Chapter 128

Logan

The tavern was alive with laughter. It felt like everyone else there had something to celebrate as well.

Around us floated the sound of clinking glasses and the scent of roasted meats wafting through the air. The scene was incredibly jovial and a far cry from the war councils and court politics we had spent most of our previous weeks in.

Tonight was supposed to be simple. It was a celebration of new bonds and new promises to be kept for eternity. Yet from the moment we arrived, Evelyn looked pale, her hand pressed to her stomach as though steadying herself against some unseen tide.

I knew that she was suffering from another bout of nausea and felt helpless watching her discomfort become visible. There was nothing I could do but keep close, guiding her through the crowd, my wolf pacing with restless worry.

When we saw Alex and Annalise, already deep in their cups at the tavern’s bar, I watched Evelyn paint on a smile, but I could see the strain she tried to hide in her eyes.

We sat, and Alex wasted no time ordering two fresh drinks for us. Annalise politely greeted us, her smile shy and sweet. It looked like it was hard for her to meet Evelyn’s eye, like she desperately needed to seek Evelyn’s approval.

Our glasses were slid out to us, and Alex clapped me on the back in excitement. I tried not to linger too long in my glance at Evelyn. She gripped the cup with a tight fist as she presumably fought off another wave of nausea.

Alex, on the other hand, was beaming, his cheeks flushed as he raised his glass. “To love,” he declared, arm tight around Annalise’s shoulders. “And to family. Because without it, none of this matters.”

The table echoed his cheer, raising our own glasses and clinking in response before we all took a hearty sip.

All except for Evelyn.

She glanced at me, and I caught the flicker of decision in her gaze. My chest tightened, knowing what was coming before she even opened her mouth. She placed her cup down on the sticky wooden table, undrunk.

“Alex,” she said softly, her voice nearly lost beneath the tavern’s noise. “There’s something you should know.”

His brow furrowed, but his grin remained. “You’re scaring me, sister. What is it?”

But already, he was looking between the unsipped drink she was still clutching and his sister’s cautious expression.

Evelyn swallowed hard, then placed a hand over her lower abdomen. “I’m pregnant.”

The words seemed to hang in the air, suspended for just a moment. Only the other jolly sounds of the evening’s revels filled the space and time that stretched on. Then Alex’s face split into the widest grin I’d ever seen. He surged across the table to crush her in a hug, nearly knocking over his drink in the process. Annalise grabbed it to keep it from spilling, giving me an apologetic, kind smile.

“Evelyn, that’s incredible!” he laughed. “Especially now that your mating bond is sealed, it’s… unbelievable. I’m so happy for you. I’m going to be an uncle!”

Relief softened my shoulders. Evelyn’s tension didn’t vanish, but some of the dread eased from her face. She leaned into his embrace as he pulled her close once more, and for the first time that night, she looked a little lighter.

But then she pulled back, her expression sobering. “There’s more that I need to tell you. Father… He told me he’s considering putting me ahead of you in the line of succession. Because of Annalise.”

I watched Alex carefully, bracing for anger or hurt. His smile slipped slightly as the reality of what she had said sank in. Beside him, Annalise had gone very still, her eyes filling with mute tears.

Instead, after a long pause, Alex let out a breath and chuckled, shaking his head.

“Of course he did.”

Evelyn blinked. “You aren’t upset?”

“Upset?” He reached for Annalise’s hand, lacing his fingers through hers. “Evelyn, I never wanted the crown. Not truly. Yes, I am a bit offended by our father’s stubbornness, but I knew what I was facing when I went to him with my news. Father’s always dreamed of the crown as my inheritance, but I…”

He glanced at Annalise, and his expression softened. “I don’t think I was meant for that life. To lead a kingdom, I mean. Frankly, this news comes as a relief, but don’t tell him that. He’s made my life quite a lot simpler. Besides, I’d choose Annalise over a throne. Every time.”

Annalise’s eyes brimmed with more tears that threatened to spill down her flushed cheeks, and she leaned into him, overwhelmed. “My love, my moon, I am so grateful I found you,” she said into his neck.

“Everything that happens is a path that fate has paved for us,” he said. “This was meant to be.” He turned to Evelyn. “And I suppose this is your fate, sister. Ruling. Becoming the Alpha Queen.”

Evelyn sat in stunned silence, her lips parting as though she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. I knew that she had expected pushback and had been altogether unprepared for the alternative.

It had almost been too easy for Alex to give up the crown. It was like he had been looking for an excuse such as this all the while. And as I watched him turn his attention to Annalise, I saw that he was truly happy with the decision that had been made for him.

But Evelyn, on the other hand, seemed stunned speechless. If it had been easy for Alex to give up his status as the heir, it seemed a challenge for her to accept it. She had so much now to consider, a whole new world she hadn’t even thought possible opening up spontaneously before her.

Alex smirked at his sister. “Don’t worry about it all too much. You’d make a far better leader than I ever could. You’ve always had the fire for it. I mean, look at what you were able to accomplish during the war. I’d follow you without question. I’m sure everyone else will too. No one can deny how qualified you are for this.”

I felt Evelyn’s hand slip into mine beneath the table. She didn’t say anything, but I felt the weight of the moment as she gripped onto my fingers tightly for support, like itmight anchor her in this moment. I could feel her fear, her doubt, and the faint spark of something new all in the way she resolutely held my hand. It buzzed through our bond as well, these conflicting feelings, and I felt honored to help see her through them.

At last, Alex lifted his cup again. “Then let’s toast properly. To love, to family, and to the future. A future with an Alpha Queen Evelyn.”

Now fresh, happy tears were indeed sliding loose down Annalise’s face as she raised her cup. Evelyn raised her glass too, though hers was a fresh cup of water that the bartender had wordlessly slid our way as we spoke.

Evelyn met my eyes as she drank, her smile small but real, and for the first time that night, I felt content. Because we could rest now. We no longer were rebuilding but were now creating anew.

We had a future that was bright and beckoning, waiting for us just ahead.