128 Everybody Knows

128 Everybody Knows

Lucian

We finally pulled up to the prison, and both Mara and I thanked Ambrose. The man grinned like he’d just been let in on a secret worth bragging about for the rest of his life.

My car was already parked out front. Denis stood beside it, arms folded, looking like he’d been pacing.

Mara gave him a small wave. “Hey, Denis,”

She slid into the passenger seat.

“You left in a rush,” Denis said, his brow furrowed. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “Just had to get Mara from the hospital.”

His eyes widened. “Wait… she’s okay, right?”

“She’s more than okay.” I smiled, and it only took him a second to put the pieces together.

“if/ii**/iik/ii, /iLucian. That was fast,” he muttered, then grinned. “Congrats, man.”

“Thanks,” I said, pping him on the shoulder.

“Keisha and I wille by tonight–if that’s cool with you?”

“Of course. Just… don’t tell Darian.”

Denis’s smile faded slightly. “Yeah… I hope he gets over her soon.”

“He’s getting there,” I said. We shook hands, and I told him we’d see them tonight.

Then I got in, started the engine, and drove off.

“Prison, Lucian?” Mara asked, side–eyeing me yfully.

I reached over and squeezed her thigh, ncing/at her with a smile. “Had to question the prisoners. But all I

can think about is getting home.”

She shifted in her seat with a grin. “Lucian, I can only take so many orgasms. I’ve been ivery /iwell–behavedtely.”

Iughed, low and deep. “Good girls get rewarded too.”

She grumbled in mock protest, but I caught her scent as it bloomed in the car–and it drove me wild. I was already counting the seconds until we were alone.

Her phone rang. She picked it up immediately. “Mother.”

Ah. The news had spread faster than wildfire. Of course.

“Thank you, Mommy. I know… Yes, he’s here. Okay… love you too. Bye.”

She turned to me. “She says hello–and congrattions.”

I smiled. The joy was still sinking in. Who would’ve thought it would happen this fast? We’d made love so many timestely I couldn’t even pinpoint when it had happened. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that she was carrying our future.

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128 Everybody Knows

“I’m getting you a dietician,” I said, already nning. “The best one. I want you and the baby eating right from the start.”

Her brows rose, amused, but I wasn’t joking.

“I mean it, Mara. From now on, you work from home. I’ll have Mary forward everything to the house. Video calls, conference meetings, whatever–just no more stress. This is a crucial time, and we’re going to do

everything right.”

She didn’t argue. She just smiled, and I knew she appreciated being taken care of–even if she’d never admit

it outright.

I pulled into the driveway. The Clearwaters were there. Jennifer met us at the door, full of energy.

“Thank the goddess you’re alright, Alpha,” she said, referencing the fight. I gave her a small smile.

“Jennifer,” I said, “find the best dietician for Mara. Top tier. No exceptions.”

She blinked, confused for half a second–until I bent down and scooped Mara into my arms.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh–ioh/i! Congrattions!” she gasped, joy spilling out in her voice.

Maraughed, and I couldn’t help butugh with her. We both knew this was only the beginning of the

well–wishes and attention.

But I didn’t mind.

Not today.

Because my mate was safe.

And our family had already begun.

Iid Mara gently on the bed, carefully undressing her down to her underwear. She stretched out with a small

sigh, eyes heavy with exhaustion and trust. I stripped down too, ready to slip in beside her and lose ourselves in thefort of this moment–just the two of us.

But my phone buzzed.

bFather/b.

I considered ignoring it. Then I saw the grin on the screen before I even answered.

“Lucian,” he said, voice already soaked with joy. “Is it true? Is she pregnant?”

I sighed. So much for privacy.

“Yes,” I said, resigned.

“That’s my boy!” he eximed. His joy was palpable, and I could understand why. The Nighthorns weren’t arge family. Just Darian and me. Any potential from Tina or Tiffany’s children woulde withplications. But this? A legitimate heir, from the Alpha and Luna. This was different. This was real legacy.

“I’m so happy, Lucian. When are you bringing her over? We need to celebrate!”

“Not anytime soon, Father,” I said, my voice firm. “That ce is toxic. Mara needs peace right now. Rest. Joy. Not tension.”

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128 Everybody vers

He sighed. “Please, Lucian Just dinner. One night. This is a huge blessing to our family”

Iughed under my breath, couldn’t help myself. I thought you were all about Tina’s child, Father”

“That’s not true, and you know it,” he snapped, a bit too quickly. “Tjust didn’t want a Nighthorn child out tee unacknowledged. But that child is… illegitimate.i” /i

He didn’t say the word, but we both knew what he meant.

“You called him an heir once,” I reminded him, needing to hear him say it inly.

There was a pause. Then he spoke, carefully, Calcted.

“I was concerned at the time–when Mara didn’t conceive after her heat. I misspoke. What I meant was… if the child carried an Alpha Mark, and it activated naturally without being passed down, then we’d have no choice but to acknowledge that bloodline. But that’s not the case.”

He softened his tone. “Mara’s children are the true heirs. The ones who will carry the Nighthom name forward. Don’t get stuck in past conversations, Lucian. We need to look ahead. This is a new beginning”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t have to. He was already moving on.

“This is a ibig /imoment for us. Come for dinner tomorrow. Just you and Mara. Nothing else. Let us honor this

new life.”

Then–he hung up.

Just like that.

I stared at the screen. He’d cornered me without ever raising his voice. That was his talent: making obligations sound like invitations. But I wasn’t a boy anymore. And this wasn’t about him.

It was about her. About us.I turned to Mara just as she hung up her phone.

“Alright, I’ll tell him. Love youi,” /ishe said, setting the phone down on the nightstand.

I raised an eyebrow, waiting.

She smirked. “Dinner. My parents want us over tonight.”

I sighed, leaning my head back against the headboard. iOf /iicourse/i. Just when I’d imagined spending the entire day wrapped up in her, away ifrom /ithe world. Instead, we’d be doing a two–stop tour–first her family’s house, then the Nighthorn Mansion.

I grabbed my phone and called Denis, letting him iknow /ins had changed. We agreed they’de by in three days instead. After hanging up, I nced at Mara.

“Who are we ito /irefuse an invitation from your parents?” I said with a mock shrug of defeat.

Sheughed, that musicalugh I loved, and I couldn’t help but grin.

I dropped my phone, kicked off what was left of my clothes, andunched myself onto the bed like a lovesick teenager. She squealed as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her against me, burying a kiss into the

crook of her neck.

She moaned, soft and breathy/her body instinctively curling into mine.

“My darling Mara,” I whispered against her skin, lips tracing the line of her throat, “I hope you’re ready for the reward I owe you.”

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Her eyes fluttered shuti. /iLucian

1 licked her earlobe slowly, eating as her breath ched

“Til do all the work.” I promised, voice low, full of heat. “You just lie there and take every

She tilted her head back, exposing more of her neck to me. Silent permission Sweet sender

And I was more than ready to worship her for it.

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