Chapter 157: Darius Understanding

Beatrice pov

Darius was quiet for a long moment, then he pulled me into his arms. "You're right."

"I am?"

"You are." He kissed the top of my head. "I got excited. We both did. But you're the one who'll carry them, who'll be vulnerable. You should be absolutely certain before we start trying."

Relief flooded through me. "You're not upset?"

"Disappointed? Maybe a little," he admitted. "But upset with you? Never. This is exactly the kind of wisdom that makes you a good future mother—knowing when you're ready and when you're not."

"I still want it," I whispered. "Just... not right now, is that okay?"

"More than okay." Darius tilted my chin up to meet my eyes. "We have all the time in the world, Beatrice. There's no rush. When you're ready—truly ready—we'll start trying. Until then, we enjoy being us."

"Thank you for understanding."

"Always." He kissed me softly. "Though we should probably clarify that with your brothers before they start building a nursery."

I groaned. "They heard us last night, didn't they?"

"Luna's howl was pretty enthusiastic," Darius said with a grin.

"I'm never going to live this down."

"Probably not," he agreed cheerfully. "But at least now you can set the record straight before they order baby furniture."

Later that afternoon, my brothers summoned me to Theron's study for what they called a "family discussion." I arrived to find all four of them looking suspiciously pleased with themselves.

"What did you do?" I asked immediately.

"Nothing yet," Kaelen said. "But we heard through the walls that someone's been discussing future pups."

My face burned. "The walls are not that thin."

"Luna's excited howl was pretty loud," Silas said, grinning. "She really likes the idea of being a mother wolf someday."

"I'm going to kill Darius for not soundproofing better," I muttered.

"Don't be embarrassed," Theron said. "We're thrilled, the idea of nieces and nephews running around Wynterhold."

"Someday nieces and nephews," I corrected. "Not immediately. We're waiting until things are more settled."

"Smart," Corin said. "Though whenever you're ready, we're here to support you. I can handle all the medical care, make sure everything goes smoothly."

"And I'll handle the legal paperwork," Silas added. "Inheritance, titles, all that fun stuff."

"I'll teach them to fight," Kaelen said. "And to move quietly. And probably how to pick locks."

"You will not teach my children to pick locks," I said.

"We'll see," Kaelen said with a wink.

"I'll teach them about duty and honor," Theron said. "And spoil them absolutely rotten when you're not looking."

"You're all getting way ahead of yourselves," I protested. "We're just talking about maybe having kids someday."

"But we're excited," Corin said. "Can you blame us? After everything we've been through, the idea of new life, new family members, new hope. It's wonderful."

Put that way, I couldn't argue. "Okay, fine. Be excited. But keep it reasonable. We're not even trying yet."

"When you do start trying," Silas said. "Let us know. We'll make sure you have everything you need. Best healers, proper nutrition, reduced responsibilities."

"I'm not made of glass," I said. "I can still function while pregnant."

"Of course you can," Theron said. "But you shouldn't have to. Not when you have family to support you."

"This is what family does," Corin added. "We take care of each other. Especially during important moments like bringing new life into the world."

Their enthusiasm was overwhelming but also touching. They genuinely couldn't wait to be uncles. "Thank you," I said. "For caring so much, for wanting this for me."

"We want you to be happy," Theron said simply. "And if having a family with Darius makes you happy, then we're all for it."

That evening at dinner, the conversation naturally turned to children again. Darius looked both pleased and slightly panicked by my brothers' intensity.

"We're not having them tomorrow," he said for the third time. "We're just planning for the future."

"But when you do," Kaelen said. "I call naming rights on at least one."

"Absolutely not," I said. "You'd name my child something ridiculous like Shadow or Blade."

"Shadow Wynter sounds distinguished," Kaelen protested.

"No," I said firmly. "We'll pick normal names. Family names maybe."

"Elara for a girl," Darius suggested. "After your mother."

The table went quiet as I felt tears prick my eyes. "That's perfect," I whispered. "She'd love that."

"And for a boy?" Corin asked gently.

"Maybe Albert," I said. "After father or Marcus. Or something completely different, we have time to decide."

"As long as it's not Shadow," Silas said, smirking at Kaelen.

"You're all terrible," Kaelen said. "Fine. I'll settle for being the fun uncle who teaches them questionable skills."

"I think that's a given," Darius said.

The rest of dinner passed in easy conversation, my brothers already planning birthday parties and training schedules for children who didn't exist yet. Their excitement was contagious.

After the meal, Darius and I took a walk through the gardens. The evening was cool and clear, stars beginning to emerge in the darkening sky.

"Your brothers are intense," Darius observed. "But in the best way."

"They're excited," I said. "The idea of the family continuing, growing. It means everything to them after losing so much."

"How do you feel about it?" Darius asked. "Really. Not what you think you should feel, but what you actually feel."

I considered the question carefully. "Excited. Terrified. Hopeful. All of it at once. The idea of being pregnant, of creating life, of becoming a mother. It's huge”

"It is," Darius agreed. "But we don't have to do it until you're ready. Could be next year, could be five years from now. Whatever feels right."

"I want to wait a little longer," I said. "Make sure things are stable. That we're ready emotionally and practically."

Darius squeezed my hand. "I know. We talked about this this morning, remember? We're on the same page."

I smiled, grateful he wasn't making me repeat the awkward conversation in front of the romantic garden setting. "Thank you. For being patient with me."

"You're worth waiting for," Darius said. "However long it takes. Though I have to admit, I'm already imagining what they'll look like. If they'll have your hair or mine. Your eyes or mine."

"Probably some combination," I said. "Beautiful either way."

"Obviously," Darius said. "With genetics like ours, how could they not be?"

I laughed and swatted his arm. "Humble as always."

"Just stating facts," Darius said with a grin.

We walked in comfortable silence for a while, both lost in thoughts of a future we were building together. "Thank you," I said eventually.

"For what?" Darius asked.

"For wanting this with me," I said. "For seeing a future worth building. After everything I've been through, I never thought I'd have this. A mate who loves me, a family who supports me, the possibility of children someday. It all feels like a dream."

"It's real," Darius promised. "As real as this moment right now. We're building something beautiful, Beatrice. Together."

"Together," I echoed. The word had become our promise, our foundation, our future.