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CHAPTER 22:
Unforgivable.
Noah attacking Nico had once seemed unforgivable… and somehow I forgave.
Taking Von to the stream seemed unforgivable… if he died… would that make it unforgivable?
A month and a half had passed since the day he drank from the stream, and neither brother seemed any closer to awaking. I spent every day at the hospital, letting Nadi run all her tests to appease the anxious masses… and everyday I passed by Von and Nile’s room which was never empty.
Veri was there every second of every day. It was as if she didn’t even need sleep. If I came by in the morning she was at either brothers bedside, wiping their faces and sobbing intermittently. If I left at night she would rest her head at Nile’s feet, eyes always open. Sometimes, when Nico wasn’t busy with Beta duties, he would be there too.
At those times Veri would always turn her back to him, keeping close to just Nile’s side as if Nico had any desire to cozy up to him at all. Nico kept near the door, sometimes going up to Von and brushing his hair out of his face. Nadi confided in me that veri didn’t seem to like that very much either. At one point she demanded he leave on the basis of “Nile being the love of her life and Von being her mate”. Nico ignored her.
“I was talking to the poor girl the other day… she might be going a bit loopy from lack of sleep. She was insisting once they woke up all three of them would be together.” Nadi rubbed cool jelly over my large, protruding belly as she spoke. “I don’t think she even realizes how unreasonable of a request it is.”
“And Nico? How is he?” I asked.
“He’s still not speaking to you?” Nadi gave me a sympathetic look. “Well… he’s… hurting. He keeps bringing me books to read, hoping that we could somehow fix this. The truth is, the stream is such old magic… I have no idea what it does or how. I feel useless as a doctor because he has so much faith that I can fix this… but nothing I know of medicine says I can.”
“I see… well- ah!” I flinched, clutching my side.
“Is something wrong?” Nadi moved the ultrasound wand to the side I was clutching. “Are you alright?”
“Yes… just… a lot of moving.” I breathed out, still clutching my aching side. “I really am fine, Nadi. I feel great actually.”
“You’ve hit your two month mark which is good… but you really want to last another two weeks at least.” Nadi chided. “That means taking every pain seriously.”
“I am.” I assured her. “I’m here everyday, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are… now remember you come here the second these pains begin and do not end. I need to be with you when you’re in labor. You’ll have to shift into your wolf form, but-“
“You must be fucking crazy!” We both jumped, shocked at the words echoing in from the hall.
Nadi told me to wait as she rushed from the room, but I pulled myself up anyway, waddling out into the hall. The pregnancy was making me pretty nosy. At least that’s what I would blame it on. “Please, calm down! Both of you.” Nadi was reasoning, standing between a vibrating Veri and a screaming Nico.
“Then tell that bitch to watch her mouth!” Nico yelled, pointing at Veri who was shaking in anger. “She’s fucking batshit crazy!”
“You’re nothing to them! Not to Nile and certainly not to Von! Our family matters don’t concern you!” Veri screamed back at him.
“Your family matters? You mean your plan to fuck both brothers regularly? How very democratic of you, you harpie!” Nico spat.
“It’s your fault this even happened!” Veri shouted back. “You’re a whore!”
“I’m a whore? Who spread their legs for someone else’s mate first?” Nico looked ready to lunge at the girl. “You betrayed Von! He will never want you!”
“He will always want me! Goddess, please realize you are just the second option for both of them… And not even a beta bitch like yourself can get in the way of our family. If need be, i’ll go into heat for him.”
“Watch your mouth!” i finally spoke, shocking the three. “That is not how you speak to the Beta of this pack!”
“Do not get involved!” Nico yelled at me, shocking everyone in the hall. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“It doesn’t concern you either.” Veri snapped at Nico.
“Hey, do not- ah!” I clutched my side again, gripping a nearby wall for support.
“Luna!” A nearby pack member came to my side, steadying me as Nadi abandoned the fight to come tend to me.
