Delivery Day

Noreen's PoV

After the period of confusion and confession passed, I calmed down.

My parents were very supportive and showed their concern without hesitation.

"Why does Noreen look so fat now?" Aunt Merly asked when she came to my house to show off the new bag her beloved son-in-law, Thomas, had bought her. "Are you stressed, dear Noreen?"

I glanced at my mother, unsure of how to respond. I wanted to rebuke my nosy aunt, but I knew she probably wasn't happy because she loved her little sister.

"Of course she's fat; it's a sign she's taking good care of herself, for the baby's health," my mother said calmly.

Aunt Merly's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. "W-what? A  baby, you say? Is Noreen pregnant?"

"Yes. It's sixteen weeks now, and the baby is growing very fast," my mother replied proudly, patting my belly. "I'm going to be a grandmother soon."

I think Aunt Merly needed some time to process all of that, but a few minutes later she grinned.

"Did you get married secretly, Noreen? Who's your husband? Or... could it be that the baby doesn't even have a father?"

"Well, whatever you think will help you sleep soundly tonight, Aunt Merly," I replied calmly. "This has nothing to do with you at all."

Aunt Merly smiled slyly. "Of course it's my business too, honey. We're one family, so there's bound to be questions. So, what am I supposed to answer?"

"I haven't felt like a family to you since your daughter slept with my boyfriend, in broad daylight in public. I'm too embarrassed to acknowledge you as family," I said calmly. "So you don't have to worry about other people asking questions. Just tell them to ask me directly."

Aunt Merly's face flushed red. "At least Veronica and Thomas are finally married," Aunt Merly snapped. "You? Did you just have a one-night stand with a stranger and get pregnant?"

I smiled. "If so, does it harm you?"

Aunt Merly snorted. She gave my mother a sharp look. "Noreen has embarrassed you, Maria, why are you still defending her?"

"Didn't you defend Veronica when she was doing something indecent with her own cousin's boyfriend?" my mother snapped with a smirk. "That's a stupid question, Merly!"

"Huh," Aunt Merly snorted in annoyance. "You're both embarrassing."

"Come on, Merly, if you feel that way, I'd gladly ask you not to come here every time your son-in-law buys you something, because it's annoying. You don't have to show off, because if I wanted to, I could show off too. Noreen buys me nice things, too. She's my own daughter, not someone else's child who became part of your family through indecent means!"

I stared at my mother, dumbfounded. Wow! I didn't know she could say such cool things. I thought my mother would side with her sister, or at least keep quiet.

Aunt Merly looked as shocked as I was. My mother had always been the one to give in, and everyone knew how much she loved her sister, as they had been living alone since childhood, after their parents, or grandparents I never knew, died in an accident.

"You!" Aunt Merly snapped, glaring.

My mother put down the spatula in her hand and then placed both hands on her hips.

"Don't yell at me!" my mother hissed dangerously. "I could make Veronica and Thomas the butt of gossip, even more so than Noreen, if I wanted to."

She approached Merly, then whispered something in her ear, and Aunt Merly's face instantly turned pale. She then snorted, walked quickly to the door, exited, and slammed it so hard that the glass rattled.

"If any of my windows break, I'll break yours too!" my mother shouted at Aunt Merly, who immediately quickened her pace.

I burst out laughing at my mother's words. This was completely unexpected.

After that, of course, news of my pregnancy spread quickly. Neighbors gave me strange looks every time I passed, some even looking away or whispering while glancing at me.

My parents were unwavering. They would say things that would make anyone who asked questions feel uncomfortable, and if someone acted annoyingly like Aunt Merly, they would respond calmly until they finally fell silent in embarrassment.

Lisbeth was my biggest supporter. She had already declared herself godmother to my child even before the baby was born. Both of her parents were the same, showing great attention and enthusiasm.

The three of them, Lisbeth, her mother, and my mother, shopped for baby supplies, even starting to think about the name and design of her bedroom.

Daniel and my friends at work were also very helpful. They insisted that I stop going out into the field and only leave the office under their supervision.

In the first week of my seventh month, my stomach cramped so badly that I couldn't move from bed. I screamed loudly when I felt something stabbing me in the lower abdomen.

"Oh my God, your water has broken," said my mother, rushing into my room, still wearing an apron and smelling of vanilla.

My father frowned. "But, it's only the seventh month?"

"Quick, honey, get the car ready," my mother said calmly.  She grabbed the suitcase containing the birthing supplies she'd prepared earlier. "And call Lisbeth and Sandra."

I gripped my mother's hand tightly on the way to the hospital. My stomach was churning violently, as if the baby inside was struggling frantically, trying to get out. I felt aches and pains all over me, as if someone were beating me with a piece of wood.

I was already half-unconscious by the time I arrived at the hospital. Dr. Lucia and two other doctors were already waiting in the hospital yard when my father's car arrived.

I screamed loudly as I felt a sharp tear through my insides. My father held my hand tightly the entire ride on the gurney. I can still see his tears welling up before darkness finally overtook me, followed by the immense pain that devastated me.

I was in a large field in the middle of the night, where a large, round moon shone brightly, its light a golden hue.

I looked down at my body, amazed at my clothes.  A beautiful white dress with delicate gold threads, complemented by luxurious gold accessories.

Where am I? Who am I?

My surroundings were illuminated by moonlight, and as I looked down at my bare feet, I realized that the thick grass I was treading on wasn't green, but red.

Goosebumps rose up my spine. The wind that brushed against my skin was cool and carried the sweet scent of vanilla, mingled with the fresh scent of bergamot, the mysterious scent of pine forests, and the dominant scent of luxurious amber.

As far as the eye could see, the field was completely empty. I felt nervous. Where should I go?

I took a step forward, but before I could take three steps, I gasped as flashing red lights appeared all around me.

At first, just a few pairs, but then more and more, until I realized that the red lights weren't lights at all, but pairs of eyes.

My knees gave out, and I knelt in the grass, feeling fear paralyzing me.

Then, from a distance, I heard a long, drawn-out wolf howl, as if on cue, and hundreds of pairs of red eyes around me moved closer to me.

I screamed at the top of my lungs.