To ruin an Omega - Chapter 411: Happiness is a wine

Chapter 411: Happiness is a wine

CIAN

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, warming the room. I woke with Fia still tucked against me, her breathing soft and even. My hand remained on her stomach, protective even in sleep.

She stirred, turning to face me. Her eyes fluttered open, and a sleepy smile curved her lips.

“Morning,” she murmured.

“Morning.” I kissed her forehead. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. Really good, actually.” She stretched, then winced slightly.

“Sore?”

“A little.” Her cheeks flushed. “But in a good way.”

I grinned. “Good.”

We took our time getting ready. Fia showered while I checked my phone for any urgent pack business. Nothing that couldn’t wait until after breakfast.

When we finally made it downstairs, the dining room was already set. The smell of bacon and fresh bread filled the air. My mother sat at the table, a cup of tea in her hands.

Her eyes lit up when she saw us walk in together. The knowing smile on her face told me she’d noticed our moods immediately.

“Happy night, I see,” Morrigan said, her tone teasing.

Fia’s blush deepened, but she was smiling. She glanced at me, then back at my mother.

“Actually,” Fia said, her voice bright with barely contained excitement, “there’s something we want to tell you.”

Morrigan set down her tea. “Oh?”

“I’m pregnant.”

The words hung in the air for a heartbeat. Then my mother’s face transformed. Pure joy radiated from her as she stood up so quickly her chair scraped against the floor.

“Oh, Fia!” She rushed around the table and pulled Fia into a tight embrace. “Oh my goodness, this is wonderful! This is the best news!”

I watched them, warmth spreading through my chest. My mother pulled back, holding Fia at arm’s length, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

“How far along? When did you find out? How are you feeling? Do you need anything?”

Fia laughed. “Not very far. Just a few weeks. I found out yesterday, and I’m feeling okay so far.”

“This is such a blessing.” Morrigan pulled her in for another hug. “Such a gift.”

We sat down at the table as the Omegas began bringing in breakfast. Platters of eggs, bacon, sausages, fresh fruit, and pastries were laid out. My mother couldn’t stop beaming.

“I hope it’s a girl,” Morrigan said, reaching for the teapot. “A sweet little girl to spoil.”

“I hope so too,” Fia agreed, her eyes sparkling.

“It’s a boy,” I said confidently.

They both looked at me.

“You don’t know that,” Fia said.

“I know.”

“You can’t possibly know.”

“Alpha instinct.”

Fia rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. My mother laughed, pouring tea for all of us.

I scanned the room as the Omegas continued serving. Something felt off. I counted the familiar faces, and then the other seats, checking who was present.

Of course, Aldric and Ronan were missing. Now that they were dead, and Uncle Gabriel was not present yet. But I had a feeling he was adjusting to his newfound freedom and would come around. The thing was… Elara was missing.

I frowned. Mostly because Elara did not miss a breakfast gathering when she was around, and the glaring aspect was what she was going through right now with her father’s execution by my hand.

I was worried for her.

I caught the eye of a sentinel standing near the door and gave him the signal to come. He approached immediately.

“Yes, Alpha?”

“Where is Elara?”

“I haven’t seen her this morning, Alpha.”

Unease prickled at the back of my neck. “Go check on her. Make sure she’s alright.”

“Yes, Alpha.” He left quickly.

I hated that the worst thought kept piling inside my head. But I did my best not to think the worst.

I turned back to the table. Mother was still talking, her hands moving animatedly as she discussed nursery ideas with Fia. I integrated myself into their bubbly conversation to get rid of the gnawing, eerie feeling that did not leave me.

“We could convert the room next to yours,” my mother said. “It has wonderful natural light. Perfect for a nursery.”

“That sounds lovely,” Fia said.

“And we’ll need to start thinking about colors. Neutral tones would be safest if we don’t know the gender yet, but if it’s a girl, I’m thinking soft lavenders or creams with gold accents. If it’s a boy—”

“It’s a boy,” I interjected.

Fia kicked me lightly under the table. I grinned at her.

The sentinel returned, but instead of Elara with him, he carried a folded piece of paper. My stomach dropped.

“Alpha.” He approached and handed me the letter. “I found this on her bed.”

I unfolded it, my eyes scanning the neat handwriting.

Cian,

I need to leave for a while. I can’t explain everything right now, but I need space to process what’s happened. Please don’t worry about me. I’ll be safe.

I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye in person. I couldn’t face it.

Thank you for everything you’ve tried to do for me.

Elara

I read it twice, my jaw tightening. This didn’t sit right with me. Elara wouldn’t just leave without telling anyone, not after everything.

I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail.