“Are you alright?” Nadi cried. “This is way too much stress for you. Come… come inside your room and-“
“I’m fine!” I insisted, shooing them both away. I turned to Veri and Nico, both of them looking at me with concern. “Enough! I said I’m fine! As your Luna, you will stop this fighting, especially in the hospital! You want to fight? Set up negotiations, but do not disturb the work Nadi is doing. And Veri, I warn you here and now, you will never disrespect your Beta in front of me again. If you ever say anything disparaging to him again, I will banish you from this pack without any remorse. You chose to relinquish your mate. That was your decision. You are lucky you have faced no repercussions thus far. Let me make this perfectly clear, Von wanted you so little he willingly gave you up. He has moved on. If you make any more fuss, I will personally handle you.”
“Y-yes, Luna.” She bowed her head, taking a couple more steps away from me.
“Micah, please come with me-” Nadi began but I shooed her again.
“I did all the tests today. I’m fine. I’m going home.” I declared. “And I do not need anyone’s help!”
———————
Perhaps I did need some help, I realized as I struggled to waddle up the porch steps. My house, the new pack house, seemed unusually empty. I continued my slow shuffle into the house, glaring at the staircase that separated me from my bed. Sighing, I began what was sure to be a long trip. After a few shaky steps I paused to catch my breath, cursing my giant heavy belly.
“We must attack! The unknown is too dangerous!” The shout almost knocked me over and I clutched the banister to keep me upright. I recognized the voice as someone on the alpha council, but couldn’t quite figure out who. What were they talking about. I took a few more steps.
“Being hasty could cost us many lives.” Noah spoke. “We need to come up with a plan of action.”
“Plan of action or inaction?” An alpha sneered. “Whatever that blood slave is planning, it needs to be thwarted!”
“Can a human really be that scary?” One alpha chuckled. “They’re easy to kill.”
“Except news is he is not a human! Alpha Noah, to do nothing is to damn your own family. Your Luna, swollen with child, would not survive an attack. Whatever the blood slave, the supposed ‘King Cyan’ is, it will rip your mate and children to shreds.”
“You can’t know that.” One alpha groaned.
I was almost at the top of the stairs, trying to hustle up to the top to join the conversation. Noah sighed, “I need to talk to my Luna. No decision will be reached today.”
“We will not wait.” An alpha insisted. “We will kill the King. We will not leave this in the hands of a freshly appointed Alpha and his hormonal Luna.”
“Hey!” Noahs shout to garner control again made me stumble. I caught myself again, but this time a horribly sharp pain shot through my belly. I shrieked in alarm, sinking to my bottom and clutching my stomach. “Micah?” He had heard me and was out of the room and by my side in a matter of seconds. “My love, are you alright?”
“Yes-ah!” I cried, curling in toward my belly as another sharp pain hit me. “I-i’m fi-aaaah!”
“We need to get you to Nadi. Come, let me help you.” Noah was already lifting me, despite my weak protests.
“I-I really am fine. The pain is actually sub-aaaah!” I squeezed my eyes shut, clutching my belly as Noah rushed down the stairs. “Noah… Noah you have to call my mom.” I started saying just as another pain hit me. “I need my mom.”
“I know. I’ll call as soon as I can, my love.” He assured me, practically running us back to the hospital. I knew we were causing a scene and I didn’t have it in me to actually be embarrassed. Actually, it kind of gave me an idea.
“Can someone please call my mom?” I shouted as we passed people. “Tell her to come to the hospital!” Noah chuckled at my antics, not slowing his pace for a single second.
By the time we arrived at the hospital, everyone seemed to already know we were coming. Noah tried to put me on my feet and that was when we realized I could barely stand. “What’s happening?” Noah asked Nadi as she sat me in a wheelchair.
“Premature labor.” Nadi sighed. “I told you to stay, Micah.”
“I just-ah!” It felt like my whole stomach was cramping. I was nauseous, shaky, and my lower back ached. “Fuck! Nadi it… huuuurts.”
