Chapter 171: The Reunion

"Soraya, you’ll be able to help us, won’t you? With our Queen’s pregnancy, we’re in completely uncharted territory."

At these words, Lina, who had been observing the scene with polite curiosity, raised an eyebrow before exclaiming, "Hold on… Your Queen?"

Lya immediately turned to her, and with a tone that left no room for debate—but tinged with amusement—she cut in, "Lina, one thing at a time."

Lina opened her mouth, then closed it, crossing her arms over her chest, looking both perplexed and intrigued.

Soraya, on the other hand, remained silent for a moment, deep in thought. Her golden eyes, filled with wisdom, fixed on Bastien with an intensity that showed she was weighing every possibility. She knew this pregnancy was a first—an anomaly in the great weave of nature. A dragon and a wolf… She had never imagined such a union.

Finally, she nodded slowly and responded in a measured voice.

"This is uncharted for us, too… Bastien," she said, pronouncing his name as if she were carefully considering each syllable. "But I believe that by combining our knowledge, we’ll be able to anticipate this pregnancy as best we can."

A barely perceptible wave of relief passed over Bastien’s features. It wasn’t a definitive answer, but it was a promise of collaboration.

Lya, who had been watching the exchange attentively, locked eyes with Soraya before asking a more direct question.

"Are you ready to stay here, Soraya?"

Soraya straightened slightly, and a flicker of emotion crossed her gaze—a nostalgia she didn’t voice aloud.

Then, with a playfully reproachful frown, she declared in an almost offended tone, "Princess… Why do you think we’re here?"

Lya’s expression softened, a genuine smile appearing on her lips as Soraya continued with conviction.

"We want to stay by your side."

Lina, who had remained a spectator until now, let out an amused sigh before adding with a smirk, "And someone has to make sure you don’t do anything too reckless, right?"

A light laughter rippled through the group, dissolving the tension that had momentarily hovered over their reunion.

In Soraya and Lina’s eyes shone a silent promise—one of unwavering loyalty. No matter how many years had passed, no matter the worlds that had separated them, they were here now. And they were here to stay.

Soraya was the first to regain her seriousness. The joyful glow of their reunion faded gradually as she scanned the surroundings, observing the lingering scars of the past chaos. The fragile foundations of what had once been a safe haven for the royal pack now bore the marks of destruction. The ruined buildings, the ashes scattered by the wind, and the still-visible wounds on some pack members were all testaments to the magnitude of the battle that had taken place here.

When she finally spoke, her voice had grown graver, filled with sincere concern.

"These are the consequences of your fight with Liguen, Princess?"

Lya nodded softly, her azure gaze settling on what remained of Sacred Moon.

"Yes," she admitted. "But we will rebuild Sacred Moon so that the royal pack shines even brighter than before."

There was no doubt, no hesitation in her voice. Just unwavering certainty.

At her side, Caleb squeezed her hand gently, his thumb brushing against her skin in a reassuring gesture. He locked his deep blue gaze onto hers, and in that single look, everything was said. They would move forward together. No matter the ruins, the losses, or the challenges ahead. Their future would be even greater than their past.

Lina crossed her arms, visibly deep in thought. Eventually, she spoke, breaking the contemplative silence.

"And are you going to explain what Bastien meant by ‘our Queen’?"

Lya let out an amused chuckle, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"Lina, I am the mate of the King of the werewolves. That makes me his Queen."

Lina studied Caleb with a piercing gaze, as if silently assessing his worth. For a moment, one could almost hear the gears turning in her mind.

Caleb, for his part, remained completely unfazed under her scrutiny. His aura of authority left no doubt about his legitimacy. He didn’t need to justify himself or assert anything—he simply was. It showed in every movement, in the quiet power that emanated from him.

Eventually, Lina nodded, as if reluctantly admitting that Lya’s logic checked out.

Soraya, however, had a much more enthusiastic reaction. A radiant smile spread across her face as she exclaimed with sincere joy,

"We always knew you would be a Queen, Princess. One way or another."

She shook her head, amusement twinkling in her eyes, before adding, "And I’m sure you make an excellent Queen. But… can you tell us how all this happened, Princess?"

Her tone was both curious and slightly teasing.

Lya exchanged a knowing look with Caleb before nodding.

"We should get comfortable. It’s a long story."

Without delay, the group began moving. They navigated through the devastated grounds until they reached the spot where, just minutes earlier, the pack’s children had been having their snack. It was a slightly secluded area, spared from the worst of the destruction.

Bastien, aware that his responsibilities called him elsewhere, excused himself politely before returning to tend to the injured. His absence was soon replaced by the warmth of the conversation as Lya and Caleb settled down.

Lya was the first to sit, and Loric, as if by instinct, climbed onto her lap, nestling against her. Caleb sat beside her, his hand resting protectively and possessively on her thigh.

Their closest companions took their places around them. Elora and Drake sat nearby, instinctively forming a protective circle around the royal couple. Across from them, Soraya and Lina settled in, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

But soon, Lina’s gaze was drawn to the young boy curled up against Lya. A strange expression passed over her face as she observed him with unusual intensity, as if something about him unsettled her.

Sensing the attention on him, Loric timidly lifted his head, his wide eyes locking onto Lina’s for a brief moment before he looked away, visibly uncomfortable.

Lya, intrigued by her friend’s reaction, raised an eyebrow.

"Lina?"

The addressed woman startled slightly, as if caught off guard, before shaking her head with an amused smile.

