Chris

The first rays of sunlight haven't even broken over the horizon but I'm wide awake. Jess is sleeping soundly, tucked against my side with her head on my chest.

I miss waking up with her draped across me like a blanket. Her touch is addictive and leaves me wanting more, but with her growing belly she can't sleep like that any more.

In such a short time, her body has begun to change so much. Not even my baggy sweats hide her changing body any more. Last night just proved how visible her pregnancy has become. Not only is her stomach and hips filling out but her breasts are fuller too.

She was the most beautiful woman I've seen last night but I felt how subconscious she felt at first through the bond. Jess has come so far but there are times when I see how fragile her growth still is and my recent outburst mistakes haven't helped.

I've fucked up enough already, be damned if I hurt her or let anyone else do it again.

The fact that she lets Rebecca take digs at her drives me nuts but I understand what she's doing. Already I've seen a shift in the people here.

Jenna has come out of her shell around our pack and her mate Merrick has already asked to stay on. The Omegas are no longer as jumpy. With some much needed shuffling, Xavier was able to get the books straightened out and everyone taken care of but even the basic pay they receive has made a big difference in morale.

Jess isn't the only one changing minds, Sara has made one hell of an impact on the warrior base with her training and finally won over Henry. Claire even in her state has drawn people to her and Chloe continues to impress in her medical studies.

Dad always said strong shewolves were the backbone of a thriving pack, if they don't prove him right then nothing will. I just wish they'd give Mira the due she's owed.

Jess takes a deep breath and nuzzles against my chest. My fingertips skim across her silky back before brushing the hair away from her face. She stirs and smiles, sliding her hand up my chest and setting off sparks between us. Reluctantly, her eyelids flutter open and find mine.

"Hi," she murmurs.

"Morning beautiful," I reply, my voice husky from sleep. "How'd you sleep?"

"Mmm, like the dead," she sighs, her lashes fluttering shut as she smiles contently. "But it feels early... I suppose we have an early day, eh?"

"Stay," I plead, wrapping my arms around her and caging her to me. "The day can wait... This is our time."

"Mmmm, I like that," she giggles, melting into me. "Wonder if they'd notice if we just stayed in bed all day?"

"We could find-" Knocking on the door interrupts us. "You've got to be kidding me!"

Not even mornings are safe...

"What?" I growl, refusing to let Jess up.

"Sorry to bother, Your Majesties," Percival calls from the other side of the door, "but the guests are beginning to arrive and you wished to be advised."

"Thanks," I groan, palming my forehead. Jess buries her face against my chest to stop from laughing. I can't help but notice he doesn't walk away. "Is there something else?"

"I took the liberty of ordering breakfast... It's here, I'll be heading out to oversee the arrivals." Percival clears his throat and takes a deep breath. "That's all, Sire."

His shuffling footsteps signal his departure and Jess cranes her neck, sniffing slightly. I chuckle and sit up, slipping out of bed and make my way to the door.

"Chris!" Jess hisses, eyes wide as they rake over my naked body. I raise a brow and grin at her, remembering the first time I'd done this.

I unlock the door and grab the cart, locking it once more and head back to bed. Jess is hanging off the bed, precariously groping for a shirt.

"Nope," I tease, using my superior reach to snatch the shirt and toss it away.

"Really?" She groans, rolling her golden brown eyes at me as she clutches the sheet to her chest.

"Absolutely." I flop back into bed, leaning up against the headboard and drag her onto my lap, savouring her bare back against my chest.

Jess giggles, melts against me, snaking her hand around the back of my neck and runs her fingers through my hair. I practically purr under her touch and trail kisses along her neck.

"If I have to share you the rest of today, I'm going to enjoy what time we have," I whisper, running my nose along her neck and taking in her scent.

I groan feeling the nagging of someone trying to link me.

'What?'

'They're here,' Jace links, cutting straight to the point.

'Already?!' I gasp.

'They were waiting at the border at first light. What do you want me to do?' he links back.

'Escort them as quietly as possible to the med wing, Doc and Eli are waiting.' Fortunately the morning's still early and their presence is not likely to draw any attention.

'Got it.' Jace closes the link, and my attention shifts once more to Jess who's watching me with her eyebrows drawn.

"What is it?" She asks.

"Nothing baby, just Jace," I dismiss, not wanting to upset her. "I swear the man knows whenever we're having alone time."

"The man's due some payback." Jess sighs.

