Denver, Colorado, stretched out before me like a city of unknown possibilities. The pulsing of human life, the sounds, and the smells were overwhelming after the tranquility of the pack. It was my second foray into the world of humans, the first shared with Hunter when our souls intertwined in a night of love.
Walking as a human, in that fragile and clumsy form, was a completely new experience for me. I felt vulnerable, not just because of my injured leg, but mainly because of the growing belly that indicated my condition—a burden I carried with the promise and pain of what had been lost. My leg hurt, but not as much as my heart. Each step, each unfamiliar street, was a reminder of what I had left behind, the pack I once called home, and the wolf that meant everything to me. Hours passed as I wandered through the bustling streets. The pain in my leg increased with each step.
Exhausted, I allowed myself to rest on a random bench. Beside me, an older lady was animatedly talking to something in her ear. Her curious gaze met mine a few times until she couldn't resist and approached.
“Your leg looks really hurt, dear,” she commented with genuine concern.
I looked at my leg and replied, “It's okay. Herbs will heal it.”
The lady gave me an incredulous look. “You should go to the doctor. Have you been to the hospital?”
I frowned. “What is a doctor? And a hospital?”
The woman laughed, finding humor in my ignorance. “I'm a nurse. A doctor takes care of people when they're sick or injured. A hospital is a place where they do that.”
“I don't know if I want to do that,” I admitted, my distrust of the human world growing.
I didn't know what to expect from humans and their healing establishments. However, the nurse, named Constance, insisted. “I can't leave a pregnant woman like this on the street.”
“How do you know I'm pregnant?” I asked curiously.
Constance laughed. “I've been a nurse for years, dear. I can recognize when someone is expecting. But before we go on, we should introduce ourselves. My name is Constance. And yours?”
I stayed silent for a moment before simply responding, “Fierce.”
“A strong name,” Constance observed. “Do you have a last name?”
The question caught me off guard. “What is a last name?”
Constance laughed again. “Don't worry. At the hospital, we'll get you one.”
Accepting Constance's kindness, I accompanied her to the hospital, unaware that, beyond treatment for my leg, my life was about to undergo unpredictable changes in the human world.
***
The hospital was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Constance, the guiding nurse, was a kind of guide in this new world. We walked through bright, white corridors, where people in white rushed back and forth. My curiosity was evident in my gaze as I observed every detail of this unfamiliar environment.
Constance took me to the reception desk, where a nurse recognized Constance and questioned her presence since her shift had ended.
“Constance! Your shift has ended. What are you doing here?” The nurse expressed surprise at seeing Constance.
They exchanged a few words, and Constance explained that she returned to bring in a disoriented and injured young woman, indicating me. The nurse examined me with curiosity and asked for my name.
“Fierce,” I replied.
“Last name?” the nurse inquired.
“Silver,” Constance answered for me.
“Fierce Silver, an interesting name,” commented the nurse.
Constance confirmed, and the nurse then asked about what I needed. Constance explained that I had an untreated leg wound and that it would be good to investigate the pregnancy, as she doubted I had received prenatal care.
“What is prenatal?” I asked, confused.
I realized that these terms were as strange as the experience of being in a hospital.
The nurse, with a gentle smile, said that she would see if Dr. Ben Wilson was available and asked Constance and me to wait. I was still trying to understand what “prenatal” meant when Constance led me to wait.
We sat in a waiting area while my mind continued to absorb what was happening around me. People passed by us, some in a hurry, others in wheelchairs. Watching the hospital's dynamics made me question how they treated injuries and the sick, something that in the pack was dealt with using herbs and wisdom passed down by the elders.
Constance noticed my lost expression and tried to reassure me. “Don't worry, Fierce. The doctors here know a lot about healing. They use things called medicines and procedures to help you.”
I just nodded, still feeling a bit out of my element. I didn't know what to expect, but Constance's presence brought me some comfort.
While Constance explained my condition, I wondered about the usefulness of words like “shift” and “last name.” Everything was so complex in that human world.
Soon after, the nurse returned and informed us that Dr. Ben Wilson was available to see us. We got up and followed the nurse through the hospital corridors to the doctor's office.
Entering the office, I faced a man dressed in white, Dr. Ben Wilson. He smiled gently and invited us to sit.
“So, what do we have here?” the doctor asked.
Constance briefly explained the situation, mentioning my injured condition and the need to evaluate my pregnancy.
“Of course, Constance. Let's take a look.” The doctor, a middle-aged man with a welcoming look, turned to me and asked how I was feeling.
“Not very well,” I admitted, staring at the floor. The disconnect between my lupine world and the human one was starting to weigh on me.
Ben Wilson took me to an examination room, where he professionally assessed my injured leg.
Dr. Ben turned to me. “The wound looks serious, but we can treat it. And as for the pregnancy, we'll run some tests to make sure everything is okay.”
The doctor began treating my wound, his skilled hands moving with precision as I watched, curious about human procedures.
“How did you get such a deep wound?” Ben asked, his attention fully on my leg.
I hesitated for a moment, uncomfortable with the story that accompanied that wound. “Do you really want to know?” I asked, looking into his eyes.
“I would like to, so I can offer the best possible treatment,” Ben replied with a professional look.
I took a deep breath and admitted, “It was a swipe from a grizzly bear.”
Constance widened her eyes at the revelation, while Ben expressed surprise. “Face to face with a grizzly bear? How did you end up in that situation?”
“I found it in the forest, and we fought,” I replied, keeping the explanation simple.
Ben muttered something impressed, while Constance asked curiously, “Did you kill the bear?”
I shook my head. “It died, but I didn't kill it. I don't remember much after I got injured.”
Constance understood, and Ben finished dressing the wound, indicating that, due to the severity of the injury, further examinations would be needed to assess the situation more deeply. I agreed, accepting the doctor's guidance.
The time for the ultrasound to check the pregnancy arrived. With Constance's help, I lay down while Ben prepared the device. Anxiety grew within me, mixed with concern about what I might discover.
Minutes passed before Ben's expression changed from professional concentration to genuine surprise. “This can't be right,” he murmured, looking at the ultrasound.
“What can't be right?” I asked, worried.
“The machine might be malfunctioning, or...” Ben Wilson hesitated before continuing, “You're pregnant with triplets.”
My wolf mind tried to process what those words meant.
“Triplets?” I repeated, curious.
Constance, beside me, laughed. “Three babies, Fierce. Three little miracles.”
The news left me perplexed. Three. Three hearts beating at the same time. Triplets. Three little lives growing inside me.
Ben Wilson explained to Constance that more detailed monitoring would be necessary to ensure a healthy pregnancy, considering the uniqueness of the case. While he discussed the care plan with her, my mind wandered between wonder and anxiety, facing the reality that I, a wolf, now carried in my womb not just one life but three.