Chapter 25: What Must Be Held

Chapter 25: What Must Be Held
Morning came slow and pale, light filtering through the shelter seams as the fire died down to embers. CJ woke before the camp, Dune's arm draped over her middle, his palm warm against her belly. The child stirred at the contact, and CJ smiled faintly—a private moment of peace she knew better than to take for granted.When she rose, the camp greeted her with quiet purpose. Wolves moved aside without thinking, instincts aligning around her presence. Strength had a different shape now—it was endurance, foresight, restraint. Her mates appeared almost without announcing themselves. Archer approached first, eyes scanning the perimeter before settling on her, offering a hand for grounding. Tristian lingered behind him, tension coiled in his shoulders but softness in his gaze. Lucas moved with fluid ease, his presence a promise that even the wildest storms could be met and tamed. "Morning," Archer said quietly, his hand resting briefly on her shoulder. Tristian's tone was sharper, edged with concern. "CJ... you're not thinking of moving the camp today, are you? The signs..." "I've felt it," CJ said steadily, and Lucas's hand found hers. "Whatever's coming, I'll meet it on my terms." Lucas nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Good. Because rushing never did you any favors." Dune remained behind her, hand curved over her belly, reminding her that the life growing inside wasn't just hers to protect. Later, as reports came in, CJ felt the subtle tension beneath it all. Not fear. Expectation. The pack sensed a change in the way the forest did, long before it arrived. Her mates moved through their roles—Archer with the scouts, Tristian with the sentries, Lucas circling the perimeter. CJ pressed her hand to her belly again and made a silent promise: whatever came next would be met on her terms. Not rushed. Not reckless. But unyielding. The tension in the camp was palpable, a living thing that pulsed through the air. CJ stood tall, hand resting protectively over her belly, and met the gazes of her mates with fierce determination. "We'll stand with you," Archer promised, his voice low and husky. "Whatever comes, we'll face it together." "We need to be prepared," Tristian said, his voice a low rumble, eyes scanning the treeline. Lucas smiled, eyes glinting. "We've got this." Dune stepped forward, his hand curving over CJ's belly. "We've got your back." CJ felt a surge of heat at their words, at the solid weight of their presence. "We're stronger together," she said firmly. "Whatever comes, we'll face it as one." As the day wore on, the signs grew more ominous. The trees seemed to lean in, branches tangling in a dark canopy. The air grew thick with the scent of ozone and something primal and ancient. Archer moved closer, his body a shield. "We're with you," he whispered. "Always." Tristian's hands roamed her body, his touch sending shivers through her. "Let's get you ready," he growled. Lucas's hands were everywhere, claiming her. "Mine," he snarled, teeth nipping at her neck. "You're mine, CJ." Dune's large frame loomed over her, eyes dark with possessiveness. "I'll protect you," he rumbled, hands spreading over her belly. "I'll keep you safe." As darkness closed in, CJ felt her mates surrounding her, their bodies a living shield. She reached for them, hands tangling in their hair, lips finding theirs in desperate, hungry kisses. The forest erupted into chaos, the pack surging to defend their alpha. But CJ barely registered it, lost in the heat of her mates' touch, in the primal need that drove them all. Archer claimed her mouth in a bruising kiss. Tristian's lips trailed over her neck, her chest, his hands cupping her breasts. Lucas's mouth was everywhere, teeth and tongue leaving marks of possession. And Dune's hands roamed her belly, reverent and protective. CJ moaned, her body arching into their touch, hips rolling against them. She needed this—needed to feel their strength, their power, their love. As the battle raged, CJ lost herself in sensation, in the pure joy of being claimed, loved, and protected. When the forest finally fell silent, she lay amidst her mates, body trembling with aftershocks. As the sun set, casting golden light across the clearing, CJ smiled, eyes soft with love and satisfaction. She nestled into the warmth of their bodies, feeling their hearts beating in time with hers. Archer's lips found her ear. "We'll always protect you, CJ. Always." Tristian's fingers traced her skin. "You're ours," he murmured. "Forever and always." Lucas kissed her deeply. "We'll never let anything hurt you," he promised. Dune held her close, his frame a solid wall of strength. "We love you," he rumbled. "More than life itself." As night wore on, her mates took turns claiming her body, their lovemaking a celebration of their bond. They moved with fierce intensity, bodies in perfect sync, hearts beating as one. When dawn crept over the horizon, CJ lay nestled among her mates, body sated, soul full. Whatever the future held, she would face it with them by her side, their love and strength a shield against the world.