NARRATOR

In the hallway, almost the entire family was on edge, except for Celine, who was resting in her room with nausea.

No matter how much she insisted on being present, Zarek didn’t let her get out of bed. She would be the next to drop the baby bomb.

The others stayed outside, and only Gabrielle and Sigrid entered the lycan den.

Azarot growled a little at Gabrielle before settling down, his instincts pushing him to curl up even tighter around his pups and his vulnerable mate.

Sigrid's hand caressed his snout, scratching it a little, and Azarot licked her affectionately.

She was also his pup, so she could stay.

"Oh, daughter… these little ones are adorable," Gabrielle crouched down, leaning toward Valeria and the little gluttons.

Ignoring the grumpy wolf beside the King, these wild, brutish lycans sometimes seemed more like animals than anything else.

"Uhhh, I want some just like them. Little ones, I’m your big sister, and I’m going to take care of you," Sigrid stretched out her fi