Free Web NovelChapter 137: Chapter 137
Silence.
"Then this session is adjourned." Final gavel bang.
The room immediately erupted in conversation. Several Alphas and Lunas approached us—some to congratulate us, others to introduce themselves properly. Alpha James clasped Christian’s hand and told me I’d done well. Luna Patricia hugged me and whispered that she’d been rooting for us the whole time.
Alexander Sterling left without a word, his two granite Alphas following. I watched him go and felt nothing but relief. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Marcus and Diana appeared at our sides. "That went better than expected," Marcus said quietly.
"Much better." Diana handed me a water bottle. "How are you feeling?"
"Honestly? Amazing." I took a long drink. "We won."
"You won," Christian corrected, looking at me with such pride it made my chest tight. "You stood up there and proved every single person wrong who doubted you."
"We should head home." Marcus glanced at his watch. "Long drive back, and Sophie needs rest."
We made our way through the remaining Alphas and Lunas, accepting congratulations and well-wishes. By the time we reached the parking lot, I was exhausted but happy.
The drive home felt different from the drive there. Lighter. Christian held my hand the whole way, occasionally bringing it to his lips to kiss my knuckles. Diana dozed in the back seat. Marcus drove, looking more relaxed than I’d seen him in days. freёwebnovel.com
"What are you thinking about?" Christian asked quietly.
"How we actually pulled that off." I leaned my head on his shoulder. "How Alexander completely failed."
"He underestimated you." Christian’s voice was warm. "Most people do. Then you surprise them."
I smiled and closed my eyes, letting the motion of the car and Christian’s warmth lull me into a light doze.
When we arrived back at Shadow Ridge, the sun was setting and my stomach was demanding food. Christian helped me out of the car, and we walked into the packhouse together.
Pack members were everywhere—clearly they’d been waiting for news. The moment we entered, everyone stopped and stared.
"Well?" Elder Margaret demanded. "What happened?"
Christian looked at me, raising an eyebrow. My call.
I took a breath. "The Council officially recognized our bond. I’m legally Luna now, no more questions."
The pack house erupted in cheers. People rushed forward to hug us, congratulate us, and celebrate. I was passed from person to person until Christian finally pulled me back to his side protectively.
"There’s something else," Christian said loudly, and the room gradually quieted. "Something we want to share with everyone."
My heart started racing. Were we really doing this now?
Christian looked at me, silently asking permission. I nodded.
He turned back to the pack, his hand moving to my stomach in a gesture that made several people gasp. "Sophie and I are expecting a baby."
The silence lasted exactly two seconds before absolute chaos broke out.
Elder Margaret burst into tears and pulled me into a crushing hug. Pack members were shouting congratulations and asking questions. Someone started howling—actually howling—and others joined in until the whole pack house echoed with celebratory howls.
Diana was hugging Marcus. Random pack members were crying. Emma from the sanctuary pushed through the crowd to hug me and tell me how happy she was.
Christian’s arms wrapped around me from behind, his chin on my shoulder. "Think they’re excited?"
"Just a little." I laughed, wiping at my tears.
"Speech!" someone called out. Others took up the chant. "Speech! Speech!"
Christian squeezed my waist. "You want to?"
"Together," I said.
We turned to face the pack, Christian’s hand finding mine. The room gradually quieted, everyone watching us with expressions of joy and anticipation.
"Thank you," I started, my voice shaky with emotion. "For accepting me. For supporting us. For—" My voice broke, and I had to stop.
Christian continued for me. "For being the family we both needed. This baby will be lucky to grow up surrounded by this pack, by all of you."
"We’re announcing the pregnancy today because we want you to be part of this journey from the start," I added when I could speak again. "You’re not just our pack. You’re our family. And this baby will be so loved."
More howling. More tears. Elder Margaret announced she was making a feast to celebrate, and several pack members immediately volunteered to help.
The evening dissolved into an impromptu party. Food appeared from everywhere. Music started playing. Pack members kept coming up to touch my stomach gently and offer blessings for the baby.
Christian never left my side, his hand constantly on my back or my waist or laced with mine. He was smiling more than I’d seen in weeks, the stress of the council meeting finally gone.
Around nine PM, Diana found us and firmly told me I needed to rest. Christian immediately agreed and started herding me toward our room despite my protests that I was fine.
"You’re exhausted," he said, closing our bedroom door behind us. "And you’ve had the most stressful day ever. Diana’s right."
I sat on the bed and started taking off my shoes. "Today was good, though. Really good."
"Today was perfect." He knelt to help with my laces again. "You were perfect."
"We won." I still couldn’t quite believe it. "Alexander failed. The Council recognized us. And everyone’s happy about the baby."
"Everyone’s ecstatic about the baby." Christian finished with my shoes and looked up at me. "I’m ecstatic about the baby."
I ran my fingers through his hair. "Me too. Scared, but excited."
"Same." He stood and pulled me to my feet, guiding me toward the bathroom. "Come on. Bath, then bed."
The bath was what I needed—hot water, lavender bath salts that thankfully didn’t make me nauseous, and Christian’s hands washing my hair with gentle care. By the time we made it to bed, I could barely keep my eyes open.
Christian wrapped around me from behind, his hand settling over my stomach like it belonged there. "I love you," he murmured against my neck.
"Love you too." I laced my fingers with his. "Both of you."
I felt him smile against my skin. "Get some sleep. Soon we can start planning nurseries and telling everyone we didn’t get to tell today, and—"
I nodded, already drifting off. "Tonight, I just want to enjoy this. Enjoy us."
"Okay."
I fell asleep to the sound of celebration still echoing faintly from downstairs, Christian’s steady breathing behind me, and his hand protective over our baby.
Everything felt perfect.
And tomorrow, we’d start planning for our future—all three of us.
But tonight, I just let myself be happy.
Completely, perfectly happy.
