286- The Moment Everything Changed
POV Elowen Grimwald:
Edric and Aldren gave us privacy, and it was just the two of us in the room. While she breastfed the pup for the first time, I brushed her hair and dried her body and face with soft towels.
Childbirth was beautiful, but humiliating.
I searched through her things and applied lip balm to her lips, after helping her drink more water. The midwife had taken the bloodstained sheets with her.
Watching the little pup nurse, I longed for the moment when I could squeeze those chubby cheeks. The cutest thing in the entire universe. He sucked his mother’s milk with such determination that he looked starved.
Ah! How adorable!
Lifting my gaze to my smiling, emotional sister, I could hardly believe we were daughters of the same mother.
I knew nothing would change the love we felt for each other, but we still hadn’t had the chance to be alone and talk about our family matters.
“You’re looking at me like you want to ask something. I know you,” she said, smiling from the corner of her lips.
“It’s just that… we only talked on the phone about that thing…”
“That thing” was the discovery that I wasn’t only a wolf.
Sava curled her lip in disdain and shook her head, brushing the subject aside.
“I couldn’t care less if you’re part witch. You’re still the sister I love. Forget about it. We were all deceived—our own mother wasn’t even faithful like she claimed.”
Not even our mother…
She was right. Blood ties did not determine feelings, because if they did, we wouldn’t have been betrayed by our own family.
I sat beside her on the bed and gently brushed my index finger against my nephew’s tiny hand. Instantly, he closed his little fingers around it, gripping tight.
“See? Anton already loves his aunt.”
I laughed softly, and she joined me.
“Silly. I just think it’s going to be quite a fight over who will be the favorite aunt. How can I compete with the beauties who live here? Who will see Anton every day?”
I pouted dramatically.
“I could manipulate him, like: your aunt Elowen is the best, love her more,” she joked.
“That’s terrible!”
She let out another quiet laugh before returning to admire the pup.
“He’s so beautiful.”
“Just like his father. Nothing like us.”
She frowned, pretending to be offended by my observation.
“What a humiliation. Couldn’t he at least have my eyes?”
I tilted my head, considering.
“Try again with the next one, little sister.”
She narrowed her eyes at me.
“Your time will come. Just wait.”
Her mention that my time would come made my heart race. There was something I hadn’t managed to tell even Nerin, I was so embarrassed. My room was a forbidden zone for anyone except Aldren.
“Sava, before you got pregnant… did you, by any chance, make a nest…?”
I forced myself to ask, eager to talk about it with someone.
Her irises widened, and her mouth fell slightly open.
“Oh… that means you did.”
“I did…” I admitted, embarrassed.
Unexpectedly, Lunara clenched the fist of her free arm. I watched in slow motion as she brought it toward my stomach, as if she were going to punch me.
Instinctively, I jumped off the bed, touching my belly as if I wanted to protect it from something.
“THIS IS TOO MUCH EMOTION FOR ONE DAY!” Lunara shouted, letting fresh tears fall.
I panicked. I wasn’t there to cause conflict, but to be a source of support.
“For the gods’ sake, sister, I didn’t mean to make you cry. What happened? What did I do?”
She stared at me with her mouth slightly open for a few seconds before blurting out:
“Elowen! Besides making a nest, you’re protective of your belly! That’s exactly how it was with me! You’re pregnant!”
As if my creature wanted to confirm it, the palm resting on my belly was struck by a wave of warmth.
Oh gods!
There was no longer any doubt that Aldren was my destined mate.
I was pregnant!
Pregnant!
I covered my mouth to stop the scream that would frighten my nephew. Before I realized it, I was hopping around the room, bouncing with happiness.
Sava followed everything with her eyes, laughing and crying at the same time. We became a complete mess—it was even funny.
“Lunara! I’m going to have a pup!” I tried to control my voice, unable to stop jumping.
Euphoric! I was euphoric!
“Yes, Elowen! You are! I can’t believe it. He’ll be almost the same age as my Anton!”
I desperately wanted to hug her, but the only thing I could do was plant a loud kiss on her cheek. She gave me one back.
“I… I need to tell Aldren! It’ll be quick, I’ll be right back!”
The anxiety made the words bubble out of my mouth.
Sava smiled empathetically while wiping her tears.
“Sister, don’t worry. Take some time for you and Aldren by the lake behind our property. I’m sure Edric is eager to be alone with us.”
Of that I had no doubt. I could disappear without worry—there would be a line forming to take care of my Lunara and baby Anton.
Giving one last kiss on her forehead and saying goodbye to my nephew, touching his little face with the back of my hand, I left the room, ran down the hallway and the flight of stairs, eager to find my mate.
I found him in the living room, chatting amicably with Edric, Nicoleta, and all of Lunara’s friends. When he saw me, he opened his arms for me to come into his embrace.
I did so, standing on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
“Can we talk alone for a moment?”
“Of course, my love.”
Edric spun on his heels, hurrying to leave.
“Elowen, I’ll take your place now,” he announced.
“I WANT TO GO TOO!” Lyris shouted.
“The father goes first!” he shot back, already climbing the stairs.
Aldren intertwined our hands and guided me to the back of the house. After a short path through the trees, we reached the lake.
It was even more beautiful during the day. I could understand why it was Lunara’s favorite place.
I stopped in front of him by the shore, where small snowflakes from the approaching winter were beginning to fall.
I rested my hands against his chest, leaving one just above his calm heart, trying to hide the wild pounding of mine.
Lying to a mated partner was impossible. Sensing my tension, he looked at me curiously with his deep green eyes and touched my face.
“Did everything go well with your sister after we left?”
“Yes. I left my hungry nephew nursing and my sister freshly out of labor because I needed to talk to you…”
“Wow, I assume it’s something important.”
Aldren had no idea.
Besides the obsession with my nest, I hadn’t had any other symptoms of wolf pregnancy. I had even considered that my witch side might prevent me from conceiving with him, even though we were destined.
But no.
Lunara tested me, and my creature confirmed it by warming my hand.
The animal side never lies.