"That he is," I deadpan as I slide the tray onto our laps.

We focus on eating before anyone else can interrupt us again. I get updates one after another as guests arrive. By the time we finish showering, my head feels like a police scanner and I can already feel a headache brewing.

This must be like what Jess deals with daily.

"Why don't you try and stay as low stress as possible? Hang out with Claire and your friends? We have that dinner tonight with the newly arrived Alphas and... Well, I just want you well rested," I call from the bathroom.

"Okay," she answers from the bedroom, far too easily. I peer out of the bathroom door at her and raise a brow, earning a laugh.

Jess has given up on the dark sweats and yoga pants she's been living in to hide her condition and instead wears a pair of blue jeans on and a fitted blue and white floral scoop neck maternity top on. I can't help but check her out. The top hugs her ample bust but flairs out over her stomach and hips and the jeans hug her in all of the right places.

"I take it, you approve?" she asks as she finishes braiding her hair.

"You look beautiful baby," I say, walking over and stealing a quick kiss.

"I figure there's no point in hiding any more and Claire went through the trouble of getting me these..." she says, tugging at the shirt hem.

"How do you feel?" I lock my gaze on hers, not wanting to have her lie for my benefit.

"Nervous?" she replies, chewing on her lip. "The clothes feel like I'm back to normal... but I've been struggling with the palace energy so much already and we just dumped conference in here."

"If it's too much, you need to tell me," I whisper but Jess just looks away. "Baby."

"Yes, okay I will, I just hate feeling so..." She pauses, knitting her brows together as she struggles to find the word. "Weak. I hate feeling so weak and out of control of my own body..."

"Hey now," I coo, cupping her cheek and lifting her face to draw her gaze. "Jess you are not weak. Baby you are hands down the strongest person I know!"

"It doesn't feel like it," she mumbles as her shoulder slump.

"Then you'll have to trust me on it." I lift her chin for another quick kiss then rest my forehead on hers. Jess takes in a deep breath and smiles.

"Go be kingly," she teases.

"Likewise."

I leave Jess with Claire and head off with Xavier to the central entrance. The grand foyer is a flurry of activity, the regularly open marble space is packed with guests, guards and staff. Percival, armed with his clipboard, moves among the masses offering aid as he goes, while Evans, Merrick, Jace, Barron and an army of Omegas sort everyone out.

"Highness!" Eli yells as he runs over to me.

'So much for subtlety and slipping in unnoticed,' Xavier chides. 'I'll jump in, good luck.'

I nod to my Delta as he slips away into the chaos while the eccentric old man fights his way through the crowd. Not that Eli's ever well groomed, looking more like a mad scientist than a royal official, but today is next level.

"What is it?" I ask, somewhat alarmed by his frazzled state.

"The results are back," he whispers, then grabs my arm and pulls me away from the crowd. I feel my heartbeat begin to quicken as I wait for him to continue.

"And!?" I push when he remains silent.

"Sire... It's so much more!" he blurts out, fidgeting like a kid with too much candy.

"More how?" I ask, trying to focus him. "Is the woman her mother or not?"

"The woman?" he asks, furrowing his brows and bringing his murky gaze to mine.

"Lyana?" I prompt, cocking my head.

The man can be excitable but this is a bit much for even him.

"Oh that woman, hmm yes of course, but I was already certain. DNA just confirmed it." He grins, having caught back on to our conversation.

I groan and palm my forehead before running my hand through my hair. "Maybe start from the top so I'm on the same page as you?" I sigh.

"Of course Sire, apologies. We were certain of her mother, Goddess keep her, DNA test was just due diligence, but we got a bonus..." he announces with an impossibly wide grin.

"A bonus?" I parrot back.

'Can he not talk in riddles,' Cyrus growls.

"Yes Sire!" He looks at me with excitement in his eyes and clicks his teeth when he realizes I'm not following. "What is better than knowing where you came from and establishing parental links to a deceased one?"

My eyes shoot impossibly wide as I finally catch on. This isn't even me he's referring to and I feel my stomach drop from the gravity.

"Establishing a live one..." I trail off.

"Exactly!" he says, clenching a fistful of air and moving in close. "I've triple checked the tests myself, there's no doubt."

"Fuck," I breathe. Jess having living relatives hadn't really crossed my mind, I was just hoping she'd find out where she came from. "Who?"

"Her father."

