<h4>Chapter 491: The Love Birds’ Visit</h4>


    <strong>****************</strong>


    <strong>Chapter 491</strong>


    <strong>~Zara’s POV~</strong>


    I hadn’t even dropped my keys on the entryway table before I sensed them—voices, ones I recognised andughter.


    Then his scent.


    I paused mid-step, eyes narrowing as I toed off my heels and made my way toward the living room.


    Sure enough, there she was—E—curled up on the couch, cheeks flushed with that unmistakable glow.


    And beside her, lounging like he had every right to be there, was none other than Richard, the Lycan King’s Beta.


    I blinked.


    She was smiling at him—that smile that spoke volumes and love. He was smiling back.


    I blinked again.


    "Okay," I said slowly, setting my bag down on the nearest chair. "What the heck is going on, girl?"


    E looked up, startled, but not guilty. Richard turned his head calmly toward me, lips twitching. I scanned the room instinctively, nose twitching for any trace of Kaid.


    No scent. No presence, but then again, he could have masked his scent, right?


    I exhaled. "One question," I said, levelling my gaze at Richard. "Did Kaid send you?"


    "Zara, seriously," E groaned, already covering her face.


    "I gotta ask," I said, lifting a brow. "Because there’s hardly anything that King won’t do to keep tabs. I mean, is there a camera in the fruit bowl? Should I check?"


    Richard actuallyughed, shaking his head. "No, I promise. I’m here not on his behalf." He nced sideways at E, his voice softening. "I’m here with her."


    My brows lifted. "Interesting. Please, sit."


    "We’re already—" E started, but I waved a hand and dropped into the armchair opposite them.


    As if on cue, one of the housemaids drifted in with a silver tray—snacks, drinks, the usual courtesy fare. I thanked her, but my eyes were fixed on the pair on my couch.


    E looked... giddy. Too giddy.


    I narrowed my eyes at her and took a slow sip from my ss of fruit juice. "Care to exin what’s got you all flushed and fluttery, hmm?"


    E opened her mouth, but I held up a hand. "Wait. Let me guess. You’re pregnant?"


    She froze. Richard blinked and choked on his drink.


    "You guys already—?" I leaned forward dramatically. "You did it, didn’t you?"


    E looked like she might melt into the sofa. "Zara!"


    But I was having too much fun now.


    "Oh my goddess," I said, eyes wide and mock-scandalised. "You have! Or wait—wait." I pointed a finger at Richard. "You haven’t, have you?"


    Richard cleared his throat and turned his gaze anywhere but at me. "That’s... uh... private."


    "Ohhhh, you haven’t," I said, grinning like a cat who caught the canary. "What are you waiting for? The next moon cycle? A handwritten decree from Kaid?"


    E squealed and threw a cushion at me, but it missed and thudded uselessly to the floor. "Zara, please!"


    Iughed, loud and full, the sound filling the room with something warm and bright that I hadn’t felt in days. Not since everything with Snow... and Vera.


    "You’re too easy to fluster," I said, wiping at my eyes as myughter died down. "I’m teasing. But seriously. You two look... good."


    Richard smiled, this time more rxed, like he wasn’t expecting approval and didn’t need it—but appreciated it anyway.


    E, cheeks still pink, gave me a narrow-eyed re. "You’re impossible."


    "Did you forget what I was like when Snow and I started?" I smirked. "When we got newly married? The chaos. The teasing. The long, awkward silences in the halls. And then you! You literally screamed fuck him!"


    "You made them awkward," she shot back. "And yes, I stand by it. He was a walking male testosterone, telling you he needed to be inside you, but you were... I mean the tension was just so..."


    "True," I agreed with a grin. "But they were fun." I nced at Richard, then back at E. "What do you have to say for yourself, hmm?"


    E looked at me, and for once, didn’tugh or scoff. Instead, she gave a small, genuine smile and shrugged. "I’m not sure what this is yet. But it feels... safe. And that’s new."


    I nodded once, thoughtfully. "Then that’s all that matters."


    No one spoke for a moment. Just the sound of the ice shifting in our sses and the low hum of the house breathing around us.


    And for that moment, we were all just... still.


    E shifted on the couch, clearly bracing herself. That quiet kind of bracing, where someone’s about to say something that matters but is praying you don’t throw another metaphorical shoe at their face.


    I narrowed my eyes. "Oh, no. You’re doing the thing."


    "What thing?" she asked, too quickly.


    "That squirmy thing you do when you’re about to say something major and hope I don’t make it bigger than it is."


    "I’m not—"


    "E."


    She sighed. "Fine."


