Chapter 165: Uncle Wars & Preparations

Beatrice POV

I woke to the sound of arguing in the courtyard. Rolling over, I found Darius already awake and grinning.

"Your brothers are at it again," he said.

I groaned and buried my face in the pillow. "It's too early for this."

"It's nearly noon, love."

"Still too early."

But curiosity got the better of me. I dragged myself out of bed and to the window. Down in the courtyard, Kaelen was supervising several servants unloading a wagon absolutely packed with packages.

"What is all that?" I asked.

"Baby things, I'd imagine." Darius came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "He arrived an hour ago with three wagons."

"Three?"

"The other two are being unloaded at the west entrance."

I got dressed quickly and headed downstairs. The entrance hall was chaos. Packages everywhere, servants looking confused, and Kaelen directing traffic like a general commanding troops.

"Kaelen," I said. "What is all this?"

"Baby supplies." He beamed at me. "The little one needs options."

"I'm only two months pregnant. The baby won't be here for seven more months."

"Exactly. We need to be prepared." He gestured to a massive crate. "This one has cribs. Plural. Because what if the baby doesn't like the first one?"

"Babies don't have crib preferences," I said.

"You don't know that."

Theron appeared from his study looking murderous. "Kaelen, you've blocked both main entrances. How is anyone supposed to get in or out?"

"They can use the servant passages."

"You've blocked those too."

Before they could start arguing properly, Silas arrived carrying an enormous leather portfolio.

"Beatrice, we need to discuss the baby's legal protections," he said.

"Good morning to you too," I said.

"I've drafted a comprehensive inheritance structure, trust fund documentation, and guardianship contingencies." He opened the portfolio. "This is just the initial framework. I estimate we'll need about fifty pages of supporting documents."

"The baby isn't even born yet."

"Which is exactly why we need to establish protections now." He started laying out papers on a side table that was already covered in Kaelen's packages. "I've also prepared documentation for citizenship rights in all allied territories, diplomatic immunity clauses, and educational fund allocations."

"Silas."

"And we should discuss naming rights, title inheritance, and property divisions in case of multiple children."

"Silas!"

He finally looked up. "What?"

"The baby is the size of a grape. Maybe we can handle legal documents later?"

"Legal protection is never too early," he muttered, but he closed the portfolio.

Corin rushed in looking frantic. "I've converted the east wing healing room into a backup nursery. Full medical equipment, healing crystals arranged for optimal energy flow, and I've blessed everything three times."

"A backup nursery?" I asked weakly.

"In case of emergency. The main nursery is being set up in the family wing, of course, but we need contingency plans."

"Of course," I echoed.

Darius appeared at my elbow and pressed a cup of tea into my hands. "Breathe," he murmured.

"I'm trying."

Theron was studying a set of architectural plans. "I'm installing motion sensors throughout the nursery corridor. And reinforced locks. And possibly a guard station."

"For a baby," I said.

"For our baby. The heir to House Wynter." He looked up. "Security is paramount."

"The baby will be safer than the crown jewels," Darius said. I couldn't tell if he was amused or exasperated.

The arguing started in earnest then. Kaelen wanted the nursery done in forest themes. Silas thought ocean motifs were more sophisticated. Corin advocated for celestial designs to honor the Moon Goddess. Theron just wanted everything fireproof and fortified.

"Can I make a suggestion?" I tried.

They ignored me completely. "What if we ask the baby what they like when they're old enough to have opinions?" I tried again.

Still nothing. They'd moved on to debating crib placement and safety standards.

Liora and Helena arrived together, took one look at the chaos, and exchanged knowing glances.

"We're taking over nursery planning," Liora announced loudly.

The brothers all turned to stare.

"You can't just take over," Kaelen protested.

"Watch us." Helena grabbed my arm. "Come on, Bea. We're going shopping for actual reasonable baby items."

"But I have seventeen different crib options," Kaelen said.

"We'll look at two," Helena said firmly. "Maximum."

"I need her to sign legal documents," Silas said.

"Later," Liora told him.

"The medical consultation can't wait," Corin tried.

"Yes it can," I said, letting the girls pull me toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Theron called.

"Somewhere without motion sensors and fifty-page legal documents," I called back.

We escaped to the gardens and I collapsed on a bench laughing. "They've lost their minds."

"They're excited," Liora said, sitting beside me.

"They're insane." But I was smiling. "Completely, totally insane."

