Chapter 306 Chapter 306

Chapter 306 Chapter 306
"You're pregnant... " Soraya whispered, her eyes filled with amazement.

Rayena beamed. "Still keeping it a secret for now." She whispered back.

"Congratulations!" Soraya cried, hugging her back. Rayena giggled, patting her back.

Then she turned to Rayena's family and promptly began greeting them, and they quickly settled into a conversation.

Xenon glanced down at her, his gaze tender. “Are you looking forward to forever?” he asked.

“I am…” Rayena said, extending the smile toward him.

“Let’s go…” he said, nudging her toward the throne.

She followed.
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(Eight months later)

The birthing chambers were flurrying with activity. Rayena had been in labor since dawn, and it was safe to say everyone was panicking—Xenon included. His beasts hadn’t stopped howling and banging against his chest, agitated at their mate’s distress.

In normal circumstances, he should have stayed out, but he just couldn’t bear it anymore. He shoved his way into the birthing chambers, going to sit next to her.

“Hey, love… hey…” he cooed softly.

“Xenon…!” Rayena cried, tears streaming down her eyes. Her hair was wet, sticking against her sweat-slicked skin.

“It hurts… it hurts…” she sobbed, grabbing hold of his hands and squeezing them tight, her fingers digging into his skin. He ignored the pain.

“I know… I know…” he whispered, pressing kisses to her hands. He gazed at her as the midwives floundered around them.

“Your Majesty… you have to push!” one encouraged, pulling her legs even further. “We can see the head; you just need to push!”

Xenon’s heart sank to his stomach, and he winced at the pain radiating off his dear mate. No amount of preparation had prepared him for this. None.

He turned to her, gripping her hands with his own trembling ones.

“Did you hear that, love? The midwife says you have to push. You have to push, love. I know you can do it. You can…”

Rayena groaned, letting her head fall back against the pillows. She shook her head, looking miserable, fear flickering in her eyes.

“I don’t think… I’m scared, Xenon.”

“Please, love… please…” he begged, tremors in his voice.

Rayena gathered all the strength she could muster and bared down with everything she had.

“That’s it, love… you’re doing amazing… I’m so proud of you. Please… push… okay?”

Rayena nodded and continued to push, a strained scream spilling from her lips.

“He’s coming… the baby is coming!” the midwife cried. “One more push!”

Rayena cried out, bearing down one last time. She collapsed, exhausted, only when a shrill cry pierced the room.

“He’s here… he’s here!” the midwife cried, already rushing to clean the child. Another midwife moved to attend to the mother.

“He?” Xenon croaked, pupils blown wide with shock.

“Yes, Your Majesty. You have a son.”

Tears filled his eyes, his body shaking. “We have a boy…” he whispered to Rayena, who burst into tears then.

Xenon tried and failed to hold back his own tears, falling to his knees beside Rayena’s bed, his head resting against her belly.

He sobbed quietly.

“Thank you… thank you…” he groaned, his voice trembling.

The midwife cleaned the child, swaddled him in a blanket, and presented him to them. “Here, Your Majesty…” she murmured gently, placing him in the king’s hands.

Xenon stared at his child, so small and soft against him, a tiny gasp spilling from his lips. He had two-toned hair as well—his was just much curlier.

“He’s beautiful…” Rayena whispered, reaching out to touch his cheek. The baby stirred, jerking his tiny legs. She couldn’t stop crying.

“He is…” Xenon conceded. “And he’s ours.”

They watched the baby as he moved and grunted, blinking his eyes open. “Look at his hair. Do you think he’ll be a hybrid like you?” Rayena asked, touching the soft curls.

The baby stirred, his hands fisted tight.

Xenon made a sound, half chuckle, half sob. “We’ll have to find out.”

He turned his gaze toward Rayena. “Thank you for this. I love you… I love you so much,” he murmured, kissing her forehead, her cheeks—wherever his lips could reach.

“I love you too,” Rayena answered, gazing at him.

Xenon stared at his child once more, a familiar feeling stirring in his chest.

Protectiveness.

His son was a precious gift, and he would cherish him for all eternity—till the day he died.
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Announcements were made, and the entire realm was thrown into a state of jubilation. The king had welcomed his first child into the world.

He was christened, and everyone was in attendance.

His heir.

He was given a name: Zoran René Valtherion.

Their new dawn.

A new era had begun for the shifter realm.

THE END.