Page 75 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

As Ash snuggled into her side, his small hand coming to rest on her belly, Wren's mind drifted back to the early days of their return to White Moon territory. She remembered how nervous she'd been, wondering if the pack would accept a former rogue as their Luna.

But Articus had been right by her side every step of the way, his unwavering support giving her the strength she needed. The pack had welcomed her with open arms, many of them touched by her story and impressed by her resilience.

Juniper, in particular, had become a close friend and confidante. The witch had taken Wren under her wing, teaching her about pack dynamics and the responsibilities of an Alpha female. With Juniper's guidance and Articus' love, Wren hadgrown into her role, finding a sense of purpose she'd never known before.

"When's Papa coming?" Ash asked, pulling Wren from her reverie.

She smiled down at her son, running a hand through his silky hair. "Soon, little one. He just had to finish up some pack business."

As if summoned by their conversation, a rustle in the nearby bushes announced Articus' arrival. Ash's face lit up, and he scrambled to his feet. "Papa!" he cried, launching himself at Articus as the Alpha emerged from the tree line.

Articus caught his son mid-leap, swinging him up into the air with a laugh that echoed through the clearing. "There's my little warrior!" he exclaimed, settling Ash on his hip. "Have you been taking good care of your mama while I was gone?"

Ash nodded enthusiastically. "I made her a crown, see?" He pointed to the slightly lopsided arrangement of wildflowers perched atop Wren's head.

Articus's eyes softened as he took in the sight of his mate. "You're right, Son. She looks beautiful."

Wren felt a blush creep up her cheeks, even after all these years. The way Articus looked at her never failed to make her heart skip a beat. She held out a hand, and he helped her to her feet, pulling her close and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

"How are my girls doing?" he asked, his free hand coming to rest on her belly. The sonogram had told them they would be having a girl this time.

Wren smiled, leaning into his touch. "We're good. Though your daughter seems to think my bladder is her personal trampoline."

Articus chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "That's my girl. Strong and spirited, just like her mama."

They settled down on the picnic blanket, Ash immediately diving into the basket of food Wren had packed. As they ate, Articus filled them in on the pack meeting he'd just come from.

"The alliance with Cassius's pack is going well," he said between bites of sandwich. "We've had fewer snatchings since we started coordinating our patrols, and Linus and his cohorts’ operation has been destroyed."

Wren nodded, a sense of satisfaction warming her chest. The improved relations between the two sides of the mountain had been a joint project of hers and Articus'. It was slow going, centuries of mistrust and misunderstanding not easily overcome, but they were making progress.

"Uncle Cassius coming soon?" Ash piped up, his mouth full of apples.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Sweetie," Wren gently admonished. "And yes, Uncle Cassius will be visiting for the full moon next week."

Ash's face lit up. Despite his gruff exterior, Cassius had a soft spot for his 'nephew', often bringing him little gifts from the other side of the mountain. The big Alpha and his daughter had become regular visitors to White Moon territory, his presence a living symbol of the growing ties between the two packs.

As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink, Wren leaned back against Articus' chest, watching as Ash chased fireflies that had begun to emerge in the gathering twilight.

"Do you ever think about how different things could have been?" she asked softly, tilting her head to look up at her mate.

Articus' arms tightened around her. "Sometimes," he admitted. "But then I look at you, at Ash, at the life we've built together, and I can't imagine anything better than this."

Wren smiled, turning in his arms to press a kiss to the underside of his jaw. "Me neither," she whispered.

A sudden squeal of laughter drew their attention back to Ash, who had managed to catch a firefly and was now watching in wide-eyed wonder as it crawled across his palm.

"Mama, Papa, look!" he called, carefully making his way back to them.

"Well done, little wolf," Articus praised, ruffling Ash's hair as the boy settled between them. "Now, remember what we talked about? We have to let it go so it can go back to its family."

Ash nodded solemnly, his little face scrunched up in concentration as he opened his hand. The firefly sat still for a moment as if stunned before its wings fluttered and it took off into the darkening sky.

"Bye-bye," Ash whispered, waving at the retreating speck of light.

Wren felt her heart swell with love for her little family. These quiet moments, filled with wonder and simple joys, were the ones she treasured most.

As the stars began to twinkle into view, Articus stood up, stretching his long limbs. "I think it's time we headed back," he said, looking down at Ash, who was beginning to rub his eyes sleepily.

---