Chapter 245

• Ethan and I suddenly appeared in a wooded area. The trees around us were tall and dense, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. The air was cool and filled with the natural scent of damp earth and pine. The warriors were gathered nearby, and standing among them were Ryker and the Alphas—Enzo, Hudson, Charles, Ryan, Adrian, Dean, Parker, Wesley, Emmett, Sawyer, Jason, Vincent, and Miles. Along with them stood Kaiden, Lilith’s brother, his presence as serious as the expressions on the faces of those around him.
• The moment we appeared, we startled the group. A few warriors instinctively reached for their weapons, and several gasped or stepped back in surprise. Ryker, however, didn’t hesitate. His eyes widened, and in the next second, he ran straight toward me, his arms wrapping tightly around me in a firm, relieved hug. I could feel how tightly he held me, his grip filled with emotion.
• As he pulled back slightly, his eyes dropped to my stomach, which was still smaller than it should have been but noticeable nonetheless. The realization hit him quickly, and when he looked back up at me, his eyes were wide and filled with wonder.