Chapter 228: She Will Love More

Lya's POV

After lunch with Cassandra, we made our way to the dungeon visiting room where Eva was being held. The guards informed us she'd already been brought in and secured to the table, ready for our arrival. I took a steadying breath before entering, not entirely sure what to expect. My last few interactions with Eva had been... complicated, to say the least.

When we walked in, I was struck by how different she looked. She was still being well cared for. Dark Moon territory didn't believe in mistreating prisoners, regardless of their crimes. But there was a weariness about her that hadn't been there before. Her pregnancy was now visibly showing, creating a strange contrast with her prison attire and the restraints securing her to the table.

"How are you doing, Eva?" I asked, sliding into the seat across from her.

She gave a small, tired smile. "As well as can be expected in my condition, in this place."

There was no bite to her words, no venom. This wasn't the same woman who had spat "mixed-blood bitch" at me during her trial. The change was jarring.

"You requested this meeting," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Eva nodded, glancing between me and Cassandra. "My wolf trusts you, Lya. And my son speaks highly of Cassandra often."

I couldn't hide my surprise at her tone. Where was the hatred? The resentment? Even during her trial, when she'd known her fate was sealed, she'd maintained that fierce, unapologetic demeanor.

"That's quite the attitude adjustment," I noted, unable to help myself. "Last time we spoke, you weren't exactly singing my praises."

Eva looked down at her hands. "A lot has changed."

Cassandra, who had been silent until now, leaned forward. "Why did you ask to meet with us, Eva? What do you want?"

Eva sighed, one hand instinctively moving to rest on her growing belly. "My baby will be born soon. I need to make a plan. I thought..." she paused, swallowing hard. "I thought the child would go to Canada, to live with James—the father. But I wrote to him and discovered he's been imprisoned here as well."

I nodded. "James was sentenced to life without parole."

Eva's eyes filled with tears, and for the first time, I saw genuine regret on her face. "I'm sorry," she whispered, more to herself than to us.

"What changed, Eva?" I asked. "This isn't the woman I knew a few months ago."

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Reality finally caught up with me, I guess. My child will never know either of their parents properly. And all because of..." she trailed off.

"All because of what?" I pressed.

"Some petty jealousy," she finished, her voice barely audible.

I stared at her, shocked by her sincerity. This wasn't an act or manipulation. Something had fundamentally shifted in her.

"What do mothers with cubs in Moon Shadow Valley usually do?" Eva asked after a moment of silence. "When they're in my situation?"

I took a deep breath, considering how to answer. "It varies. My sister Airina's cub is being raised by his human father in Europe. He'll return to the pack when he's fourteen." I didn't mention that Jack had only agreed to this arrangement after Damian threatened him using information Harris's wolf had provided.

"Sophia's cub will be adopted by one of the Beta couples in the pack," I continued. "The grandparents aren't able to take care of the baby, and both parents are serving time."

Eva nodded thoughtfully. "I'm guessing the Beta couple can't have cubs of their own?"

"At least they believe they can't," I confirmed, wondering at how quickly prison news traveled. The Beta couple's fertility struggles weren't common knowledge.

Eva looked at me directly. "What do you think I should do with my baby, Lya?"

The question caught me off guard. "That's your decision, Eva. We can help facilitate whatever you choose, but ultimately, it's up to you."

Eva buried her head in her hands, resting her forehead on the table. I couldn't tell if she was crying or thinking.

After several moments of silence, I made a decision. There was a message I needed to deliver, one I'd been holding onto for several months.

"Eva," I said softly, "there's something else. The Moon Goddess asked me to tell you something."

She didn't lift her head, but she did speak. "Because you're the one chosen by the Moon Goddess."

I raised an eyebrow. Prison news network indeed.

"I'm sorry I didn't pass it along sooner," I said. "Things have been... complicated."

Eva looked up, curiosity overcoming whatever emotion had driven her to hide her face. "What did she say?"

I chose my words carefully. "She said that sometimes when you pray to her, you ask her a question. Usually the same question. She wanted me to answer it for you."

Eva sat up straight, her eyes widening. "What's the answer?"

"Yes, she will," I replied. "And more."

Eva's reaction was immediate and intense—a mix of laughter and tears erupting simultaneously. "I understand," she said, wiping her eyes. "When I first found out Bryan was seeing someone else, I prayed to the Moon Goddess that it wasn't true, or that she'd take you away. At the end of every prayer, I'd ask a question."

"What question?" Cassandra asked, speaking up for the first time in a while.

Eva hesitated, then looked at Cassandra. "Would Bryan's whore love my child as much as I would?"

I winced slightly at her choice of words, but the question itself wasn't as terrible as it could have been. Cassandra, however, shot back, "You're only saying that because I ended up being Bryan's whore, not Lya."

Eva didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she seemed almost excited. "Don't you see? It's a sign. The answer is that Bryan's whore will love my child as much as I would, and more. That's also the answer to my current prayers."

Eva turned to Cassandra, her expression earnest. "I know I've done terrible things, and I'm paying for them. But I've always wanted what's best for my son. He tells me the Moon Goddess said you were his gift, Cassandra."

I watched as Cassandra's hard expression softened ever so slightly.

"What exactly are you asking?" I prompted, though I was beginning to understand.

Eva took a deep breath. "I don't want my parents raising this baby. I want him or her to be raised with my son, as siblings. I was afraid to ask Cassandra to take my unborn child because..."

She paused, searching for words. "Because I kept asking myself the same question in my head—minus the 'whore' part—wondering if you and Bryan could love my baby as much as I would. And then you delivered the Moon Goddess's message."

Cassandra and I exchanged a glance. Despite everything, I felt a small smile tugging at my lips.

"I guess this is the only time I'll be grateful to be called a whore," Cassandra said, a hint of humor in her voice.

And that was how Cassandra and Bryan came to adopt Eva's cub.