Chapter 155 Planning the Future

Chapter 155 Planning the Future
Beatrice POV

I was curled up against Darius on the couch, his fingers absently playing with my hair, when he spoke. "Do you remember that conversation we had? About children?"

I tilted my head to look up at him. "We've had several conversations about children."

"The one where you said 'someday, not right now,'" Darius said, his voice soft but hopeful.

My heart skipped. "I remember."

"The war is over, Bea." His hand stilled in my hair. "We're at peace. For the first time in... I don't even know how long, we're actually at peace."

I sat up fully, turning to face him. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that all the reasons we had for waiting—the danger, the uncertainty, the constant battles—they're gone now." Darius reached for my hand, threading our fingers together. "I'm not trying to pressure you. But you said you wanted this eventually. And I'm wondering if... if maybe eventually it is now."

I stared at him, my mind racing. He was right, the war was over. The pack was stable. We weren't looking over our shoulders anymore, waiting for the next attack, the next crisis.

"You want to have a baby," I said slowly, testing the words.

"I want to have a baby with you," Darius corrected. "Three of them, actually, if I recall our conversation correctly. Though we can start with one and see how we feel."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Very practical of you."

"I'm trying to be." His thumb traced circles on the back of my hand. "But honestly? I just want to start building that future we talked about. The one with tiny versions of us causing chaos."

"You remember that part?"

"I remember every word of that conversation, Beatrice." His eyes were intense, full of love and hope and barely contained excitement. "I've been thinking about it for months. Every time things got quiet, every time we had a moment of peace, I'd think about what you said. About creating life together."

My throat tightened. "Darius..."

"I know it's a big decision," he continued quickly. "And I know you're the one who'll be carrying them, who'll be vulnerable in ways I can't fully understand. So if you need more time, if you're not ready."

"I didn't say I wasn't ready," I interrupted.

He stopped, hope flaring bright in his eyes. "No?"

"No." I moved closer, until our foreheads were touching. "You're right. The war is over. We're at peace. And I'm tired of waiting for our lives to start because we're too busy surviving."

"So that's a yes?" His voice was barely a whisper.

"That's a yes," I confirmed. "Let's have a baby. Let's start building that future."

Darius pulled me into his arms so fast I barely had time to breathe. When he kissed me, I could feel everything—his joy, his relief, his love, his excitement for everything to come.

"Three babies," he murmured against my lips. "You promised me three."

"I said two or three," I corrected, laughing. "And we're starting with one, remember? Let's see if we survive that first."

"We'll survive," Darius said confidently. "We survived a war. How hard can one tiny baby be?"

I pulled back to look at him. "You did not just say that."

"I absolutely did not just say that," he agreed quickly. "That was foolish. Babies are terrifying, so I take them back."

"Too late." I kissed him again. "You're committed now."

"Best commitment I've ever made," Darius said softly, and the look in his eyes told me he meant every word.

"When do you want to start trying?" I asked eventually.

Darius grinned. "Is right now too eager?"

I laughed, but I was already pulling him closer. "Not at all."

We lay there quietly for a moment, both imagining a future with tiny versions of ourselves causing trouble. "What would they be like, do you think?" I asked. "Our pups."

"Powerful," Darius said immediately. "With your bloodline and your abilities, they'd be extraordinary."

"That scares me a little," I admitted. "The idea of them inheriting my power. What if they can't control it? What if they hurt themselves or others?"

"Then we teach them," Darius said simply. "Like your brothers are teaching you. We give them the tools and the training and the love they need to handle it."

"You make it sound so simple," I said.

"It won't be simple," Darius corrected. "But it'll be worth it. And we won't be alone. Your brothers will help. Brennan and Akita. The whole pack."

"Uncle Theron," I said, smiling at the image. "He'll be so protective. Probably worse than he is with me."

"Uncle Corin teaching them healing," Darius added. "Uncle Silas explaining politics before they're old enough to understand. Uncle Kaelen sneaking them weapons training."

"We're going to have very dangerous, very educated children," I said.

"The best kind," Darius said.

I rolled over to straddle him, looking down into his face. "You really want this? A family with me?"

"More than anything," Darius said seriously. "You and me and however many chaos-causing pups we decide to have. That's the future I want."

"Me too," I said. I kissed him softly. "And we're not waiting anymore. We're starting now."

Darius's hands came up to grip my hips. "Now?"

"Now," I confirmed, grinding down against him. "The war is over. We're at peace. And I want to start building our future."

"Beatrice," he breathed, and the way he said my name—full of want and love and promise—sent heat rushing through me.

I kissed him harder this time, pouring everything I felt into it. All my love, all my hopes, all my dreams for the future we were choosing together. His hands slid under my shirt, warm against my skin, and I arched into his touch.

"I love you," I whispered against his mouth. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Darius said. He flipped us in one smooth motion, settling between my thighs. "Let me show you how much."

His mouth trailed down my neck, finding that sensitive spot that made me gasp. I threaded my fingers through his hair, holding him close as he took his time, kissing and tasting every inch of exposed skin.

"Darius," I breathed. "Please."

"Patience," he murmured against my collarbone. "We have all the time in the world, remember?"

But his hands were already working my clothes off, and mine were doing the same to his. We came together like we always did—desperate and loving and perfect. Every touch felt weighted with new meaning now, every kiss a promise of what was to come.