Chapter 211- The Weight of Love and Duty
Lexy
The morning sun painted soft golden streaks across the curtains, but I hardly needed its warmth. My belly, full and heavy with our next set of triplets, seemed to radiate its own light—its own life. The air around me shimmered faintly with my energy, a pulse I couldn’t suppress even when I tried. My power had always been linked to emotion, and lately, it hummed constantly—a mix of maternal instinct, anticipation, and quiet anxiety.
I was a week away from my due date, though everyone acted as if I could go into labor any second. The first triplets—my darlings—had taken it upon themselves to become my guards. They followed me everywhere, even when I just wanted a glass of water or to sit in the garden. It was sweet… and mildly suffocating.
“Mami, you shouldn’t be standing so long,” Alexia scolded gently, appearing at the doorway with a tray of fruit and juice. Her tone mirrored CJ’s perfectly, which made me smile.
“I’m pregnant, not broken,” I replied with a chuckle, easing myself into the rocking chair by the window. The babies in my belly shifted at the sound of her voice, responding to the familiar energy of their older siblings.
“Still,” Jr added, leaning against the wall with arms crossed, “Papi said you’re supposed to rest. You know how he gets.”
Yes. I knew exactly how CJ got. Overprotective didn’t even begin to describe it—though I couldn’t blame him. After everything we’d been through, he had every reason to guard what we built with a fierceness that sometimes made me ache with love.
I rested a hand on my stomach and closed my eyes. The connection between me and the little ones inside me was stronger than before. They were restless—just like their father.
“They can feel him,” I murmured softly.
Alexia tilted her head. “Papi?”
“Mhm. His tension, his hesitation. He’s trying to hide it from me, but the bond doesn’t lie.” I looked out the window, watching the warriors prepare the transport convoy outside. CJ was leaving today, even though every part of him hated the idea.
The council had agreed that someone needed to personally oversee the restoration of Adrian’s pack lands. The remnants of his forces had been scattered, confused, and volatile. Only CJ carried the authority and presence to keep them from tearing each other apart—and from turning their chaos into a threat again.
But the timing couldn’t have been worse.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, more to myself than to the triplets. “Your father won’t be gone long.”
“You don’t believe that,” Jr said quietly. His tone wasn’t accusatory—it was matter-of-fact, the way CJ’s voice got when he’d already accepted something he didn’t like.
I smiled weakly. “Maybe not. But I must act like I do. That’s what being strong means sometimes.”
They didn’t answer, just stayed close as CJ walked in, fully dressed in his dark leathers, his presence commanding yet shadowed by worry. His gaze softened the moment he looked at me.
“Lex,” he said quietly, approaching to kneel before me. His hand found mine, rough and warm. “Are you sure about this?”
I brushed my fingers along his jaw. “I am. You need to go. They need a leader before they tear each other apart.”
“And what if you need me?” His voice cracked slightly, betraying the tension he’d been holding back for days.
“I have them,” I said, glancing toward the triplets. “And I have our people. We’ve built something strong enough to protect me, CJ. Trust it.”
He exhaled, pressing his forehead to mine. The moment lingered—a silent exchange of love and fear that needed no words.
The babies kicked again, as if reminding him who else depended on his return.
He smiled faintly. “Even they don’t want me to go.”
“Then make sure you come back fast enough for them to forgive you,” I teased, though tears threatened to spill.
CJ stood reluctantly, brushing a thumb over my cheek before he turned to the door.
The bond between us pulsed painfully as he walked away. I could feel his conflict echo through me, the weight of his duty and the ache of his love tearing at each other.
As his footsteps faded, I whispered, “Come back safe, my king. We’ll be waiting.”
CJ
The hum of the engine filled the cabin as the convoy sped across the northern ridge toward Adrian’s former lands. Each mile felt heavier than the last.
I’d faced countless battles, yet none compared to this one—leaving Lexy behind, swollen with our children, glowing with strength and grace. I’d built an army strong enough to defend an empire, but the thought of not being there when she went into labor tore at something primal inside me.
Duty and love. They were the two chains I willingly bore, and today they pulled in opposite directions.
As the trees blurred past the window, I found myself gripping the pendant around my neck—a tiny crystal Lexy had given me during her second pregnancy. “So, you never lose your way,” she’d said. I never had. Until now.
Adrian’s pack was in ruins after his downfall. The wolves that remained were lost, leaderless, and dangerous. Reports said fights had broken out between the old loyalists and those pledging to the alliance. It was my responsibility to bring order—to turn their chaos into something productive before it spread.
I knew it was the right decision. The king couldn’t just stand by while instability brewed so close to home. But every instinct screamed that I was making a mistake leaving her now.
Tarria had offered to stay behind and keep watch over the territory. I trusted her completely, especially after the woman she’d become. She’d found her balance—light and darkness intertwined—and that gave me a measure of peace. Still, the image of Lexy in that rocking chair haunted me.
“She’s strong,” I muttered under my breath. “Stronger than me.”
The warrior seated beside me glanced over but wisely said nothing.
When we arrived at the border of Adrian’s old lands, the stench of decay and fear hit first. Buildings still bore scars from the last battle—charred walls, half-collapsed towers, empty watch posts. Wolves lingered in clusters, their eyes wary but defiant.
I stepped out, and the murmurs silenced instantly. Power settled over the clearing like a stormfront.
“Gather your leaders,” I commanded. My voice carried authority, but I could feel Lexy’s calming presence flicker faintly in the back of my mind—a whisper across our bond. She was awake, watching, waiting.
A young wolf stepped forward, his posture cautious. “King CJ… we didn’t expect you yourself to come.”
“I don’t send others to fix what I can fix myself,” I said.
His gaze dropped instantly. Good. They needed to see strength—decisive, unshakable.
Hours passed as I met with the remaining alphas, dividing land, reestablishing order, demanding oaths of peace under the alliance’s name. They obeyed, though I could sense their unease. They saw me as both savior and conqueror.
When night finally fell, I stood outside what was once Adrian’s manor. The wind carried faint whispers of the past—his rage, his pride, his fall. I felt no triumph, only exhaustion.
My hand brushed the crystal pendant again. I could feel Lexy’s heartbeat faintly through the bond—steady, strong.
“She’s still holding on,” I murmured.
The stars above shimmered, and for a fleeting moment, I swore I felt her warmth wrap around me like a blanket. Her power was never just light—it was home.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. “Just a few days,” I whispered to myself. “Then I’ll be back.”
But deep down, I knew time had its own plans. And as the night stretched on, I could only hope that when the next sunrise came, I’d be one step closer to returning to her before fate decided otherwise.
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