Chapter 240\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
I returned to Silver Fang ahead of Ellie, my shoulder still stiff, my side aching when I moved too quickly. I ignored both.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lance was ready for the return, I\u2019d called and given him the news as soon as I could. He\u2019d already prepared the packhouse for my return. I know that he would have prepared things for the boys if I\u2019d asked, but I wanted to oversee those preparations myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The packhouse loomed the same as it always had-stone and timber, banners snapping in the wind-but something about it felt altered, as though it were holding its breath. Warriors bowed when they saw me, relief flickering openly across their faces. The alpha was home. Injured, yes, but alive. Standing. Still theirs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That mattered more than anyone wanted to admit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could feel the weight of it as they looked at me. If I had fallen, they would have been in a difficult situation. Lance would have taken over, but as far as anyone knew I had no heir. That would put the pack at risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That wasn\u2019t a concern anymore. Soon, my sons would be home. Soon, Silver Fang would know that their pack was protected. Not only by me and Lance, but by Ellie as Luna and our boys as heirs, when they\u2019re old enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lance met me on the steps, taking in my pale face and careful movements with a tight jaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be walking yet,\u201d Lance said quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I snorted. \u201cTell that to the pack.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lance didn\u2019t argue. He fell into step beside me instead, subtly positioning himself so I didn\u2019t have to take the full brunt of the stairs alone. I noticed. I didn\u2019t comment on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, the packhouse staff froze when I entered. For a brief uncomfortable moment, no one seemed quite sure what to do with me. The alpha had been gone. Rumors had filled the vacuum-some vicious, some hopeful, some bordering on reverent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had risked myself to protect an ally, my brother in law. People saw that as noble, no matter what they thought of me otherwise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t address any of it. I had more important things on my mind right now and I couldn\u2019t bring myself to wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned to the head steward. \u201cClear the west wing. The large upstairs room.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The steward blinked. \u201cSir?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one with the balcony,\u201d I clarified. \u201cI want it renovated Immediately.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Murmurs rippled through the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat room is-\u201d the steward hesitated. \u201cIt\u2019s traditionally reserved for visiting dignitaries.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze sharpened. It was the room that Alaric and Cassian had stayed in when they were here. In my mind, that made it all the more fitting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a nursery.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A nursery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No one questioned me after that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chow! 240\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Work began within the hour. Cribs were sourced. The old furniture was removed. Soft rugs replaced cold stone. Someone I didn\u2019t know who-hung pale curtains that let the light in without letting the world see too much.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the packhouse shifted and reshaped itself around the coming change, I retreated to my office. I lowered myself into the chair with a quiet hiss of pain and closed my eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie was bringing the boys home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thought made something inside my chest loosen and ache at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lance appeared in the doorway after a few hours. He looked tired, but amused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to cause a panic if you don\u2019t explain,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople are going to think that Ellie is pregnant again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him for a moment, then laughed. The sound seemed to startle us both.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t even think about that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one in Silver Fang knows the twins lived, Nolan,\u201d Lance said, trying to sound serious despite the smile pulling at his mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just\u2026 so much has happened that it didn\u2019t even occur to me. You\u2019re right, I\u2019ll have to make an announcement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is weird. Seeing you this happy is weird,\u201d Lance said, crossing his arms. \u201cI think it suits you. Though if anyone else sees you laughing and smiling like that, they\u2019re going to think you\u2019re possessed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re probably right,\u201d I agreed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI am. Try to get some rest. You have a few days before they get here. You\u2019re still injured.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me guess, I look awful,\u201d I cut in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lance smirked slightly. \u201cYou usually do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head at him as he walked out. I knew that he was right. I should try to relax, but I knew that I couldn\u2019t. I needed everything to be perfect for the boys when they arrived.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The days passed in a blur of activity. Lance checked in twice Cassian once via call. I answered only what I had to. My focus narrowed to a singular point in time: the moment Ellie would walk through those doors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you\u00a0<\/p>\n
P\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Cold Marriage That Turned Warm 240 Chapter 240\u00a0 Nolan POV\u00a0 I returned to Silver Fang ahead of Ellie, my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-unremembered-mate-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23809"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23809\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}