“Damn it,” I muttered.

“What’s wrong?” Fia asked, her brow furrowing.

“Elara’s gone. She left a letter.”

Morrigan’s expression shifted to concern. “Gone? What do you mean, gone?”

I showed them the letter. My mother read it, her lips pressing into a thin line.

I looked back at the sentinel. “Check with the guards at the gate. Find out what time she left and if she said where she was going.”

“Yes, Alpha.” He hurried off again.

I set the letter down and rubbed my hand over my face. My appetite had vanished.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Morrigan said gently. “What she went through with her father, Aldric, what she’s still going through now, it’s incredibly heavy. It’s not easy to come out of something like that.”

“She begged me to spare him, you know,” I said quietly. “After everything he did to her, to all of us, she still begged me to punish him but keep him alive.”

Fia reached over and took my hand. Her fingers squeezed mine.

“You couldn’t have done that,” she said softly.

“I know.” I looked at her. “That man was dangerous. Keeping him alive would have put everyone at risk.”

“Then you did what you had to do.”

“I just hope she’s given grace,” I said. “I don’t want our people making her a monster for her father’s sins. Our people can be very prejudiced. Very stuck up about bloodlines, legacies, and even inherited sin.”

“You won’t allow it,” Fia said with certainty.

“I won’t.”

Morrigan nodded in agreement. “Elara is not her father. The pack and others will see that in time.”

I wanted to believe that. I needed to believe that.

Before I could respond, the dining room door opened, and Uncle Gabriel walked in, looking more rested than he probably had in weeks. The healing had done its job. His color was better, and his movements were steadier.

“Uncle,” I said, standing.

“Cian.” He smiled warmly. “Morrigan. And you must be… Fia.” His eyes landed on her with obvious gratitude. “I was hoping to find you all here.”

My mother stood and embraced him. “You look well.”

“I feel well. Thanks to Fia.” He turned to her. “I wanted to thank you properly. What you did for me, the healing, I can’t express how grateful I am.”

Fia stood, looking slightly embarrassed. “You don’t need to thank me. I’m just glad you’re better.”

“I do need to thank you.” Gabriel’s voice was sincere. “You saved my life. That’s not something I take lightly.”

“Please, join us for breakfast,” Morrigan said, gesturing to the table.

Gabriel sat down, accepting a cup of coffee from one of the Omegas. His eyes swept over all of us, lingering on the warmth in the room.

“You all seem in good spirits this morning,” he observed.

Morrigan practically bounced in her seat. “Well, there is a reason for that. We have wonderful news after all. Fia and Cian are expecting.”

Gabriel’s eyebrows shot up. His gaze moved between Fia and me, then a genuine smile broke across his face.

“That’s incredible news. Congratulations to you both.”

“Thank you,” Fia said.

“A new generation,” Gabriel mused. “The pack will be thrilled.”

I thought about Elara again. About the letter. About her phone being off. The timing of her disappearance felt wrong, but I couldn’t pinpoint why.

“You seem distracted,” Gabriel said, looking at me.

“Elara left this morning. She didn’t tell anyone. She just left a note. It is bothering me a little.”

Gabriel’s expression grew serious. “Left? Where did she go?”

“We don’t know yet. I’ve sent someone to check with the gate guards.”

“That’s concerning.”

“It is.”

Morrigan touched Gabriel’s arm. “We were just saying that what she’s been through is difficult. She might need time to process everything.”

“Perhaps,” Gabriel said slowly. “But the timing is odd. Don’t you think?”

I agreed. The timing was very odd.

The sentinel returned, slightly out of breath.

“Alpha,” he said, bowing his head quickly, “the guards reported no movement at the gates. She didn’t leave the grounds.”

Something in my chest tightened.

“What do you mean, she didn’t leave?” I asked, my voice quieter than it should have been.

“They were certain, Alpha. No one like Elara passed through the gates. She did not leave so that means…” he hesitated, then steadied himself, “she’s still somewhere within the estate. Or close to it.”

Fia’s grip on my hand tightened, but this time, it felt different. She was tense.

A cold weight settled low in my gut. If she hadn’t left…

Then where was she?!?

I rose slowly, the chair scraping against the floor, the sound sharp in the heavy silence. Every instinct in me, every piece of training, every lesson carved into bone and blood, surged to the surface at once.

“Get every sentinel in the pack,” I said, my voice cutting clean through the room.

The sentinel straightened immediately. “Alpha?”

“Scour the estate,” I continued, already moving, already thinking ten steps ahead. “Every corridor, every room, every blind spot. I want the surrounding grounds covered as well. Forest line, training fields, outer walls. No gaps should be left open.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Move!”