Chapter 139: We will see your plan through

Caspian’s golden eyes flickered, the embers in his throat dimming completely as her words sank in.

Hearing himself named her first mate—the father of the child growing inside her, and that he had too much relevance to be cast out—struck a cord deep within his draconic, prideful chest.

His large hand slowly reached out, his touch incredibly gentle as he rested his palm over hers, feeling the steady warmth of her belly.

She looked at him, and then at his hand on top hers, and she did not pull away.

Caspian still looked thoroughly annoyed by the thought of the snow leopard, but the heavy, suffocating weight of his possessive rage had melted away by those simple words.

"If he is part of your plan, then I will tolerate his presence," Caspian rumbled softly, his thumb lightly brushing against her hand. "But he will respect the hierarchy. I am the first, and if he forgets his place, I’ll melt the stripes off his tail." 1

Raiden let out a soft, breathless laugh, leaning back against the timber wall as his nine pink tails relaxed, swishing lazily against the white furs.

His chest felt lighter than it had all morning.

"Culinary skills and a big mouth, hm? I suppose I can accept that character sheet. At least you find me entertaining, love." A familiar, sly smirk finally returned to his handsome face. "And don’t worry about the cat getting too rowdy. If he starts testing our patience, I’ll weave an illusion so thick he’ll be chasing his own tail for a week."

Kulu gave a single, firm nod. The rigid tension in his shoulders smoothed out completely, and his feathers relaxed flat against his crimson wings with a soft, muted rustle.

Knowing that his strength and his wings were irreplaceable to her was all he needed to hear for his insecurities to be settled. He didn’t need to compete with a mountain feline; his position by her side was unshakeable.

"We will hold the line, Hana," Kulu said quietly, his amber eyes steady and full of an unyielding devotion. "Whatever your plan is, we will see it through. The leopard will not disrupt our home but will make a better addition."

Hana looked between the three of them, a rare, quiet sense of relief washing over her mind.

The frustrating, irritable ache of her pregnancy mood swing had fully receded, replaced by a strange, peaceful rhythm in her chest.

She had actually paused her calculations, sat down, and listened to them—and it hadn’t made her look weak or compromised her authority at all. If anything, it had made her apex Alphas entirely compliant, their loyalty binding even tighter to her.

"Good," Hana muttered flatly, leaning her head back into the plush winter pelts. "Now that we’ve settled the household balance, I need to rest. My energy levels are dropping, and the baby is heavy."

"Rest, mine," Caspian murmured, shifting closer so his massive frame could act as a solid, radiating furnace against the chilly mountain winds leaking through the logs.

Raiden quietly pulled a thick, white fur blanket over her legs, adjusting it carefully over her rounded belly with an unusually gentle touch. "Sleep well, Hana. We’ll be right here when you wake up."

Hana closed her eyes, letting the heavy exhaustion of the day finally take over. For the next two hours, the guest hut was completely silent, save for the crackling of the stone fireplace and the steady, synchronized breathing of her protectors.

By the time the sun began to dip below the jagged white peaks of the Frost-Claw range, painting the sky in deep shades of violet and bruised orange, Hana opened her eyes. Her physical strength had fully returned, and the dull ache in her lower back had vanished.

She sat up smoothly, adjusting the tactical harness over her white dress. Caspian and Kulu instantly stirred from their watchful positions, their eyes tracking her movement, while Raiden stood up from the fireplace, his tails unfurling from around his body. He brushed a few stray soot from his silks and felt whole again.

"The sun is setting," Hana announced, her voice returning to its sharp, clinical business register. She looked toward the heavy leather curtain of the entrance. "It’s time. Raiden, go outside and bring the cat in. It’s time to hear his response."

Raiden chuckled softly, his nine pink tails giving a mischievous, graceful flick. "Right away, love. Let’s see if the Alpha warrior has his speech prepared."

He strode to the entrance and pulled back the heavy curtain, stepping out into the crisp evening air.

Just as expected, Ren was sitting on a flat boulder a few paces away, his hands resting on his knees and his black-striped tail twitching with an anxious, erratic energy.

He had been waiting there for hours, his heart hammering against his ribs as he stared at the logs of the hut, wondering if Hana had actually spoken to her mates.

"Alright, cat," Raiden called out, his voice dripping with a smooth, mocking amusement. "The master is awake. Step inside, and try not to shed on the furs."

Ren swallowed hard, his white-furred ears pinning back for a brief second before he straightened his posture, pulling his shoulders high.

He could not remember the last time he was this anxious, and the last time he was this afraid. So many things were crossing his mind. So many worrisome things but the one at the top was... what if Hana’s current mates don’t accept him?

He had asked her to hear them out, but what if they somehow managed to persuade her into not taking him as her fourth mate?

Then, would he regret advising her to listen to her mates or not? It made him anxious.

Ren gave Raiden a tense, wary nod, stepped off the boulder, and pushed past the leather curtain into the warm, amber glow of the cabin.

The moment he entered, the sheer, crushing weight of Caspian’s draconic heat and Kulu’s silent, razor-sharp presence hit him like a physical wall.

The two apex warriors didn’t roar, and they didn’t bare their fangs, but their eyes locked onto him with a cold, territorial warning that made the skin on Ren’s neck prickle.

He forced his eyes forward, completely ignoring the death glares as he walked to the center of the room and stopped before Hana.

Hana sat firmly on the pile of white pelts, her hands folded neatly over the prominent curve of her belly, her dark eyes completely unblinking.

"It’s evening, Ren," Hana said flatly, her voice echoing with an absolute, undeniable authority. "I kept my end of the bargain. I spoke with my mates, and they have told me their thoughts."

Ah, I feel some people might be wondering why a snow leopard has a striped tail instead of a spotted, I'll get to that later so don't ask me yet.