To ruin an Omega-Chapter 393: A reason to stay 2

CIAN

I closed the space between us and pulled her into my arms, holding her tight against me.

"I love you so much," I whispered into her hair.

She wrapped her arms around me and held on just as tightly.

"I am glad you did not die on me," she said. Her voice was thick with emotion. "I am glad it all worked out in the end, even if I still have this unsettling feeling in my chest."

I pulled back slightly so I could look at her.

I took her hand in mine and squeezed gently.

"It is fine," I said. "That crippling fear has no place here now. Everything is fine."

She looked at me. Her eyes searched mine.

"Who knows," she said quietly. "Maybe he has someone out there who—"

My lips crushed hers with an urgency that bordered on violent, a desperation that had been building since this ordeal was over. My hands moved into her hair, rough and insistent, tilting her head back so I could deepen the kiss. She gasped, caught off guard by the intensity, but her body pressed into mine, fitting against me in a way that felt too right to ignore.

I swallowed the sound, my mouth moving over hers, tasting, taking. There was a faint trace of lip gloss on her mouth, and something soft beneath it that was entirely her. My heart pounded hard against my ribs, each beat feeding the need that had been tightening in me all day. I needed this. Needed her. The feeling pushed close to something reckless.

She let out a low sound, soft but unguarded, and it went straight through me. Her hands gripped at my shirt, pulling, trying to close whatever space still existed between us. I could feel the warmth of her through the thin fabric of her dress, the press of her body against mine. It was not enough. It did not come close to enough.

I kissed her like I had been holding back for too long, like restraint had finally given way. There was nothing careful about it, nothing measured. I wanted more, wanted to pull her closer, to erase every inch of distance between us. The rest of the world faded, losing shape and meaning until there was only this, only her, only the pull that refused to loosen its grip.

I kissed her until breathing became difficult, until everything else slipped away, until the moment held steady and complete around us.

I kissed her until I could not breathe. Until the fear and the doubt and the lingering shadows of everything that had happened today dissolved into nothing.

Then I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.

"Everything is fine," I said again.

My voice was firm and absolute.

Fia stared at me for a moment. Then she smiled.

"Okay."

She leaned forward and kissed me back.

This time it was softer. Slower. Like we had all the time in the world.

I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her again. And again. Each one a promise. Each one a reminder.

We were safe.

We were together.

We were going to have a baby.

Everything else could wait.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard. Fia’s cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were bright.

I rested my forehead against hers.

"I cannot believe we are going to be parents," I said.

She laughed softly.

"Neither can I."

"When did you find out exactly?"

"This morning. Right before the trial resumed. Maren ran the test."

"And you did not tell me?"

"I wanted to. But everything was happening so fast. And then you went after Aldric, and I thought—"

Her voice broke.

I pulled her close again.

"I am here," I said. "I am not going anywhere."

"I know."

She pressed her face against my chest.

"I was so scared," she whispered. "When I saw you go after him. When I thought the vision was coming true. I was so scared."

"The vision did not come true. I am still here."

"I know. I just... I keep thinking about what could have happened. What almost happened."

I stroked her hair gently.

"But it did not happen. We won. Aldric is dead. The traitors are gone. We are safe."

She nodded against me.

"We are safe."

We stayed like that for a long time. Just holding each other. Letting the reality of everything settle in.

Finally, Fia pulled back and looked up at me.

"What do we do now?" she asked. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Now?" I smiled. "Now we rest. We recover. We take care of each other and the baby growing inside you."

Her hand moved to her stomach.

"It still does not feel real."

"It will. Eventually."

I placed my hand over hers.

"We are going to be good parents," I said.

"You think so?"

"I know so."

She smiled.

"I hope you are right."

"I am always right."

She laughed and shoved me lightly.

"You are insufferable."

"You love me anyway."

"I do."

She leaned up and kissed me again.

This time it was gentle. Sweet. Full of all the quiet joy we had not had time to feel yet.

When we pulled apart, I stood and started removing my boots.

"What are you doing?" Fia asked.

"Getting comfortable. We both need rest."

I stripped off my shirt and tossed it onto the chair. Then I climbed into bed beside her.

Fia shifted to make room. I pulled her against me and wrapped my arms around her.

She settled into my chest with a soft sigh.

"This is nice," she murmured.

"It is."

I closed my eyes and just breathed.

The room was quiet and peaceful.

Outside, I could hear distant voices. The faint sounds of the estate returning to normal.

But in here it was just us.

Just Fia and me and the tiny life growing inside her.

"Cian?" Fia said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For surviving. For fighting. For coming back to me."

I tightened my arms around her.

"Always."

She pressed a kiss to my chest.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

We lay there together. Wrapped in each other. Safe and whole and alive.

Everything we had fought for. Everything we had risked.

It had led to this moment.

And it was perfect.

Fia’s breathing began to even out. Her body relaxed against mine.

She was falling asleep.

I kissed the top of her head gently.

"Rest," I whispered. "I have got you."

She made a soft sound of agreement.

Then she was asleep.

I stayed awake a little longer. Just watching her. Making sure she was really okay.

My hand moved to rest over her stomach. Over the place where our child was growing.

Our baby.

The thought still felt surreal. Like something too good to be true.

But it was true.

We were going to be parents.

I was going to be a father.

The responsibility of it settled over me like a weight. But it was not a burden.

It was a promise.

I would protect them both. I would give this child a life free from the darkness that had consumed my uncle. Free from the fear and the violence and the constant threat of betrayal.

I would build something better.

For them.

For Fia.

For our future.

I closed my eyes and let myself drift.

The exhaustion caught up with me all at once. Bone deep and overwhelming.

But I was not afraid anymore.

For the first time in years, I felt at peace.

Aldric was dead.

The traitors were gone.

My pack was safe.

My family was safe.

And tomorrow I would begin rebuilding. Strengthening. Creating the golden age I had promised.

But tonight?

Tonight I would rest.

With my wife in my arms and my child growing inside her.

And that seemed enough.