chapter 200 Dorian's Proposal

chapter 200 Dorian's Proposal
Lyra's POV

My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared at him, unable to process that this moment was really happening.

Before I could even process what was happening, someone rushed out from behind the crowd of guests. Melissa Chen appeared, her face glowing with mischief and joy as she carried something delicate and white in her hands.

"Melissa?" I gasped, completely shocked. "But you said you had to travel to another territory for business just two days ago!"

"I lied," she said with a grin, carefully placing a beautiful lace veil on my head. The delicate fabric cascaded down my back like moonlight made tangible. "A good performance requires all the right props."

Tears began streaming down my face as the reality of the moment hit me. Dorian was here, healthy and whole, asking me to be his wife. After everything we'd been through, all the pain and separation, he was choosing me.

"Yes," I whispered, my voice breaking with emotion. "Yes, Dorian. Yes to all of it."

The entire yacht erupted in applause and cheers. Pack members from various territories who had been pretending to attend a simple birthday party revealed their true purpose - they had come to witness this moment, this declaration of love and commitment.

Dorian rose to his feet and slipped the ring onto my finger. The diamond caught the last light of the fireworks, sparkling like captured starlight. Then his arms were around me, pulling me close as he kissed me deeply.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Elena's excited voice cut through the celebration as she came running toward us, her small feet pattering across the deck at full speed. Her face was radiant with joy and a thousand questions.

"Daddy, how did you wake up? Where have you been? Did you have long dreams? Were me and Mama in your dreams?" The questions tumbled out faster than he could possibly answer them.

Dorian knelt down and scooped her into his arms, holding both of us close. "I've been dreaming of both my girls," he said softly. "And now I'm awake, and we're all together."

"But how?" I asked, still unable to fully believe this was real. "The doctors said-"

"I woke up three days ago, right after you performed the lunar ritual for me," Dorian admitted, his eyes twinkling with mischief that reminded me so much of Elena's personality. "I felt my soul and body merge completely. I wanted to surprise you. I've been examined by every specialist we could find. My body has fully recovered from the curse."

Three days. Three days he'd been awake while I'd been working desperately in the laboratory, believing he was still unconscious. Three days of planning this perfect moment.

"You've been planning this whole time," I said, half-laughing and half-crying.

"I had help," he said, gesturing to the crowd of pack members who were now cheering and applauding. "Everyone wanted to be part of welcoming you home properly."

Elena squirmed in his arms until he set her down, then immediately grabbed both our hands. "Does this mean we're a real family now? Like in the storybooks?"

"We've always been a real family, little star," Dorian said gently. "But now it's official."

With one arm around my waist and the other hand holding Elena's, Dorian turned to address the gathered crowd. His voice carried genuine gratitude as he spoke to our pack family.

"My friends, my pack, my family," he began. "Thank you for being here tonight to witness the most important moment of my life. I want you all to know how grateful I am for your support during these difficult months. Your loyalty to the Silvermoon Pack, and to my family, has been unwavering."

The crowd quieted, listening respectfully as their Alpha spoke.

"Tonight marks not just my recovery, but the beginning of a new chapter for all of us. I'm honored to announce that Lyra has agreed to be my wife, my Luna, my true mate."

More applause erupted, but Dorian raised his hand to continue.

"I invite you all to stay and celebrate with us tonight, and I hope you'll join us again soon for our wedding ceremony. We'll make it a celebration worthy of the bonds that tie our packs together."

As the formal announcement ended, the party atmosphere returned in full force. Pack members surrounded us with congratulations and well-wishes, but I barely heard them. I couldn't take my eyes off Dorian's face, still hardly believing he was really here.

When we finally managed to extract ourselves from the crowd, Dorian led me to the far end of the yacht's deck, where we could have a moment of relative privacy. The city lights twinkled in the distance, and the gentle sound of waves against the hull provided a romantic backdrop.

"I can't believe you're really here," I said, reaching up to touch his face. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," he murmured against my palm. "Every moment I was unconscious, I was fighting to get back to you."

He pulled me closer, and I could feel the heat of his body, the solid reality of him. My wolf purred with satisfaction at having our mate so close again.

"Lyra," he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "I've been away from you for too long."

I could see the desire in his amber eyes, feel the tension in his body as he held me. The wanting was mutual - I'd missed his touch, his closeness, everything about being his.

Our lips met tentatively at first, a gentle exploration after so much time apart. But the kiss quickly deepened, becoming hungrier, more desperate. His tongue traced my lower lip before claiming my mouth completely, and I melted against him.

When we finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, I could feel the unmistakable hardness pressing against my hip. Dorian's arousal was obvious and immediate, his body responding to our proximity with an intensity that made my own pulse race.

"I know," I breathed, pressing closer to him. "I want you too."

His response was immediate and physical. I felt him harden against me, his breathing becoming heavier. But even as his hands tightened on my waist, he took a half-step back, his jaw clenching with restraint.

Feeling bold, I deliberately let the neckline of my dress slip a little lower, revealing more of my collarbone. Then I raised my knee, letting it brush against his thigh in a way that made his breath hitch.

His hand shot out, catching my ankle firmly. Before I could react, he lifted me against him, his eyes dark with desire and warning.

"Behave," he growled softly near my ear. "After the baby comes, I plan to keep you so thoroughly satisfied that you won't be able to get out of bed for days."

The promise in his voice sent heat flooding through my body.

"Darling," he continued, his voice dropping even lower, "I intend to love you so deeply that you won't be able to do anything except rest in my arms, because you'll feel too 'loved' to move."