"Nothing," she shrugged. "It’s just… unusual."

"What is?" Caleb asked in a measured tone, though his natural authority still carried weight.

Lina hesitated a moment, then gestured toward Loric.

"I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen such a young child adopted by a royal couple."

Loric burrowed deeper against Lya. With a gentle touch, she ran her fingers through his hair, reassuring him without breaking eye contact with Lina.

"Loric is our son," she stated firmly but gently. "No matter how he came into our lives, he is a part of it now."

Lina held her gaze for a moment before a small smile tugged at her lips, as if she had found the confirmation she had been looking for.

"I didn’t mean to be rude," she admitted. "It’s just… rare. But I guess it suits you."

A hint of admiration softened her voice before she added, shooting a playful wink at Loric, "And I’m sure he’s lucky to have parents like you."

Loric, still nestled against Lya, glanced up at her and Caleb. He said nothing, but a flicker of relief and gratitude shone in his eyes.

Soraya, watching the scene with a tender smile, murmured, "I think he’s already figured out that Lina can be a bit… blunt."

Lina rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in a mock-offended stance.

"I’m not blunt," she defended. "I’m… curious."

A ripple of laughter spread through the group, lightening the atmosphere even more.

Lya began her story, immersing the group in a tale woven with escape, pain, and rebirth. She told them how she had fled the dragon kingdom, breaking the chains of her past to forge a new destiny. She spoke of Jack and Emma, her adoptive parents, whose unwavering support had given her a home and a love she had never known. She recounted Soren’s rejection, seeing her as nothing more than an insignificant human, and the looming shadow of King Rogue, whose obsession had haunted her existence.

At every twist in the story, Soraya and Lina reacted with gasps, exclamations of “Oh!” and “Ah!”—sometimes shocked, sometimes enthralled by the sheer weight of what their friend had endured.

When Lya finally finished, a respectful silence settled over the group. Then, Soraya was the first to find her voice again.

“This is… unbelievable, Princess. Who would have thought you’d live through so many adventures?”

Her tone wavered between admiration and disbelief. It was clear that, despite her deep respect for Lya, she had never imagined that a dragon of royal blood could go through so much.

But before Lya could even respond, Lina suddenly shot to her feet, her gaze burning with fierce determination.

“I want to pay my respects to Jack and Emma!”

Lya blinked, caught off guard by the sudden intensity of the statement.

“What?”

Lina pressed on, her voice charged with emotion.

“They saved you, Princess. They gave you a home and a future. The least we can do is honor them.”

Lya felt a sharp pang in her chest at the mention of Jack and Emma. She missed them terribly, and while she had learned to accept their absence, the idea of paying tribute to them warmed her heart as much as it made it ache.

Still, she took a deep breath, trying to approach the situation with reason.

“It’s not that simple, Lina,” she explained patiently. “We have to inform Soren of our arrival, and the drive takes several hours—”

But before she could finish, Soraya frowned in confusion.

“Drive?” she repeated, the word rolling off her tongue with a hint of disbelief. “Why would you lock yourselves in a vehicle, Princess? We can just fly there.”

A heavy silence followed.

Then, a mischievous grin stretched across Drake’s lips. He straightened, his eyes gleaming with excitement, clearly delighted by the suggestion.

“Oh, that is an excellent idea, Soraya!”

Lya felt a wave of exasperation rise within her. She turned sharply toward Caleb, seeking his support to dissuade everyone from this insane idea. Three dragons landing in the middle of lycan territory? That was nothing short of a direct provocation, an open challenge that would shatter whatever fragile diplomacy she had managed to maintain with Soren.

But the moment she locked eyes with her mate, she knew her battle was lost.

Instead of the calm rationality she had hoped for, Caleb looked… amused. Worse, a spark of genuine enthusiasm flickered in his striking blue eyes, making it painfully clear that he agreed with Drake.

For the first time in a long while, the Alpha seemed to approve of his Beta’s idea.

“It’s an excellent idea, sweetheart,” he declared with dangerous calm. “We should all go to the lycan kingdom to honor your adoptive parents.”

Lya stared at him as if she had just uncovered a grand conspiracy.

“Sacred Moon is in the middle of reconstruction, Caleb!” she protested. “We can’t just leave like this!”

“Oh, come now, my dear,” Elora interjected with a knowing smile.

Lya spun toward her, hoping at least for some matriarchal support. But Elora’s gentle gaze held nothing but warmth—and a touch of mischief.

“I’m here,” she reassured her with a soft, steady voice. “We’ll take care of everything while you’re gone.”

Lya opened her mouth, then closed it, before letting out a frustrated sigh. Of course. Of course, everyone was on board with turning this visit into a grand spectacle.

And just to seal her fate, Caleb delivered the final verdict.

“Then it’s settled. We’re going to the lycan kingdom.”

Lya closed her eyes for a brief moment, desperately trying to contain the growing exasperation that threatened to boil over.

“By all the horns of the ancients,” she muttered under her breath.

Then, she reopened her eyes and swept the group with a look of pure despair.

“This is going to be a disaster.”

Drake burst into laughter, clapping Caleb on the back, while Soraya and Lina exchanged amused glances.

“Only if we do it wrong, Luna,” Drake quipped playfully.

But judging by their delighted expressions, it was clear that no one had any intention of being discreet.

And Lya knew, no matter what she said, they wouldn’t back down.

She rubbed her temples, already bracing for the inevitable chaos.

The lycan kingdom was definitely not ready for what was coming.