Chapter 163: Lya's reaction

As Caleb, Elora, and Drake stepped into Lya’s hospital room, they were immediately greeted by the sound of a crystal-clear laugh. Loric, grinning from ear to ear, was trying to catch the glowing fairies his mother had conjured for him. The tiny, shimmering creatures flitted and danced around the boy, effortlessly slipping through his outstretched hands.

That sound—innocent and full of joy—instantly warmed Caleb’s heart. After the tense conversation with Bastien, it was soothing to see his son playing, carefree, blissfully unaware of the complexities of the adult world surrounding him. This moment of pure innocence reminded Caleb why he fought so hard, why he would never let anything threaten his family.

But as sweet as this scene was, Lya wasn’t fooled. The moment she lifted her gaze to meet Caleb’s, he knew she had sensed something. Her sharp eyes weren’t just filled with affection; they held questions, too. She could feel his worry. She could sense Handres’ unease as well.

Without a word, Caleb turned toward his mother and Beta. “Can you take Loric to the hospital gardens? I need to talk to Lya.” His voice was steady, but the tone left no room for discussion.

Elora and Drake exchanged a quick glance, immediately understanding that something serious was at play. Elora then stepped toward Loric, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder before extending her hand to him.

“Come on, sweetheart,” she said softly. “Let’s go play outside in the gardens. Mom and Dad need to talk.”

The boy lifted his gaze to his adoptive parents, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. He wasn’t fooled either. Even at three years old, he could tell that something was weighing on Caleb and Lya. But when he saw Lya smile at him, he eventually nodded and slipped his hand into Elora’s.

“Okay, Grandma Elora.”

Elora’s heart clenched with emotion at the spontaneous title. She exchanged a look with Caleb, who said nothing, but whose emotions were palpable in the deep blue of his eyes. Without another word, she left the room with the boy, followed by Drake—who, of course, couldn’t resist throwing out a playful remark as he walked through the door.

“Try not to get into too much trouble without me.”

Caleb shot him a dark look, but that only amused Drake more.

Once the door finally closed behind them, silence settled in. A silence thick with unspoken words.

Caleb approached Lya’s bed and placed a hand on the blanket beside her. He studied her for a moment, searching for any signs of fatigue on her face. Even though he knew she was strong, he hadn’t stopped worrying since she fainted. She was his strength just as much as she was his weakness.

“How are you feeling today, baby?” His voice was soft, a stark contrast to the tension he carried despite himself.

Lya, ever perceptive, didn’t try to change the subject. She placed her warm, delicate hand on his arm, applying a reassuring pressure. She knew he was worried. She also knew that Handres was probably growling in his mind, which made her smile despite everything.

“Much better,” she assured him, her deep blue eyes locked onto his. “But tell me… what’s troubling you and Handres?”

She didn’t need more words. She knew. She felt it. And Caleb understood that there was no way he could hide his worries from her. Not her.

The Alpha couldn’t help but smile as Handres grumbled in his mind, caught between satisfaction and annoyance. “We can’t hide anything from our mate.”

That simple truth, as obvious as it was, pulled a small chuckle from Caleb. Lya could see right through them with a single look, no matter how hard he tried to mask his concern. He knew his mate, her intelligence, her sharp instincts. She was as much a warrior as she was a strategist, and he should’ve known she’d see through him.

“We really can’t hide anything from you, can we, baby?” he asked, shaking his head slightly, amused by the inevitability of it.

Lya joined in his laughter, a brief moment of lightness in what was otherwise a serious conversation. That was just how their bond worked. Even in the most intense moments, they always found a second to breathe together—to ground themselves in each other amidst the chaos.

“Of course not, Caleb.” She gave him a mischievous smile before arching a brow. “So, tell me, what’s going on?”

Caleb’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. He knew Lya wouldn’t tolerate useless detours, so he got straight to the point.

“We ran into Bastien on our way here.”

Lya didn’t react immediately, but Caleb noticed the slight darkening of her gaze. He instantly knew that she had already anticipated what he was about to say.

“I see. He told you about his concerns, didn’t he?”

Caleb raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised at how quickly she put the pieces together, before letting out a sigh. “He talked to you too?”

Lya nodded, her gaze steady and thoughtful. “Yes, this morning. I know we’re heading into the unknown. The child of a wolf and a dragon… it’s a first in our world. Bastien is right to have questions, and so do I.”

Caleb watched her closely. She wasn’t scared—not really. She was simply being pragmatic.

“I agreed with Bastien that I’d be monitored more frequently than a regular she-wolf.”

The relief was immediate for Caleb. Knowing that she was already taking precautions, that she and Bastien had already thought of a plan to track her pregnancy, finally allowed him to breathe properly.

“You’re incredible, baby.” He ran a hand through her hair, the admiration in his eyes undeniable.

Lya gave him a tender smile and gently caressed his hand. “Someone had to think of everything while you were busy worrying, right?”

Caleb grunted slightly, but he couldn’t help but smile. She was right. And he loved her even more for it.

“But Bastien also said I can leave today. And I can’t wait to make my own announcement. Speaking of which, you haven’t told me how last night’s announcement went.”