"They love you," Helena said. "And they're going to love this baby. Even if they're completely overwhelming about it."

We spent the afternoon in town, actually shopping for sensible baby items. The pack members who saw us were thrilled, offering congratulations and gifts. By the time we returned, I was exhausted but happy.

The Keep was quieter when we got back. My brothers had apparently tired themselves out and retreated to their respective spaces.

Except I found them all gathered in what was designated as the main nursery. They'd actually managed to accomplish something. A beautiful hand-carved crib stood against one wall. The wood was ancient Wynter oak, warm and rich.

"Theron made it," Corin said when he saw me looking.

I walked over and ran my hand along the smooth wood. Every detail was perfect. "It's beautiful."

"I wanted the baby to have something from me," Theron said gruffly. "Something with meaning."

"It's perfect." I hugged him tight.

Corin showed me the collection of healing crystals he'd arranged. "These were blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. They'll protect the baby and help them sleep."

Silas handed me a simple leather portfolio. "I simplified it. Just the essential protections,we can do the rest later."

Even Kaelen's contribution made sense now. An enchanted mobile hung above the crib, delicate moons and stars that would play soft lullabies.

"It has protective wards too," he said. "Nothing bad can get near the baby with this active."

"You all did this together?" I asked.

"We compromised," Silas said.

"It was painful," Kaelen added.

"But worth it," Corin finished.

That evening, Darius found me sitting in the nursery in the dark. I was crying again, because apparently that's permanent now.

"Happy tears?" he asked, sitting beside me.

"Happy tears," I confirmed. "I just... I have so much now. So many people who love me. I never thought I'd have any of this."

"You deserve all of it." He pulled me close. "You deserve the world."

"I just want this," I said, gesturing to the nursery. "Our family. Our baby. Our life together. That's my whole world."

He kissed me softly and we sat together in the quiet, his hand resting on my growing belly. Our baby kicked for the first time and we both felt it.

"It is strong," Darius said, wonder in his voice.

"It’s ours," I said.

Darius laid me down gently on the thick rug between the rocking chair and the window. Moonlight spilled across us. He peeled my dress up and off, slow, like he was unwrapping something precious. My bra followed. Then my panties. His hands were warm, careful, tracing every curve he already knew by heart.

I tugged his shirt over his head, pushed his trousers and boxers down together. His cock sprang free—thick, hard, already leaking at the tip. I wrapped my fingers around him, stroked once, twice. He groaned low in his throat.

He kissed me deep while he settled between my thighs. One hand guided himself to my entrance. I was slick from wanting him all evening. He pushed in slow—one long, smooth glide until he bottomed out. We both froze for a second, breathing against each other’s mouths.

“Beatrice,” he whispered.

I wrapped my legs around his hips. “Move.”

He did. Slow, rolling thrusts that dragged every inch of him along my walls. Deep enough that I felt him in my belly. I clung to his shoulders, nails digging in. His mouth found my neck, my collarbone, my breasts—he sucked one nipple hard while he rocked into me, steady and loving.

Every stroke built heat between us. My pussy fluttered around his cock. I could feel myself getting wetter, slicker, coating him. He groaned every time I squeezed.

“I love you,” he murmured against my skin. “So much.”

“I love you too,” I gasped.

He kept the rhythm gentle but deep—pulling almost all the way out, then sinking back in until our hips pressed flush. My clit rubbed against his pubic bone with every thrust. Pleasure coiled tighter and tighter in my core.

I came first—quiet, shuddering, my walls pulsing hard around him. My thighs shook. A soft cry slipped out before I could stop it. Darius kissed me through it, swallowing the sound.

He followed right after. A few more slow, deep thrusts and he buried himself to the hilt, cock throbbing as he spilled inside me—hot, thick pulses that I could feel flooding my pussy. He groaned my name against my throat, body trembling.

We stayed locked together a long minute, breathing hard, his weight comforting over me. His cock softened slowly inside, still twitching now and then. I stroked his back, kissed his damp temple.

Then we heard footsteps in the hallway.

Kaelen’s voice cut through the quiet—loud, horrified, half-laughing. “Are they… oh no. Oh no. I can’t unhear that. Walking away! Not listening!”

Darius froze. I felt his face heat against my neck.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. He lifted his head, eyes wide, then dropped his forehead to mine again.

“Guess we weren’t as quiet as we thought,” he muttered.

I grinned, still full of him, still warm and loose and happy. “Worth it,” I whispered.