Chapter 69 Sixty nine

Chapter 69 Sixty nine
Nora.

I feel content.

My life has taken a turn for the better, and for the first time since my mother’s passing, I can genuinely say that I have embraced happiness. I feel secure, loved, and surrounded by people who have become important to me in ways I never imagined possible. 

Howard plays a significant role in this newfound joy, alongside everyone else around me. Over the past seven months, happiness has been my constant companion. Of course, there have been difficult moments, especially when my pregnancy hormones get the better of me and leave me crying over things that would normally never bother me. There are also days when the weight of my growing belly leaves my back aching so badly that I can barely find a comfortable position. But even those moments cannot take away from how grateful I feel.

The sheer joy of carrying a life within me is unparalleled. There is something almost magical about knowing that a tiny human being is growing inside me, someone 

Howard and I created together. I sometimes catch myself resting my palm against my stomach and wondering what our baby will look like. Will the baby have Howard’s eyes? My smile? His stubbornness? My temper? The thought makes me laugh every time because, if our child inherits both our personalities, we are definitely in trouble.

Still, as much as I cherish this pregnancy, the weariness has settled into my bones. My body feels heavier every day, and I find myself yearning for the moment when I can finally hold my baby in my arms instead of carrying the weight around inside me. The signs that labor is approaching have also become more noticeable, and lately, I have been experiencing contractions that leave me breathless.

I haven’t told Howard.

Not because I don’t trust him, but because I know him too well.

The moment I tell him I’m having contractions, he will probably call every doctor in the pack, summon every guard, and turn the entire house into an emergency room. He has become ridiculously protective throughout this pregnancy, and although I secretly love it, I don’t want him worrying unnecessarily.

So, whenever a contraction grips me, I pretend it’s nothing more than the baby kicking.

Whenever the pain comes, I take a deep breath, smile, and wait for it to pass.

Then I look at Howard and act as though everything is perfectly normal.

“It kicked again,” I whined one afternoon, placing my hand over my stomach.

Howard immediately looked up from what he was doing.

“Again?”

I nodded. “Yes. Very active today.”

A smile spread across his face as he walked toward me. He placed a gentle kiss on my cheek before lowering himself slightly and pressing his lips against my swollen belly.

“Are you giving your mother a hard time?” he asked our unborn child.

I couldn’t help smiling. Our baby responded with another movement beneath my palm.

Howard’s eyes widened. “See? The baby knows I’m talking.”

“Or the baby is already tired of you.”

He laughed softly. “Impossible.”

His hands moved gently over my stomach before he looked at me again.

“Are you comfortable?” He asked, scanning my eyes for any inconvenience.

“Mostly.”

“Do you need anything?”

I shook my head. 

“Maybe some tea? Ice cream? Hot cocoa?” he asked, already sounding prepared to send someone running for whichever one I chose.

I laughed. “Not right now, but I’d love to take a stroll.”

He didn’t hesitate. “Of course.”

The sun was beginning to descend, painting the evening sky with warm colors as we stepped outside. Howard stayed beside me, his pace deliberately slow so I wouldn’t have to struggle to keep up with him.

I glanced down at my feet and smiled when I noticed the slippers I was wearing.

Howard had bought them for me after my feet became too swollen for most of my regular shoes. They were simple, comfortable, and probably one of the smallest gifts he had ever given me.

Yet somehow, they meant so much.

It was the thought behind them.

He had noticed that I was uncomfortable without me having to complain. He had gone out and found something that would make my life easier, and that small gesture reminded me just how much Howard had changed.

As we stepped farther from the house, several guards immediately approached us.

Howard stopped them with a gentle gesture.

“It’s not time yet.”

The guards exchanged glances before returning to their positions.

I smiled to myself.

Howard had meticulously trained everyone around us to be prepared for the moment I went into labor. There were guards stationed at different points of the property, medical supplies prepared, and arrangements made with the healers.

Sometimes I wondered whether he was preparing for the birth of a child or an invasion.

“Do you realize you’re being ridiculous?” I asked.

Howard looked at me innocently.

“What did I do?”

“You’ve turned my pregnancy into a military operation.”

