Page 51 of A Reign of Malice (Wolves of Lunara #3)

SLOANE

One Year Later…

I t’s amazing how much a world can change when everyone is finally pulling in the same direction—when the shared goal isn’t power or vengeance, but peace, simplicity, and connection.

Even if those goals are as small as wanting a quicker way to visit the people you love.

At least that’s what I think as I hurry through the freshly polished halls of our castle, double-checking every detail, smoothing wrinkles in tablecloths that don’t need smoothing, and adjusting flowers that are already perfectly placed.

I know no one else will notice, but I will. Because today matters.

It’s the first time Isla, Asher, Estee, and Theo will be visiting since the final touches were put on the new and improved Alcaris. And I want everything to be perfect.

The castle gleams under the afternoon sun, its whitewashed stone and forest-green shutters freshly painted and proudly trimmed with ivy. The Alcaris flags snap high above the turrets, a symbol not just of sovereignty but of survival and rebirth.

We didn’t just repair a home. We resurrected a legacy.

But more than our refurbished castle, the town itself has evolved and grown.

The bridge connecting our island to the mainland—the old Venaris—has been widened and reinforced, strong enough now to carry not only foot traffic and single carriages, but multiples of them filled with heavy carts for trade goods and supplies.

It’s become a lifeline and a symbol of how far we’ve come.

We moved the marketplace closer to the bridge too, creating a vibrant, central hub where all shifters gather—Polaris, Selaris, and Alcaris alike. The names don’t seem to matter anymore. Not the way they used to.

Because now, we no longer act as separate kingdoms.

We’re one community.

People come and go between our lands with ease and laughter. There are no borders to fear. No guards giving suspicious glances. Just wolves living their lives freely.

It started with a cell phone. A device that was, unsurprisingly, rejected by many of our people. Then came the ships with bigger motors for quicker travel, but mostly, it was the arrival of more portals.

With the packs united, we’ve become a realm that welcomes not only all wolves but even friends of the shifters. Which is how we found ourselves uniting with a coven of witches. Ones who were thrilled to help us update a few things with magic in exchange for some royal, god-like blood.

Sure, Theo wasn’t pleased at first, but at the time, Estee was beyond pregnant, miserable, and prepared to kill anyone who looked in her direction. When she demanded for her sister and me to be able to come see her and the baby whenever we wanted, she got her way. Quickly.

Now, every island has two portals that only travel within Lunara. One within the royal castles and another for the rest of the packs to use.

But even with the ease of movement, I still didn’t allow Isla or Estee to come here until I was absolutely ready to show off the new Alcaris.

A place I’m proud to still call home.

Even better, we’ve had no uprising. No threats of another war. No issues with the gods.

Everything is just as it should be.

Julian finds me and places a soft touch on my shoulder as I straighten the dining room table for the third time. “They’re going to love everything. Hell, they would’ve loved it before you changed it twice yesterday. Quit stressing, my darling.”

I sigh, fingers lingering over the edge of a perfectly aligned napkin. “I can’t help myself. I’m so proud of what we’ve done here— together. I just want them to see it. Really see what we’ve accomplished in such a short time.”

He cups my cheeks gently, brushing his lips against mine like a whispered vow. “If they can’t, that’s their problem. It’s no reflection of the incredible queen you’ve always been and still are.”

“Why are you so sweet to me?” I tug on his beard, loving the wild edge he’s kept since his time in the cave. “I feel like I don’t do enough for you.”

He leans in again, voice a soft rumble that slides through me like velvet. “You just being here, breathing, letting me stand beside you as your mate…that’s more than reason enough and all I’ll ever need. I promise you that.”

Gods, every single day I’m reminded how lucky I am to have been practically forced into that castle, thinking I was going to find a life sentence and instead finding this extraordinary man. My mate. My king.

“Okay,” I say, stepping back with a breath of finality. “I’m done. Officially. I won’t touch another thing in this house.”

“Good,” he says, grinning like the smug Alpha he is. “Because they got here two minutes before I walked in.”

I give him a shove. “You’re…”

“The perfect mate for taking this moment to calm you down?” His deep chuckle sends shivers down my spine, but he’s not forgiven. Yet.

“Where are they?”

He takes my hand again, holding tighter this time. “I’ll show you, my darling.”

I let him lead the way. Mostly because I don’t think I have a choice in the matter. He’s fallen into his Alpha King role like a seasoned pro, and while I’m powerful in my own right, this man owns me, body, mind, and soul.

There’s nothing he can’t command out of me.

Thankfully, he doesn’t abuse that power.

We reach the foyer to the sound of Estee’s squeal. Julian lets go of my hand, and I barely have time to breathe before our bodies collide in a tight, joyful embrace.

“It’s been too long,” I murmur into her shoulder.

“I know ,” she says, just as breathless.

“Um, hello?” Isla’s voice cuts through the moment, dry and dramatic as ever. “Am I invisible over here?”

I glance around Estee to find Isla absolutely glowing as she sits in the nearest chair, hand over her protruding stomach.

“Of course not,” I promise as I go to her. “I just wanted to make sure I got my energy under control and didn’t hurt my soon-to-be nieces or nephews. ”

Yes, that’s right. It took Isla longer to get pregnant, much to Asher’s melodramatic dismay, but the moment she did, the gods gave her two pups. And Asher? He’s been unbearable ever since. Beaming and boasting and brooding every time she so much as groans.

