werewolf /mafia romance

The heir

Chapter 4: The Heir

PART 1: THE POSITIVE TEST

Two months after the war.

Life was quiet.

Too quiet.

Luca and I were finally happy.

No Council.

No East Pack.

Just us.

Every morning he made me coffee.

Every night he held me.

We were planning the island again.

A real honeymoon this time.

And then... it happened.

I was in the bathroom.

Alone.

Holding a small white stick.

And there were two lines.

Pink.

Clear.

Impossible.

My hands started shaking.

"Luca?" I whispered.

He was in the other room.

"What, baby?"

"Come here.

Please."

He walked in.

Saw my face.

Saw what was in my hand.

And he froze.

"Aria," he said slowly.

"What is that?"

I couldn't speak.

I just nodded.

His gold eyes went wide.

Then he dropped to his knees.

Right there on the bathroom floor.

He took the test from my hand.

Looked at it.

Then at me.

"You're..." he whispered.

"You're pregnant?"

Tears were falling down my face.

"I think so."

He didn't say anything for 10 seconds.

Then he pulled me into his arms.

So tight.

"Oh my God," he whispered.

"Oh my God, Aria.

We're going to have a baby."

He was crying.

The Alpha King.

Crying.

And I was crying too.

PART 2: THE FEAR

That night, I couldn't sleep.

Luca was holding me.

But I could feel his heart racing.

"Can't sleep?" I whispered.

"No," he said.

He kissed my hair.

"I'm scared."

I turned to him.

"Of what?"

"Of losing you," he said.

His voice broke.

"Of losing the baby.

Of something going wrong."

I took his hand.

Put it on my stomach.

Flat.

Still empty.

"Nothing will go wrong," I said.

"I promise."

"You don't know that," he said.

"In my world, Aria...

things like this don't happen.

Wolves don't fall in love with humans.

And they definitely don't have babies with them."

He looked at me.

Tears in his eyes.

"What if it's too dangerous?

What if my blood is too strong?

What if I hurt you?"

I cupped his face.

"Then we do it together," I said.

"Just like we did everything else.

Together."

He nodded.

And held me until sunrise.

PART 3: THE DOCTOR

The next day.

The best doctor in the city.

A wolf.

Old.

And very serious.

He ran every test.

Blood.

Ultrasound.

Magic.

And then he looked at us.

"Well?" Luca asked.

His whole body was tense.

The doctor smiled.

"It's a miracle," he said.

"The baby is healthy.

Strong.

And it's... a wolf."

Luca exhaled.

Like he had been holding his breath for 24 hours.

"A boy," the doctor said.

"Due in 7 months."

Luca looked at me.

And I saw it.

Pure joy.

Pure love.

Pure fear.

"A son," he whispered.

He came to me.

Kneeled again.

Put his ear on my stomach.

"Hey, little wolf," he said softly.

"Daddy's here.

And Mommy's here.

And we're going to protect you

with everything we have."

I started crying again.

PART 4: TELLING THE PACK

That night.

The whole pack was gathered.

500 wolves.

In the courtyard.

Luca stood on the balcony.

With me next to him.

He looked nervous.

I had never seen him nervous.

"People of the pack," he said.

His voice echoed.

"I have an announcement."

Silence.

"My wife," he said, looking at me.

"Is pregnant."

For 3 seconds, nothing.

Then the howling started.

So loud.

So happy.

It shook the windows.

Viktor was crying.

Actual tears.

"An heir," he said.

"A De Rossi heir."

Luca pulled me close.

Put his hand on my stomach.

"This," he said.

"This is the future of our pack.

And I will kill anyone

who tries to hurt them."

He looked at me.

"Both of them."

PART 5: NESTING

The next 3 months were chaos.

Luca became obsessed.

He baby-proofed the entire mansion.

Bought 3 cribs.

20 car seats.

And a room full of toys.

"Aria," he said one night.

"I want to paint the nursery.

What color do you want?"

"Luca, we have time—"

"No," he said.

"I want it ready.

Now."

So we painted.

At 2 AM.

Blue and gold.

His colors.

He sang to my stomach.

Old Italian lullabies.

With his terrible voice.

