Incredible lightness, happiness, and joy filled him at those words. He kissed her and wrapped his hands around her, never wanting to let go. However, the sound of someone clearing their throat made them pull away. Sofia looked up, then blushed.
Grant stood in front of them, arms crossed over his chest. Behind him was everyone else, waiting for them to say something.
Lucas got to his feet and helped Sofia up. “She’s fine,” he said, pulling her to his side.
“And she’s yours,” Daric added, a smile on his face.
“What?”
“If you haven’t guessed it by now, Sofia is your True Mate.”
“My—” He looked down at Sofia, who looked even more confused than he felt. “Sofia. The baby.”
Her cheeks went pink, and her hand immediately went down to her stomach. “How did you know?”
“Er, well your dad told me—”
“Dad?”
“I’ll tell you later. But, it’s true, right?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
Lucas didn’t think he could be happier after hearing her say that she loved him, but he was wrong. Sofia was going to have his baby. His Lycan baby. Though that didn’t matter to him, because he would have been happy with a human baby, as long as it was with her.
“Wait, how did you know?” he asked Daric.
“When I touched her wrist in Blood Moon, I saw it in a vision,” the warlock said. “Which is why I didn’t dose her with the forgetting potion.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Lucas said. “Did you see all this happening?”
“I cannot tell you what I saw,” Daric said. “I can only say that I saw your futures intertwined. It has always been my policy not to reveal my visions to anyone. Besides, she is human. You would have resisted her.”
Daric was probably right, Lucas mused.
“Wait, what’s going on?” A wrinkle between Sofia’s brows appeared. “I’m your what? Mate? But I’m not Lycan.”
“No, but you’re a True Mate. And that’s special.”
“Special?”
“It means you’re mine.” The words sounded so right, and his wolf preened. The damned thing knew it all this time. “We’re meant for each other. And that any child we have will be pure Lycan.”
Her jaw dropped open. “Lycan? I’m carrying your Lycan baby?”
He nodded. “You’re also invulnerable. That’s probably how you survived all that smoke inhalation. Our son or daughter was protecting you.”
“I …”
He could see that she was still in a state of shock. “I’ll explain everything later, sweetheart.” He covered the hand over her belly with his. “All that matters is that you’re alive. And that we’re going to have a healthy, happy baby.”
She blinked as tears filled her eyes. “Lucas … Lucas …”
He wrapped his arms around her and allowed her to sob against his chest. Everyone around them moved away, giving them privacy. “I’ll never leave you or push you away again. You’re a much bigger person than I am. Thank you for believing me and forgiving me.”
“I love you,” she whispered, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. “I’m just sorry I didn’t get to say it back right away.”
“You don’t have to apologize for that. And I’m the one who wronged you. I’m sorry, and I’m going to make it up to you in any way I can.”
“In any way?”
“How would you like me to do it?” he asked. “I’ll give you anything you want. A nice apartment by Central Park? A new car? Jewelry? How about a trip to Greece? Or I can invest in Giorgios’ and open chains all over the country? Or maybe—”
“Stop,” she said playfully. “I don’t need all that. I don’t want any of that.”
“Then what do you want, sweetheart?” He could give her the world on a silver platter if she asked.
Slate-colored eyes looked up at him, and he was struck by the expression of pure love in her eyes. “You. I just want you. And our baby.”
He tightened his hold on her, his heart bursting from joy and love. His entire life was going to be turned upside down because of this human, this woman that he loved and would do anything for. Some Lycans would be resistant at the thought of a human Lupa. And then there was the brewing war with the mages.
For now, he would enjoy this moment of having his mate in his arms. Of Sofia’s orange blossom and olive scent surrounding him, comforting him. And of his wolf, finally content and deliriously happy at the prospect of a pup. He had everything he could ever want, and more than he deserved. And now, he was even more determined to fight their enemies, for the sake of his mate and their pup.
Chapter Twenty-Four
One month later …
Spring had finally arrived, and New York was in full bloom. Everyone was out and about enjoying the weather, from the office workers on their way to Friday night happy hour to the tourists snapping selfies in front of the Upper West Side’s iconic Art Deco buildings. The trees were lush and green, and the flowers were in full bloom. The air smelled of grass and—
“Achooo!”
Sofia took out a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose, though she didn’t stop walking, her steps keeping pace with the other New Yorkers around her as they crossed Central Park West. With an unhappy grunt, she looked down at her flat stomach. “You can protect me from fire and smoke inhalation, but you can’t do anything about allergies? Some magical baby you are.”
A woman rushing by jostled her as she stepped up to the sidewalk. “I’m in a hurry too, lady!” she shouted. “You don’t see me trying to run over other people!” Ugh. Sometimes she didn’t know if she loved or hated this city. With a determined shrug, she continued walking. She was already late as it is. Driving would have been faster, but when she heard about the gridlock on fifty-ninth on the police scanner, she decided against taking her car and rode the subway home instead.
Even as she
