Trapped with the Alpha King

Months passed, and Althea kept herself busy with her duties in the inner court throughout her pregnancy. Despite that, Gavriel remained extremely strict about her safety and refused to allow her to leave the palace grounds without him accompanying her.

By the time she reached her ninth month, he had become even more protective.

Althea was practically forbidden from leaving the palace altogether.

Still, she didn’t mind too much. With how large her belly had become, she had no desire to wander far anyway.

It might not look like it since she could still walk around and carry out some of her daily activities, but carrying twins was no easy task. Her stomach had grown so large and heavy that she was already using a support band to help ease the strain on her back.

The closer she got to her due date, the more she found herself needing frequent rest. Even simple tasks left her tired much faster than before.

Still, spending the entire day inside her bedchamber was unbearably boring.

So after resting for most of the morning, she convinced Melva to accompany her for a short walk in the garden.

Fresh air sounded far more appealing than staring at the same four walls all day.

Besides, she knew very well that if Gavriel found out she was only taking a leisurely stroll within the palace grounds, he wouldn’t have much reason to complain.

At least, that was what she had told herself.

Whether her overly protective husband would agree with that was an entirely different

matter.

“I walk like a penguin,” she commented with a laugh as she waddled alongside Melva toward the garden.

Melva looked at her enormous belly and shook her head.

“Ah, you have two babies inside you, Althea. I honestly can’t believe you’re still walking around so much. You could give birth at any moment, and yet here you are wanting to sit on the swing again.”

Althea grinned.

“The babies like it,” she reasoned.

“I think it’s you who likes it,” Melva scoffed.

Before Althea could respond, a familiar voice sounded from behind them.

“And who said you’re allowed to use the swing without me?”

Althea immediately rolled her eyes. Gavriel was already striding toward them.

“How are you back so quickly?” she complained.

“I finished my work,” he answered with a grin.

“You were only gone for a little while.”

“Exactly.”

Althea scoffed. “You’re too clingy.”

Instead of looking offended, Gavriel looked completely pleased with himself. “Yes.”

His shameless answer made Melva burst out laughing.

“See? You don’t even deny it anymore,” she mumbled with a pout. Gavriel merely looked at her as if he saw nothing wrong with his behavior.

Althea tried to maintain her annoyed expression, but deep inside, she couldn’t help feeling pleased. She liked how clingy he was with her.

To everyone else, Gavriel remained the same stoic and intimidating king he had always been. He rarely smiled in public, spoke only when necessary, and carried himself with an authority that naturally made people cautious around him.

Yet whenever it came to her, all of that seemed to disappear. He became attentive, affectionate, and sometimes even overly protective.

Not that she was complaining.

After all, there was something undeniably satisfying about knowing that the feared King of Lunaris only acted this way around her.

“Why should I?” Gavriel replied as he reached Althea’s side and immediately wrapped an arm around her waist. “My wife is carrying my twins.”

“Your twins?” Althea repeated.

“Yes.”

“They’re my babies too.”

“Our babies,” Gavriel corrected immediately.

Then his hand instinctively settled on her stomach. “How are they today?”

Althea couldn’t help smiling. No matter how busy he became, Gavriel always asked about the babies first.

“They’ve been kicking me nonstop,” she sighed.

“Good.”

She raised an eyebrow at him and scoffed, “How is that good?”

“It means they’re strong.”

Althea laughed and teased, “They inherited your stubbornness.”

“No, that’s definitely from you,” Gavriel countered.

Melva wisely took several steps away from the two of them.

At this point, she knew better than to stay in the middle whenever the King and Queen started bickering affectionately.

Gavriel carefully guided Althea toward the swing before helping her sit down.

The moment Althea settled comfortably on the swing, Gavriel sat beside her and immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

His gaze swept over her from head to toe before he asked, “Are you comfortable?”

Althea smiled. “Yes.”

“Are you cold?”

“No.”

His hand moved to her stomach. “How about the babies? Have they been bothering you?”

“They’ve been kicking me all day.”

