, but her smile was radiant.

"This baby is already a miracle."

Caleb placed a protective hand on his mother’s shoulder. "Now you understand why I wanted you here."

Elora nodded. "I couldn’t be more honored, my son."

Loric, still pressing his hand against his mother’s stomach, looked up at his parents with wide, admiring eyes.

"I’m gonna be the best big brother in the world!" he declared with adorable determination.

Caleb burst out laughing, and so did Lya.

"You already are, sweetheart," she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the boy’s forehead.

And in that fleeting moment, their family bond grew even stronger, woven together by an unbreakable love. This invisible thread, made of silent promises and deep affection, wrapped itself around Caleb, Lya, and the still-fragile soul of their unborn child.

But the moment didn’t last.

Because, as always, Drake was incapable of staying out of the loop for too long. It wasn’t just curiosity eating at him—it was the undeniable feeling that he was being left out of a crucial moment, a key event he refused to miss.

With the restless energy that defined him, he stomped over to the group, his brows furrowed and an exaggerated pout on his lips, betraying his irritation.

He stopped right in front of them and, with a dramatic sigh, planted his fists on his hips, perfectly mimicking Loric’s earlier stance.

"Alright, that’s it! I’ve been left in the dark long enough. I can feel something big is happening, and I demand to know what it is!"

Caleb immediately rolled his eyes, a familiar gesture of exasperation, while Lya chuckled, her laughter light and melodic.

But before she could answer, a shiver rippled through the air—a subtle wave of magic, almost unnoticeable... until it suddenly shot straight at Drake.

The Beta jerked as an invisible force shoved him, making him stumble backward.

"Whoa! What the—?!"

Caught off guard, he lost his footing on a stray piece of wood that hadn’t been cleared away. In the most ridiculous chain reaction possible, he tripped, flailed his arms in vain, and went crashing flat on his back with a loud thud.

Silence.

Wide-eyed stares.

Then—a single burst of laughter.

Followed by another.

And soon, the entire pack was howling with laughter, a wave of uncontrollable amusement rippling through the crowd. Even those who didn’t fully understand what had just happened couldn’t resist the infectious hilarity of the moment.

Drake, still sprawled on the ground, opened his mouth, closed it, then slowly turned his head toward Lya and Caleb with an utterly baffled expression.

"Wait a damn minute…" he muttered, squinting.

Then, realization dawned. His mouth fell open. His eyes widened.

Silence.

Then—he cracked up.

His humor saved him as always, even in the most humiliating moments. With an easy laugh, he dusted himself off as he got back up, approaching Lya with much more caution this time.

His gaze drifted from her stomach to her face, reading the amused spark in her eyes.

"What the hell was that, Luna?" he asked, half-intrigued, half-apprehensive.

Lya rested a protective hand over her belly and gave him a mischievous smile.

"I think the baby didn’t appreciate your interruption, Beta."

Another stunned silence.

"The… baby?" Drake repeated, his voice pitching slightly.

For a moment, he stood frozen, processing the information. Then, as if struck by an explosion of pure joy, his face lit up with a broad, genuine grin.

"By the Goddess, that’s insane!"

And without a shred of hesitation, he threw his head back and laughed—a deep, heartfelt sound that rang through the air like a promise of brighter days ahead.

But the laughter was cut short.

A sharp cry pierced through the air, sending a ripple of panic through the pack.

"A portal! A portal just opened!"

All eyes snapped toward the sudden tear of light splitting the air a few meters above the ground.

The atmosphere buzzed with raw, unstable energy, and the shadows flickered under the strange glow emanating from the portal.

Lya and Caleb instantly tensed, ready to react, as time seemed to slow.

For a brief moment, nothing emerged.

Then, a powerful gust of wind swept across the ground as two massive figures burst from the sky.

Two dragons.

Their mere presence sent a ripple of tension through the pack, some wolves instinctively stepping back. The beating of their wings stirred up dust, whipping through the trees, bending the branches.

Lya, stiff at first, suddenly felt something familiar stir within her—a whisper of the past she thought she had left behind.

Her heart pounded, but this time… it wasn’t from fear.

A faint smile touched her lips as she projected a telepathic message to the entire pack.

"Do not be afraid. They are friends. Old friends."

The dragons circled in graceful, wide arcs, their towering forms casting long shadows over Sacred Moon.

The larger of the two was breathtaking—covered in radiant emerald-green scales that caught the sunlight, reflecting a shimmering array of colors. She was the epitome of power and grace, her massive wings capable of stirring storms. Her golden eyes, deep and wise, surveyed the scene with quiet intensity.

Beside her, the smaller dragon was no less impressive. Her mossy green scales blended perfectly with the surrounding forest, her form more compact but clearly built for agility and precision. Her piercing green eyes, flecked with gold, gleamed with sharp intelligence and amusement.