He laughed. “I’d rather be prepared.”

“For what? Me giving birth?” I asked with a brow lifted.

“Yes.” He proudly smiled.

“You know women have been doing this for centuries without turning their houses into fortresses, right?”

“I know, but you’re not just any woman.”

I rolled my eyes, but my heart warmed. He had become so different from the man I had first married.

The Howard I knew in the beginning would never have been this attentive. He had been distant, arrogant, and emotionally unavailable. He had made me question whether he even wanted me in his life.

Now, I couldn’t walk across the compound without him worrying about whether I was tired.

I looked at him as we continued walking.

He caught me staring. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re staring.”

“I know.”

He smiled.

“You’re so beautiful.”

My cheeks warmed. “You say that every day.”

“Because it’s true every day.”

I shook my head, pretending to be annoyed.

But secretly, I loved hearing it.

Howard had been excited about the baby from the moment he learned about the pregnancy. We had deliberately decided not to find out the gender, choosing instead to let it remain a surprise until the birth.

I secretly hoped for a girl.

Howard, on the other hand, seemed determined that we were having a boy.

“It’s a boy,” he would insist whenever the subject came up.

“You don’t know that.”

“I just know.”

“You’re guessing.”

“It’s an Alpha instinct.”

I laughed.

“That’s not how biology works.”

He shrugged. “Still a boy.”

“And if it’s a girl?”

“Then I’ll be the happiest man alive.”

His answer always made me smile. Because regardless of what either of us hoped for, there was never any doubt about one thing.

We already loved this child. I rested my head against his shoulder as we walked.

For a few moments, everything felt perfect. Just Howard, me, and the tiny life growing between us.

Then another contraction began. My smile faltered. I slowed down.

Howard immediately noticed. “What is it?”

I forced myself to smile.

“Nothing.”

He studied me suspiciously. “Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“The baby just kicked again.”

He looked at my stomach. “That’s a strong kick.”

I smiled.

“Very strong.”

He placed his palm against my belly. The pain slowly eased. I released the breath I had been holding and prayed silently that he hadn’t noticed. I knew I couldn’t keep hiding it forever.

Soon, our baby would decide when enough was enough and when that happened, there would be no pretending.

For now, though, I wanted to enjoy these final moments of carrying my child.

I wanted to enjoy the peacefulness surrounding us and the man beside me, because after everything we had survived, I had finally found something I had once believed was impossible and I intended to hold on to it for as long as I could.

We continue to stroll through the curious gazes and constant interruptions from well-wishers who wanted to engage with me or touch my growing belly. I smiled politely whenever someone approached, but after a while, the attention became overwhelming. Howard noticed my discomfort almost immediately.

Without making a fuss, he guided me toward a quieter path where we could stroll without being surrounded by people. I appreciated the gesture more than I could explain. He had become incredibly attentive to even the smallest changes in my mood, and sometimes I wondered how he managed to notice things I hadn’t even realized I was feeling.

As we walked, my thoughts inevitably wandered back over the past few months.

So much had happened.

Karen, Damon, and Selene had been sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. Herman had received the punishment he deserved… death by hanging. His absence from Greenbell still felt surreal. For so long, his presence had dominated my memories of the pack, my childhood, and the loss of my mother. Now he was gone.

A part of me had expected to feel completely relieved.

Instead, I felt something more complicated.

Closure, maybe.

Although, if I was being completely honest with myself, a small part of me still believed Herman deserved far worse than death. Death would end his suffering quickly. It would not force him to live with the consequences of everything he had done.

Still, I had finally accepted that justice did not always look exactly the way we imagined it would.

I thought about Ella too.

Despite everything that had happened, I couldn’t completely shake off the pity I felt for her. She had made her choices, and she had suffered the consequences, but there was something heartbreaking about knowing how far everything had fallen apart.

At least Eliana had found her destined mate.

That thought brought me a little comfort.

Ella had eventually left Greenbell to forge a new beginning somewhere else, and perhaps that was what she needed. Maybe distance would give her the opportunity to become someone different from the woman she had allowed herself to become.

