12 YEARS BEFORE THE GREAT REVOLUTION:

Beads of sweat beaded her forehead while her gasping breath hung in the air. A sob escaped her lips and hot tears ran down her cheeks. Now there was no turning back.

"I can't take it anymore!" she screamed, squeezing the hand that was clasped in hers with all her might. The pillows beneath her were sodden with sweat and the pain was endless. The fingers pressed back harder as her mate kissed her hard pressed on wet hair.

"You can do this," he encouraged her.

She turned her gaze out to the night sky that loomed menacingly over the land. Not a single star ventured into this darkness. Only the crimson moon loomed up there, as if its white innocence had been completely stained. Her chin trembled under the weight of new tears trying to escape the rims of her eyes.

"We can't stop it anymore. He said. "No matter what, I love you."

She turned her gaze to him and stared into the brown eyes she had fallen in love with. The pain rested within them, which he tried to hide with all his might at the moment of their own weakness.

"It's almost time," the healer said, turning back to her work. She was the only one in the room with them, the only one to witness this unusual birth. The castle was swept empty for the day and she was grateful for the calm.

But the pain was in the stillness.

"It's not fair," she sobbed before narrowing her eyes under a new wave of agony. He brushed her matted hair from her forehead and kissed her for distraction. The bloody moon watched.

"We have to make sure our lives are fair ourselves," he murmured before kissing her temple more. She could feel his helplessness and yet he was trying to be strong for both of them. What would she do if he wasn't there anymore?

"I love you," she whispered hoarsely. "No matter what."

Then a scream escaped her throat. Her body felt like it was being split from within. Everything inside her tried to squeeze out the pain as the waves nearly knocked her out. Suddenly everything went fast.

Completely overwhelmed, the strength in her fingers drained away.

Exhausted and relieved, her head sank back into the pillow as the agony slowly subsided. She felt him stroke her arm before his touch left. Desperately she looked for him and froze at the sight.

He stood in front of her, but his eyes were on the white bundle in his hand. Pride sparkled in his eyes. Then her wolf ears heard it. her child's crying. With a great effort, she sat up to see more of her baby.

She held out her arms and her mate came over. Joy shone in his eyes as he carefully placed it in his arms.

"It's a boy," he whispered. She looked down at her child, who was still covered in blood, appropriate for a night like this. Very gently, she stroked his face with the cloth. He kicked his hands and feet and she hugged him closer.

A fresh sob escaped her lips and she couldn't stop the tears rolling down her cheeks. Her son. Never before had such feelings overtaken her. Her mate came over and put his arm around her.

As if sensing his parents' presence, the child opened his eyes. A smile, broader than the horizon stretched across her lips and for a moment banished all the worries the moon had imposed on her.

"He has his father's eyes," she whispered. "And he's perfectly healthy. I was scared..." Her words trailed off as the boy grabbed her finger. The worry lines smoothed out as she looked down at him. "And he has his father's strength too."

"He's a fighter."

She lost one last look toward the bloody moon. Her family was strong. You would get through this. Then she looked back at the little creature in her arms, its tiny hand wrapped tightly around her finger.

he was strong

He was a fighter.