I hug her gently around the shoulders. “I’ve missed you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Missed you too.” She gives me a look. “So, are you knocked up yet?”

“Not yet.” Though it’s been discussed, we’ve decided spending the next decade with only each other when we’re not playing alpha sounds rather nice. We’re going to have plenty of babies to play with. That will be enough. For now.

“You’re lucky,” Isla groans as she tries—and fails—to stand. “These two have learned how to kick ribs like it’s a sport.”

Estee turns toward where Landon sleeps in Theo’s arms and sighs. “You won’t think that once they’re born. It gets better. I promise.”

“I was promised lunch , ” Isla interjects, reminding everyone that a pregnant queen requires regular offerings or we risk her declaring war.

“Right this way,” I say, and wink at Asher as he mouths a silent apology.

Theo whistles as we make our way down the hall. “I still can’t believe how much you two have done with this place. It’s gorgeous.”

I glance up at Julian, suspicious. He only smirks in return, his expression saying, I told you so.

“Thank you,” I reply. “It’s been a lot of work, but honestly? It’s been more fun than I expected. Building something new and lasting, making a home for everyone, not just ourselves, it’s nothing we could have prepared for.”

“Well, you nailed it,” Estee says. “What you two have accomplished and recovered from in the last year is more than most others could have only dreamed of.”

“I second all their compliments.” Isla briefly glances around. “It might not have hurt to move the dining room closer to the front, though.”

I inch closer to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. “I would be happy to carry you.”

“Hey.” Asher scoops her up without hesitation. “That’s my job.”

She snuggles into him, closing her eyes, and the way he trembles from her closeness has me grinning even wider.

We’re all the luckiest shifters in Lunara.

Later that night, after Isla has had her nap, Landon has been fed and put to bed, and the men have been appeased, it’s finally our girl time.

We take over the sunroom, which Clara insisted we outfit with massive floor cushions, floating candles, and an enchanted ceiling that reflects the night sky even when it’s storming.

Tonight, the stars twinkle just for us. The wind hums through the open windows, brushing against gossamer curtains as we pass around sweet wine and a tray of spiced pastries Estee brought from Selaris.

“I swear,” Isla groans, stretching her legs over Clara’s lap, enjoying her orange juice instead. “If these twins don’t start respecting my bladder soon, I’m going to shift just to give my organs some space.”

“Can you even do that right now?” Estee asks, raising a curious brow as she reaches for another pastry. “You’d probably roll instead of run. ”

“Oh, bite me.” Isla snorts, flipping her off, then grins. “Actually, don’t. I’d probably enjoy it too much with these hormones.”

Clara chokes on her wine.

“Gods,” I say, laughing and fanning myself. “This is exactly what I needed. Do you know how long it’s been since I had time to just sit and breathe? Not be queen or mate or anything other than me?”

“You’ve earned it,” Clara says, nudging my foot with hers. “You all have. For once, we’re not racing to survive. We’re just here living.”

The words settle around us like a comfort. We sip and snack and slip into easy conversation. Estee tells us about how Theo cried the first time Landon said ‘papa’ and how she caught him sobbing in the nursery for a solid ten minutes after putting the baby down last week.

“He tried to say the tears were from a training injury,” she says, deadpan. “The man limped away from the crib.”

Clara rolls her eyes. “Men are such babies when it comes to emotions.”

“Says the woman who’s already punched two of our guards for looking at her man,” Isla teases.

She merely shrugs. “Those women looked too long. ”

Laughter bubbles around the room like magic. For a while, none of us speak. Instead, we soak up one another’s company and listen to the soft crackle of the fire mixed with the lull of distant waves.

There’s peace here. Real, honest peace.

“I still can’t believe we made it,” I say after a beat, voice softer now. “That we’re all here. Together and safe.”

“We didn’t just survive,” Estee replies. “We built something lasting to be proud of. ”

“That was our job all along,” Isla adds, her hand protectively over her stomach. “To get here so that our kids will never know the world we had to burn in order to give them this one.”

That’s when we hear it.

Footsteps. Heavy, familiar.

The door swings open, and four imposing men file in like they’ve been summoned by fate—or, more likely, hunger.

“You ladies done yet?” Julian asks, looking at me like he might just devour me in front of everyone. “Because I’ve given you three hours, and now I miss my mate.”

“I swear you were just with her,” Asher says to him, exasperated. “You two are ridiculous.”

“Really? Because according to your mate, you’re just as bad,” Clara fires back, smirking as Noen not-so-casually makes his way toward her. “ Whimpering just because she stayed in the bath too long.”

“Yeah. So what,” Asher says without shame, wrapping his arms around his mate’s shoulders from behind.

Theo lifts a bottle of wine from the corner tray. “I have more wine, and I brought the baby. Can I stay now?”

Landon, somehow wide awake when he shouldn’t be and held against Theo’s chest in one arm, gurgles as if in agreement.

Estee sighs but can’t stop smiling. “He gets away with everything.”

“Like his father,” I say.

Julian crosses the room and offers me a hand. I take it without hesitation, rising as the night begins to wind down.

As we all move together—mates and friends, kings and queens, family in every way that matters—it strikes me how far we’ve come .

From fire and ruin to this unity.

To peace and love.

To everything we were always meant to be.

And the best part?

We’re only just getting started.