Chapter 229

Chapter 229
Stella's POV

The afternoon sun hangs low over the Glacier Clan's longhouse, casting the snow in a soft, rose-gold hue. I sit on the wooden porch, a fur blanket draped over my lap, watching as Freya playfully shoves Gunnar into a snowbank. Their laughter carries on the crisp air.

Beside me, Kai reads from a tattered leather-bound book, his voice low and steady, but I can tell his attention is divided—every few sentences, his gaze flickers to my belly, where the cub gives a particularly strong kick.

I set my tea aside and rest a hand on the swell of my stomach, feeling the little one shift. "Can you believe it? In a few weeks, we'll be parents," I murmur, still awed by the thought. The past nine months have been a blur of war, peacemaking, and now, this precious interlude of calm.

Kai closes the book and sets it aside, turning to face me. His blue eyes are warm, crinkling at the corners when he smiles. "Kaya's been running herself ragged," he says, shaking his head. "Yesterday, I found her arguing with three seamstresses over the color of the cub's christening robe. Something about 'authentic Glacier blue' versus 'practical white fur.'"

I laugh, picturing Kaya's determined expression. "She means well. She's also been fussing over my postpartum clothes—apparently, I need at least six fur wraps, each lined with different herbs for healing." I roll my eyes, but my heart is full. Kaya has become more than a mentor; she's family.

"Speaking of fussing," Kai says, pulling me closer, "Ataq and Erik are at it again. This time, it's over the coronation venue. Erik wants to hold it at Rimefang's ice caves, claiming they're 'majestic enough for a king and queen,' while Ataq insists it must be here, at Glacier's ancestral grounds."

I can't help but grin at the image of the two burly alphas squabbling like cubs. "Your father is a traditionalist," I say, tracing the silver wolf emblem on Kai's tunic. "He wants the ceremony to honor Glacier's legacy, especially now that we're expecting an heir."

Kai snorts. "He'd wrap the cub in Glacier blue furs and teach them to howl at Glacier's peaks before they can walk if he had his way." He pauses, his expression softening. "But he's proud, Stella. Proud of us, proud of what we've built. Even if he argues about the venue, he's already started carving the throne from a block of ice that's been in his family for generations."

Warmth spreads through me at the thought of Ataq's quiet show of support. For all his gruff exterior, the old alpha has a heart of ice-melt. "Maybe we can compromise," I suggest, absently rubbing my belly where the cub is now doing somersaults. "What if we hold the ceremony at a neutral location? Somewhere that symbolizes the federation, not just one clan."

Kai's eyebrows shoot up. "A neutral location? But where? Most sacred sites belong to one clan or another."

I lean in, lowering my voice conspiratorially. The scent of pine and snow clings to him, a reminder of the wilderness we've fought to protect. "What about the Ice Lake?"

Kai's eyes light up, the way they do when he's excited. "The Ice Lake? But that's... that's between Glacier, Rimefang, and even Bloodmire territories. It's a place where no clan has claimed sovereignty, a place where wolves used to meet in peace before the Council destroyed everything."

"Exactly," I say, thrilled that he understands immediately. "It's perfect. Holding the coronation there would symbolize our unity, our commitment to a new way of life. And the lake itself... legend says it's where the first werewolves communed with the Goddess."

Kai pulls me into a tight hug, careful of my belly. "You're brilliant, star. Ataq might grumble, but even he can't argue with the symbolism of the Ice Lake." He presses a kiss to my forehead, his lips warm against my skin. "I love how you think."

I laugh, feeling giddy. The tension of the past months seems to melt away in his embrace. "Well, I've had a lot of time to think while waiting for this little one to arrive." I pause, biting my lip playfully. "Speaking of waiting... do you realize it's been months since we've..."

Kai's eyes darken, and he leans in, his breath hot against my ear. "Since we've what, Stella?" he murmurs, his voice sending a shiver down my spine.

I giggle, feeling like a mischievous cub. "You know... been alone. Properly alone." The months of war and then pregnancy have left little time for intimacy, and I've missed the closeness, the heat, the way he makes me feel alive.

Kai's hand slides up my back, tangling in my hair. "Ah," he says, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "I was wondering when you'd bring that up." He kisses me, slow and deep, a promise of what's to come. When he pulls away, his eyes are smoldering.

"Once you've recovered, we'll lock ourselves in our chambers for three days straight. No council meetings, no alphas, no interruptions. Just us."

My heart races at the thought, and I laugh, feeling light-headed with anticipation. "Three days? Can you handle that, old wolf?"

Kai growls playfully, nipping at my neck. "Oh, I'll show you what I can handle, Luna."

We sit there for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, watching the sun dip below the mountains. The air is filled with the promise of new life—both the cub growing inside me and the future we're building together. The Ice Lake coronation, the federation, even our plans for a few days of uninterrupted lovemaking—all of it feels like a dream, a beautiful, achievable dream.

"I can't wait," I whisper, resting my head on Kai's shoulder. "For all of it."

"Me neither," he replies, holding me tighter. "But first, we have a cub to welcome into the world. And after that... well, the Ice Lake awaits, and then our three days of peace."

I smile, feeling content and loved. The future is uncertain, but with Kai by my side and our people united, I know we can face anything. As the first stars appear in the twilight sky, I close my eyes, savoring the moment, and let the warmth of my mate's embrace and the gentle kicks of our child lull me into a peaceful reverie.