And every night,

he fell asleep with his hand on me.

Like he was making sure we were both still there.

PART 6: THE SCARE

Month 4.

I woke up to blood.

Just a little.

But enough.

"LUCA!" I screamed.

He was there in 1 second.

Picked me up.

Ran to the car.

"Drive," he told the driver.

"Faster."

At the hospital, he wouldn't let go of me.

Not even for the ultrasound.

The doctor looked serious.

Then she smiled.

"It's okay," she said.

"Just stress.

The baby is fine.

Strong heartbeat."

Luca collapsed into a chair.

And cried.

Not like a King.

Like a man who almost lost everything.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered to me.

"I'm so sorry I scared you."

I held his face.

"You didn't scare me.

You saved us."

PART 7: THE NAME

Month 5.

We were in the nursery.

At midnight.

Luca was rocking the empty chair.

"What should we name him?" he asked.

"I don't know," I said.

"What about Luca Jr?"

"No," he said.

"He needs his own name.

His own life."

He thought.

"Alessandro," he said.

"After my grandfather.

He was a good man."

I smiled.

"Alessandro De Rossi.

I like it."

Luca came to me.

Hugged me from behind.

His hands on my belly.

"Alessandro," he whispered.

"Daddy loves you.

And Mommy loves you.

And we can't wait to meet you."

PART 8: THE DREAM

Month 6.

I had a nightmare.

I was running.

And I couldn't find him.

Alessandro.

I woke up screaming.

Luca was already awake.

Holding me.

"Shh," he said.

"It's okay.

I'm here.

He's here."

He put my hand on my belly.

And we felt it.

A kick.

Right on his hand.

Luca started laughing.

And crying.

"He's kicking," he said.

"He heard me."

That night, we didn't sleep.

We just lay there.

Talking to him.

To our son.

PART 9: THE PROMISE

Month 7.

Luca took me to the roof.

Like he did before.

But this time was different.

"When he’s born," Luca said.

"I want to give up the title."

I looked at him.

"What?"

"I want to be a dad," he said.

"Not a King.

Not an Alpha.

Just a dad.

Just your husband."

"Luca, you can't—"

"I can," he said.

"Because you and him...

you're more important than any title."

He got down on one knee.

Again.

"Aria De Rossi," he said.

"I promise you.

I promise our son.

I will be the man you both deserve.

I will be home for dinner.

I will change diapers.

I will be there."

He kissed my belly.

Then me.

"I love you," he said.

"So much."

PART 10: THE WAIT

Now.

Month 7.5

I'm huge.

Tired.

And so in love.

Luca hasn't left my side.

He sleeps on the floor next to the bed.

"Just in case," he says.

The nursery is ready.

The name is picked.

The pack is waiting.

And every night,

he talks to Alessandro.

Tells him stories.

Tells him how much he's loved.

And I lie here.

Thinking.

6 months ago I was human.

Scared.

Alone.

Now I'm a Queen.

A wife.

And soon...

a mother.

To the Alpha King's son.

This is my life now.

And I wouldn't trade it

for anything.

PART 2: THE POSITIVE TEST

3 weeks after the war.

Morning.

6:17 AM.

I was in the bathroom.

Alone.

Staring at 2 pink lines.

Pregnant.

My hands were shaking.

The test fell from my fingers.

"Luca?" I whispered.

No answer.

I ran out of the bathroom.

Down the hall.

To our room.

He was sleeping.

Peaceful.

For the first time in 200 years.

"Luca," I whispered.

He didn't wake.

"LUCA!" I shouted.

His eyes snapped open.

Gold.

Instantly alert.

"What? What's wrong?"

He was already checking me for injuries.

I held out the test.

Shaking.

He looked at it.

Then at me.

Then back at it.

His face went blank.

"Luca?" I whispered.

"Say something."

He got off the bed.

Walked to the window.

His back to me.

"Luca?" My voice broke.

Then he turned.

And he was crying.

The Alpha King.

200 years old.

Crying.

"Aria," he whispered.

"Is it... is it real?"

I nodded.

Tears falling.

He crossed the room in 2 steps.

Fell to his knees in front of me.

