EvelynThe pain came in waves, sharp and relentless. My breathing was shallow as I clung to Gaiusâs hand, his steady presence the only thing keeping me grounded. I had prepared for this momentâor at least I thought I had. But nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming pressure, the way my body felt like it was tearing apart.âBreathe, Evelyn,â Gaius said softly, his voice calm but firm. âYouâve got this.âI nodded, though the words felt distant. Another contraction hit, and I cried out, my wolf stirring restlessly inside me.Grace entered the room, followed by the midwife, a kind but no-nonsense woman named Marion. She took one look at me and started giving instructions, her voice steady and reassuring.âYouâre doing great, Evelyn,â Marion said, kneeling by the bed. âBut the baby isnât in the right position yet. It might take some time.âI groaned, my grip on Gaiusâs hand tightening. âI donât know if I can do this,â I whispered, tears streaming down my face.âYes, you can,â G
EvelynThe ride back to the pack was quiet. Gaius sat beside me, his hand resting on my knee, a comforting weight in the stillness. I leaned my head against the window, watching the trees blur past. My mind wandered, replaying the confrontation with Roman.His words didnât haunt me the way I thought they might. Instead, I felt a strange calm, like Iâd closed the door on a part of my life that had long held me captive. I wasnât afraid of him anymore. He couldnât hurt me now.Gaiusâs voice pulled me out of my thoughts. âYouâve been quiet,â he said softly, glancing at me.I turned to him, offering a small smile. âJust thinking.ââAbout Roman?â he asked, his tone careful.I nodded. âHeâs bitter. Angry. But heâs nothing now. Just a shadow of what he used to be.âGaius squeezed my knee gently. âYouâre stronger than him, Evelyn. You always were.âHis words warmed me, and I placed my hand over his. âThank you,â I said softly.The pack house came into view, its familiar structure a welcome si
EvelynI stood barefoot on the sand, the turquoise waves lapping at the shore. Gaius walked up behind me, his arms circling my waist as he pulled me against his chest. âWhat are you thinking about?â he asked, his voice low and comforting.I smiled, leaning into him. âI was just trying to remember the last time I felt this peaceful.âHe kissed the top of my head. âItâs been a long time, hasnât it?ââIt feels like a lifetime ago,â I admitted.Our honeymoon had been nothing short of magical. After everything we had been throughâthe battles, the loss, the constant chase of Cyrusâs shadowâthis felt like a dream. We had traveled to a secluded island, a place untouched by war or worry, where the only sounds were the waves and the laughter of the locals.For the past few days, we had let ourselves forget about the rest of the world. Weâd explored hidden waterfalls, hiked through lush jungles, and shared quiet meals by candlelight. It felt like we were rediscovering each other, peeling back th
EvelynThe days after the healerâs news were filled with quiet worry. At first, I thought I was just exhausted from everything weâd been throughâthe battles, the losses, the rebuilding. But my body felt heavier with each passing day, and the symptoms only grew worse.Gaius barely left my side, his eyes constantly flicking to me with a worry he tried to hide. But I could feel it in his touch, in the way his hand would linger on mine, or how heâd wrap an arm around me as if afraid I might disappear.âYou need to rest,â he told me for the hundredth time as I sat on the couch one afternoon, my head resting against his shoulder.âI am resting,â I said, though the ache in my body made it clear that rest alone wasnât enough.âWeâre seeing the healer again,â he said firmly. âSomething isnât right.âI didnât argue. I didnât have the energy to.The healer, an older man with kind eyes and steady hands, greeted us warmly when we arrived. But as he examined me, his expression grew serious. He did
EvelynThe land was quiet, the chaos of the fight replaced by an eerie stillness. It was over. Cyrus was gone, and his reign of terror had ended.But as I walked through the remains of the battlefield, the weight of everything weâd lost pressed heavily on my chest. Those that died were being gathered, their bodies lined carefully, as survivors worked tirelessly to restore some semblance of order. I spotted Gaius in the distance, directing soldiers and healers with the same calm authority that had always been his strength. Even from here, I could see the exhaustion etched into his features, but he didnât falter. He turned as I approached, his eyes softening when they met mine. âEvelyn,â he said, stepping closer. His hand rested gently on my arm, his touch grounding me. âYou shouldnât be out here. You need to rest.ââIâm fine,â I said, though the truth was far from it. My body ached in ways I didnât fully understand, and every step felt heavier than the last. But I couldnât sit idl
GaiusThe battlefield was eerily quiet. Smoke curled in thin tendrils from scattered fires, and the once deafening sounds of battle had faded into an uneasy silence. Around us, Cyrusâs forces lay defeated, either dead or having fled into the shadows. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, it seemed like we might actually win.But Cyrus wasnât done.He stood alone in the clearing, his once-pristine black coat torn and bloodstained, but his stance was still defiant. His smirk, cruel and venomous, clung stubbornly to his face as though he knew something we didnât.I tightened my grip on my blade, my wolf pacing restlessly inside me. âItâs over, Cyrus,â I said, stepping forward. âYour army is gone. Surrender now, and maybe weâll let you live.âHis laugh echoed across the field, cold and sharp. âYou think Iâm afraid of dying, Gaius?â he spat. âYou think this is the end for me?ââIt is,â I said firmly, my voice calm but unyielding. âYouâve lost everything.âCyrus took a step forw