Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 46: Episode : Another Baby in the Pack.

Kaelen froze. He didn’t look at her, but he paused.

"Don’t kill him," Roxy commanded, stepping off the porch into the mud. She walked right in between them, ignoring the danger. "We need him. He’s an idiot, but he’s a strong idiot. And besides, he has a mate."

She stopped beside Kaelen. She placed her small hand on his trembling, bloody fist.

"Show them," Roxy whispered. "Show them that the new way isn’t just about the pleasures of life. It’s about mercy. We can be strong even when we are weak." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Kaelen looked at Vorn. He looked at Roxy. Slowly, agonizingly, he lowered his fist.

He stood up, towering over the broken Beta.

"You live," Kaelen spat. "Because she commands it. Not because you deserve it."

He offered a hand to Vorn.

Vorn stared at the hand. He stared at Kaelen, who was untouched by the cold, radiating power. He realized then that Vorn was the one who was weak, weak from hunger, weak from fear.

Vorn took the hand. Kaelen pulled him up. He fell to his knees immediately, exposing his neck.

"My Alpha," Vorn rasped, blood bubbling on his lips. "I... I submit."

[Ding!]

[Conflict Resolved.]

[Clan Loyalty: 100%.]

[Vorn Status: The Luna’s Knight.]

Eew, who even needs a knight?

Kaelen looked at Roxy. He was covered in mud and blood, panting, wild. A huge bite mark on his shoulder, and his heart ached.

"Are you okay?" Roxy asked softly.

Kaelen grinned. It was a terrifying, bloody grin. "I am hungry," he said. "And I think... I want my apron back."

The next day, Roxy woke up feeling energetic and with the will to cause trouble.

If Roxy thought Kaelen was overprotective, she hadn’t met Vorn 2.0.

"Step back," Vorn snarled, his spear blocking the path of a young wolf who was simply trying to deliver a basket of berries to the Queen’s cabin. "You will disturb our Luna."

The young wolf looked terrified. "But... Vorn, it is just blueberries. The Moon Mother asked for them."

"Give them to me," Vorn commanded, snatching the basket.

Roxy watched from the porch of the King’s Cabin, sipping an orange juice she made by herself. She shook her head.

She had not even done anything yet, and he was already this mellow?

Where the fuck is the fun in that?

"He’s going to inspect the berries for poison?" she muttered to Kaelen, who was sitting beside her, sharpening his claws. "Is he serious?"

Kaelen chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that warmed her toes. "He is just filled with guilt; he knows he is wrong for doubting the Luna, that’s why he has vowed to protect you."

But it’s not like I asked for it.

"He’s being a pain in my ass," Roxy sighed, though she smiled. "Vorn! Let the kid through! I can handle them!"

Vorn stiffened. He looked at the berries, then at Roxy. He bowed low.

"As you command, Moon Mother."

He stepped aside, glaring at the poor delivery boy as if he were a dragon in disguise. Roxy giggled and just decided to continue leaning on Kaelen, who worked.

After that, two weeks passed in a blur.

The new settlement turned out to be a full-fledged village, and Roxy was proud of herself, though she had been feeling down; she didn’t allow it to show.

She had to use the communication stone soon, or she would go mad with worry. Twelve cabins now stood in a perfect semi-circle with Iron Study walls. A sturdy perimeter fence, built from the same fire-resistant timber, encircled the clearing.

Smoke curled lazily from every home, carrying the scent of roasted meat and pine.

Roxy walked through the village, her hand resting on her belly. The bump was visibly rounder now, a firm curve pressing against her robe, and the wolves treated it like the Ark of the Covenant.

A few more weeks and this pup will be out for the world to see!

Roxy rubbed her belly affectionately as she remembered Baby Drax.

"Moon Mother!" Sera called out from the community fire pit. She looked radiant. Her cheeks were round and flushed with health. "The smokehouse is full! The boar meat is curing perfectly!"

"Great work, Sera," Roxy praised, checking the [System Inventory]. "Make sure to rotate the racks. We need enough jerky to last through a siege."

The word ’siege’ hung in the air for a second, a reminder that dragons could march in anytime, but the wolves didn’t flinch. They just nodded. They trusted the walls. They trusted the King. And mostly, they trusted her.