Put his ear to my stomach.

"Hello," he whispered.

"I'm your father."

And he broke down.

PART 3: HIS FEAR

Later that day.

Doctor came.

Confirmed it.

8 weeks pregnant.

After she left,

Luca was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Hey," I said.

Sitting next to him on the bed.

"What's wrong?"

He looked at me.

His eyes were scared.

"What if I'm a bad father?" he said.

"What if I'm like my father?

Cold.

Cruel."

I took his face in my hands.

"You are nothing like him," I said.

"You are kind.

You are gentle.

You are the best man I know."

"But I'm a monster, Aria," he said.

"I've killed.

I've tortured.

How can I teach a child?"

I kissed him.

"By teaching them how to be better than you.

By loving them like you love me."

He pulled me into his arms.

"I'm terrified," he admitted.

"Of losing you.

Of losing them."

"You won't," I promised.

"We're a family now.

And families don't let go."

PART 4: TELLING MOM

That night at dinner.

My mom.

Luca.

Me.

I couldn't eat.

Too nervous.

Luca noticed.

He put his hand on my knee under the table.

"What's wrong?" my mom asked.

I looked at Luca.

He nodded.

"I'm pregnant," I said.

Silence.

Then my mom screamed.

And started crying.

"Oh my God!" She ran to me.

Hugged me.

"Kissed me.

"I'm going to be a grandmother!"

Luca was smiling.

A real smile.

"Congratulations," my mom said to him.

"You better take care of my daughter."

"I will," Luca said.

"With my life."

That night, my mom cried happy tears for 2 hours.

PART 5: THE NURSERY

Week 12.

Luca turned the whole east wing into a nursery.

Pink and blue.

Doesn't matter what it is.

He just wanted both.

"I don't know what to buy," he said.

Standing in a baby store.

Looking lost.

"Luca," I laughed.

"You look like you're going to war."

"I am," he said seriously.

"Against bad baby furniture."

He picked up a tiny onesie.

Black.

With a tiny wolf on it.

"This," he said.

"This is perfect."

I rolled my eyes.

"Our baby is not going to wear all black."

"Yes they are," he said.

"They're a De Rossi."

He paid for everything.

3 carts full.

And when we got home,

he built the crib himself.

At 2 AM.

I found him asleep on the floor.

Next to the crib.

With a screwdriver in his hand.

PART 6: THE SCARE

Week 16.

I was in the garden.

Alone.

And then the pain hit.

Sharp.

In my stomach.

I fell to my knees.

"Luca!" I screamed.

He was there in 3 seconds.

"I've got you," he said.

Panicking.

"Don't you dare.

Don't you dare leave me."

He carried me to the car.

To the hospital.

Driving like a madman.

At the hospital,

they took me in.

And he wasn't allowed.

I heard him outside.

Yelling.

"Let me in!

That's my wife!

That's my baby!"

The doctor came out 20 minutes later.

"It's just Braxton Hicks," she said.

"False labor.

She and the baby are fine."

Luca collapsed to his knees.

And cried.

When I came out,

he didn't say anything.

He just held me.

For an hour.

"I thought I lost you," he whispered.

"You can't leave me.

Not yet.

Not ever."

PART 7: THE NAME

Week 20.

Gender scan.

The doctor smiled.

"It's a girl."

Luca froze.

"A girl?"

"Yes," the doctor said.

"Perfectly healthy."

Luca looked at me.

Tears in his eyes.

"A daughter," he whispered.

"I have a daughter."

That night,

we couldn't sleep.

"What should we name her?" I asked.

Luca thought.

"Luna," he said.

"After the moon.

Because she's going to be my light."

I smiled.

"Luna De Rossi.

I love it."

He kissed my stomach.

"Hi Luna," he whispered.

"Daddy's here.

And Daddy loves you so much."

PART 8: HIS CHANGE

Week 24.

Luca changed.

He stopped going to meetings.

Stopped fighting.

Stopped being the Alpha King for a while.

And became just... Dad.

He read baby books.

He talked to my stomach.

He played music for Luna.

Every night, without fail.

And me?

I fell more in love with him.

Because the most dangerous man in the world

was afraid of a 10 pound baby.

