~ Rufus’s POVSweat beaded on my forehead as I stirred honey into a steaming mug of chamomile tea. Elara had been having strong pregnancy cravings lately, and I knew a soothing cuppa would be a welcome comfort. Just then, her voice cut through the air, laced with panic. "Rufus!" she called, her voice strained. I dropped everything and rushed out, heart pounding. Elara lay on the chair, her face contorted in pain. I knew she was in labor. I had known that day was coming and had even discussed birthing plans with Elara. But nothing could have prepared me for the raw intensity of the pain etched on her face. Every muscle in her body seemed to be straining, each contraction a wave threatening to drown her. Normally, childbirth was a beautiful, messy miracle I witnessed often. Yet, something felt…off. Elara had been in labor for hours, enduring agonizing pain, but there was no progress. The baby wasn't coming down the birth canal as it should. Concern gnawed at me. could there be a
~ Rufus’s POVStaring out the window, the gloomy sky felt like a giant, grey frown. It hit me then that it wasn't just bad weather. Somehow, it felt linked to Elara's labor. Like a weird message from the universe saying things were about to get...different. Panic jolted me awake, and I raced back inside, the pieces clicking into place. I saw Elara and her face was etched with pain, sweat beading on her forehead compared to how I left her earlier. It was clear she was still in the thick of it, struggling to bring the little one into the world.Elara's pulse hammered like a drum solo in my ears. Her voice, usually so strong, was barely a whisper. "Did you figure it out?" she rasped, worry etched on her face. I hurried to her side, squeezing her hand. "Hey, hey," I soothed, forcing a calm I didn't quite feel. "It's okay, we'll get through this together. Listen, I think I understand what's going on. Your labor...it's not exactly typical."Elara's eyes widened for a moment, surprise flick
~ Rayel’s POVThe stomach ache just wouldn't quit, even after I swallowed those meds. It felt like an angry badger was tap-dancing on my insides. Then, whoosh! Out goes Boris like a shot. A few minutes later, he was back with Chan, the pack’s shaman. I figured Boris must have filled Chan in on my belly woes because after a quick bow my way, Chan crouched beside me. His face was etched with concern, his eyes flickering with the wisdom of years spent healing folks in the jungle.He closed his eyes, furrowing his brow in concentration. For a moment, the only sound was the low hum escaping his lips, the words tumbling out in a language that danced on the edge of my understanding. Then, with a final exhale, he opened his eyes, their depths seeming to hold the secrets of the jungle itself. He studied me intently for a beat too long, before finally speaking. "Congratulations, Alpha Rayel," he said, bowing his head low. His words hung heavy in the air, a shock that sent a jolt through both B
~ Hazel’s POVThe thunderstorm was freaking me out. The sky went dark so fast, and the thunder sounded like angry giants stomping around. Then, something even weirder happened. I was peeking out my window to see what the crazy weather was all about, when I swear I saw Boris and Chan sneaking into Rayel's room. But that wasn't the strangest part. Seeing the shaman just hanging out in the palace made me wonder what was going on. Like, what in the world was a shaman doing all the way here?Curiosity was gnawing at me. Why was Chan sneaking into Rayel's room during this crazy storm? Just then, I left my room to confront them and as I was about to ask Boris what was going on, he managed to distract me. He didn't exactly spill the beans about what was happening, but he tried to calm me down with some vague promises like "everything will be alright." Yeah, right. Boris’s words did the opposite of calming me down. It was like trying to soothe a crying baby with a lollipop – sure, it migh
~ Elara’s POV"Elara, it's okay," Rufus soothed, his voice gentle as he reached out to take my hand. "You don't have to talk about him if it's too painful." He squeezed my hand reassuringly.I realized I might have been a bit harsh. Here I was, snapping at Rufus when he was simply trying to understand. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down. "I'm sorry, Rufus," I mumbled. "You don't deserve my anger." With a shaky voice, I began to explain my story. "I only knew my father for a short while. Then, one day, he just… disappeared. Vanished without a trace." The memory still stung, leaving a raw ache in my heart. "I never knew why he left, or where he went." Rufus listened intently, his expression filled with empathy. The words tumbled out of me, choked with tears. "He just left," I continued, "left me and my mother alone. And because of that, she ended up…" Your voice trailed off, the pain of the past raw and exposed. "A terrible man," I whispered, tears finally spilling
~ Rayel’s POVMy mind was racing. Elara had kept my child and herself a secret, and I couldn't understand why. I was fuming mad and at the same time was excited. Just then, Chan cut through my anger, explaining the whole confusing situation about my child’s birth in a way that was easy to understand. It felt like he was untangling a big knot of questions I had.“This child of yours possessed an enormous power, Your Majesty. The power he possessed was a blessing from heaven but can also be a curse for him,” Chan explained to me.“What did you mean by that?” I asked, looking so serious. I couldn’t believe that I was finally going to be a father and with the good news, Chan was still trying to spoil my mood with the word “curse” again. “Explain to me better what you mean by your last statement,” I ordered him.“The thunderstorm and the change in the color of the sky says it all, Your majesty.Chan' brow furrowed. "Well, Your Majesty," he continued, "powerful people sometimes cause stran
~ Rayel’s POV“Let’s spring into action to find her and my child,” I added.“Yes, Your Majesty,” Boris acknowledged my message.“But why did Elara fake her own death?” Boris asked again, looking so confused.“We will find out when I see her.”I watched as he left the room again. I went to my wardrobe to get changed, feeling so excited to reunite with my long lost mate and my child again.~ Elara’s POVDespair washed over me as Rufus spoke. My father, the key to protecting my child? It felt like a cruel joke."There has to be a reason he vanished," Rufus pressed gently, trying to reason with my anger. A part of me acknowledged he might be right.Memories flickered – my mother's voice, soft and reassuring. She always said my father shouldered his burdens, never abandoning his family without a fight. But rage had clouded my judgment, twisting those cherished memories into accusations.Could I have been wrong? The thought gnawed at me. Shame flared hot. I had been so consumed by fury, I h
~ Elara’s POVRelief washed over me as Rufus agreed to train me. The dream, once a confusing memory, now felt like a spark, a potential key to protecting my child."Thank you, Rufus," I said sincerely, my voice thick with emotion. "I can't express how much this means to me."He offered a reassuring smile. "Think nothing of it, Elara. We're in this together." With a nod, he rose and headed towards the kitchen, likely to get me some food.Left alone, I cradled Dolph close, his tiny fingers clutching at my shirt. His big, inquisitive eyes seemed to hold an unnerving wisdom, staring deep into mine. A shiver ran down my spine. Was it just my imagination, or did he seem to sense the turmoil within me?A wry smile touched my lips. Maybe he did. But even if the world seemed to be crumbling around me, I wouldn't let it break me. For Dolph, I would find my strength. For Dolph, I would unlock the power within.Dolph continued to nurse, his eyes wide open and locked on mine. I couldn't help but