Chapter 178 A Proper Sendoff

Chapter 178 A Proper Sendoff
\[Raelyn's POV\]

"You're right," Jean says gently, though it is clear from her expression that she doesn't quite believe it. "I know you're right."
Do you? I wonder silently while Jean seems to begin to struggle with an inner battle that I'm certain only she will be able to eventually settle. Nothing I said or did would change her mind, she was stubborn like that, but I was certain with time, and with Adeline by her side, she would eventually come to the right decision.
"You're rounding out." She says now, clearly trying to change the subject as she pulls up my shirt to reveal my stomach. "The pup is growing well."
"Yeah," I whisper, remembering the tiny creature in the NICU. "They both are."
"Mmmmm."
Jean doesn't say anything more as she lets her magic flow into me, and I don't say anything either. Instead, I let my mind wander to the future, a place where all this heartache and pain will no longer exist.
I could only hope that time came soon, and that I would be able to remain in one piece until it did.
"Oh," Jean gasps, snapping me out of my head. "It kicked."
"Did it?" I ask, shocked that I missed it. "Did you kick?" I continue, placing my hand above Jean's and as if in response, the tiny creature still inside me kicks, and for some reason, I can't help but wonder if it understood what I was thinking and wanted to give me a bit of encouragement.
"Pregnancy is amazing." Jean murmurs. "For a woman to spend ten months carrying another person, it's an amazing thing."
"Yeah," I agree. "I'm sure one day you'll be able to experience it too."
Even if Jean and Adeline were a thing, it didn't mean that they too couldn't eventually conceive children, and when that day came, our kids could grow up together.
For the rest of Jean's treatment, we don't speak, but we don't need to as the silence that has fallen around us is a comfortable one, and when Jean finally finishes and stands, Osiris finally walks back into the room looking exhausted.
"Was it Reg?" I ask, recognizing that look.
"Yeah," Osiris sighs, coming and taking a seat on the side of my bed. "Everything is ready."
"Jean," I say, turning my gaze to the woman who is preparing to leave. "Do you think I'm well enough to leave tomorrow for a few hours?"
I hated the thought of doing it because it would mean leaving my child alone in the hospital, but I also wanted to be there to see our comrades sent off.
"Yeah," Jean tells me. "Honestly, you could probably be discharged."
"No," I hiss, and realize too late that my voice is a bit too harsh. "Sorry," I mutter. "I just...I don't want to leave."
"And you don't have to." Osiris tells me. "If you want to stay until our child can come home with us, then you do that."
"Yeah," I smile, though something deep down tells me that is impossible.
With each passing day, I gained more and more strength, and each exam and treatment made sure that the chances of me miscarrying my other pup wouldn't happen. However, the fear was still there along with the fear that if I left my child in NICU would end up disappearing. That fear made it impossible for me to even fathom leaving, and even knowing that I would be leaving for a few hours the following day left me on edge.
"You can stay here if you want..." Osiris begins, but I simply shake my head.
"I'm going." I tell him. "And you can't stop me."
And I keep good to my promise the next day as I take a shower and then change into the black dress that Adeline and Jean brought me. After a quick examination of myself, I head back into the room where Osiris and the two aforementioned wait for me.
They're all dressed in all black, and their expressions hold the seriousness that only comes with a sendoff, but even then, I can feel their strength.
"Ready?" Osiris asks me, holding out a hand. "Shall we get going?"
"Yeah," I nod, taking a shaky breath while everything in me screams to stay here. "Let's go."
Slowly, I move forward and take the hand that is being offered to me, and once it wraps around my own, we head out of the room, and then out of the hospital where a car waits.
Once inside, I look toward the hospital once more where my child would be waiting for me to return, and as this single reminder flashes in my mind, I feel the other kick in my stomach.
Smiling, I know in that moment that the child still in my womb is somehow able to understand me, and as it does, it makes sure to reassure me that everything will be okay.
"What is it?" Osiris asks as a small smile plays on my lips. "What's so amusing."
"Nothing," I tell him. "Just...I suddenly feel less nervous about leaving."
"That's good," Osiris murmurs, leaning over and kissing my cheek. "But we will leave immediately once the sendoff is over."
"Alright," I smile, and then we are off.
When we arrive at Moon Storm's packhouse, there are many other cars waiting. Since most pack members live on the outskirts of the packhouse and only those who are direct family of the alpha live within, the only time all pack members came together were for occasions like this. It was unfortuante that a sendoff was the reason for them being here now, but to see the large group that waits by the pack burial grounds gave me a sense of commoditity that I never really got growing up.
Now, I move together with Osiris, Jean, and Adeline, my family developed not by blood, but by friendship, and love, toward the grounds, and once we have positioned ourselves amongst the crowd,we pay our respects to everyone who was lost because of Osiris' stepmothers dirty scheme, and when the service ends, and the coffins begin to be slowly lowered, I bow my head and send out a silent pray of comfort and safe travels as the souls of the lost most certainly start to ascend.