Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 191: The Baby’s Name

After Rhaegar had escorted Lorelai back to her chambers, he told her to get some rest. But sleep was the farthest thing from her mind. Sitting upright against the headboard, she pulled back the curtain to gaze out the window. The usual calming beauty of the autumn scenery had been replaced by ominous darkness and emptiness.

Restoring Erelith to its former glory would take time—perhaps a very long time. Althea’s spells had been broken, yet the scars of her reign remained. They all needed a different kind of magic now, one that could truly set them free.

Though the suffocating veil of mind-controlling enchantments had been lifted from those around the royal family, a new kind of chaos had taken its place.

A ghoul queen had ruled Erelith, and her abominable creation—a ghoul king—had been poised to replace her, prepared to subjugate an entire continent. It was humiliating to admit they had all been deceived by creatures they had dismissed as lowly. In the end, it was the beasts—once considered enemies—who had helped them regain their freedom.

This was an event that would forever remain etched in the history of the continent. The nobles of Erelith, shocked and disgraced, struggled to come to terms with the truth: they had been outwitted and manipulated by monsters.

Despite their confusion, Lorelai had stepped forward to lead them in restoring the shattered kingdom. Her presence inspired a natural sense of loyalty, for she was the last true heir to the royal throne.

Even so, not all chose to follow her. Some nobles, clinging to their pride and prejudice, fled to neighboring kingdoms. They could not stomach the idea of their queen being married to the King of Beasts, no matter the circumstances.

Though disappointed, Lorelai decided to let the dissenting nobles go without opposition. If they could not embrace change, they had no place in the future she envisioned for Erelith. She was determined to reshape the kingdom, and for that, she did not need people bound by outdated prejudices.

After resolving a few remaining court matters, Lorelai formally ascended to the throne. It was the only logical step—she was the last surviving member of the royal family in the line of succession. Even the nobles who had once supported Althea raised no objections.

They knew they owed their freedom to Lorelai. Despite her youth, she had proven herself intelligent, capable, and unwavering in her resolve. With the steadfast support of the Beast Kingdom, which had pledged to secure Erelith’s borders and assist in its financial recovery, the House of Nobles voted almost unanimously for her coronation.

Following her ascension, Lorelai and Rhaegar chose to remain in Erelith until their baby was born. As the newly crowned queen, she needed time to rebuild the royal grounds and heal the kingdom from the scars of Althea and Duke Kalder’s oppressive rule.

Rhaegar’s army was dispatched back to the Beast Kingdom to spread word of the monumental changes. Watching them depart, Lorelai couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness.

I am their queen now, too... I hope they will welcome me when I finally arrive there. Me and our child—their prince.

"It doesn’t matter where he’s born," Rhaegar said, his deep voice cutting through her thoughts. He had read her mind again, as he often did. "He carries royal lycan blood. I don’t want you stressing about our journey home. Take your time and do what you need to do. As long as you and our child are healthy, I’ll wait as long as it takes."

He paused, his expression darkening with guilt. "I still can’t forgive myself for letting you get that scar on your stomach."

"..."

Lorelai always smiled at his kind words. Sometimes, it still amazed her that this massive, powerful man could also be so tender and sweet.

Rhaegar, however, often struggled to mask his emotions. Whenever Lorelai’s health seemed fragile, she could see the storm gathering in his amber eyes, even though he remained silent. She knew he carried a heavy burden of guilt, fearing that the baby might be born weak if she endured too much stress.

The soft, earthy scent of sandalwood wafted through the room as Rhaegar emerged from the bathroom. Water droplets glistened on his broad chest, catching the dim light as he silently made his way toward the bed. His lips curved into a smile the moment his gaze landed on Lorelai’s serene face.

He climbed onto the bed behind her, his movements fluid yet deliberate. Wrapping his strong arms around her waist, he leaned in and gently bit her neck. Lorelai shivered at the tickling sensation, swatting at him with a playful push, but Rhaegar only chuckled, lapping at the spot with his tongue in quiet defiance.

"I know I have to be careful, but..." he murmured, his voice a deep, teasing rumble.

Lorelai smiled softly, pressing her hands to his broad shoulders to gently push him away. Mischief flickered in his amber eyes—an untamed spark that no amount of reason could extinguish. She loved that about him, even if it often left her shaking her head.

Their gazes locked, and before she could say anything, he leaned in, their lips meeting in a kiss that was equal parts instinct and longing. When Lorelai’s lips parted, she breathed a quiet, almost breathless whisper.

"...Do whatever you want."

Rhaegar didn’t reply, choosing instead to deepen the kiss, savoring the moment as though it might last forever.

When he finally pulled away, his voice was a low murmur, tinged with curiosity and care. "Why weren’t you sleeping?"

"I just didn’t feel like it."

Somehow, she still carried the lingering fear that, if she closed her eyes, all of this would vanish like a fleeting dream. The only place she truly felt safe was in the arms of her husband. But, of course, she wasn’t about to admit that. Instead, she simply hugged him tighter. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

The tension in her mind eased almost instantly, and a comforting drowsiness began to settle over her. Her eyelids grew heavier as she gazed up at Rhaegar, fighting to keep them open.

"Rhaegar," she murmured softly.

"What is it, my queen?" he replied, his voice deep, soothing.

"Have you... thought about our baby’s name?"