Gavriel nodded thoughtfully before asking, “Are you hungry?”

Althea stared at him. “No.”

“Tired?”

“Not really.” Only then did she turn to him with an amused look. “Gavriel.”

“What?”

“You’ve asked me all those questions already.”

“I know.”

“You asked them before lunch.”

“And?”

“You asked them again after lunch.”

Gavriel looked completely unapologetic.

Althea couldn’t help laughing. “Why do you keep asking?”

“Because things change.”

She raised a brow. “In the span of an hour?”

“Yes.”

His answer came so quickly that it made her laugh harder.

Gavriel simply tightened his arm around her. “You could suddenly become hungry.”

“I just ate.”

“You’ve said that before and then asked for food thirty minutes later.”

Althea opened her mouth before immediately closing it. Because unfortunately, he was right.

A smug look appeared on Gavriel’s face. “See?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re enjoying this.”

“A little.” Then his hand gently rubbed her stomach again, his expression instantly softening.

“I’m just making sure all three of you are alright.”

Suddenly, his eyes widened. “They kicked.”

Althea chuckled. “I told you, they’ve been doing that all day.”

Another kick landed against his palm. The fierce King immediately broke into a smile.

For a moment, he looked less like a king and more like an excited father waiting impatiently for his children to arrive.

“Just a little longer,” he murmured to her stomach.

Althea’s heart melted at the sight.

Then Gavriel’s expression suddenly turned serious. His hand remained on her stomach as he glanced down at her swollen belly and sighed.

“Actually, I don’t think you should be walking around this much anymore.”

Althea immediately groaned. “There it is. I was wondering how long it would take before you started lecturing me again.”

Gavriel ignored her teasing. “Althea, you’re already nine months pregnant with twins.”

“I know that.”

“You could go into labor at any moment.” His voice carried genuine concern rather than reprimand.

“I know that too.”

“Then why are you still wandering around the palace?”

Althea looked at him in disbelief. “I walked from my bedchamber to the garden.”

“That’s still walking.”

She stared at him for a moment before laughing. “Gavriel, by your logic, I shouldn’t be moving at all.”

“I wouldn’t mind that.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

Althea shook her head helplessly.

Lately, her husband had become almost impossible to reason with whenever her pregnancy was involved.

The closer she got to her due date, the more protective he became.

At this rate, she wouldn’t be surprised if he stationed healers outside their bedchamber twenty-four hours a day.

“I was getting bored,” she defended. “I’ve spent most of the day resting already.”

Gavriel’s gaze softened slightly. “I know. I’m just worried.”

His hand gently caressed her stomach. “It’s not only one baby we’re waiting for.”

The concern in his voice immediately melted her heart.

No matter how overprotective he became, she knew it all stemmed from love. He wasn’t trying to control her. He was simply terrified that something might happen to her or the twins.

Then he gently leaned down and pressed a kiss against Althea’s forehead. “No more wandering around by yourself.”

Althea sighed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

She leaned her head against his shoulder while his hand remained protectively over their twins.

For the past nine months, this had become their normal. And honestly, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Gavriel, I’m so excited to build our family with the twins,” Althea hummed as they watched the beautiful sunset paint the sky in shades of gold, orange, and pink.

A gentle smile appeared on Gavriel’s lips as he tightened his arm around her shoulders.

“Me too,” he replied softly. “I can’t wait.”

His gaze remained on the horizon for a moment before shifting to her.

“I feel incredibly blessed and grateful that I get to spend every sunrise and sunset of my life with you.”

Althea’s heart warmed at his words.

Gavriel reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers.

“For so many years, I thought my life would only revolve around my duties, battles, and responsibilities. I never imagined I would have this.”

His other hand gently settled over her rounded stomach. “A wife I love.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “And two little ones waiting to join our family.”

Althea leaned her head against his shoulder, her heart overflowing with happiness. “I feel the same way,” she admitted softly.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

They simply sat together, watching the sunset while enjoying the peaceful moment.

It was the kind of ordinary happiness they had both fought so hard for. And neither of them took it for granted.

- The END -