“I know darling. I know. Come.” Nadi motioned Noah to push me inside and into my exam room from earlier. They helped transfer me to an exam table, stripping me with much struggle as I was in far too much pain to really help. “Oh dear. You’re going to need to phase right away.” Nadi informed me. “The babies will come quickly but you’re going to need to do it now.”
“Where- where’s my mom?” I cried, my whole body shaking. “I need her.”
“I’m sure she’s on her way. Everyone in the whole pack knows you’re here.” Nadi assured me. “For now, how about Noah phases with you?”
“No! Bad idea.” Noah interjected. Nadi looked at him as if he were crazy. “No, i mean… it’s just his wolf wants to kill me is all.”
Nadi looked to me for confirmation and when I didn’t disagree she shook her head. “Okay… Well I’m sure your mom will be here soon. You have to shift now, micah, for the babies.”
“But… but I can’t do this alone.” I started to tear up. “I can’t. Nadi, I need my mom.I can’t-“
“I can do it.” We all looked to the door, where Nico stood awkwardly. “Until Ama comes… i’ll be with you.”
“Oh- okay good. Good. Nico, why don’t you come over here by Micah’s head. Okay, Micah, I need you to shift now, okay? You have to shift so your babies can come.” Nadi instructed, coaxing me to transform.
“I-i’m scared.It’s too soon. I’m scared.” I sobbed.
“Shhh, shhh I know, but trust me, darling. When you shift, you’ll be less scared. I promise.” She assured me, rubbing my hand soothingly. “Come on, Micah, you can do it. Shift.”
I took a deep breath and with a shaky exhale I felt my bones all break in a few excruciating seconds. I was panting on all fours on the floor. I laid on my belly, the pain too much to bear standing. However, in this form I felt much safer. The desire to not to be alone lessened and the fear slowly subsided. This was natural. I could do this.
Nico shifted beside me, coming over to lick my face and nuzzle my neck. He laid down beside me, allowing me to rest my head on him. I tried to relax, but the pain had me whimpering. “Okay, Micah, you’re going to want to push, okay? Do what feels naturally. Don’t worry. We’re here and we’re gonna take good care of the babies, okay?”
The cramps were unbearable, but bearing down to push scared me. SOmething was wrong. My wolf was listless, panting and whining in my head. She was upset, but she wouldn’t tell me why. However, as seconds ticked by, my body let me know that pushing would be the only thing to stop the pain…
And so I pushed. I could hear encouragement in the background but I was focused on the need to get my pups out. I had to. I pushed again… and again… the pain getting worse and worse until… momentary release. “Oh goddess.” I heard that. My head snapped up as my mother walked in. Her face looked horrified for a single second until her eyes snapped to me. She smiled her reassuring motherly smile at me. “Oh Micah… I’m here, my baby.” She dropped to her knees beside me, stroking my head as the pain began to build again.
I noticed Vaguely as Nico stood and exited the room, but my attention was snapped back to the matter at hand. Nadi was kneeling beside me too, wrapping a pup I couldn’t see in a towel and lifting it from my vision. This would have distressed me if the next bout of pushing hadn’t already started. I pushed and pushed all over again, this time the pup came much quicker and whimpering sounds filled the room as my currently blind pup tried to find me.
I was panting heavily, consciousness fading in and out as people talked in the background. They were whispering, murmuring, hushed urgent tones I was trying to articulate. “How could this happen?” “We didn’t…” “It’s been… generations” “…runt?” “What?” “…a runt…”
And then I blacked out.
——————
I was awoken by the steady beeping of monitors. I groaned, sitting up in human form once again. I blinked a few times, adjusting to the bright hospital lights. “How are you feeling?”
“Ama?” I blinked more, noticing my mother sitting at my side, in her lap was a tiny little ball of fur, snoring peacefully. “Is that…?”
“One of your sons.” My mom beamed, petting the little pup before lifting him and settling him on my lap. “Your second born. 2 whole pounds. He’s quite the healthy little rambunctious one.”