Roxy continued her inspection. She checked the water filtration system she had jury-rigged using [Charcoal Filters] and gravel. She checked the latrines (which were now surprisingly clean thanks to her strict hygiene laws).

Everything was running like a well-oiled machine.

[System Update: Settlement Status.]

[Hygiene: Excellent.]

[Food Stores: High.]

[Pack Morale: Unbreakable.]

[Title Effect ’Mother of Civilization’: Maximum Efficiency achieved.]

Roxy smiled.

Of course, who do you think I am? If I can destroy someone, then I can definitely build my way up.

System, I deserve a bonus for this.

She wondered why it had not come until now.

[TheFinancialDefender agrees. He suggests buying yourself a spa day.]

I do not want to spend my own fricking money.

"Maybe later," Roxy murmured. "Right now, I have a bodyguard to annoy."

She walked toward the gate, intending to check the forest perimeter. Immediately, a shadow fell over her.

Vorn.

"My Queen," Vorn grunted, falling into step beside her. "It is unsafe."

"It’s noon, Vorn," Roxy rolled her eyes. "The sun is out. The birds are singing. I just want to stretch my legs."

"The forest hides teeth," Vorn stated grimly. He shifted his grip on his spear. "I will walk ahead. To keep you safe from every prowling eye."

"I don’t need protection!" Roxy groaned. "I am a pregnant woman looking for fresh air!"

"You are our Luna," Vorn corrected with absolute seriousness. "If you trip, the pack falls. If you are cold, the pack freezes. If you are hungry, the pack starves."

Damn, that’s some extreme devotion.

But she set a small grin that didn’t reach her eyes. She was starting to get pissed.

He looked at her, his scarred face set in lines of fierce determination. Since the duel, Vorn had been so submissive and also dominant to Roxy. He was essentially a 200-pound pitbull who had decided Roxy was his puppy.

"Vorn!"

A frantic shout shattered the peaceful afternoon.

Roxy and Vorn both spun around. A young male wolf named Jareth was sprinting towards them. He was stumbling, slipping, his eyes wide and wild.

"Vorn!" Jareth gasped, skidding to a halt in front of them. He was panting so hard he could barely speak. "Brother! You must... You must come!"

Vorn instantly stepped in front of Roxy, shielding her with his body, his spear raised. "What is it? Intruders? Dragons?"

"No!" Jareth wheezed, shaking his head violently. He looked like he was about to cry or scream. "It is your mate! She... she collapsed!"

"Is she sick?" Roxy asked, stepping around Vorn. "Did she eat something bad?"

"No, Moon Mother," Jareth looked at Roxy, his eyes shining with a terrified joy. "She fell while tanning hides. I carried her to the cabin. I smelled it. Her scent is similar to yours!"

Which meant she was also fricking pregnant!

Jareth looked at Vorn, his hands trembling. "She is with child, Vorn. The scent of milk and new blood... it is on her."

Vorn dropped his spear. His jaw fell open. "A pup?"

"A pup!" Jareth shouted, tears finally spilling over.

Vorn turned to run back to his cabin, his instincts screaming at him to be with his mate, to protect the nest. But he froze. He looked at Roxy.

He remembered his place. He couldn’t just abandon the Queen. He couldn’t just leave the Alpha’s mate unguarded to run off for his own happiness.

Vorn fell to his knees, looking at Roxy with desperate, pleading eyes.

"My Queen," he choked out. "May I... may I go to her?"

Roxy felt a lump form in her throat. He was asking permission to be a father. Was that even fucking necessary?

"Get up, you idiot," Roxy laughed, though her voice was thick. "Don’t ask me! Run! Go to her!"

Vorn didn’t need to be told twice. He scrambled up and bolted toward the row of cabins.

"Wait!" Roxy called out. "I’m coming too! I want to see the miracle!"

They arrived at the cabin at the end of the row. It was one of the smaller ones, but sturdy. Vorn had already burst inside.

Roxy followed him in. Inside, lying on a pile of dry furs near the cast-iron stove, was Mara.

[Hostile Female Identified.]