Luna. Chapter 197

（Kael's POV）

I stood in the doorway of Nova's room, watching her sleep. Eight months old. How had eight months passed so quickly?

She was perfect. Tiny fingers curled against the pink blanket Elena had made for her. Dark hair like Lyra's. My eyes. The combination was going to break hearts someday.

My daughter.

The words still felt impossible. After Asher, I'd thought maybe that was it for us. The war had taken so much time, so much energy. Then Nova happened. A surprise that turned into the best thing in my world.

"She's beautiful," I whispered to Lyra, who appeared beside me.

"She looks like you when she sleeps. Same peaceful expression."

I slipped my arm around Lyra's waist, pulling her close. "I can't believe how much she's grown."

"Wait until you see her laugh. Really laugh. It's the most amazing sound."

I felt that familiar ache in my chest. The one that came from missing too much. Three weeks might as well have been three years.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here."

"You're here now." Lyra leaned into me. "That's what matters."

We watched Nova sleep for another minute, then crept back to our room. Lyra sat on the bed, pulling her legs up under her.

"I need to tell you something," I said.

"About the mission?"

"Sort of." I ran a hand through my hair. "About why I could come back early."

Lyra waited. Patient. She'd learned not to push when it came to my work.

"We found evidence. Big evidence. About Cassius and what he was really doing."

"What kind of evidence?"

I thought about Adrian. About Miya's hidden documents. About the photos and financial records that proved years of crimes.

"The kind that changes everything. The kind that means justice. Finally."

Lyra's eyes widened. "You caught him?"

"We will. Soon. But there's something else." I sat beside her on the bed. "Something about how I was able to get into the pack territory tonight."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I shouldn't have been able to cross the border. Not without permission. Not without going through official channels."

"But you did."

"Because something's changed. In me." I held up my hand, concentrating. My fingers shifted slightly. Not a full change, but enough to show her. "I'm stronger now. Faster. More in tune with wolf instincts."

Lyra stared at my hand. "How is that possible?"

"The enhancement serum. The one Cassius was developing." I let my hand return to normal. "I was exposed to it during the mission."

"Exposed how?"

"It's complicated. But the important thing is, it's not making me sick. It's making me more wolf than I've ever been."

Lyra was quiet for a long moment. "Is that why you smell different?"

"You noticed?"

"I wasn't sure what it was. But yes. There's something..." She searched for the words. "Something wilder about your scent."

I nodded. "That's the serum. It's enhancing natural abilities. Making everything stronger."

"Are you okay? I mean, are there side effects?"

"None that I can tell. I feel good. Better than good, actually."

Lyra studied my face. "You're worried about something else."

She knew me too well. "The serum is permanent. This is who I am now."

"And?"

"And I don't know what that means for us. For our family."

Lyra reached for my hands. "It means you're still you. Still the man I love. Still the father Asher and Nova adore."

"But what if it changes me? What if I become something you don't recognize?"

"That won't happen."

"How can you be so sure?"

Lyra smiled. "Because I've seen you at your wildest. I've seen you in battle, in fury, in complete wolf mode. And you know what? You've always come back to us. You've always been the man who sings lullabies and makes pancakes and worries about missing bedtime stories."

I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders. "I've been terrified that this would scare you."

"The only thing that scares me is the thought of losing you. And if this serum makes you stronger, makes you harder to kill, then I'm grateful for it."

I pulled her close, burying my face in her hair. "I love you."

"I love you too. All of you. Enhanced or not."

We held each other for a while, listening to the house settle around us. Our children breathing in their sleep. The radiator humming. The soft sound of snow against the windows.

"There's something else," I said eventually.

"The velvet box. From earlier."

Lyra pulled back to look at me. "I was wondering when you'd bring that up."

"I was going to wait until Christmas morning. Make it official under the tree."

"But?"

"But I've been carrying it around for three weeks. And I can't wait anymore." I reached for my jacket, still draped over the chair. The small box was in the inside pocket.

Lyra's breath caught as I pulled it out.

"Lyra Morrison," I said, dropping to one knee beside the bed. "Will you marry me? Officially this time. With rings and vows and all our family watching?"

I opened the box. Inside was a simple silver band with a small diamond. Nothing flashy. Just perfect.

Lyra pressed her hands to her mouth. "Kael."

"We've been through everything together. War. Loss. New life. I want to make it official. I want you to be my wife in every way that matters."

Tears were streaming down her face. "Yes. Of course yes. I've been waiting for this for so long."

I slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. "I had Elena help me with the size."

"She knew?"

"She helped me pick it out. Said you'd want something simple but meaningful."

Lyra held up her hand, admiring the ring. "It's perfect. Absolutely perfect."

I stood up and kissed her. Soft and sweet and full of promises. My fiancée. My future wife. The mother of my children.

When we broke apart, she was smiling through her tears.

"Mrs. Henderson," I said softly.

"I like the sound of that."

"Good. Because you're stuck with it now."

She laughed. "Best Christmas present ever."

Outside, the snow kept falling. Inside, we held each other close. Planning our future. Talking about wedding dates and guest lists and what flowers Lyra wanted.

But mostly just being together. Finally home. Finally complete.

The enhanced abilities would take some getting used to. The changes from the serum would need time to fully manifest.

But this? This was exactly what I'd been fighting for. What I'd always come home to.

My family. My life. My everything.

Perfect and whole and finally, officially, forever mine.