Page 56 of Accidentally on Purr-pose

You are everything, my king.

A wave of his fierce, protective love came through the bond, followed by a clear, hopeful thought.

I can't wait for our family to begin.

Her heart swelled as the strange, new warmth inside her seemed to pulse in agreement. She nestled closer, her hand coming to rest on her lower belly, but she didn't voice the certainty taking root in her soul. She simply sent the feeling back to him along their bond—a wave of anticipation, joy, and absolute devotion.

FREESIA

Six months had transformed everything. The Valeria pride flourished with three hundred souls living as one—former Vael jaguars, scattered Waverly tigers, and steadfast Callel panthers woven together into something unprecedented. Permanent housing dotted the expanded territory like promises kept, with construction crews working dawn to dusk on additional homes for the steady trickle of displaced shifters seeking sanctuary. But today wasn't about politics or expansion or the delicate dance of governing a united pride.

Today was her wedding day.

And being six months pregnant with twin girls was creating some rather unique challenges.

"Stop squirming," Kenia commanded from behind her, wrestling with the ivory silk that had been let out twice already. "You're making this infinitely more difficult."

Freesia pressed both hands to her rounded belly, feeling one of the twins deliver a particularly enthusiastic kick to her ribs. "Tell that to your nieces. They seem to have strong opinions about formal wear."

Elaine, the woman who'd once managed the Waverly royal household, laughed as she gathered the train. "They're already showing Waverly spirit. Your mother would be so proud."

The mention of her mother sent a familiar pang through Freesia's chest, but it was softer now. Bittersweet rather than devastating. Her daughters would carry the Waverly legacy forward, and while the Unity Accord governed their united pride, the ancient Compact would always remain sacred. Every member of the Valeria pride understood that their peace began with Queen Valeria's courage four centuries ago.

"Almost there," Tabitha muttered, tugging at the zipper. "Just need to⁠—"

"Breathe in," Constance added helpfully.

Freesia inhaled deeply, then immediately regretted it as another kick landed squarely against her diaphragm. "I swear these two are going to be trouble."

"Good," Kenia said with satisfaction as the zipper finally slid home. "Trouble keeps life interesting. Though they're certainly making things extra difficult for their aunt today."

The door burst open without ceremony, and Gerri Wilder swept into the room like a force of nature in a deep purple designer pantsuit. Her snow-white bob was styled to perfection, and her heels clicked against the hardwood floor with characteristic authority.

"My, how the queen is absolutely glowing," Gerri announced, her eyes sparkling as they took in Freesia's transformed figure.

Freesia instinctively touched her rounded belly, a smile tugging at her lips. "We have a lot to be excited about here in Valeria territory these days."

Gerri crossed the room in three quick strides and pulled Freesia into a warm embrace that smelled of vanilla and lightning. "You sure have come a long way from the exhausted survivor who greeted me with a gun in that safehouse."

The memory felt like a lifetime ago. Freesia had been hollow-eyed and desperate then, carrying nothing but grief and the weight of an ancient treaty. Now she carried hope, love, and two daughters who would grow up in a world where peace wasn't fragile—it was foundational.

"A radiant bride-to-be and mother of twin girls," Gerri continued, stepping back to admire the full effect. "You certainly exceeded my expectations."

A thought that had been nagging at Freesia for months finally found its voice. "Did you know?" she asked, tilting her head. "When you hired Izei to protect me—did you know he was my fated mate?"

Gerri's eyes gleamed with mischief, and Freesia could swear she caught a flash of gold in their depths. "Well, I do have an uncanny sense about these things. But I knew he was exactly the Alpha and protector you needed at the time." She paused, her smile turning almost wicked. "Though he certainly helped you in more ways than I dared hope for."

"Yes, he certainly did. He helped build an entire united pride of tigers, panthers, and jaguars," Freesia murmured wonderingly. "Six months ago, who would have believed it?"

"That surely wasn't on my bingo card," Gerri admitted with a laugh that filled the room. "Though I have to say, watching the impossible become inevitable is one of my favorite pastimes."

Before the conversation could continue, the door flew open again. Luka strode in looking devastatingly handsome in his formal black suit, his green eyes bright with barely contained excitement.

"Freesia, if you don't hurry up and get down to the estate gardens and marry your future king, he might just call this whole thing off and whisk you away."

The very idea made Freesia laugh. Izei's protective instincts had reached legendary proportions during her pregnancy. Just yesterday, he'd insisted on personally taste-testing her breakfast to ensure it was "nutritionally optimal for the twins." And the pride had started a betting pool on how long it would take him to start following her to the bathroom.

"He wouldn't dare," she said, adjusting the delicate lace of her sleeves. "Not when we're about to be officially crowned the first king and queen of the Valeria pride."