Chapter 169: After the Battle

Loric, still nestled against her, tightened his little arms around his mother as if making sure she was real—as if afraid she would take off again to face another enemy. Lya, her eyes clouded with emotion, felt her heart swell as the united howls of her pack echoed all around.

They were howling for her.

For her victory.

For their Luna.

But as the deafening roar filled Sacred Moon, her gaze swept over the still-smoking ruins of collapsed buildings, the cracked roads, the homes crushed under the weight of her battle with Liguen. She had won—but at what cost?

A soft sigh escaped her lips.

Caleb, ever-attentive, immediately sensed the shadow of doubt passing through his mate’s mind. She saw the destruction.

He saw the strength of their people.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, wrapped a strong arm around her waist, and locked his piercing blue eyes onto hers.

Then, he turned to his pack.

With a voice that carried through the night, filled with authority and emotion, he spoke—his words vibrating in the air, sinking into the soul of every wolf, every person gathered there.

"Look at her."

His tone was deep, resonant with pride.

"Look at your Luna—this woman who stood alone against the monster that destroyed her family. Against the shadow that has hunted her for years. Against the dragon who swore he would own her… and who was burned to ashes by her power."

A low, rumbling growl of approval rippled through the pack. Some wolves howled again, declaring their unwavering loyalty.

"She had no obligation to stay here. She could have run again. She could have taken the dragon throne that was handed to her. She could have left this land behind. But she didn't. She stayed. With us."

The howls grew louder.

Lya, overwhelmed by the intensity of Caleb’s gaze, felt her throat tighten.

"She stayed because Sacred Moon is her home."

Caleb turned to her then, his eyes burning with love, and in a gesture filled with raw devotion, he cupped her cheek in his palm.

"Because we are her family."

A wave of shivers swept through the gathered wolves.

Caleb then looked over the ruins with determination.

"Yes, we’ve lost buildings. Yes, our land bears the scars of this war. But look at yourselves."

He gestured to his pack, his eyes alight with fire.

"We are standing."

"We are together."

"We are Sacred Moon."

A new surge of cries and approval roared through the crowd. Even the wounded, those who had stayed behind to protect their own, raised their fists, their heads, their voices.

Caleb rested a protective hand on Loric’s small shoulder. The boy looked up at him with pure admiration.

"We will rebuild Sacred Moon."

"We will make it stronger, more beautiful, greater than ever before."

"And we will do it together. As a family."

The bond of the pack pulsed in the air, every member feeling the unshakable conviction of their Alpha, their King.

Then, finally, Caleb leaned toward Lya, resting his forehead against hers, whispering only for her to hear:

"You’re not alone anymore, babe. Not ever again."

And this time, Lya didn’t hold back her tears.

Lya wiped her silent tears away, feeling the weight of battle finally lift, leaving space for a new reality. Around them, Sacred Moon bore the marks of Liguen’s destruction, but the pack was standing. Alive. United.

A few seconds of heavy silence lingered before an exaggerated sigh broke the mood.

"Alright... so who’s volunteering to pick up the pieces?" Drake spread his arms wide, smirking. "Because I am officially physically and mentally incapable of handling a shovel."

Caleb rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "You’re officially lazy, that’s what you are."

"Hey! I have a prestigious position, Alpha! I’m a Beta, not a construction worker!" Drake shot back, crossing his arms in mock offense.

Malick, who had remained silent up until now, gave him a cold stare before muttering dryly:

"You’re just dead weight."

The laughter that erupted instantly lightened the air. Even Lya couldn’t help but smile, feeling the tension of the battle slowly fading.

But already, the pack was moving.

The wolves of Sacred Moon, bound by the unbreakable link that tied them together, wasted no time in clearing the wreckage.

Hunters and warriors inspected damaged buildings, assessing which ones needed immediate repair. Some were beyond saving, but others could be rebuilt with effort and teamwork.

Medics moved swiftly among the injured, bandaging wounds, administering care. Elora and Bastien oversaw medical operations, making sure no one was left behind.

The elders guided the younger members, teaching them how to clear debris, how to rebuild.

Even the youngest ones, despite strict orders to stay safe, couldn’t resist offering their help. With the boundless energy and innocence only children possessed, they eagerly gathered bits of wood and scattered stones, piling them up carefully under the watchful eyes of the adults.

But the one who stood out most… was Loric.

At just three years old, the little boy stood tall, his eyes bright with determination, his small face set in serious concentration—a look he had undoubtedly inherited from his adoptive father.

"I want to help too!" he declared, fists on his hips, as if he had just made an irrevocable decision.

Lya and Caleb, watching from a distance, felt their hearts clench.

This little boy—their son—so small, so innocent, yet already determined to protect his family, his pack.

A shiver of emotion ran through Lya. Her eyes misted as she watched his tiny steps, his focused expression, the way he carefully gathered pieces of wood, stacking them with absolute dedication.

"Look at him..." she whispered to Caleb through their bond.

The Alpha, who usually carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, felt a tender smile tug at his lips. His eyes softened as he watched his son, so young yet already so brave.

