It was the early hours of the morning. A sliver of pink light seeped in through the window. I’d woken up to find Jaxon’s side of the bed crumpled but empty.
He must have gone out for a run. Jaxon had this thing where he could compartmentalize all his worries so long as he grounded himself in nature.
God knows, I wanted to feel the same way.
At the moment though, all I could muster was a growing sense of panic.
I took a deep breath and placed my hands upon my stomach. The entire night, I was sure I’d heard my babe moving and growing inside me.
He was so precious, and I was deeply in love, even if I hadn’t seen him yet.
It made sense because I’d become a mother the minute I learned of his existence. Nothing could take that from me.
“Hey.”
Zara stood by the bedroom door.
I sat up and beckoned her inside. She held out a foamy latte and a double cheeseburger.
“It’s not much,” she said. “But I figured, some days, you need junk for breakfast.”
I smiled gratefully. I couldn’t tell how she’d guessed it, but I’d been craving burgers ever since I found out about my baby. With an extra side of pickles and some fries.
The first bite tasted like absolute heaven. This was what living in Astria had to feel like.
Which reminded me of Sky.
“How are Sky and Harper?” I asked, taking another bite. “I haven’t spoken to them at all the last couple days. I’ve been so sleepy. I don’t think I can even get out of this room.”
She nodded. “It’s early days for you, Quinn. You’re supposed to be getting as much rest as you can. Harper is okay. She’s made peace with her future. Wish I could say the same for Sky.”
I sighed. “She’s having trouble letting go, isn’t she?”
Zara took a sip from her own coffee.
“You know…when Katherine…when we lost her, for the longest time, I hurt so badly I forgot to live. I think that’s part of the reason why I could never recognize Alex for who he was, even though we were right next to each other.”
“It couldn’t have been easy.” I reached out and held her hand. “You loved her, Zara.”
“And that’s just the thing. When you love someone so hard, letting go seems like the most difficult thing you’d ever do. But once you learn to—it’s as if you’re making peace with yourself.”
I mulled over Mathieus and Carl and all the others who were so insistent on bartering their souls for more time on Earth.
“It seems like, if half of me was here and it knew the other half wanted me to come back, I’d eventually have to go. None of us can live like that. So I completely understand why Harper would choose Astria.”
“That’s her home. And I know Sky will see it sooner or later. I just hope they have some time before she leaves.”
I felt a sharp pain in my stomach and lay down.
“Are you okay?” Zara came up to me immediately, worry lining her face.
“Yeah, fine,” I muttered. “Just feel tired.”
“Wolf pregnancies are wired differently from human ones, Quinn.” Zara laid a hand on my forehead. “We have a shorter period before we give birth, but it’s also a lot more intense.”
I hadn’t known this. But then again, I’d grown up separated from my roots.
“Something keeps nagging at me.”
“Talk to me about it.”
“It’s a name. Lupus Paolo. Selena told me that’s the baby inside me. It made me think there has to be some history here.”
“Wait.” Zara frowned. “I’ve read that name. It’s in a book in the library. Okay, wait here.”
I closed my eyes as she ran out of the room. I didn’t know when I’d fallen asleep, only waking up to her gently nudging me.
“Hey, I found the name.”
I took a deep breath. So this was what my son was meant to be. The true, real chosen one.
The one who would lead wolves to the age of light.
Zara looked up at me.
“You know what this means, don’t you?”
I nodded grimly. “I have to protect him with everything I have.”
Jaxon came running into the room, his face blanched.
“What?” I asked, my eyes fearful.
“Anthony. He’s joined the rogues.”