And that made him the most beautiful man in the world.

PART 9: THE BABY SHOWER

Week 28.

My mom threw me a baby shower.

At the mansion.

50 women.

All wolves.

All staring at me.

But Luca didn't leave my side.

Not once.

"They're staring," I whispered.

"Let them stare," he said.

He put his hand on my big stomach.

"This is my wife.

This is my child.

And I am the luckiest man alive."

And the whole room went quiet.

Then they clapped.

PART 10: THE PROMISE

Week 32.

Night.

3 AM.

I couldn't sleep.

My back hurt.

My feet were swollen.

Luca was awake.

Massaging my feet.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"I'm so big and uncomfortable."

He looked up.

"Don't you ever say that," he said.

"You are carrying my child.

You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

He kissed my stomach.

"Hi Luna.

Are you kicking Mommy too much?

Be nice to her.

Or Daddy will be mad."

I laughed.

Then cried.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," I said.

"I'm just so happy.

And so scared."

He came and lay next to me.

Held me.

"Don't be scared," he said.

"We're going to be okay.

The three of us.

Always."

He kissed me.

"Promise?"

"Promise," I whispered.

And we fell asleep.

With his hand on my stomach.

And Luna kicking between us.

PART 3: LUNA'S BIRTH

Week 38.

3 AM.

I woke up to pain.

Real pain.

Not Braxton Hicks.

"Luca," I whispered.

He was awake instantly.

"What, baby?"

"It's time."

His face went pale.

"Now?"

I nodded.

Tears in my eyes.

"Now."

He picked me up.

Like I weighed nothing.

Ran to the car.

"Drive!" he yelled to the driver.

"To the hospital.

NOW!"

In the car, he held my hand.

"Kiss me," I said through the pain.

He did.

Soft.

Desperate.

"I'm scared," I admitted.

"I know," he said.

"But you're the strongest person I know.

You can do this.

For us.

For Luna."

PART 4: THE DELIVERY ROOM

The hospital was chaos.

Doctors.

Nurses.

And Luca.

Pacing.

Yelling.

"Why is it taking so long?"

"Is she okay?"

"Someone help her!"

"Luca," the doctor said.

"You need to calm down.

Or you need to leave."

He looked at me.

On the bed.

Sweating.

Crying.

"I'm not leaving," he said.

He came to my side.

Took my hand.

"I'll be right here.

The whole time."

Hours passed.

The pain was unbearable.

"Luca," I cried.

"I can't—"

"Yes you can," he said.

He wiped my forehead.

"You are doing amazing.

You are so strong.

Just like Luna will be."

He kissed my forehead.

"One more push," the doctor said.

"One more."

I screamed.

And then...

A cry.

A tiny, beautiful cry.

PART 5: THE FIRST LOOK

"She's here," the nurse said.

"7 pounds.

Perfectly healthy."

Luca didn't move.

He was staring at me.

Tears running down his face.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered.

"Our daughter."

They put her on my chest.

Tiny.

Pink.

Perfect.

And Luca...

The Alpha King...

Broke.

He fell to his knees next to the bed.

And cried.

Real, deep sobs.

"Hey," I whispered.

Touching his hair.

"Hey, look at her."

He looked up.

At her.

And his whole face changed.

"Hi," he whispered to her.

"Hi, Luna."

He touched her tiny hand.

With one finger.

"She's so small," he said.

"So perfect."

He looked at me.

"Thank you," he said.

"Thank you for giving me this.

For giving me you.

For giving me her."

And he kissed me.

Soft.

Full of love.

PART 6: THE FIRST NIGHT

Midnight.

Hospital room.

Luna was sleeping in the bassinet.

And Luca was asleep in the chair.

Holding my hand.

He woke up every 10 minutes.

To check on her.

To check on me.

"You're okay?" he asked.

"Yes," I smiled.

"Tired.

But okay."

He came to the bed.

Lay next to me carefully.

So he wouldn't wake her.

"Can I tell you something?" he whispered.

"Anything."

"I never thought I deserved this," he said.

"A family.

A daughter.

You."

He kissed my hand.

"But you gave it to me anyway."

