Chapter 0289

Three months had passed.

Calling fatherhood life-changing would be an understatement. Nothing prepares you for the moment you first hold your child and feel your heart swell until it physically aches. The mate bond is sacred, a divine gift from the Moon Goddess herself. But this? Becoming a father? This is my greatest accomplishment.

My son is flawless. Ten perfect fingers, ten perfect toes. His golden curls are coming in thicker now – definitely inherited from me. But those storm-gray eyes? Pure Seraphina. She claims they're the only feature he got from her, joking that we'll soon have a mini-Sebastian running around.

I don't mind. If our next child is a girl, I hope she looks exactly like her mother. Beautiful. Though it means I'll have to terrify every male who glances her way. A tiny Seraphina would be worth the bloodshed.

Yes, I got my perfect mate pregnant again almost immediately after Julian's birth. Can you blame me? She's irresistible. When she asked me to fill the packhouse with our love, who was I to refuse my Luna?

Today, Julian and I are at my office in the human town while Seraphina rests. This pregnancy tires her more than the last. The doctor blames me for not giving her enough recovery time, but Seraphina just smirks and cites her "advanced healing."

Either way, it gives me precious time alone with my son.

My office now includes a full nursery setup. Nathaniel joins us, seizing every opportunity to hold and feed Julian. He even changes diapers without complaint. It's bittersweet – he and Genevieve have been struggling to conceive due to her past trauma.

"We're considering adoption," he says suddenly, bottle in hand. His eyes flicker to mine before returning to Julian. "War orphans... we'd planned to adopt eventually but hoped to conceive first. Given Genevieve's likely difficult pregnancy..."

Seraphina and Genevieve converted part of the packhouse for war orphans. Some lost both parents in battle; others lost one parent to battle and the other to mate-loss sickness.

"Five pups still need homes," I tell him.

"Genevieve bonded with a two-year-old girl. The child struggles with her loss. She's spent nights in our quarters – with Seraphina's approval, of course."

"You'll be amazing parents." I take the completed adoption papers he produces, signed by all parties except me. My pen glides across the page.

Standing, I reclaim my son. "Go. Tell your mate you're officially parents. Anything your daughter needs, just ask."

His grin could power the sun. "Thank you, Sebastian. This means everything."

After he dashes off, I finish work with Lawrence and my assistant, arranging to work from the packhouse next week. By departure time, we're alone.

"Lights off, then home to Mommy," I tell Julian. He might be a baby, but I swear he understands. Seraphina laughs when I say this, but the way he looks at me? Pure comprehension.

The elevator dings as we approach. Instinct kicks in – I shove Julian's carrier behind a desk and brace for combat. No one should be here this late.

The doors reveal Isolde.

Moon Goddess. The change is horrifying. Once exotic and striking, now she's skeletal, with patchy hair and death-pale skin.

"Isolde!" I catch her as she collapses.

Blood vessels have ruptured in her eyes. "Sebastian," she gasps, clutching my shirt. "They're coming. For the Guardians."

I carry her to a chair. "Who did this? Who's coming?"

Her cracked lips part. "The hunters. They know. And they're coming."