Chapter Twelve: First Steps
409 Words
Lucas took his first unsteady steps at ten months old—far earlier than any ordinary human infant, even faster than most young wolf cubs.
It was a crisp, cool autumn morning in the pack garden. I’d turned my gaze away for barely three seconds to chat with Sasha, and when I glanced back, Lucas stood upright all on his own, wobbly chubby legs supporting his small frame.
“Did you just see that?” I blurted out in shock.
“He walked,” Sasha grinned wide, already watching our son with fond amusement.
Lucas took another shaky stride forward, arms stretched wide to steady his balance, before stumbling and catching himself against a low wooden garden table.
“He’s developing far too quickly,” I frowned, a flicker of unease stirring in my chest.
“He’s the prophecy child,” Sasha shrugged casually. The rules don’t apply to him.
“He’s bound to grow into nothing but trouble.”
“The greatest leaders always start as rambunctious little ones.”
I bent down to scoop Lucas up into my arms, showering his soft cheeks with kisses until he wriggled to escape my hold. He babbled a blurry sound that sounded exactly like Mama, and my heart felt as if it split open with overwhelming warmth.
That night, I brought up Lucas’s unnatural rapid growth to Kael as we sat watching him sleep peacefully in his cradle.
“He matures much faster than regular wolf pups,” he said, keeping his tone calm yet cautious.
“Is there any danger tied to this speed?”
“It’s extraordinary,” he smiled softly, staring at our sleeping son. “He gets all his strength from his mother.”
“Just stubborn, you mean.”
“Strong-willed, powerful—same thing.”
I leaned against his shoulder, our mate bond humming soft, content warmth between us.
“When I first arrived at this compound, I truly believed my whole life had come to an end.”
“And look at us now,” he pressed a light kiss to the top of my head. “I couldn’t picture a single other life without you.”
Our golden yet unpredictable future stretched out ahead of us, hand in hand, ready to face every coming threat side by side.
Chapter Hook: Lucas began suffering vivid, terrifying night terrors filled with glowing red-eyed shadow figures—signs of the Crimson Court’s distant mental influence.
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