I cried.

"Stop making me cry," I said.

"I'm too tired."

He laughed.

And held me.

PART 7: GOING HOME

3 days later.

The mansion was decorated.

Balloons.

Flowers.

Signs that said "Welcome Home Princess Luna".

The whole pack was waiting outside.

500 wolves.

To see her.

Luca carried her out.

Wrapped in a blanket.

His face full of pride.

"People of the pack," he said.

"This is Luna De Rossi.

My daughter.

Your future Alpha."

The wolves howled.

Not in war.

In celebration.

Viktor was crying again.

"She looks just like you, brother," he said.

"But with her mother's eyes."

Luca looked at me.

"She looks like her mother.

Perfect."

PART 8: DADDY'S GIRL

Week 1 at home.

Luca didn't sleep.

Not once.

He was up every 2 hours.

To feed her.

To change her.

To rock her.

"Aria, sleep," I told him.

"I can't," he said.

"If I sleep, I might miss something."

He learned how to burp her.

How to swaddle her.

How to sing to her.

And Luna?

She only stopped crying in his arms.

One night I woke up.

And found him in the nursery.

Rocking her.

Singing in Italian.

Terribly.

"I love you," he whispered to her.

"So much it hurts.

I will protect you.

I will teach you.

I will be the best dad in the world."

I stood in the doorway.

And cried.

Because I had never seen anything

so beautiful in my life.

PART 9: THE SCARE

Week 3.

Luna got a fever.

102.

Luca lost his mind.

"Hospital.

Now," he said.

His voice was deadly calm.

In the ER,

he held her the whole time.

Wouldn't let the nurses take her.

"She's fine," the doctor said.

"Just a virus.

It will pass."

Luca didn't believe it until she smiled.

A tiny, gassy smile.

Then he collapsed into a chair.

And sobbed.

"I can't lose her," he said to me.

"I can't, Aria.

She's everything."

I held him.

"I know," I said.

"Me neither."

PART 10: OUR NEW NORMAL

Month 2.

Life was chaos.

Beautiful chaos.

Dirty diapers.

No sleep.

Coffee at 3 AM.

And more love than I ever thought possible.

Luca gave up the Council meetings.

Gave up the fighting.

For now.

"I'll go back to it," he said.

"When she's older.

But right now?

My job is here.

With you.

With her."

He took pictures of everything.

Her first bath.

Her first smile.

Her first time grabbing his finger.

"She's going to hate these when she's older," I laughed.

"Good," he said.

"Then she'll know how much she was loved."

PART 11: THE PROMISE

Month 3.

Night.

Luna was finally asleep.

Luca and I were on the balcony.

Just us.

He had his arm around me.

And I was leaning on him.

"Do you regret it?" he asked.

"Any of it?"

I shook my head.

"Never."

"Me neither," he said.

He kissed my forehead.

"Best decision I ever made.

Marrying you.

Having her."

He looked at me.

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"What?"

"Before you,

I thought my life was over.

That I would die alone.

Cold."

He smiled.

"But then you came.

And you saved me.

And now...

I have everything."

Tears fell down my face.

"Luca..."

"Shh," he said.

He pulled me closer.

"This is our life now.

Messy.

Tired.

Perfect."

And he was right.

Because for the first time,

the Alpha King wasn't ruling an empire.

He was ruling a home.

With his Queen.

And their Princess.

And that was enough.

PART 4: THE THREAT RETURNS

Month 4.

Life was perfect.

For the first time in 200 years, Luca was happy.

Really happy.

He would spend mornings with Luna.

Changing diapers.

Making bottles.

Singing her to sleep.

"Aria," he said one morning.

"I think I can do this forever.

Just this.

You and her."

I smiled.

"Me too."

But peace never lasts in our world.

PART 5: THE LETTER

It came on a Tuesday.

Black envelope.

No name.

Just the De Rossi seal.

Luca opened it in his office.

And froze.

"What is it?" I asked.

He didn't answer.

Just handed it to me.

The letter said 5 words:

"Give us the girl.

Or else."

My blood ran cold.

"Who?" I whispered.

"The Council remnants," Luca said.

His jaw was tight.

