Chapter 163
Hope was slipping away.
And then—
A tiny, wretched sound.
Barely a whimper at first. Then a cough.
Then a sharp, piercing cry that shattered the silence.
I sobbed, holding him tighter as his cries grew stronger, filling the room.
Aldric let out a shaky breath. "He's breathing."
I pressed my lips to my son's damp forehead, weeping uncontrollably. "You're safe," I whispered. "You're here."
He was here.
And now, I had to protect him.
....................
The room was dimly lit, the scent of antiseptic and dried herbs clinging to the air. My body trembled, drenched in sweat, but the pain was nothing compared to the overwhelming relief I felt watching my son breathe. His tiny chest rose and fell inside the makeshift incubator Aldric and Miriam had quickly assembled. Glass panels, heated stones, and layers of soft cloth kept him warm, mimicking the safety of my womb.
"He's stable," Aldric murmured, exhaustion heavy in his voice. He wiped his brow and turned to me. "But he's fragile, Your Majesty. He'll need constant care."
I barely heard him. My eyes were locked onto my son's delicate face, his tiny hands curling into fists. He was so small, so impossibly perfect. The weight of what had just happened hadn't fully settled in yet.
I had done it.
I had brought him into this world.
And now, I had to protect him.
Miriam approached, carrying the materials for stitching me up. "Your Majesty, you should rest."
I clenched my fists. "I can't."
Aldric shot me a sharp look. "You've just undergone major surgery. You can't move, let alone stand."
"I don't have a choice." My voice was hoarse, but firm. "Lucian's inauguration is tomorrow. I have to be there."
Miriam and Aldric exchanged a glance.
"Ariadne," Aldric sighed, using my name instead of my title for the first time. "Your body is weak. Pushing yourself will put both you and your child at risk. Even if you force yourself to stand, what do you plan to do? Lucian is already claiming the throne."
I turned my gaze to him, the weight of my memories settling into place. I was no longer just a displaced queen grasping at straws. I was Ariadne, Rowan's mate, the mother of the true heir, and I was not about to let Lucian take everything.
"My son is the rightful heir," I said, voice steady despite my exhaustion. "If I bring him before the court, if I show him to the council, it will nullify Lucian's claim."
Aldric's jaw tensed. "The law states that an heir must be acknowledged by the Alpha King."
"And the law also states that an interim ruler is unnecessary if a direct heir exists," I countered. "They want to depose me because they claim my status as an Otsayak is weak, but they can't ignore an Alpha's son. Rowan's son."
Aldric exhaled heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're not going to back down from this, are you?"
"No."
He muttered something under his breath before nodding. "Then I will help you."
Miriam gaped at him. "She should be resting—"
"She should," Aldric agreed, "but if she's determined to stand, then we'll have to prepare her body for it." He turned back to me, his expression grim. "I'll use stimulants to help with the pain and encourage faster healing. But Arin, this is dangerous. Your body is not meant to recover this quickly."
I swallowed hard. "I understand the risks."
Aldric sighed. "Fine. But don't expect a miracle. You will still be weak."
Weak or not, I would make it to that throne room.
Miriam worked quickly, stitching my wound with careful precision. I gritted my teeth, willing myself not to flinch as the needle moved through my flesh. Every tug, every pull sent fresh waves of agony through me, but I focused on my son, on his small movements in the incubator.
"You're a miracle," Aldric whispered as he checked on the baby. He turned to me. "Do you want to hold him?"
I could barely lift my arms, but I nodded.
Aldric and Miriam carefully transferred the tiny bundle into my arms, and the moment his small body settled against mine, something inside me shifted.
He was so warm. So real.
Tears burned in my eyes. I pressed a trembling kiss to his forehead. "My son."
The baby made a small sound, a soft, contented sigh.
Aldric adjusted a pillow behind my back. "He needs to eat, Your Majesty."
I hesitated, then shifted slightly, guiding my child to me. The moment he latched, an overwhelming wave of emotions crashed into me.
Relief. Love. Fierce, unbreakable determination.
This child was everything.
I glanced at Aldric. "We have until tomorrow."
He nodded. "Then let's make sure you survive until then."
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