Before I have a chance to respond, excited squeaks break out, echoing in the vast space. I turn in time to see two women collide in an excited embrace, immediately recognizing Mira's bright red hair.

Behind the reunited women I see Jess, Willow, Chloe, and Jenna standing off to the side. Jess smiles at me and waves but stays on the outskirts.

Fucking timing is unreal.

"Leave it with me," I say, stroking my beard as my mind races. "I want to tell Jess before she's caught off guard."

"Understood Sire," Eli says with a nod. "Although they are eager to meet her, they do understand the complexities of the situation and have agreed to remain at a distance until summoned."

"Thank god for small favours." I sigh under my breath. "And thank you Eli, your reputation is well earned." The man puffs up at my praise and glides away back to wherever he came from, leaving me to make my way over to Jess.

Just before I reach her, Sasha crashes into her, wrapping her in a bear hug. Jess laughs and hugs her friend back before finally letting go.

"Chris!" Sasha beams, having noticed me. Her black curls and caramel skin are a stark contrast to Mira's pale complexion and flaming hair but there is no mistaking the familiarity of the sisters.

"Sasha, about time you got here," I tease.

"We'd have been here sooner, but the traffic and security is unreal," Eric answers, finally making his way over.

The young, chestnut haired alpha is really coming into his own now. The war made him grow up faster than anyone would like but he took it in stride, learning everything he could. Where other alphas, particularly young ones, are full of pride and false confidence he's worked alongside more experienced alphas, gleaning everything he could.

That experience and Eric's relaxed nature is paying off, as his pack prospers under his guidance, more than tripling in size over the past year. He's on track to become the youngest principal alpha at this rate.

"Good to see you!" I say, shaking his hand. Eric grins, his eyes shining with excitement as he looks around.

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," he replies, awestruck. "I still can't believe how things have changed."

"You're telling me," I muse and shake my head.

"Look what the cat dragged in!" Kane bellows, walking over and clapping him on the shoulder. "Congratulations man."

"What, no more pup jokes?" Eric wryly replies. "And what am I getting congratulated for?"

"It wasn't announced yet, numb nuts," I growl at Kane.

"Whoops," he chuckles.

"What wasn't announced yet?" Eric asks, narrowing his gaze at Kane then shifting it to me.

"That you've been appointed as the youngest principal five in history," Alpha Nikita answers, walking over. The tall African woman is only a bit shorter than Eric but unmistakable in her commanding presence.

"I'm what?!" Eric gasps.

"Don't get too star struck, as the first female Alpha to be appointed to the principal five, I think you'll be lost in a shadow," I tease. Nikita nods in respect but I can see the pride in her eyes.

"Nikita I can understand," Eric starts. "Iron wolves were fearsome warriors before this bullshit with Dimitri, now even more so but Crimson Dawn is small fish by comparison."

"Ha!" Kane barks, tossing his head back. "Kid, you haven't been a small fry since you threw your lot in with this one." He nods at me and he's right. Alliances are risky and there has been a cost but Eric's gamble has paid off.

"And before you say it, no I didn't have any say in who the council picked. It's based on pack statistics and the fact of the matter is that you both earned your positions." My statement leaves no room for dispute, so he simply nods.

"Congratulations," Jess says, hugging him before moving on to Nikita. When she pulls back, the Alpha holds on a moment longer, their eyes locked in a silent exchange.

"May I present my mate Ezra," she says, gesturing to the large man next to her. He'd rival Damon for height, and has the same leaner tracker type build, but his skin is a lighter shade than either him or Nikita.

"Nice to meet you," Jess says, holding out her hand to shake. He takes it and clasps it between his, locking his dark gaze on hers.

"The pleasure is all mine," he replies in a thick African accent. "I owe you a debt-"

"None of that," Jess dismisses, shaking her head.

"You took care of her at great risk to yourself, that is not nothing. It is a blood debt, one that you may call upon at any time," he announces stoically.

"Just smile and nod, the man is stubborn as a mule, he won't let it go," Nikita whispers, making Jess laugh.

"If I'm a mule woman, what are you?" Ezra counters with a raised brow.

"Very lucky," she replies, batting her lashes and not missing a beat.

"Smooth..."

"I hate to run off so soon, but there are some important details to see to before dinner," I apologize, inching back. "Jess?" I hold my hand out for her and breathe a sigh of relief when she takes it, only flashing me a quizzical look.

"What is it?" she asks as we round the corner into an empty hallway.

"We need to talk..."