Miles’s infrequent visits had also become part of the strange, evolving landscape of my life. Things between us were no longer hostile, and I was grateful for that. He was still connected to my past, but he no longer felt like a threat to my future.

My future was here with Howard and our child. And with the life we had chosen to build together.

Choosing my mother’s Beta as the new Alpha of Greenbell had been one of the most difficult decisions I had ever made, but it was also one of the most peaceful. I couldn’t imagine myself returning there permanently after everything I had endured.

Direwood had become my home. Howard had become my home.

I glanced at him as we walked.

He was quiet, his attention focused on me and the path ahead. Every now and then, his hand tightened around mine, almost as though he needed the reassurance that I was still beside him.

Then, without warning, Howard stopped. I took another step before realizing he was no longer walking. I turned around.

“What is it?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he simply looked at me. There was something in his expression that made my heart skip. Before I could ask again, he leaned forward and kissed me.

I froze for half a second from surprise before relaxing into him.

The kiss was unexpected, but it was gentle and heartfelt. It wasn’t the kind of kiss meant to ignite anything. It was simply an expression of affection, a quiet reminder that he loved me.

When he pulled away, I stared at him with a smile.

“What was that for?”

He shrugged. “I wanted to kiss my wife.”

I laughed softly. “You’re becoming very romantic.”

“Becoming?”

I rolled my eyes.

He smiled before taking my hand again. “Come.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

He led me farther down the path.

I followed curiously, wondering what he had planned. We eventually reached a familiar spot, and the moment I saw the large oak tree standing ahead of us, recognition washed over me.

I stopped.

“Howard…”

He looked at me.

“You remember this place?”

“Of course, I do.”

There were so many memories attached to this tree. Some were old, some were recent, but all of them felt important.

Howard walked toward the tree and ran his hand over its rough bark.

“I’ve always wanted to do something here.”

“What?”

He smiled.

“You’ll see.”

He reached for something he had brought with him.

A small knife.

I watched as he positioned himself against the tree.

“What are you doing?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

Then he began carving. I watched silently as he carefully etched our initials into the bark. My chest tightened.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

“I have always wanted that,” I admitted, my voice softer than I intended.

Howard turned toward me. “What do you think?”

I stepped closer to him and looked at the carving.

Our initials were now permanently marked into the tree. There was something incredibly sentimental about it. The tree would continue growing. Seasons would come and go. Years would pass. Our lives would change. But those initials would remain. A small piece of us would remain here.

I touched the carving gently. “I love it.”

Howard smiled proudly. 

I turned toward him, ready to say something, but suddenly, a sharp pain tore through my abdomen. I gasped. My hand immediately went to my stomach.

Howard’s smile disappeared. “Nora?”

I tried to breathe through it. The pain intensified. I bent slightly, gripping my stomach as another wave hit me.

Howard rushed toward me.

“What’s happening?”

I shook my head, struggling to speak.

“I… I don’t know.”

His expression changed instantly. He looked terrified.

“Is it the baby?”

“I think…”

Another contraction ripped through me. I cried out.

Howard caught me before my knees could give way. “It’s time, okay? Sit here.”

He carefully helped me toward a nearby spot.

“I’ll call Alex.”

I nodded weakly.

My hands were trembling. Howard pulled out his phone, but his fingers were shaking so badly that he nearly dropped it.

“Come on,” he muttered. “Come on.”

I had never seen him this frightened.

“Howard…”

He immediately looked at me.

“I’m here.”

“The pain…”

“I know.”

He crouched in front of me and took my hand.

“Alex is on his way.”

I tried to breathe. The contraction eased slightly, but the relief didn’t last long. Another one came. I cried out again. This time, the pain was far worse. Sweat gathered along my forehead, and my legs began to feel weak.

People nearby started noticing what was happening. Within moments, several curious faces had gathered at a distance.

Howard’s expression hardened.

“Everyone, move away please!”

His command echoed through the area. The crowd immediately began dispersing.

He turned back to me.

“Can you stand?”

“I don’t know.”

“Try.”

I shook my head.

“I can’t.”

“Okay. Don’t move.”

He immediately called Alex again.

“Where are you?”

I couldn’t hear Alex’s response, but Howard’s face revealed everything. He was desperate for him to arrive.

