*** ANDREIS' POV ***
Why is she here?
Selene never shows up without a reason—especially not here, on neutral land where our presence is barely tolerated, let alone welcomed. For her to cross so many boundaries—literally and otherwise—meant something was wrong. Very wrong.
The moment I saw her at the door, I felt it in my gut. A weight, heavy and cold, settled in my chest. That's why I didn't waste a second. I grabbed her wrist and led her straight to Bill's office. Her face might've been smug and playful, but her eyes… her eyes told a different story.
She had something urgent to say.
Selene—my annoying, sharp-tongued sister. She was brash, always too loud, always too honest. Most people misunderstood her, found her abrasive or difficult. But not me. I knew her better than anyone else in this world. We had grown up side by side, holding onto each other while our father was too busy running the business and leading the tribe to truly raise us. She was my family, my partner in crime, and in times like these—my fiercest ally.
As we walked through the hallway, I felt Mia's eyes on me from a distance. Her jealousy was palpable, like smoke curling around the edges of the room. I didn't blame her. She didn't know who Selene was—not yet. But I couldn't stop to explain. Not now. Not with what I felt coming. I'd fix things with Mia later. Right now, we needed answers.
I gestured subtly at Marco and Bill to follow. If Selene had come all this way, they deserved to hear it too.
The moment we stepped into Bill's office, the shift was immediate. The air thickened with tension as the heavy door clicked shut behind us. Selene didn't waste time. She hugged Marco with a quick familiarity, nodded respectfully at Bill, and then slid into one of the leather chairs across from me like she belonged there. She always did carry herself like royalty—fearless and self-assured.
"You took your sweet time," I muttered, checking behind me to make sure the others followed.
Selene rolled her eyes, settling in. "You're welcome, by the way. I crossed three borders and dodged at least two of Zevian's scouts. You're lucky I made it here at all without dragging a war behind me."
Bill folded his arms, his jaw set like stone. Marco stood against the wall with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable—but I knew him well enough to sense the tension. He didn't like unexpected guests, especially not ones that came bearing bad news.
"Tell us why you're really here," I said.
The smirk on Selene's lips vanished. She sat forward, her voice dropping low. "I was sent by our father."
That got my attention. My spine straightened involuntarily.
"He wanted me to warn you. Zevian's moving. Quietly—but dangerously. He's been seen sniffing near our borders. Asking questions."
My stomach turned.
"About Mia?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
She nodded. "Yes. But more specifically… about you and Mia. Someone tipped him off. He knows there's something between you two. And he's putting the pieces together fast."
A chill crawled up my spine.
I clenched my fists. "He knows… she's carrying my child."
Marco shifted. I heard the leather creak under his weight as he stood up straighter. His eyes blazed with fury—pure, unfiltered rage. His protective instincts toward Mia kicked in instantly.
"What do you mean?" Bill demanded, his voice hard. His brows furrowed deeply, and I could practically see the storm brewing in his mind. "She's pregnant?"
I hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. We were going to tell you tonight. After dinner. We didn't want to overwhelm her, or you."
Bill stepped forward slowly, a thousand emotions flickering across his face. Pride. Worry. Anger. Fear. "I'm going to be a grandfather," he whispered under his breath, almost like he didn't believe it. Then louder, "Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I wanted to. We both did. But with everything happening, with Zevian out there… we were waiting for the right moment."
Selene's expression softened. "She's pregnant?" she said again, this time more gently. "Damn, Andreis."
"Don't make a thing of it," I muttered.
"No, it's adorable," she teased, the corners of her mouth lifting into a grin. "You? A dad? I can already imagine a tiny version of you running around in wolf form, biting ankles."
Marco snorted. "You gonna make the poor kid wear those ridiculous leather vests you were obsessed with when we were teenagers?"
"I wasn't obsessed."
"You had them in three colors," Selene added, leaning back and smirking.
I groaned, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "This is why I didn't tell you."
Marco smirked. "You mean because we'd roast you and help you plan a war? C'mon, man. You know us."
Selene laughed. "Multitasking is our thing. You get roasted and protected at the same time."
Their banter was a balm I didn't know I needed. For a second, it reminded me that I wasn't alone in this. Then Bill cleared his throat, his voice heavy with something deeper.
"Selene, Marco—give us the room. I need to speak to Andreis."
They nodded and left quietly, leaving the door open just a crack.
Bill stood across from me, his eyes locked on mine. "You and Mia… you were really going to tell us tonight?"
"Yes," I said quietly. "We didn't mean to hide it. It just—happened faster than we expected. But I love her. And I'll protect her. With everything I have."
His shoulders tensed. "You know what this means. If Zevian knows—if he even thinks he can use her against you—she's in danger. And now… so is your child."
"I know," I said, my voice rough. "That's why we need to act fast."
Bill nodded, emotion thick in his eyes. "I may be angry. I may be terrified. But I know you'd die for her. I saw it in your eyes the night you brought her back. Just don't make me bury my daughter."
"You won't have to," I whispered.
That night, I passed by Mia's room. The door was slightly ajar, golden lamplight spilling onto the hallway floor. I paused.
She was fast asleep, curled on her side, one hand gently resting on her lower belly. Her face was calm, angelic. No trace of the fear or jealousy that had flickered through her eyes earlier. She was dreaming—her lashes fluttered with each quiet breath.
I stepped into the room, careful not to make a sound. Kneeling by her bedside, I reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair from her cheek. Then, gently, I pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"I won't let anything happen to you," I whispered. "Not to you. Not to our baby."
I lingered a second longer, watching her breathe, then quietly pulled the blanket higher over her shoulder before slipping out the door. My throat burned with unshed emotion.
Back in the office, the table was a battlefield of maps, pins, and scattered intelligence reports. Selene sat at the edge, sipping tea like we weren't on the verge of war.
She tossed a red marker to me. "So… where do we start?"
I stared down at the lines on the map—territory markers, patrol schedules, and a red 'X' near the northern woods. Zevian's rumored path.
"We start by hitting him before he gets close," I said grimly.
Because this wasn't just about war anymore.
It was about family.
And I would burn the world to the ground to protect mine.