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“Did I purr?”

“A little. It was very sexy.”

I plopped myself at the counter, eyeing the breakfast spread with suspicion. “Is there any possibility that isn’t alligator sausage?”

“Zero chance,” he replied, plating my omelet with a flourish. “Jocko said it was the only way to build a proper foundation for the day.”

I smirked and took a bite. It was delicious, obviously. Everything Etienne cooked was. He poured two coffees, then sat across from me, gaze intent.

For a while we just ate, sharing quiet looks and little kicks under the table. I was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, I could pull off this motherhood thing. With Etienne beside me, nothing felt impossible. Difficult, sure, but not impossible.

“So,” he said, breaking the silence with his classic ‘I have news you’re not going to like’ voice, “there is one more thing we must discuss.”

I groaned. “Let me guess. You want to announce the pregnancy on social media.”

“Better.” His eyes glinted. “We must host a gathering for the entire pack. A royal celebration. It is tradition.”

I nearly choked on my coffee. “Like, the whole pack? Every single rougarou in southern Louisiana?”

He nodded, looking way too pleased for my liking. “It is important for the pack to feel included. Especially with news this significant. A new heir, so to speak.”

I hadn’t thought about that. “Isn’t Hugo the next heir?”

Etienne nodded, taking another bite of omelet. “But this baby will still be royal.”

That was true. Heck, I was royal now. Talk about crazy.

“Do you think we should invite the witches and Fue Follet? I mean, this baby is a part of their heritage too.”

Etienne nodded immediately. “Absolutely.”

I tried not to look too overwhelmed, but after a moment, I said, “This celebration is going to be huge. I always feel like an imposter at these big events.”

He leaned in, all warmth and mischief. “You will be perfect. The pack adores you. You saved my life, you saved the truce with the witches, and you always interact with our Rougarous with regal elegance and class.”

“Lie,” I said. “You know that’s a lie.” I gestured to my goth black hair and what I was sure was smudged black eyeliner all around my eyes. I did like me goth look and couldn’t quite shake it.

He laughed. “Alright, you are a unique princess, but you always greet our people with charm and beauty and the biggest heart of any person I’ve ever met.”

I bit my lip, his words making my insides go a little melty. “It just… seems like a lot. I’m barely processing the news myself, and now I have to face an audience of supernatural Cajuns?”

He reached for my hand, his thumb tracing lazy circles on my palm. “I will be by your side.”

I tried to smile, but anxiety nipped at my insides. “What if the pack doesn’t want a hybrid baby as heir? Or what if the witches get mad about it?”

He was quiet, but not troubled. “There will be some who resist. There always are. But most will see it as a blessing. A sign of peace between our people.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

He squeezed my hand. “It will not be easy. But nothing worth having ever is.”

`I gazed out the window at the rippling surface of the bayou, thinking of all the things that could go wrong. My brain supplied a dozen disaster scenarios, each more dramatic than the last. But underneath all that, there was a thin, steady pulse of hope.

“We’ll have to buy more folding chairs,” I said finally.

Etienne grinned. “And lots of champagne.”

I looked at him, this man who’d changed my entire world, and decided that if I had to stand in front of a crowd of monsters and misfits, I’d rather do it with him at my side than anyone else.