Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 229

Chapter 229: Pregnant not Handicapped

"I’ve always said to take it easy with her," Claudia complained as they all stood gathered around Kira’s bed in the clinic room. "Look at her now. The poor thing is completely stressed out of her mind."

Braxton exhaled sharply but wisely kept his mouth shut. Arguing with his nanny was a battle no Alpha, regardless of his power, could ever win.

He simply held his mother’s hand as Claire gazed down at Kira, sleeping peacefully against the white pillows, her face lined with worry.

The door opened, and the pack doctor stepped in, a warm smile spread across his face. He held out an envelope toward Claire.

"Congratulations, Luna Claire," he said. "She’s approximately six weeks pregnant."

Claire gasped, and a radiant smile broke across her face. Claudia pressed her palm to her mouth, her eyes shining with sudden joy.

Braxton, however, did not smile.

He stood frozen, staring at the envelope in his mother’s hands, looking like he had just been hit squarely in the face with a wet fish.

He knew exactly what this meant for him, for his pack. For all of them. The Lycan King had left his sister with a permanent, life-changing reminder of their short-lived marriage.

He could hide Kira away from the King. The Lycan King was a reasonable man under the surface and would eventually forgive a protective brother for shielding a heartbroken sister.

But hiding away an heir of Dravengard? That was another matter entirely. That was technically a political declaration of war.

As his mother and his nanny began to coo over the medical news, practically picking out baby clothes in their heads, Braxton slowly and carefully took two steps backwards, and quietly slipped out of the room, and neither of them noticed him go.

***

Back in Aethelwulf, in the library building, Jessica and Kai stood frozen, facing one another, too shocked to say anything to each other.

Finally, the paralysing shock faded from Jessica’s system, and instinct took over. She spun to run again. But Kai was faster. His hand shot out and caught her wrist, turning her back to face him.

Before she could even let out a squeak of protest, his other hand flew up, sharply flipping off the dark hoodie covering her head, and yanked away the blonde wig, letting her true ginger curls tumble free.

He stared at her like a new specimen. "So," he muttered. "It really is you, Jessica."

Tears filled her eyes. She twisted and pulled against his grip, but his hold was iron. "Please," she whimpered. "Please, just let me go. Please, Kai."

"Stop fighting me, Jessica."

He didn’t release her. Instead, he pulled her in, wrapping both arms around her and holding her tightly against his chest. "Why did you do that to me?" he murmured into her hair, his voice cracking. "Why did you just disappear like that without a word?"

For a moment, Jessica sobbed against his chest, her whole heart yearning toward him, straining to sink into the warmth and safety of him. But she knew what this was. A risk. A dangerous, foolish risk. She tried to pull away again.

"No," Kai said softly, holding her fast. "Just stay. Stay like this. Just for a moment. Please."

Jessica stood motionless for a moment, but slowly, helplessly, her arms rose and wrapped around him, clinging to him as though she might drown without him.

After a long moment, Kai pulled back, his hands resting gently on her shoulders as he looked down at her.

Jessica sniffed and wiped at her face. "I really need to go," she said, her voice trembling. She tried to step away, reaching for her fallen wig.

But Kai held her shoulders firmly, holding her in place, his eyes studying her face as though she might vanish the instant he blinked.

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