"They survived.

And they want Luna."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because she's the heir," he said.

"Because with her,

they can control the pack.

Or kill our line."

He crushed the letter in his hand.

"No one touches her," he said.

"No one."

PART 6: THE GUARDS

That night, 30 guards were added.

Inside the house.

Outside.

On the roof.

Luna's nursery had cameras.

Motion sensors.

And 2 wolves at the door 24/7.

"You're scaring me," I said to Luca.

"Good," he said.

"I want you scared.

I want you careful.

Because if anything happens to her..."

He couldn't finish.

He pulled me into his arms.

"I won't let it," he whispered.

"I swear to you, Aria.

I won't."

PART 7: THE DREAM

That night I had a nightmare.

Men in masks.

Taking Luna.

And I couldn't reach her.

I was screaming.

And Luca wasn't there.

I woke up crying.

Luca was already awake.

Holding me.

"I had the same dream," he whispered.

"Every night."

He kissed my tears.

"I'm not leaving her side.

Not for a second.

And neither are you."

PART 8: THE ATTACK

It happened at dawn.

4 AM.

When everyone was tired.

The power went out.

Alarms went off.

"Get to the safe room!" Luca yelled.

He picked up Luna.

And me.

And ran.

But they were already inside.

6 wolves.

With guns.

"Give us the girl!" one shouted.

Luca put me behind him.

Luna in my arms.

"Over my dead body," he said.

And then he attacked.

It was chaos.

Growling.

Gunshots.

Blood.

I was hiding in a corner.

Holding Luna.

Crying.

And then I saw it.

A gun pointed at us.

"NO!" Luca screamed.

He jumped.

Took the bullet.

Right in the back.

"LUCA!" I screamed.

He fell to his knees.

But he didn't go down.

He killed the last wolf.

Then turned to me.

"Baby," he said.

"Are you okay?"

He was bleeding.

A lot.

"Medic!" I screamed.

"Someone get a medic!"

PART 9: THE HOSPITAL

Again.

But this time was worse.

Luca was unconscious.

Losing blood.

The doctor came out.

"He lost a lot of blood," she said.

"He needs a transfusion.

But his blood type is rare."

"I'll give it," I said.

"I don't care."

"It has to be a wolf," she said.

"Or it won't work."

Viktor stepped forward.

"Take mine," he said.

"All of it."

8 hours.

Surgery.

Waiting.

And me, holding Luna.

Crying.

"Wake up," I whispered.

"Please wake up.

For me.

For her."

PART 10: HE WAKES UP

He opened his eyes at midnight.

And the first thing he said was,

"Where is she?"

I put Luna in his arms.

Carefully.

"She's okay," I said.

"Because of you."

He looked at Luna.

Then at me.

Then he started crying.

"I thought I lost you both," he whispered.

"You didn't," I said.

"I won't let you."

He held Luna with one arm.

And pulled me in with the other.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't fast enough."

"You saved us," I said.

"You always save us.PART 5: NEW LIFE ON THE ISLAND

Month 6.

The island.

Our home.

No more sirens.

No more blood.

No more fear.

Just waves.

Sun.

And us.

The villa was perfect.

Big windows.

Ocean in every room.

And a nursery that faced the sunrise.

Luna was 4 months old now.

Laughing.

Rolling.

And she had Luca's eyes.

PART 6: MORNING ROUTINE

6 AM.

Luca was already awake.

Like always.

He was in the kitchen.

Making coffee.

And making baby bottles.

"Morning, King," I said, walking in.

He turned.

And smiled.

A real smile.

No stress.

No war.

"Morning, Queen," he said.

He kissed me.

Then kissed Luna who was in the baby carrier on his chest.

"Breakfast?" he asked.

"Pancakes.

Your favorite."

We ate on the terrace.

Just the three of us.

Luna between us in her little chair.

"This," Luca said.

"This is what I fought 200 years for."

PART 7: DADDY AND DAUGHTER TIME

Luca became obsessed with Luna.

Every afternoon, 2 PM to 4 PM.

"His time" he called it.

No phones.

No work.

Just him and her.

I would watch from the window.

Him on the floor.

Playing with toys.

