Chapter 22: Twenty Two

Chase’s POV

Ashley's screams filled the air, the night she went into awakening, not just me, but the entire pack.

Servants moved quickly through the halls, preparing things for the bay's arrival, while elders lingered outside the chamber doors, awaiting the news that our pack finally has a new heir. I stood at the far end of the corridor, my arms folded tightly across my chest, my back resting against the cold stone wall.

All I'd ever dreamed of was finally happening tonight, i was finally going to have a child. I was excited but also afraid. Ashley hadn't given birth yet; she was only in the labour. Our celebration now felt too early, too risky.

So I stood in silence instead. I didn't move; pacing around wasn't going to do anything to reduce the anxiety I felt, nor was asking endless questions going to help.

I felt weird. I wasn't sure why I felt this way. I tried to talk to Ashley about it, but she wasn't really much help.

I closed my eyes as my dream from last night flashed in my mind again. This nightmare was recurring, no matter how much I tried to convince myself it didn't scare m,e it did, and it's been getting worse over the last couple of weeks. Every time I close my eyes, I'm haunted by her, her face, her scream, her knife dripping in blood. My blood.

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of screams; it was Ashley. I moved to go inside, but my wolf stirred in unease, keeping my foot rooted to the ground. I should feel concerned about Ashley, but it feels like the only thing I've been able to feel towards her these days is irritation. I've done a good job of hiding it from her, though.

I'm not sure why I've felt this way; maybe it's because of how nagging she's been lately, or how unedgy I feel constantly from my nightmares. Whatever it wa,s it made me feel unsettled.

I frown slightly, pushing off the wall just as one of the elders approaches.

“My Alpha,” he says quietly, bowing his head, “it won’t be long now.”

I give a short nod, dismissing him, as my gaze drifts back to the closed doors.

This is supposed to mean something; it should. I should be pacing the hall in excitement; it was time for the birth of an heir: my heir, a continuation of my bloodline, my legacy, my power.

Yet standing here, waiting, all I feel is nothing, and even when I feel something, it's nothing good, nothing s man should feel ok the night his child is born.

After a few more minutes of waiting, a sharp cry fills the building, the unmistakable sound of a newborn, my child was here, finally, and irrespective of how disconnected I feel, it was time to act as expected.

I walked from the corridors towards Ashley's door. I noticed the look of relief that spread through the servants' and elders' faces. This is a win for my entire pack.

I take a deep breath and open the door.

Inside, Ashley is lying down; she looks exhausted, her face pale and damp with sweat, strands of her hair clinging to her skin. I've never seen her look this way.

She cradles the child weakly against her chest. When I enter, her eyes find mine immediately. I can tell they are searching for a reaction from me, excitement. Ashley was desperate for something I’m not sure I can give.

But despite the pit in my stomach, I force myself to smile, reassuring her

“We have a son,” she says softly. As I move closer to the bed, I stop by her side and look at the baby. It looks small and fragile, but alive anyway.

I freeze waiting for things to click. I stare at Ashley and the baby

I look at the child. But it never did

I waited for instinct to kick in, the bond between my child and me to pull me, tying me to the life you created, but still, nothing happens.

There’s nothing.

No warmth, no pride, no connection.

Just silence.

Ashley notices that, as much as I tried to hide it.

I know this because of how her smile falters slightly, though she tries to hide it.

She shifts the child gently, presenting the child to me, like maybe I didn’t look closely enough the first time.

“Do you want to hold him?” she asks.

I hesitate. It’s brief, almost unnoticeable.

Then I step forward and take the child from her outstretched hands. I hold him carefully, staring at his face, to find mine, but I don't.

The baby stirs slightly, letting out a soft sound, his tiny fingers curling weakly against my hand. It was cute, sure, but I felt nothing beyond that. Maybe I was reading into things too much. I must be

I stare down at him, waiting for something, anything, but the emptiness persists, my heart warms, but not with the love I expected, with fear, what was wrong here

“Is something wrong, Chase? You don’t feel it,” she asks quietly, herr eyes searching mine. I look away. I've known Ashley long enough to know that wasn't a question; it was a trap. A trap I wasn't falling for.

“I feel enough, my love,” I reply, calmly masking my fears.

She lets out a quiet, humorless laugh, turning her gaze away as she leans back against the bed.

“That’s not what I asked you to chase,” Ashley says.

I don’t respond. But my heart begins to be overwhelmed with guilt. Why did I act this way toward the woman who just gave birth to my child?

Whatever, I don't feel it now; I'll probably feel it later, when things calm down.

"It's perfect, Ashley, you're perfect," I say and plant a kiss on her forehead.

After a moment, I place the child back in her arms, and I move back quietly as if distance might somehow cover what I’ve just failed to give.

\-------

It's been days since the childbirth now. Ashley was back in our room, and the distance between us was barely noticeable.

The child cries often, is restless, and always unsettled in ways even the nurses struggle to soothe. I notice Ashley gets more needy by the day, begging for attention and words of affirmation from me.

I struggle to give it, but I try on days when she's not satisfied, she snaps.

“You don’t even try,” she snaps one evening.

I’m standing near the window, looking out at the darkened lands beyond.

“Im here with you, Ashley, but I can't be around to soothe you every hour of the day. I have a responsibility not just to you and our baby but also to the pack, I'm trying.”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

I take a deep breath, calming my face, before I turn to face her.

“Then say what you mean, Ashley.”

Her eyes lock onto mine.

“You look at him like he’s nothing, like he’s not yours, like you're not satisfied with him. What's the problem? Chase, talk to me. ”

I don’t answer immediately; I walk towards the cot and pick the baby up, his calm, finally not crying.

“Is it because of her?” she asks. I roll my eyes, even after years of her bruh going to,e, it seems Ashley is still obsessed with Karina.

"N,o it's not that, Ashley, I'm just tired. I've been dealing with a lot of pressure from the pack, that's all. I never even think about her. I only have eyes for you." I say that convinces Ashley, and her anger melts quickly,

I wasn't lying, though. Over the last couple of months, the land has changed.

At first, it was subtle, showing in things that were easy to dismiss. Things like the crops not growing as well, the river running lower, accidents happening around the pack, and conflicts in my inner circle of elders

Then it became harder to ignore. Just last week, my elders reported fewer births and weaker wolf numbers in the packs, and the increased deaths of our strongest wolves were leaving everyone on edge about what it meant.

Even the pack seer reports that the Moon that once felt constant now feels distant, like a voice that no longer answers when called. A sense of unease was beginning to run through my pack, and ut was becoming harder to ignore.

Why was all of this happening, and what did it mean?

In a desperate need for answers, I call my pack elders together to discuss and also consult with the moon goddess on what we can do to fix things.

Finally, the night came, and the moon shone brightly in the sky. The pack seer and I stood outside performing the necessary rituals to contact the moon goddess, but she remained quiet, unyielding.

"It's like I said before, I can't reach her," I said to theseere, who looked just as terrified as I was.

" What do you think it means?" I ask.

The seer closes his eyes, whispering for a few minutes.

" Alpha, I can't reach the moon; it seems that it is not pleased with us. Our pack is in grave danger." The seer says his body is beginning to shake violently. I moved back scared.

Why would the moon be angry at us? What had we done?

" Can you find out what we've done?" I ask, the seer.

"You've disobeyed the moon, and now you and your pack shall suffer the consequences." The seer screams out one last time before collapsing ok the floor.

I notice blood streaming out of his nose and ears; he's dead.