Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 192: New Erelith

Rhaegar smiled faintly and pressed a soft kiss to Lorelai’s forehead as her eyes fluttered closed.

"I didn’t know you’d already been thinking about that."

Of course, she had. Whenever she found herself alone, her thoughts always wandered to their baby’s name. But she’d chosen to keep the question to herself. She knew Rhaegar would have answered if she’d asked, yet she had waited. The reason was simple: she hadn’t wanted to ask until after everything was settled.

She wasn’t particularly superstitious, but with everything they had endured––everything she had endured––she hadn’t felt ready to embrace this new reality.

Today, though, felt like the right time to finally say it out loud. As she lay cradled in her husband’s arms, lulled by the steady rhythm of his breathing and the comforting woodsy scent of him, Lorelai decided it was time to move forward.

If she could accept that the horrifying Chapter of her life was truly behind her, building a new, happy, and safe reality would become far easier.

Her hand rested gently on her belly, and through the warmth of her palm, she could feel the life growing inside her.

Rhaegar’s hand slid over hers, his touch strong yet tender, and he leaned down to press a kiss to the crown of her head.

"I’m not sure," he murmured, a hint of sheepishness in his tone. "I’m not that good with names."

Lorelai chuckled softly. "Would you like me to offer a suggestion?"

"Of course," Rhaegar replied. "I’m all ears."

"Aron," Lorelai whispered, her voice soft yet certain, the name immediately capturing Rhaegar’s attention.

"Aron?" he repeated, his brows lifting in curiosity. "Do you know what it means?"

Lorelai nodded, her smile deepening. "In the old nomadic language, ’Aron’ means ’the one born of fate.’ I learned it from Naveen. Don’t you think it’s beautifully symbolic?"

Her hand moved gently over her stomach in a soothing, circular motion as her smile grew warmer. "In many ways, he is a child of fate."

Then, as if struck by sudden self-doubt, she looked up at him, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Don’t you like it? If not, we can think of something else. I just thought it would be a meaningful way to honor your nomadic lineage––"

"I think it’s perfect," Rhaegar interrupted, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he reached out to pinch her nose lightly. "You’ve chosen the perfect name."

Though his voice carried a hint of excitement, Lorelai couldn’t help but notice the faint undertone of nervousness. According to the traditional laws of Erelith, it was the king’s sole privilege to name his son, while the queen named their daughter.

In the Beast Kingdom, however, the naming of a child was often a shared decision, which gave Lorelai some pause. She worried the name she had chosen might feel like an imposition to her husband. After all, being both a gypsy and a beast had brought countless challenges into Rhaegar’s life.

Still, whenever she saw him among the nomads, his interactions with them gave her the impression that he had deliberately suppressed that part of his heritage. Lorelai hoped their son would see it differently. She wanted him to know that his father’s lineage was something to embrace, something to be proud of.

"Really? You like it?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

He raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a mix of amusement and affection.

"I really do. I love it," he reassured her, his hand settling back on her belly. "Now, tell the baby. Call him by his name."

Surprised, Lorelai blinked, her fingers gently tracing her stomach as she looked down at it.

"...your name..." she began, her voice hesitant, "is...Aron."

She hesitated for a moment before pulling her hand away, forcing Rhaegar’s hand to rest directly on her skin. "Now it’s your turn. Call him."

"...Aron," he said softly, his voice rich with warmth. "Aron... our little prince."

Lorelai laughed, reaching up to wrap her arms around him. It seemed impossible that someone as big and strong as him could be so endearing. She nuzzled her face into his chest, her laughter lingering in the air.

"But beasts do not inherit the throne," she mused as they lay together. In the Beast Kingdom, power determined the heir to the throne. But Rhaegar, she knew, had already imagined how their son’s name would echo in the royal halls when his subjects greeted him.

Rhaegar smiled, a slow, reassuring smile.

"You need not worry. This is our child." His conviction was as strong as if it were already written in the stars. He kissed her forehead gently. "You know, our child will be brave and strong. Just like his name, his fate will guide him."

Lorelai thought of the little wolf she had seen in her dreams, imagining how it would grow incredibly fast—just like its father.

"You’re right..." she murmured. Whether the cub was a boy or a girl, it would surely inherit the throne. Lorelai gently placed her hand on Rhaegar’s, still caressing her belly as she fell asleep, envisioning the three of them together.

It was a peaceful sleep, one where even nightmares dared not approach.

***

For the past few days, the capital of Erelith had been bathed in bright sunlight, and today the sky was clear, not a cloud in sight. With the midday sun streaming through the window, Lorelai carefully examined a document—her very first order as queen.

She studied it for a long time before picking up her quill to sign it. The black ink stood out sharply, contrasting against the white paper.

’Queen Lorelai Erelith’

Once she had signed it, she set her quill aside and reread the document. She had already gone over it many times, but it felt important to read it once more. Lifting her eyes, she gestured to Marianna, who stood before her desk.

Marianna carefully took the document, her face lighting up as her eyes lingered on the signature. She had been waiting for this moment for so long—to see Lorelai on the throne, free, happy, and radiant.

"I can’t believe it’s official now," Marianna said, pressing the document to her chest.

"It sure is," Lorelai replied with a smile. "A complete prohibition of slavery and protection for the rogue territories. Finally, the first step toward a new Erelith."