Making funny faces.

"Luna," he would say.

"Can you say Daddy?

Dad-dy."

And she would babble.

And he would act like she answered.

One day I heard him.

"Your mom is the most amazing woman in the world," he whispered to her.

"And you...

you are the reason Daddy smiles now."

I cried.

Happy tears.

PART 8: THE BEACH DAY

Month 7.

We went to the beach.

First time for Luna.

Luca carried her.

In just swim shorts.

Sun on his skin.

Luna in a tiny pink swimsuit.

"Ready?" he asked her.

She kicked her legs.

He walked into the water.

Slow.

Careful.

And when the wave hit their feet,

Luna laughed.

A real laugh.

Luca looked at me.

And his eyes were full.

"Did you hear that?" he said.

"She laughed."

He came back to me.

Put Luna in my arms.

And hugged us both.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"For this life."

PART 9: NO MORE NIGHTMARES

I used to have nightmares.

Every night.

But not anymore.

Because now when I woke up scared,

Luca was there.

Always.

He would pull me close.

"I'm here," he would whisper.

"They can't get us here.

We're safe."

And I believed him.

Because on this island,

he was not the Alpha King.

He was just my husband.

And Luna's dad.

PART 10: THE PROPOSAL... AGAIN

Month 8.

One night.

After Luna was asleep.

Luca took me to the beach.

Candles everywhere.

On the sand.

"What is this?" I laughed.

He got down on one knee.

Again.

"Aria," he said.

"I know we got married because of a contract.

I know it was for the pack.

For war."

He took my hand.

"But I want to ask you again.

For real this time.

No contract.

No pack.

Just us."

He pulled out a ring.

Simple.

Beautiful.

"Will you marry me?

Again.

Because you love me.

Not because you have to."

Tears were falling.

"Yes," I said.

"Yes, Luca.

A thousand times yes."

He put the ring on my finger.

And kissed me.

Under the stars.

With the waves behind us.

PART 11: THE WEDDING

1 week later.

Small wedding.

On the beach.

Just 20 people.

My mom.

Viktor.

And his most loyal wolves.

I wore white.

Simple.

And barefoot.

Luca wore black.

But he was smiling the whole time.

When the priest said,

"You may kiss the bride."

He didn't just kiss me.

He picked me up.

Spun me around.

And everyone cheered.

That night,

we danced.

With Luna sleeping in his arms.

"This is the best day of my life," he whispered.

"Mine too," I said.

PART 12: FAMILY PHOTOS

After the wedding.

We took family photos.

On the beach.

In the villa.

In the nursery.

Luna in between us.

Luca holding both of us.

"One day," he said.

"She'll look at these.

And know how much she was loved."

I framed them.

Put them everywhere.

So she would always remember.

PART 13: THE LETTER TO LUNA

Month 9.

Luca wrote a letter.

To Luna.

For when she's older.

I found him writing it at 3 AM.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Writing to her," he said.

"Telling her who she is.

Who we are.

How much we love her."

He let me read it.

"My dearest Luna,

If you're reading this,

you're probably older now.

And I'm probably old and grumpy.

But I want you to know something.

You saved me.

You and your mom.

You gave me a reason to live.

To be better.

To be good.

Never forget that you are loved.

So much.

By me.

By your mom.

Always.

Love,

Daddy"

I cried for an hour.

PART 14: PEACE

Month 10.

No letters.

No threats.

No Council.

Just quiet.

Luca started working from home.

2 hours a day.

The rest was for us.

We would swim.

Cook together.

Watch the sunset.

And at night,

we would sit on the balcony.

Luna between us.

"Are you happy?" he would ask.

"Yes," I would say.

"Are you?"

"More than I ever thought possible," he said.

PART 15: THE GIFT

Month 11.

Luca surprised me.

"Close your eyes," he said.

I did.

And he led me somewhere.

"Open."

It was a garden.

Full of flowers.

My favorite ones.

"For you," he said.

"Because you bring life everywhere you go."

He picked me up.

Spun me.

"I love you," he said.

"I love our life.

I love our daughter.

I love you."

PART 16: ONE YEAR LATER

Luna's first birthday.

The vill