“She’s in labor,” Howard said. “Hurry.”

Another contraction began. I gripped his arm.

“Howard!”

He immediately wrapped an arm around me.

“I’m here, my love. I’m right here.”

I buried my face against his chest, fighting the urge to scream.

Everything was happening too quickly.

I had spent weeks imagining this moment, wondering what labor would feel like, wondering how I would react when the time finally came. But nothing could have prepared me for this. I hadn’t expected to give birth today.

Not here.

Not beneath an oak tree.

Not while I was still trying to convince Howard that every contraction was merely the baby kicking.

Yet the little one inside me had clearly decided that waiting was no longer an option.

Alex finally arrived.

The moment Howard saw the car, relief crossed his face.

“Help me get her inside.”

Alex hurried over.

“Are you okay, Nora?”

I gave him a look through the pain.

“Does it look like I’m okay?”

He gave a nervous laugh.

“Fair enough.”

Howard helped me to my feet.

My legs felt unsteady beneath me, but with both men supporting me, I managed to move toward the car.

“Slowly,” Howard kept saying.

“I know!”

“I know. I’m just…”

“You’re panicking.”

“Yes.”

Despite everything, I almost laughed.

Howard had spent months preparing for this moment.

And now that it was actually happening, he looked completely terrified.

I leaned against him as another contraction began.

“Dear God,” I whispered.

Howard immediately tightened his hold around me.

“We’re going to make it.”

I looked at him.

“You better not leave me.”

His expression softened.

“Never.”

Then he helped me into the car.

As we pulled away toward the hospital, I looked down at my stomach and placed both hands over it. Our baby was coming.


The moment I was wheeled into the maternity ward, the reality of what was happening finally settled over me.

I was going to have my baby.

After months of carrying this little life inside me, after imagining what it would feel like to finally meet my child, the moment had arrived. Yet instead of feeling completely excited, I was terrified. The contractions had become stronger, closer together, and far more painful than anything I had experienced before.

Howard stayed beside me throughout it all.

He refused to let go of my hand even when the nurses tried to move me onto the bed. He looked almost as nervous as I felt, although he kept trying to hide it beneath his usual calm expression.

“You’ll be okay,” Howard whispered as the nurse examined me.

I squeezed my eyes shut and breathed through the pain.

The nurse checked my progress and then looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Six centimeters.”

I opened my eyes. “Six?”

She nodded.

“You’ve progressed quite quickly, especially considering how long you waited before coming to the hospital.”

I could only shrug. I didn’t exactly have a choice. I hadn’t realized I was in labor until the contractions became impossible to ignore.

Howard looked at me with something resembling pride. “You’re doing great.”

I managed a weak smile. “I’m trying.”

“You’re stronger than you think.”

I wanted to answer him, but another contraction came before I could. The pain tore through me so suddenly that my entire body tensed. I grabbed Howard’s hand and squeezed it as hard as I could.

“Dear Goddess!”

Howard immediately leaned closer. “I’m here.”

“Please, take it out now!”

He stared at me for a second before a nervous laugh escaped him. “Nora, I don’t think that’s how this works.”

I glared at him through the pain. “Howard, I swear to God, I don’t care how it works. Just get it out!”

He laughed again, although I could see the worry in his eyes.

I increased my grasp on his hand as another wave of pain surged through me. My nails dug into his skin, but he didn’t complain. He simply held my hand tighter, allowing me to use him as my anchor.

Eventually, the contraction began to fade. I released a shaky breath and relaxed against the bed. Howard looked down at his hand. I followed his gaze and noticed the marks my nails had left on his skin.

“Oh.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s all you have to say?”

“I’m sorry.”

“You almost broke my fingers.”

Despite my exhaustion, I managed a small laugh.

“You’ll survive.”

“I hope so.”

I smiled weakly.

For a moment, the pain seemed bearable again.

Howard brushed a strand of hair away from my forehead and kissed it.

“I’m proud of you.”

I looked at him. “You keep saying that.”

“Because you keep giving me reasons to.”

My heart warmed.

I couldn’t imagine going through this without him.

