The Werewolf King’s Mate
Chapter 66

Cory's

POV:

Once the gender was revealed, the four of us - me, Lola, Iris, and Ellie - couldn't resist the urge to shop for baby clothes.

It was so exciting to browse through all the cute and tiny outfits, imagining how adorable our little ones would look in each one. To ensure our safety, we had Tommy and Elias with us girls. They eagerly joined in the search for clothing, footwear, and additional accessories with the utmost enthusiasm. The afternoon was almost over when we finished browsing the shops, almost purchasing everything we came across. We were supposed to go straight home. My nostrils were soon filled with the tantalizing aroma of juicy hamburgers.

"Why don't we eat first before heading home?" I asked everyone.

"But Your Majesty, the king said to return to the chateau after buying the stuff for the pup," Elias said.

"I know, but I am quite hungry. Actually, not me..." He sighed deeply, "I shall convey the message to His Majesty."

After Lucas gave us the green light to munch on a quick bite outside, we collectively made our way into the burger joint. Everyone placed their order as soon as the waitress came to our table. I asked for a double patty, extra cheese, extra tomato, no pickles, large fries, and a large chocolate milkshake.

"Being pregnant gives you all that appetite, huh?" I could clearly see the surprise on Tommy's face when he heard my order.

"What can I say, pregnancy cravings? If she wants a burger, we get a burger. No buts."

"She's not even born yet, but I think we have another Lucas in the making," Tommy jokingly said.

Laughter erupted from the group gathered around the table.

In no time, our delicious meal arrived at our table. I couldn't help but notice that the milkshake presented to me wasn't the chocolate flavor I ordered. We noticed that the waitress who served our meal was not the same one who took our orders. She appears to be a fresh face around here, likely a new addition to the burger joint.

"Miss, I ordered a chocolate milkshake."

"My apologies, but it is unavailable today."

"But the lady a while ago..."

"She must have been confused. Instead, we have a new flavor, a blackberry milkshake. Here, and it's on the house!"

There was some level of confusion among everyone. All of a sudden, the weight of the amulet became noticeable. Is this a sign? Is the amulet working? If the answer is yes, then it clearly indicates that someone is attempting to harm us. As I pondered my response to the waitress, Hotah suddenly interjected, breaking my train of thought.

Be cautious and avoid drinking the shake. Order something else, or just get a glass of water.

Hotah! We are in danger, aren't we?

Yes. I have a sense of unease about that shake.

I must heed the warning my wolf and amulet have given me.

"I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline. I think I'll opt for a refreshing glass of water instead."

"Are you sure, madam? It's a limited flavor only!"

"Yes. Thanks, though!"

Shortly after, the server departed from our table. After some time, the lovely waitress, who had taken our order beforehand, kindly placed a refreshing glass of water in front of me. Given that she's here, I asked her. "Excuse me, I ordered a chocolate milkshake..."

"Oh yes, my apologies for that, madam. I forgot that we didn't have the ingredients for a chocolate shake."

"It's OK. Thank you."

It's possible that she was having an off day when she took my order. I simply carried on devouring my burger and fries without another thought. As soon as I took a bite of that juicy burger, I knew I was in for a real treat. It was pure bliss, and I couldn't help but savor every mouthful. That burger was exactly what I needed to satisfy my cravings and put a smile on my face. After we savored every bite of our delicious meal, we made our way back to the chateau.

As soon as we walked into the living room, Lucas was already there waiting for us.

"I see that you bought the whole shop!" A smile spread across his face when he noticed the abundance of paper bags we carried in each hand.

"There were a lot of cute dresses and shoes! I will show them to you later."

"OK. OK, I will check them all later. Alfred, please put everything in our room..."

Suddenly, Elias spoke, "Your Majesty! I have something to report!"

Lucas quickly caught up and said, "Come to my office."

As soon as they returned, it was impossible not to notice the intense expression on Lucas' face. Oh, oh! It was clear that what Elias told him upset Lucas. "So, Elias told you everything?"

"Yes. Are you OK?"

"Hmm. I didn't drink the milkshake they offered me. Hotah and the amulet gave me a warning, leaving me with a sense of caution and concern." "The amulet?"

"Yes, I felt its weight the moment I was offered the blackberry shake. Then, Hotah spoke to me."

"It seems like both the amulet and the evil eye really hold some power, wouldn't you agree?" He turned to me and said, "Wear it with you at all costs, got it?"

****

As soon as the sun set, I eagerly waited for Lucas to return from his meeting. Finally, the door opened, and he walked into our cozy room. I finished organizing the new clothes we picked up earlier and put them in the walk-in closet.

"I'm really excited to see how she looks in those dresses! I bet she will be as beautiful as you." I felt Lucas wrap his arms around me from behind as he spoke. I smiled at the thought of our daughter wearing these clothes.

"Me too. I am as excited as you. Hmm. Lucas, about what happened a while ago."

"I requested Elias to investigate the matter. We need to know who has access to the ingredients, preparation, and the kitchen in general. We will get to find some answers later on. Make sure that you are 100 times cautious of your surroundings because I suspect that you're being targeted.

Stay vigilant, Cory."

"I will, Lucas. It's a relief that everything went smoothly today. The power of the amulet truly blessed us. You have to wear yours too all the time, OK?"

"Yes, love."

"So, let's pick up where we left off last night."

"Oh! Right, right. I thought of a couple. Why don't you go ahead and take the first turn?"

Lucas and I have been brainstorming names ever since we found out the gender of our adorable pup. Were excited about picking the perfect name for her. I must say, it was quite a challenge, but it was fun! I've been scouring the web, searching for some inspiration. "OK! I've got a handful of names in my head. Here it goes."

"Alright. Let's hear it!"

"Hala"

Hmm. I'm not feeling this one, girl. Hotah? It made me smile when I realized she was also paying attention to what I said.

"Kali and I think it's nice, but hm, we don't know. Let's hear another one."

"Hotah said the same! Alright. How about Rhea?"

Lucas gave a little shake of his head, and I sensed that Hotah was doing the same.

"Selene? Maya? Aruna? Elara? Amaris? Sena?"

It appears that none of the names I suggested were able to capture everyone's interest. It is Lucas' turn now. I was keeping my fingers crossed that he would come up with some more promising suggestions. "Caleena?"

"Hotah and I don't think this is the one.'

"It seems like Kali shares the same sentiment. OK. Then, Dawa?" I shook my head

"Kamari? Aega? Altalune? Menodora?"

Once more, I gave my head a firm shake. We have to give this one a break and think of other names some other night. We've got some time before our furry bundle of joy arrives, so we can take our time choosing the perfect name.

As I placed my hand on my stomach and gave it a tender rub, I suddenly felt a flurry of movement.

"Lucas! She just kicked!"

Lucas reached over and softly rested his hand on my belly.

He had the chance to experience this only a few times due to his busy schedule. That is why a beaming grin spread across his face as soon as his eyes met mine.

"Wow, what a powerful kick! She would make a good fighter!"

"I believe so! It's remarkable how, even before her birth, she seemed to be taking after you in many ways."

"Well, well, well! That's my girl!"

Then, I felt a sudden kick again. We both laughed at how she's already a daddy's girl! It was such a delightful feeling as if my little one was sending me a message that it was there and doing well. And that she will wait until we have the right one for her - a name befitting the future queen of wolves.