Colliding Dreams

Chapter Thirty-Six: Whispers of the Future

The soft morning light gently filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across our room—our sanctuary. I shifted beneath the covers, still adjusting to the subtle changes in my body, changes that reminded me every day of the new life growing inside me. A slight discomfort in my belly made me pause. It was still early—barely a month along—but I could already feel the shifts happening within me, both physically and emotionally.

I rolled onto my back and rested my hand on the small curve of my abdomen. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I thought about the tiny life forming inside me. It was so surreal, this feeling of being both terrified and excited. The quiet of the castle in the early morning added to the tranquility. Outside, birds chirped softly, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a peaceful melody that made the world seem smaller, as if it were just us, in this moment.

The door creaked open, and I turned my head. Darius stepped into the room, his presence immediately commanding, yet somehow softer in the morning light. His tousled hair and slightly sleepy expression made him appear more relaxed than usual, though the fire in his golden eyes was as intense as ever. That fire never failed to make my heart race.

"Good morning, my little wolf," he murmured, his deep voice laced with warmth. He crossed the room and sat beside me, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, in the best way.

"Morning," I replied, my voice still heavy with sleep. My hand automatically reached for his as he rested it on my belly. "How did you sleep?"

"Better now that I'm here with you," Darius smiled, his fingers brushing over mine. His eyes softened as he tilted my chin, making me meet his gaze. "How are you this morning? And how's our little one?"

Hearing him speak about our baby never ceased to fill me with a strange mix of joy and uncertainty. I wasn't used to the idea of being a mother—it all felt so new and overwhelming. But there was a part of me that couldn't help but get lost in the wonder of it all. "I think we're okay. I felt some flutters earlier. It's... different, but kind of amazing."

His eyes lit up, and before I could react, he playfully lowered his head to rest against my stomach. "What do you think, little one?" he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. "Are you treating your mother well?"

I laughed, feeling a burst of warmth flood through me. Darius had this way of making me feel cherished, like every part of me mattered more than I could ever imagine. I ran my fingers through his hair, smoothing out the strands. "You're already spoiling them, you know."

"Of course," he said, sitting back up. His expression turned serious, his gaze full of that protectiveness I'd grown to love. "You and this baby are everything to me now. I'm going to spoil you both every chance I get." He squeezed my hand, as if sealing a vow.

I looked away for a moment, overwhelmed by the depth of his affection. He'd always been there, steady and unshakeable, but sometimes it felt like too much—like I wasn't sure how to handle the weight of it all. "I'm still getting used to it," I admitted quietly. "Being pregnant, I mean. Everything feels so new, and it's happening so fast."

Darius turned my face back to his, his thumb brushing softly over my cheek. "You're not alone in this, Luna. We're in it together, every step. And you're going to be incredible. You already are."

His words hit me straight in the heart, the warmth of them wrapping around me like a blanket. I leaned into his touch, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out," he promised, his voice soft and sure as he leaned in to kiss me again, this time slower, with a tenderness that grounded me. His lips were warm, steady, a reminder that whatever came next, we'd face it together.

As the kiss deepened, the room felt warmer, the air between us thick with the tension that always seemed to spark whenever we were close. Darius's hand slid around my back, pulling me into him, and I felt my body respond, craving him in ways that made everything else fade away. But before we could completely lose ourselves, he pulled back with a teasing grin, his golden eyes gleaming.

"I've got plans for us today," he said, his voice low and playful.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Plans? What kind of plans?"

"The kind where it's just you and me," he replied, his grin widening. "I want to take you to the lake. We'll swim, relax, and spend the whole day together—no interruptions."

My heart raced at the thought. A day away, just the two of us? It sounded perfect. "That sounds amazing," I said, excitement bubbling in my voice.

Darius stood and offered me his hand. "Then let's get you ready, my love."

He led me to the wardrobe, choosing a light, flowing dress that hugged the gentle curve of my stomach. As I slipped into it, I caught the way his eyes lingered on me, full of admiration. "You're breathtaking," he whispered, adjusting the fabric at my waist, his hands lingering at my hips, his touch both gentle and possessive.

"Flatterer," I teased, though I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"It's not flattery if it's true," Darius chuckled, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. "Now, come on, before I decide to keep you all to myself."

I giggled, feeling lighter than I had in days. Taking his hand, I let him lead me out into the sunlit hallway. As we walked toward the lake, the castle grounds seemed more alive than ever. The flowers were in full bloom, the air sweet with their scent, and the sun bathed everything in a warm glow.

Darius gave my hand a gentle squeeze, and I glanced up at him, catching the softness in his gaze. "Are you happy, Luna?" he asked, his voice quiet, almost uncertain.

I smiled, squeezing his hand in return. "I'm more than happy. I'm... content. And you?"

His response was immediate. "I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. With you."

We reached the lake, and the sight took my breath away. The water sparkled beneath the sun, clear and inviting. Before I could say a word, Darius let go of my hand and sprinted toward the lake, diving in with a splash. His laughter echoed across the water, making me smile.

"Come on, Luna!" he called out, grinning as he surfaced.

I stood at the water's edge, watching him, my heart swelling with love. There was a freedom to this moment, a feeling that everything would be okay as long as we had each other.

Taking a deep breath, I waded into the cool water, gasping as it lapped at my skin. Darius swam up to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close. His breath was warm against my ear as he whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too," I whispered back, feeling the weight of those words settle comfortably between us.

We floated together in the water, lost in each other, as if the world had disappeared, leaving only us and the promise of our future.

Eventually, we made our way back to shore, and Darius spread out a blanket for us to lay on. The sun was warm, the breeze gentle, and as I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, I felt completely at peace.

"What do you think our baby will be like?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Darius's hand found mine, squeezing gently. "I think about it all the time," he said softly. "They'll be strong, like you. Brave, kind. And I hope they have your smile."

I smiled at the thought. "And they'll have your eyes. That fire."

Darius chuckled. "And your patience. They'll need that with me as their father."

I laughed, the sound light and full of joy. "We'll figure it out together."

"Always," he whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

As the day slowly slipped into evening, I felt more at peace than I had in a long time. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew we would face them together. And that was all that mattered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A little fluff chapter for you lovelies

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- Daisy