Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 141: Bold Declarations

Chapter 141: Bold Declarations

TERESA’S P.O.V.

Mornings with Lucian Blackwood were a mixed bag of emotions—half chaos, half bliss, and all hilarity.

I woke to the sensation of strong arms wrapped around me and a low voice murmuring against my hair, "Good morning, girlfriend."

"Good morning, boyfriend," I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

Before I could fully process the day, Lucian tilted his head, his blank eyes almost sparkling mischievously. "So, shower time?"

I blinked. "Shower time?"

"Yes," he replied with a grin. "It’s what people in relationships do, right? Share showers? Bonding and all that."

"Lucian, our relationship doesn’t exactly follow the natural dating order and—"

"C’mon, Teresa. We are perfect the way we are. Think of it as multitasking. We’ll save water," he added, completely unbothered by my protests as he pulled me toward the bathroom.

Despite my groans of protest, I found myself in the steamy shower with Lucian. He grinned like a child who had just won a prize, his hand running along the tiles for balance. His other hand rested lightly on my arm. "So, do I get a running commentary on how breathtakingly handsome I look this morning?"

"Blind or not, your ego is out of control," I shot back, laughing.

"You’re dodging the question," he teased, leaning in closer, his wet hair sticking to his forehead. "Am I or am I not the most attractive man you’ve ever seen?"

"Fine, you’re handsome," I admitted begrudgingly, my laughter echoing in the bathroom.

"And charming?"

"Sure."

"And irresistible?"

"Lucian, we’re going to be late," I said, trying to steer the conversation back on track as I grabbed a towel and attempted to wrangle him into drying off.

"We won’t be late," he said, his tone completely unbothered. "I own the food. I own the companies. No one’s firing me for being a little tardy."

Rolling my eyes, I ushered him out of the bathroom and into the closet. "Let’s just get dressed before the pack starts a riot wondering where you are."

As we entered the dining hall, the room fell into a suffocating silence. Every eye was on us, and I felt a pang of self-consciousness. Lucian, of course, remained unfazed, his hand securely holding mine as he walked with his usual unshaken confidence.

When we reached the head table, Lucian’s voice rang out, commanding the room. "Everyone, listen carefully. Teresa is now one of us. Soon, she will be your official Luna. Anyone who disrespects her or causes her harm will deal with me personally. I hope we understand each other."

A heavy silence lingered in the air, broken only by Lucian’s calm smile. "Now, enjoy your meal."

I stared at him in shock as he pulled out my chair. "Did you just—"

"Claim you in front of everyone? Yes, I did."

"You could have warned me!" I hissed, my cheeks burning.

"And ruin the surprise? Never," he replied with a smirk.

Breakfast passed with a mixture of stolen glances and playful banter, but soon it was time for work. I loaded the babies into their car seats while Lucian settled into the passenger seat.

The drive was filled with laughter, mostly at Lucian’s antics. He had a way of making even the babies giggle, their little hands clapping in delight as he made silly noises.

"You know," I said, glancing at him, "for someone who claims to be all tough and broody, you’re surprisingly good at entertaining babies."

"They’re my babies too," he said, his tone softening.

By the time we reached Lucian’s company headquarters, my sides ached from laughing. Lucian, ever the sarcastic charmer, had kept the ride entertaining, throwing witty one-liners that left me in stitches. Once we arrived, I helped him settle the twins into a sleek double stroller—of course, even baby gear had to be top-tier with Lucian—before we made our way inside.

Kenneth, always polished and on-point, was already waiting near the entrance, accompanied by a small entourage. "Welcome back, Mr. Blackwood, Miss Teresa," he greeted with a warm smile. "Everything has been handled smoothly in your absence."

"Good," Lucian replied, his tone sharp and commanding. "Let’s ensure it stays that way."

As we entered, I couldn’t help but marvel at Lucian’s presence. He moved with such unshakable confidence, it was easy to forget he couldn’t see. Even now, surrounded by watchful eyes, he carried himself with the grace and authority of someone who had the world firmly in his grasp. Sometimes, he even managed to fool me.

We stepped into his private elevator, a sleek marvel of steel and glass, and rode up to his office. Kenneth began briefing him the moment we stepped inside. "Miss Rebecca, one of our largest clients, is currently in the boardroom with the directors," Kenneth explained. "Would you like to join them before the meeting concludes?"

Lucian nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes. There’s something I need to address with them." His sharp gaze—or at least, the illusion of one—flicked in my direction as Kenneth turned to me.

Before I could respond, Ollie’s tiny but mighty cry pierced the room. I quickly waved them off. "Go ahead. I’ll catch up in a few minutes."

Lucian walked over, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before dropping a light kiss on each of the babies’ foreheads. "Take your time," he murmured before turning and striding away, his movements precise and deliberate as Kenneth guided him toward the boardroom.

It took another ten minutes of bouncing, cooing, and negotiating with Ollie before he finally calmed down. With a sigh of relief, I adjusted the stroller and made my way toward the boardroom. Just as I reached the corridor, someone stepped into my path, effectively cutting me off.

And that’s when she intercepted me.

A tall, impeccably dressed woman with sharp features stepped into my path, her eyes narrowing at the stroller. "Excuse me, ma’am. You can’t bring strollers into this area. This is a professional office, not a daycare."

I blinked, taken aback by her tone. "I’m here with Lucian. I’m his—"

"Look," she interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "I don’t care who you’re with. Take the babies outside before they start screaming and disturbing everyone."

As if on cue, one of the babies began fussing. The woman rolled her eyes dramatically. "Just great. This is exactly why kids don’t belong here."

When she reached for the stroller, my patience snapped. I grabbed her wrist firmly. "Don’t you dare touch my children."

She yanked her arm back, glaring at me. "Who do you think you are?"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "I’m Teresa, Lucian Blackwood’s girlfriend."

Her laugh was harsh and disbelieving. "You? His girlfriend? Don’t make me laugh. Security!"

As two guards approached, I squared my shoulders, my voice icy. "Call whoever you want. But when Lucian finds out how you’ve treated me, I hope you’re ready for the consequences."

Her smirk faltered slightly, but she didn’t back down. I stood my ground, my heart pounding as the guards came closer. This was not how I’d envisioned my day going.