"He has your heart, Lya."

Lya turned to him slightly, meeting his gaze, seeing the immense pride radiating from him.

"And he has your courage."

Loric, absorbed in his self-appointed task, picked up a stone slightly bigger than the others, gripping it tightly in his small hands before trotting off to deliver it to an adult as if it were a priceless treasure.

"That’s good, Loric," Nella encouraged, amused by his adorable determination.

But he didn’t stop there. Again and again, he kept going, until his little body grew tired.

Noticing this, Caleb stepped forward, crouching in front of his son, placing a proud and protective hand on his small shoulder.

"You’re doing great, kiddo," he said warmly.

Loric looked up at his father, seeking approval, and when he saw it, his face lit up with pure pride.

Lya stepped closer, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

"But now, sweetheart, it’s time for a break. You worked hard."

Loric frowned slightly, as if preparing to protest.

But Caleb, smirking, easily lifted him into his arms.

"How about helping us another way? Like… sharing a good snack with the other kids?"

The little boy hesitated for a second—then, his eyes sparkled.

"With chocolate?"

Lya laughed softly.

"With whatever you want, my love."

As Caleb carried him toward a group of children, Lya stood there a little longer, watching their son grow before her eyes.

"Hey, no need to panic, I got this!" Drake declared as he climbed onto a pile of rubble, striking a dramatic pose. "Malick, you take the southern team. I’ll handle the supervision here."

"So, in other words, you’re doing nothing," Caleb pointed out dryly.

Drake nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Supervising is about inspiring. And inspiration is essential to keeping our troops motivated."

Lya couldn't help but chuckle as Malick rolled his eyes. Even in the aftermath of chaos, Drake always found a way to lighten the mood.

As the pack began organizing itself, Lya finally turned her gaze to Caleb.

She knew—he had stayed close throughout the entire battle, even though there was nothing he could do directly. And now, she felt the need to tell him something important.

She stepped closer, placing a warm, steady hand on his arm.

"Caleb… I need to talk to you. In private."

The Alpha held her gaze for a moment, reading the gravity in her eyes that he couldn't ignore.

"Alright, babe. Let’s go."

He led Lya away from the crowd, away from the noise, to a quieter area where the wind still carried the echoes of battle—but now, they were finally alone.

Caleb felt his heart skip a beat.

"What is it, Lya?" he asked, his voice softer now, more intimate, as if he already knew that whatever she was about to say would change everything.

Lya took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a brief second, gathering her emotions.

"At the end of my fight with Liguen, when I roared to seal my victory… I felt it, Caleb."

Her voice trembled slightly—not out of fear, but from something raw, something pure.

"I felt our baby."

She placed a trembling hand on her still-flat stomach, as if reliving the moment.

"They recognized me."

Silence fell between them. A silence heavy with emotion, understanding—something greater than both of them.

Caleb stood frozen for a moment, absorbing the weight of her words. Then, slowly, with a tenderness he reserved only for her, he placed his large hand over her stomach—as if he were touching something fragile, something priceless.

And then, the magic happened.

A shiver ran through their skin as a wave of warmth and energy pulsed beneath their joined hands—a ripple of ancient, timeless magic, alive and real.

Lya gasped softly at the sensation, but this time… she wasn’t the only one who felt it.

Caleb did too.

His gaze turned intense, an almost blinding light flashing in his stormy blue eyes. And in his mind, Handres let out a low, deep growl—not of anger, but of pure satisfaction.

"They’re here."

The wolf’s voice rumbled with emotion, carrying a newfound respect for this tiny life that had just made its presence known.

"Our child already recognizes us."

Lya turned her shining eyes to Caleb, searching his face for his feelings.

The Alpha looked stunned, almost vulnerable in this moment suspended in eternity.

"This is incredible, Lya," he finally murmured, his thumb instinctively grazing her stomach in a protective gesture.

This was no longer just a medical reality. No longer a fear of the unknown, or a question of whether their species were compatible.

This was something else.

Something indescribable.

A moment where time stood still.

Their child—so small, yet already so present—was responding to them, to their touch, to their love.

A shiver ran down Lya’s spine as she felt the tiny soul growing inside her react to their connection. She was sure of one thing: this baby felt them just as much as they felt it.

A tender smile spread across her lips as she whispered:

"I want Loric to meet them too. His little brother or sister."

Caleb nodded, his eyes glistening with emotion. "Yeah. That’s important. And Mom too."

Without hesitation, he lifted his gaze and spotted Elora, sitting a little further away with Loric, sharing a snack with the other children.

With a simple mental call, his voice resonated through his mother’s mind.

"Mom, come with Loric."

He watched as Elora’s head immediately lifted in surprise, her gaze locking onto his.

There was no urgency, no fear in his call—only something deeply intimate. Something sacred.

Without hesitation, Elora gently took Loric’s hand. The little boy was still chewing on a piece of brioche, his big blue eyes curious.

"Come, sweetheart," she said softly. "Mommy and Daddy have something very special to show you."