Lya watched Caleb with interest, eager to know how the pack and their guests had reacted to the news. She could imagine the chaos that must have followed, especially among the Elders, but hearing Caleb recount it would be something else entirely.

Caleb crossed his arms, a mysterious smile tugging at his lips. His eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Oh, that… I think I’ll let Drake tell you himself. I wouldn’t want to steal his moment.”

Lya arched a brow, immediately intrigued. If Caleb, who loved recounting his victories, was leaving this to Drake, then the Elders’ reaction must have been particularly memorable.

“Oh, so that means the announcement had quite the impact. Especially on the Elders, right?”

Caleb simply shook his head, smirking. “I won’t say a word, baby. Not even under torture.”

Lya narrowed her eyes playfully. “Not even under torture, huh?”

Caleb chuckled at her expression. He loved that mischievous glint in her eyes. Then, without wasting time, he reached out to his Beta through their mental link.

“Drake, you can come back now.”

In the hospital garden, Drake was watching Loric play with other children under Elora’s watchful gaze. He groaned internally, enjoying the peaceful moment too much to be interrupted.

“Oh, come on, Alpha. We’re having such a good time here.”

Caleb rolled his eyes, already prepared for Drake’s antics. “Trust me, you’re going to have just as much fun here. Lya wants to hear all about how last night’s announcement went.”

A pause. Then, sudden excitement.

“Now that changes everything!” Drake exclaimed. “We’re on our way, Alpha!”

Caleb shook his head, amused by the Beta’s enthusiasm. He knew Drake wouldn’t hold back, that he’d take great pleasure in reenacting the Elders’ expressions in full dramatic detail.

Lya, who had followed the exchange just by reading Caleb’s face, smirked. “I have a feeling I’m in for a good time.”

“Oh, believe me, baby,” Caleb said, gently taking her hand in his. “You won’t be disappointed.”

As the trio entered the room, Loric rushed straight into his mother’s arms, his little face glowing with a radiant smile. He was still laughing, slightly out of breath from running around the garden with the other wolf pups. Lya held him close, gently stroking his hair, feeling at peace seeing him so happy.

Drake, on the other hand, practically leaped into the room, bursting with energy, his face lit up with pure excitement. He clapped his hands together dramatically and exclaimed in an exaggerated storyteller’s voice, making grand gestures like a performer at the peak of his craft.

“Oh, Luna Lya, you should have seen it!”

Lya raised an amused eyebrow. “That bad, huh?”

Drake clutched his chest theatrically, as if still reeling from the shock. “No, you have no idea! I thought some of them were about to faint on the spot!”

He stepped closer and perfectly mimicked Alpha Magnus’ frozen, incredulous expression—mouth hanging open, eyes wide in utter disbelief, his jaw so tight it looked like he had forgotten how to breathe.

“J-J-Just… a child?!” Drake gasped, pretending to struggle for air, patting his chest like he was trying to steady himself.

Lya burst into laughter while Caleb shook his head, doing his best to keep a straight face.

But Drake wasn’t done.

He pointed a dramatic finger toward an invisible opponent. “And then Elias, oh, Elias… he started muttering under his breath, something like—”

Drake lowered his voice, crossing his arms and furrowing his brows as if deep in thought. “Impossible… Biologically improbable… And yet… But if it is possible… then what does this mean for our species?!”

Then, he abruptly turned, his face contorting into an exaggerated imitation of Magnus’ horrified grimace, his panicked gaze darting around the imaginary crowd.

“What do we do now?! A half-wolf, half-dragon bloodline?! Is this the END of our supremacy?!”

Lya was laughing so hard she had to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

Drake then dramatically scanned the imaginary room, lowering his voice as if whispering a dangerous secret.

“I swear, Luna, I heard one of them whisper, ‘What if the baby breathes fire on us?!’”

Lya nearly choked on her laughter, while Caleb, this time, couldn’t help but crack a full grin.

“I’m sure they all slept with fire extinguishers next to their beds last night,” Drake added with a knowing wink.

Lya tried to catch her breath, still thoroughly entertained by the sheer panic the Elders must have experienced.

“And my mother?” she asked curiously.

Drake squinted, then struck a regal pose, lifting his chin with exaggerated dignity.

“Elora? Oh, she didn’t waste a second! The moment the shockwave hit the room, she launched herself at her son—literally—and squeezed him so tight I thought he’d pass out.”

Lya laughed even harder at the mental image.

Caleb let out a small groan. “She crushed my ribs,” he admitted in a falsely grumpy tone. The confession brought a satisfied little smirk to Elora’s lips.

“And Elara?”

Drake’s grin widened. “Oh, she was bouncing around Darrien like a little tornado, chanting, ‘I’m gonna be a big sister! I’m gonna be a big sister!’ She took forever to calm down.”

Caleb sighed. “You’re exaggerating.”

Drake shrugged, looking completely innocent. “Barely. But everything I said is strictly true.”

Lya, still giggling, placed a hand over her stomach, still touched by how much their announcement had turned both the pack and the Elders upside down.

“Well,” she breathed, “I’d say we definitely made an impact.”