    Then, straightening her spine a little like she was steeling herself for war, she said, "We’re giving ourselves a chance."


    I blinked. "To do what? Kiss more or get pregnant?"


    "Zara!" E huffed as I chuckled at her. "To be a couple, Zara. Like... a real one. We are willing to give ourselves a chance with the matebond."


    I clutched my chest dramatically. "Oh stars. You said the C-word."


    Richard let out a softugh beside her and rubbed the back of his neck like he was half-proud, half-busted.


    "A couple, huh?" I drawled, resting my chin on my palm. "So this is serious? Committed? Romantic walks? Matching towels?"


    "Not the towels," Richard said, deadpan. "But yeah. Serious."


    E pouted. "Definitely towels."


    I held back the urge to burst into deepughter as I watched them.


    I recalled my past life and how far I hade, living life like it was my first time. Especially knowing the fact that I wouldn’t be losing my friend because of a mistakeable rtionship and a guy who wasn’t worthy of her tears.


    If only she knew how devastating myst life was without her.


    I arched a brow. "Well, look at you both—full-on rtionship vibes. I’m so proud. I might cry."


    "You’re impossible," E muttered, but she was smiling too hard to be mad.


    Then Richard turned to me, his expression gentler but more resolved. "There’s more."


    "More than <i>the couple reveal</i>?" I gasped. "Is she pregnant <i>and</i> moving in?"


    He chuckled, leaning back with one arm draped over the back of the couch behind E. "What’s with you and me, getting her pregnant?"


    I shrugged sincerely. "Maybe it means you two would finally fuck and get serious, because if you don’t," my gaze darkened, "I’ming for you."


    Before my words could settle in deeply, watching as both their faces lost their smiles, I burst into another peal ofughter.


    "Gosh, it’s so funny."


    Richard sighed. I knew, probably in his mind, he wondered if that would have been what he dealt with if I had be Luna by marrying Kaid.


    "I’m taking her with me to the Lycan Kingdom."


    E gave a small nod, sliding her hand over his.


    My eyes widened, but this time it wasn’t mock-shock—it was real. "You’re leaving?"


    "We’re leaving," Richard corrected softly.


    "Just for a while," E added quickly. "I’m not abandoning you. I’ll be back."


    I looked between them, the way their fingers brushed, thefort in their closeness. Then I exhaled and gave them both a slow smile. "Wow."


    "You okay?" E asked.


    "I’m happy," I said honestly. "You deserve this. You deserve someone who looks at you like you’re their favorite Chapter."


    E looked like she might cry for real now, so I quickly grinned again and waved a hand. "Okay, okay, enough feelings. Back to the important stuff."


    Richard groaned. "Oh goddess."


    "So." I leaned in. "Truthfully, answer me. Have we done the deed yet or is the Lycan Kingdom gonna get the premiere show?"


    "Zara!" E yelped, face ming.


    "I’m just saying! Man’s got muscles and dark bedroom energy. Don’t tell me you’ve been holding out."


    E buried her face in her hands, but Richard... oh, poor guy. He just shook his head andughed, even if his ears were visibly turning red.


    "Not that it’s your business," he said, "but the Kingdom will be... informative."


    I blinked. "Informative<i>?</i> Did you just use a diplomatic term to describe sex?"


    E groaned louder. "Stop. Both of you."


    "I’m not even mad," I said, sipping my drink. "I’m just proud. That’s Alpha-level self-control. But don’t hold back too long or you’re gonna pop something."


    Richard chuckled under his breath. "You are so much worse than Kaid."


    "Please, Kaid <i>wishes</i> he had my ir."


    E finally peeked up through her fingers, eyes shining. "You’re not mad?"


    I smiled and reached out to take her hand. "I’m not mad. I’m in love with the fact that <i>you’re</i> in love. Or at least halfway there. That bond is no joke."


    Richard looked at E, and the way he stared at her said it all. Not halfway. Full speed. No hesitation.


    E turned to him slowly, visibly calming under his gaze.


    "Well," I said with a grin, "just make sure I get a front row seat to the wedding... and maybe don’t name your first pup after me unless you want them cursed with sarcasm."


    "I’m not naming my kid Zara," Richard muttered.


    "Why not? It’s powerful. Elegant. Impossible to ignore," I countered.


    "Exactly," he said, and E burst intoughter beside him.


    We sat there for a while—me curled in my favorite chair, legs tucked beneath me, E still nestled close to Richard like she wasn’t even aware of it. Like it had be instinct.


    I watched them with a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.


    "So," I said, stretching my arms behind my head, "how long before you two start fighting over closet space?"