285- A Prince Is Born Beneath Candlelight
POV Elowen Grimwald:
As the days passed, I became useful to the people of Valmorin, helping the pups with their lessons. Even though with every step I took across those lands a certain melancholy touched me because of Lady Korlina’s death, I understood that I needed to overcome it.
She told me she would finally have peace. She was happy to leave.
At my side, Franchesca, the North American who was teaching me English, adapted to the village with me while learning Romanian at the same time. Our dynamic was amusing, using internet translators along with books.
Orion was imprisoned outside Tharnak territory, and we still had not found a witch capable of undoing the spell. The only one we brought from Asia who touched him vomited instantly, unable to identify the source of the magic.
The elders asked Aldren to have the wolf imprisoned in Noctheria, but he did not agree, and I stood by his side. Knowing that his hopes of bringing his friend back remained alive warmed my heart. Invitations to dinners in Noctheria always arrived, but I still did not feel ready to go—not when I knew they abhorred witches.
I constantly wondered why, since the elders were a kind of mages themselves, they judged that only their magic was just enough to be practiced.
I preferred not to set foot there, not even to attend my mate’s celebration, which he continued to organize but no longer took part in.
My sensitivity was increasing, even though I was not studying magic. I saved a pup from a fall without even looking at him, simply because I sensed it would happen. I felt calm knowing that if other witches appeared in Valmorin, I would know.
Perhaps delivering the justice Korlina spoke of meant protecting my people from the cruel appearance of another Samsara.
If anyone else tried to harm my partner and me with dark magic, I would be aware. We protected each other, and that was my role now. The part of me I had never imagined possessing would be used for good. For our good.
In a supernatural way, I sensed that Orion would be healed one day, so I tried to encourage Franchesca not to surrender to sadness and to remain hopeful.
I learned that one cannot live today while fearing tomorrow.
“Let’s put the toys away and finish the lesson, little ones,” I ordered the pups, rising from the rug with one of the five-year-olds in my lap, hugging me.
“Queen Elowen, I’m hungry,” she said, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“The snack must be ready, dear,” Franchesca replied, her accent thick and a smile spreading across her freckled face.
Suddenly, Aldren entered the room, his green eyes filled with surprise and apprehension.
The pups, excited, shouted “Alpha Aldren” in unison. He gently patted a few of their heads before running toward me.
“We need to leave now. Lunara has gone into labor.”
The news struck like lightning, leaving me dizzy.
It was not the day we had expected—there was still a week left—and it was my dream to be with her in that moment.
The fear of not arriving in time made my heart race and a wave of anxiety course through my entire body.
Before I could fully process the information, Franchesca took the pup from my arms, shouting for me to go, and my mate was already beside me, bending down so I could climb onto his back.
Soon he was running wildly through the forest toward Eldoria. Along the way, he had to exhale pheromones of calm while running, worried as he felt my heart nearly leaping out of my chest.
When we finally reached the village, we saw the entire pack surrounding the alpha’s house, eager for the arrival of the first pup of their king and queen. My chest filled with happiness, masking some of my agony.
Lyris appeared, leading us inside the house. The moment I stepped in, I felt I might burst into desperate tears. Emotion filled the air.
Celindra and Andrei waited in the hallway, their expressions marked by apprehension and nervousness. Entering the bedroom, I brought a hand to my lips, and my mate embraced me from behind in support. The only light came from candles scattered around, casting golden, comforting glows throughout the room. Lunara lay on a large bed, drenched in sweat, her entire face flushed, at the height of labor.
Exuding strength and determination, she still managed to smile at me while pushing the pup, following the orders of what appeared to be a midwife, who guided her alongside Nicoleta.
At her side, Edric supported her with unwavering devotion, holding her hand and murmuring words of encouragement. The jaw of her destined mate was rigid from clenched teeth; he seemed to take upon himself all the pain Lunara felt. The love between them was so evident that I broke down in tears.
With each groan and effort from Lunara, my heart seemed to tighten further. My mate kept his arms firm around my waist, offering silent yet powerful support.
I held back the scream in my throat when the pup emerged from my sister’s womb, covered in blood and viscous substance, bringing with him a new life and a new chapter for all of us.
My emotion was indescribable. Lunara’s eyes were filled with tears of relief and joy, while Edric, with an expression of pure love and pride, held the pup in his arms.
The little one had porcelain-fair skin, brown hair that would certainly form soft curls, and predominantly blue eyes with silver flecks around the pupils, just like his father’s. Wrapped in emerald-green fabric, his tiny hands moved adorably as his cry filled the room.
Edric gazed at him with devotion, and his words echoed thick with emotion and solemnity:
“Welcome to the world, Anton, my pup. May your journey be marked by the courage of wolves, the love of your pack, and the determination of warriors. You are the future of Eldoria, and we will always stand by your side to guide you.”
He would be loved. So deeply loved.
I looked at Aldren, who returned a smile filled with love and understanding. I was blessed to have him.
Sava was exhausted yet radiant. I could not resist and ran to embrace her sweaty body. When she looked at me, her eyes shone with happiness. Anton was placed between her breasts, and tears streamed down her face like an open faucet as she felt her son against her.
I doubted anything could move me more than that moment—except, perhaps, the day I too would be blessed to carry a little life growing inside me.