With unmatched elegance, the two dragons descended, landing in a gust of wind before folding their powerful wings. Every movement radiated strength and presence.

Then—a shift.

As naturally as breathing, their bodies transformed.

Their scales vanished.

Their massive forms reshaped.

And within moments, two women stood before them.

The taller of the two, with long, dark green hair, wore a deep emerald gown that shimmered under the sun, echoing her draconic form. Her striking features carried an air of nobility, and her golden gaze burned with warmth and pride.

Beside her, the smaller woman smirked playfully. Her chestnut brown hair, streaked with green, cascaded in loose waves over her shoulders. She wore a traveler’s tunic, built for movement, her keen green eyes dancing with curiosity.

Lya, overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, broke the silence.

"Soraya! Lina!"

Her voice vibrated with sincere joy, a stark contrast to the previous tension. A pure, radiant happiness lit up her features as she rushed toward them.

For a moment, the weight of the past and the distance between them vanished.

All that remained was the warmth of reunion, the echo of old friendships rekindled with a single glance.

Lya felt her heart lighten as she stood before her old friends. So much time had passed, so many hardships had kept them apart, and yet, in this instant, it was as if they had never been separated at all.

But a questioning murmur pulled her attention back to Caleb.

"Babe?"

His deep voice, tinged with a mix of surprise and caution, brought her out of her thoughts. She turned to face him, offering him a reassuring smile.

"It’s alright, sweetheart," she soothed. "Soraya was the royal doctor, and Lina is her daughter. They’re old family friends."

She had barely finished speaking when Soraya, golden eyes gleaming with excitement, rushed toward her.

"Princess Lya!" she exclaimed, overflowing with emotion. "We heard the news!"

Lya raised a curious brow before allowing a small amused smile to play on her lips.

"Ah, yes… Soraya, I gave up the throne," she clarified in a calm voice.

But Soraya waved off her words with an exaggerated motion of her hand, her expression playfully exasperated.

"No, no, princess," she said with affectionate familiarity. "Not that!"

Lina, still standing slightly behind her mother, crossed her arms and shook her head, smirking. Clearly, she was used to Soraya’s dramatic tendencies.

"What I’m talking about is… I heard you’re expecting a child? With a wolf?"

A low growl abruptly interrupted Soraya’s enthusiasm.

Every gaze instinctively turned toward Caleb.

His expression had darkened, his jaw tight with barely restrained tension. His protective instincts, always on high alert, had flared up at the barely concealed surprise in Soraya’s voice.

Lya, feeling the tension in her mate, immediately reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers in a gentle, reassuring touch. Caleb exhaled slowly, letting himself be grounded by her warmth.

She then turned back to Soraya, her gaze unwavering, filled with calm certainty.

"Yes, Soraya," she confirmed firmly. "The news is true. I’m pregnant, and Caleb is the father."

A moment of suspended silence followed, until Lya added with a particular gleam in her eyes:

"The baby already recognized us."

A visible shiver of astonishment ran through Soraya and Lina.

"It… recognized you?"

Soraya exchanged a stunned glance with her daughter, and for once, Lina, usually more composed, let out a quiet, breathless sound of awe.

"Do you realize what this means, Princess Lya?" Soraya whispered, captivated by the revelation. "A child born of a dragon and a wolf… it’s absolutely incredible."

Her golden eyes shone with intellectual curiosity, her face lighting up with pure, unfiltered excitement.

Lina, meanwhile, observed Lya with quiet fascination.

"This is beyond anything we’ve ever seen…" she murmured, her voice filled with admiration.

But Lya’s mind had already shifted gears. A thought took root, crystal clear and undeniable.

Her gaze swept across the area, searching.

Then, she saw him.

Standing a few meters away, engaged in conversation, was Bastien, the pack’s hospital director. A spark of realization flashed in her eyes.

"Bastien, come here!"

She motioned urgently, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and urgency.

Soraya and Lina followed her gaze, intrigued.

A ripple of anticipation spread through the air, an unspoken certainty settling among them. Something significant was about to happen.

Bastien approached at a steady pace, his expression shifting from mild curiosity to measured caution as he glanced between the two dragonesses.

Sensing his hesitation, Lya offered him a warm, encouraging smile before speaking, her voice soft but steady:

"Bastien, I’d like you to meet Soraya and her daughter, Lina. Soraya was the royal family’s head doctor. Soraya, this is Bastien, the pack’s hospital director."

For a moment, silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken meaning.

Then, realization struck.

Bastien’s gaze lit up, as if a missing piece had just clicked into place.

His heart pounded a little faster, caught in the rush of excitement and sudden understanding.

He turned to Soraya, unable to hide the thrill of anticipation running through him.