\[Rosco’s POV\]
A bloody, red light bleeds into the room around us, coloring the floor and furniture to match the mood of the evening. On the bed, sitting in the middle of the room, Denali groans with pain as sweat covers her forehead and her body tenses.
“Just a bit more,” Cecile, Denali’s midwife, announces. “I can see the head.”
“You’re doing wonderfully,” I murmur, brushing a few strands of hair off her soaked skin. “Keep pushing, and soon it will all be over.”
Nodding, Denali bites her lower lip so hard that it begins to ooze blood from being torn.
As I watch, my heart squeezes painfully, and I find myself wishing that I could take away all the pain that my mate is feeling, but I know in the end she wouldn’t want it that way. Her body was doing an amazing thing, and I would worship her that much more after watching everything she was having to endure in order to bring our child into this world.
“One more push!” Cecile announces, drawing my attention toward the bottom of the bed, where Cecile works to pull a tiny, bloody creature from between Denali’s legs. “She’s here!” She announces, wrapping the child in a towel.
“She?” Denali husks, her eyes sparkling with wonder. “It’s a girl?”
“Yes,” Cecile confirms, bringing the baby around for Denali to see. “It’s a beautiful little princess.”
At her words, tears prick at the edges of Denali’s eyes while I feel a strange emotion bubbling up within me. It’s almost similar to the mate bond, but so much more.
“What is her name, Luna?" Cecile asks, passing Denali, our child. “Or have you not come up with one yet?”
“Serenity,” Denali whispers, cradling Serenity against her. “It is what we wish for the most with not only Emerald Moon but also Crystal Fang.”
Flinching, I feel a pang of pain rush through me over the fact she was even thinking of such a thing on the day our child came into the world. However, since returning with her mother’s will, this was the thing that loomed over us—taking over Emerald Moon and undoing all the tyranny that Roger left behind.
Fighting the anger that is beginning to build in me, I try not to remember the mess that we encountered when we first came back. Now wasn’t the time for this. The only thing I should even be thinking about is Denali and Serenity.
“Rosco,” Denali murmurs, reaching out a hand and placing it on my arm. “I need you to do something for me.”
“What is it, mi reina?” I ask. “Anything you want, just ask.”
“Could you send William to fetch Elise?”
For a moment, I don’t speak as Elise’s name settles between us. Why in the world would she want to see that woman? She was a criminal, and…
“Please,” she pushes as I prepare to argue. “I want her to meet her niece.”
Remaining silent, I continue to examine Denali’s face as the word “no” dances on the tip of my tongue.
“Fine,” I sigh, giving in. “But she will be cuffed the entire time.”
“Rosco,” Denali warns, her eyes flashing. “Elise has turned over a new leaf and should be treated with respect.”
Treated with respect. If it were up to me, she would be rotting away in some prison in the middle of the ocean, but since Denali wanted her close, she was here with us, serving her time just beneath Emerald Moon’s pack house.
“You should be focusing on Serenity and nothing else,” I counter, bending down and kissing her lips. “I’ll do as you’ve asked, but the minute she tries anything funny, I won’t hesitate to kill her, understood?”
“I got it,” Denali beams.
Nodding, I give my mate and child one more look before heading out of the room. Once I’m in the hall, I look around until I spot William leaning against the wall. Beside him, my mother sits waiting with a pinched look on her face. Instantly, I feel my heart squeeze with sympathy.
Not only were Denali and I still cleaning up a mess, but so was my mother. Even though my mother was willing to attempt to mend our mother-son relationship, my father wasn’t after everything I did, not only to him but to the pack.
“Rosco!” She calls when she senses me. “How is Denali? Is the baby here?”
“She is,” I smile. “If you’d like, you’re welcome to go in and meet her.”
At my words, my mother’s eyes light with excitement, and she is moving. Once she disappears into the room just behind me, I turn my gaze to William.
“I guess congratulations are in order,” he grins, remaining in place. “I hope you’re ready to split your wife’s attention with another.”
Biting back on my initial reply, I remember Denali’s request.
“You’ve been asked to run an errand,” I announce, ignoring my annoyance over him insinuating that I’m spoiled. “Denali wants you to fetch her sister.”
“Her sister?” William repeats, raising a brow. “The one that’s in prison?”
“That’s right,” I confirm.
“Why in the world does she want me to go and fetch a criminal?”
“Because her heart is too damn big,” I sigh, knowing that I would have to keep a close eye on Denali when she navigated the world of being a leader. “She wants Elise to meet Serenity.”
“Serenity,” William murmurs. “I like that name.”
“Of course.” I grin. “It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful princess.”
As I speak, William’s eyes widen, and a look of disbelief colors his features.
“Did you just...”
“Tell anyone, and I’ll kill you,” I warn.
How could I have been so caught up in my happiness that I let that side slip? Even if William was family, he could still be the enemy. In our world, you couldn’t trust anyone, especially those who were closest to you.
“No worries,” William chuckles, completely unoffended. “I understand that you want to maintain your ruthless and cold reputation.”
Nodding, I grow quiet while a single question plays in my head, but I wasn’t sure if now was the time to ask it.
“If you want to know what Uncle plans on doing with Crystal Fang, you can just ask.” William says.
“I’m sorry that pressure was pushed on you,” I say quietly.
Since birth, I was always destined to become the alpha of my father’s pack, but because I chose Denali over my family, I no longer had that right, and honestly, I didn’t want it. Since I was out of the picture, William was the next option, but I was aware that William never wanted any part of pack politics.
“Don’t be,” he says now, giving his normal smile. “You followed your heart and chose your mate above all else, as I would have done as well. Now, you should go to her, and I’ll go get Elise.”
Opening my mouth, I try to say something as sadness flashes in William’s eyes, but he doesn’t give me the chance. Instead, he turns and starts to walk away while I watch on.