The nurse returned a few minutes later to check on me again. I tried to relax while she examined my progress, but my thoughts kept wandering.

We were actually going to become parents.

The sheer notion of becoming parents, of having a child who would call us Mommy and Daddy, stirred a flurry of emotions within me. It was overwhelming and tear-inducing in the most beautiful way.

I looked around the room.

Everything had been prepared so carefully.

There was a tiny baby bed positioned nearby, waiting for the little person who would soon occupy it. Seeing it made my heart ache with anticipation. Soon, my baby would be lying there and I would finally see the tiny face I had spent months imagining.

I wondered what the baby would look like.

Would the baby have Howard’s eyes?

Would the baby have my nose?

Would they have his personality or mine?

The thought made me smile.

Then another thought came to me.

Would I even sleep after the baby arrived?

Probably not.

I imagined myself lying awake at night simply watching my child sleep. I would probably stare at every tiny movement, memorize every little sound, and wonder how something so small could possibly mean so much to me.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice Howard moving until I felt his hands around my feet.

I looked down.

“What are you doing?”

“Your feet are tense.”

Before I could protest, he began gently massaging them.

I sighed. “That actually feels good.”

“I know.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know you.”

I smiled. “You’re getting too confident.”

He chuckled. “Just relax.”

I closed my eyes.

For a few peaceful moments, I allowed myself to enjoy his touch. Then the door opened.

Marie walked in first, carrying something in her hands. “Oh my Goddess, Nora. Hey!”

I smiled at her and responded, “hi.”

She immediately hurried toward me.

“I brought your favorite yogurt and some muffins.”

My eyes widened. “You’re an angel.”

“I know.”

Howard laughed.

“You two are unbelievable.”

Marie handed me the food.

I didn’t waste any time before eating. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I saw the yogurt and muffins. I ate slowly at first, but soon I was enjoying every bite.

Howard watched me with an amused expression. “You were just screaming five minutes ago.”

“I can scream and eat.”

Marie laughed. “She has a point.”

I rolled my eyes at Howard before taking another bite. Then I noticed Claude standing behind Marie.

My expression softened.

He approached me carefully, and I could still see a trace of remorse in his eyes despite everything I had already told him.

“I wish you a safe delivery, my dear,” Claude said.

He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

“Thank you,” I replied with a smile.

There was no bitterness in my heart toward him anymore. He had made mistakes, but I had chosen to forgive him, and I meant it.

Claude smiled before stepping away. I continued eating until the weariness began creeping over me again. I placed the food aside and leaned back against the bed.

“I think I’m tired.”

Howard immediately looked concerned. “Do you want to sleep?”

“I don’t know.”

He brushed his fingers through my hair. “You should rest while you can.”

I closed my eyes.

For a few seconds, everything was quiet. Then I felt another contraction.

I opened my eyes. “Howard…”

He immediately sat upright. “What?”

I grabbed his hand. “It’s happening again.”

He turned toward the nurse. “Can you check her?”

The nurse came over quickly. She examined me, and her expression changed.

“She’s progressing rapidly. We need to move her to the labor room.”

My heart dropped. Suddenly, all the excitement disappeared beneath a wave of fear. The labor room sounded more real and serious. This was no longer simply the early stages of labor.

I looked at Howard. He immediately noticed the fear in my eyes.

“Hey,” he said softly.

I swallowed. “I’m scared.”

He moved closer and took my face gently between his hands. “You don’t have to be.”

“What if something goes wrong?”

“Nothing is going to happen.”

“You don’t know that,” I persisted. 

He paused for a moment. “No, I don’t. But I know you’re not going through this alone.”

His words calmed me more than I expected. “I’ll be right here.”

I searched his eyes.

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

The nurse returned with another member of the medical team. They began preparing everything. My heart raced. Howard continued holding my hand while I tried to steady my breathing. I looked toward the little baby bed one last time before they began moving me.

I then looked at Howard. He smiled reassuringly. I took a deep breath and despite the fear twisting inside me, I found myself smiling.

“Let’s go have our baby then.”

Howard’s smile widened. The bed began moving toward the labor room. I tightened my grip around his hand as we went.