Chapter 334

Chapter 334
Isabella's POV

When the Dark God mentioned giving my daughter a "gift," a bone-chilling fear gripped me. Every nerve in my body warned me to stay away from him.

"No!" I tried to push him away but found my body completely unable to move. "I don't want anything from you for my daughter!"

The Dark God's expression softened, "You needn't fear me, Isabella. I only bestow blessings upon those I acknowledge, not curses."

Silver shadows appeared in his palm, swirling and coalescing into a sphere of energy that pulsed like moonlight. This sight was both mysterious and unsettling.

"Stay away from my child." I insisted through gritted teeth.

He tilted his head slightly, examining me with sharp eyes. "Be careful, Isabella. If you reject my goodwill, perhaps I'll withdraw my blessing." His eyes narrowed slightly, "Would you rather risk angering me than let your child receive my protection?"

I hesitated. My instincts urged me to resist, but reason reminded me that refusing him might bring even more terrible consequences.

Before I could decide, he had already extended his hand. Silver shadows flowed from his fingertips like liquid starlight.

"To the first granddaughter of the Moon Goddess," his voice contained an irresistible power, "I bring this blessing from her protector. May she grow safely between darkness and light."

The silver shadows gently touched my skin, sliding like velvet before seeping into my body. I gasped, feeling a cool energy flow throughout my body, like morning mint, instantly soothing my throat and pain.

I looked up at him in surprise.

"See?" he smiled, his expression softening, "Not everything that dwells in darkness is evil."

He bowed slightly, his figure gradually fading into the shadows.

I blinked, my consciousness suddenly pulled back to reality. Sarah was shining a light into my eyes, anxiously calling my name. Gabriel's voice was full of tension and concern.

"Isabella! Can you hear me? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?"

"I'm fine." I tried to calm myself, feeling momentarily disoriented by the shift between reality and vision.

Sarah's face was pale with worry. "You scared us. Your eyes turned completely black, and you froze like stone, unresponsive for about a minute."

I instinctively checked my mental connection with my daughter. She was calm, even more settled than before.

"Really, I'm fine." I assured them, gripping Gabriel's hand tightly, "We need to continue, I need to push."

Sarah immediately regained her composure. "Alright, with the next contraction, push when you're ready."

Gabriel's brow remained furrowed. "Are you sure—"

I sent a wave of reassurance through our mental bond. I was scared and shocked, but I believed we were both okay.

He nodded, "Let's bring our daughter into this world."

Gabriel supported me from behind while Sarah prepared to receive our daughter. When the next contraction came, I summoned my last strength.

Time seemed stretched into eternity, though Sarah later told me it had only been half an hour. Finally, with a loud cry, our daughter was born.

"She's here!" Sarah announced excitedly, her voice choked with emotion, "She's perfect, Isabella!"

Moments later, Sarah placed our little daughter in my arms. I counted her soft little fingers, gently stroked her wrinkled little nose, and tears involuntarily slid down my cheeks.

The baby cried loudly, protesting her arrival into this new world.

"She's absolutely perfect." Gabriel whispered.

"Yes." I softly responded, my heart full of amazement. I never imagined I would love this little life so deeply.

Sarah sat beside me, tenderly stroking the baby's hair. "I already love her. I'll be her favorite aunt."

"Her only aunt." Gabriel teased with a smile.

"Even if she had sixty aunts, I'd still be the best one," Sarah grinned, leaning forward to kiss my cheek. "I'll go out first and share the good news with those anxious people outside."

After Sarah and the medical team left, I leaned back in Gabriel's arms, gazing down at our daughter.

"She looks like you." Gabriel murmured.

"What?" I couldn't help but laugh, "She's still a wrinkly little thing."

"Apart from the standard newborn wrinkles," he insisted, "her features, the shape of her face—they're all like yours. Lucian looks more like me, but she has definitely inherited all your beauty."

I gently rocked my daughter, transmitting love and comfort through our mental bond. I could feel her emotions—the happiness of nestling in my arms, along with the unfamiliarity and unease about this new world.

She let out another soft cry, and I held her tighter.

Outside council headquarters, I could sense pack members gathering to celebrate the birth of their new princess.

"Their enthusiasm is normal," Gabriel said with satisfaction, "She truly is a special baby."

"Everyone is cheering for you," I whispered to my daughter, "All those people outside, they're all here for you."

Gabriel gently stroked my hair, "What exactly happened just now? You... suddenly seemed to disappear."

I briefly told him about the Dark God's appearance and the so-called "gift."

Gabriel's face instantly turned pale. "A gift from the Dark God? What does 'blessing' even mean to him?"

"I don't know," I admitted frankly, "I'm somewhat concerned, but that gift... didn't feel malicious to me."

"What did he say?" Gabriel pressed, his eyes full of worry.

"He said it was a blessing for the Moon Goddess's first granddaughter." I looked down at the daughter in my arms, pondering that strange feeling, "It's more like... an open door."

This answer surprised even myself, but it felt incredibly true.

Nevertheless, as I gazed at my daughter's peaceful face, new worries rose in my heart—about the challenges she would face in her future, and what this mysterious "gift" truly meant.

But at this moment, I just wanted to hold her tightly in my arms, letting her know that whether in light or darkness, she would always be deeply loved and protected.