Chapter 134 Chapter 123

Chapter 134 Chapter 123
Rosemary
The hospital wing buzzed with controlled chaos - doctors and nurses weaving through rows of cots, their voices a low murmur of calm reassurance. The air smelled with the faint coppery tang of blood. It was quieter here than outside, but the tension was no less palpable, lingering like a shadow in the corners of the room.
Ethan walked beside me, his steady presence keeping me grounded as we passed warriors wrapped in bandages and families gathered by their loved ones. I tried not to stare, but the sight of pack members I recognized lying bruised and broken made my chest tighten. Every win came with a cost.
Ethan led us through the halls until we found Grace’s room. He pushed the door open, letting me step in first. Grace was propped up against a mound of pillows, her face pale but glowing with a kind of joy that lit up the entire room. Despite the dark circles under her eyes and the exhaustion etched into her features, she looked radiant. And in her arms, cradled as though he were the most precious thing in the world, was a tiny bundle wrapped in soft blue blankets.
“You’re just in time to meet someone,” Grace said, her grin tired but triumphant.
My breath caught in my throat as I moved closer. The baby stirred slightly, his little face peeking out from the blanket, rosy and peaceful. He looked impossibly small, fragile in a way that made my heart ache.
“This is Dylan,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “So even though his father isn’t here, he’ll always have a piece of him. I wanted him to know where he came from, how much he was loved… before he was even born.”
The room went quiet, the weight of her words sinking in.
Ethan stepped forward, his broad frame blocking out the light from the hallway for a moment. He rested a hand gently on Grace’s shoulder, the kind of gesture that spoke louder than words. “Dylan would be so proud,” he said softly, his voice a low rumble that carried warmth and respect.
Grace’s smile wavered as tears pooled in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. Instead, she looked up at me, her expression hopeful. “Do you want to hold him?”
I hesitated, my hands trembling slightly at the thought. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” she replied, her grin returning faintly. “He needs to meet his Aunt Mer.”
My chest tightened at her words, but I stepped forward carefully. Grace shifted the baby toward me, and I reached out, cradling him as gently as I could. His tiny body fit perfectly against my arms, warm and soft.
“Hi, little one,” I whispered, brushing my thumb against his impossibly small hand. His fingers twitched, curling slightly around mine as he let out a soft coo that nearly undid me. A strange warmth bloomed in my chest, a mix of love and sorrow that made it hard to breathe. He was so innocent, untouched by the darkness we had just fought to banish. This tiny life was proof that we had done something right, that we’d fought for a future that mattered.
After a few moments, I carefully passed him to Conor, who had been standing off to the side like a nervous sentinel. His face lit up as I handed Dylan over, his large hands surprisingly gentle as he held the baby close.
“Look at him,” Conor said softly, his voice rough but full of wonder. “Perfect little guy. You’re going to be a warrior, just like your dad.”
Grace let out a soft chuckle that turned into a yawn, her head sinking a little further back against the pillows. “He’ll have one hell of a story to tell when he grows up,” Ethan said, his voice steady and full of promise as he stood beside me.
Grace nodded faintly, her eyelids drooping as the weight of exhaustion caught up with her. “I’ll make sure he knows how much his family fought for him,” she murmured. “How much he was loved before he ever opened his eyes.”
“And he’ll have all of us to protect him. Always.”
Grace smiled faintly, her breathing evening out as she finally let herself rest. Conor adjusted the blanket around Dylan, still cradling the baby as though he were the most precious thing in the world. I turned to look at Ethan, his face softer now, the sharp lines of his expression relaxed.
His hand found the small of my back again, the warmth of his touch steadying me. “He’s going to have a good life,” Ethan said quietly, his gaze fixed on Grace and her son. “We made sure of it.”
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.
As I looked down at Dylan’s sleeping face, I realized how much had changed in just a few days. The battles we fought, the lives we lost, the sacrifices we made - it had all been for this. For the future. For the people who mattered.