Kaelen Thorne stared at the petite woman before him, her defiant golden eyes meeting his without wavering despite the fear he could smell radiating from her. Her proposal hung in the air between them, bold and unexpected.
"Yes," she insisted. "What do you think?"
What did he think? Kaelen's mind raced. This human female—this Seraphina Moon—who carried his heir had just suggested they pretend to be mates. For his campaign. For his political advancement. It was both audacious and... surprisingly strategic.
His wolf stirred inside him, unusually alert at her words. *Keep her close. Protect her. Protect our pup.*
Kaelen frowned. His wolf rarely showed interest in his political machinations, yet here it was, practically salivating at the prospect of keeping the pregnant female under their roof, under their watch.
"You have no idea what you're proposing," he said finally, his voice low. "The werewolf world isn't something you can simply step into without consequences."