Hesitantly, I brought my hand down to graze his silky brindle fur. “He’s perfect.” I smiled as he nuzzled closer to me, whimpering. I looked to my mom, curiosity overtaking me. “And my firstborn? A boy or a girl?”
My moms smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but it was long enough for me to notice. “A boy.” She answered. “Very handsome. Looks like you and Nico.”
“How much does he weigh?” I asked, desperate to know all I could.
“Um… well…” She seemed uncomfortable as she pretended to try to remember. “He was much bigger than this one.”
“Bigger? Two pounds for a pup is pretty big.” I chuckled. “How many pounds?”
“I think… it was… seven?”
“Seven.” My face fell. “Ama… no pup could be seven.”
“You’re right.” She nodded.
“Where is he?” I asked, looking around the empty room.
“Micah took him to the restroom momentarily.” My mom answered, making me even more confused.
“Restroom?” I frowned, just as Noah appeared in the doorway with a large bundle of blankets in his arms.
“Micah. You’re awake.” He smiled. “You’ve been out for a few days. How are you feeling?”
“Why is the pup bundled up like that?” I asked instead. “Give him to me.”
I held out my arms, growing more frustrated as Noah hesitated. “Micah-“
“Give me my pup.” I snapped. “Now.”
“It’s alright.” my mom patted my shoulder. “Noah… do as Micah says.”
Noah approached me slowly, carefully adjusting the bundle in his arms. Hesitantly, he placed the bundle in my lap. I gasped, instinctively wrapping my arms to cradle him. “He… he’s…” i trailed off, looking to my mother for confirmation.
“A runt.” My mom finished for me. “Yes, darling, he is.”
“H-how? How did this happen?”
“Nadi says it just happens sometimes. It’s rare. It’s why you had so much pain. You were carrying a… human looking pup.” My mom explained looking down at the sleeping baby in my arms. Our children were always born as pups. It made them easier to care for and protect. They would be pups for a few months to 2 years at which point they would have learned to shift to human form. However, occasionally, a runt would be born. A runt would look like a human. Sometimes this meant they would never be able to shift and other times it came later in life. It was very rare. In the past, runts were left in the woods to fend for themselves. The idea was if the goddess willed them to exist, she would protect them and help them shift. Not a lot of runts made it. “Are you alright, my darling?”
“Y-yes.” I nodded, staring down into the heart shaped face of the child in my arms. He had a tan that reminded me of honey with long black eyelashes that brushed his chubby cheeks. Underneath his little beanie I could already make out tufts of jet black hair. “He’s beautiful.” i said aloud. “Like a little cherub.”
“He’s perfect.” Noah jumped in. “ten fingers and ten toes. When he opens his eyes they’re the richest honest you’ve ever seen.”
“Have you named them?” I asked, still staring down at my sleeping baby as my pup rolled onto his back in my lap.
“No, I figured you’d be upset if I didn’t wait for you.” Noah chuckled. “Although, the pup, he’s got quite a personality doesn’t he?”
“He does.” I agreed watching as the pup seemed to snore.
“I think he acts… kind of like a little lord wouldn’t you say?” Noah volunteered. “Lord… thats what i’d like to name him.”
“Lord.” i repeated. “I love it.”
“It’s a wonderful name.” My mom agreed. “And for your first born?”
“Well… he sleeps a lot. Barely ever cries. He’s the most composed baby I’ve ever seen. He’s always observing, as if it’s his job to overlook them.” Noah explained, making me chuckled.
“So then, if we stay on theme, and our pup is a Lord, then he must be a king.” I declared.
“King… that’s a good name. Gives them both something to live up to.” Noah agreed.
“So many people will judge you, King. they’ll take one look at you and decide what you’re capable of. They did it to me too.” I spoke to my son, gently brushing a strand of hair from his face. “That’s why you must never forget who you are and where you come from. Runt or not, you are the son of an Alpha. You’re going to be an Alpha one day… a king.”
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