Chapter Thirty-Seven
“My story can be for another night. I came here to tell you my truth. I have lived through fifty lifetimes. Some short, some long, with years in-between as more souls turned to the Moon Goddess for a second chance. But the most important fact that you need to know is that I never forgot my first mate. I have had the pleasure of meeting him again in another life, but I never forgot him.”
Alannah struggled to catch her breath after the latest contraction. “But you have had others?”
Carly nodded. “Over my lifetimes I have had a handful that the Goddess paired me with.”
“Doesn’t that hurt your other mates?”
Carly smiled as she shook her head. “I love them all, differently. Love is not a finite resource that you have, pup.” She climbed onto the bed and shuffled over to the pair on the bed.
I watched as my pup mothered two wolves way older than her current form.
“You will love so many souls in so many ways; one love doesn’t eclipse another.
You will always love Ternen, and he you.
And whether or not you get another mate, you will remember everything about him because he gave you these pups.
A second chance won’t erase him. The Goddess wouldn’t do that to you, to Ternen, and she definitely wouldn’t force another wolf onto you that wouldn’t understand you.
” She kissed her brow. “Now, I will leave you with this last piece of truth. Your mate will watch over you, and he will see you fall in love with another man if you are gifted another mate.” Carly looked at Ternen.
“Will that stop you loving her or your pups?”
Ternen shook his head instantly. “Nothing could stop me from loving them.”
“Exactly.” Carly looked back at Alannah. “If the roles were reversed and say you died giving birth to your pups, but Ternen was still here. Would you want him and your pups alone for the rest of their lives?”
Alannah shook her head. “I would want them to be loved, and to be able to experience a mother’s love.”
Carly sat back on her heels. “Exactly.” She turned and slid off the bed.
“Love doesn’t stop because one of you leaves.
It continues on and evolves. The Goddess will only gift you another mate if your souls allow it.
” Carly walked to the door. “You are her children, and she only wishes the best for you.” She looked to me.
“Even though sometimes it seems like it isn’t true.
” I stared after her for a few seconds, even after the door had closed, as her words bounced around in my mind.
A foreboding feeling crept up my spine and sat at the base of my skull like a headache.
Alannah jerked away from us with a scream.
A fresh wave of copper hit my nose. My mother dove back under the blanket.
“Okay, the babies are coming, whether or not we are ready.” She pulled back and held out a hand covered in blood, just as Wendy rushed over with a towel.
My mother looked at Alannah. “I know you are worried, but the babies are coming out right now, you no longer have a choice. You have to push, sweetheart.” She went back under the blanket. “Push!”
Alannah grabbed her knees as Ternen and I both pressed against her back. We grabbed her legs and helped hold them for her so she could focus fully on pushing. Her scream was guttural and long. Sweat poured from her forehead as she bore down.
“Stop pushing.” My mother screamed, startling everyone.
“What’s wrong?” Ternen’s voice barely concealed the panic.
“The cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck. Give me a second.” We all held our breaths as she worked.
Alannah looked at me. “Another contraction is coming.” Fear scented the air.
“It’s okay. Just don’t push.” I held out my hand to her.
“Crush it if you have it, but don’t push until my mom says it is okay.
” Alannah’s hand snapped out to mine, and she squeezed.
Her face scrunched up in pain, and another scream worked its way out of her.
She was shaking with the effort to hold back the need to push; it was like as soon as she allowed her body to start, she couldn’t stop it from doing what it was supposed to do.
Her head shook back and forth as she panted; a soft chant fell from her lips. “Please, no.”
“Almost there.” The contraction ended, and she released my hand. I felt the bones she broke knit back together as Alannah cried again.
“Mom, you need to hurry. I don’t think she can do that again.” I felt the panic eating away at me, but I held it together. I needed to focus. Alannah’s hands tightened on mine again, and I knew another was coming.
“Almost there.”
“Mom.” The contraction hit, causing Alannah to scream.
“There. It’s free. Push.” Alannah bellowed once more, then I felt her sag against me.
“Alannah?” Ternen called to his mate as he leaned over to see her face. “Baby?”
Silence came over the room. I heard the soft drip of blood, Alannah’s gasping pants, and then the most amazing sound ripped through the room.
A baby’s cry.
My mom popped out from under the blanket, blood smudged on her cheek. “It’s a boy.”
Alannah shook, the exhaustion catching up with her. “Is he okay?” Her eyes were half closed as she panted, but it didn’t stop her from opening her arms.
My mom handed the baby boy to Wendy, who took him into the bathroom to clean him up.
“Wendy will be right back with him, but we aren’t finished here, Alannah.
” She waited until Alannah nodded before she went back under the blanket.
“We might have a little wait while the next baby gets ready to come out. You let me know when you feel the need to push again, okay?” Alannah breathed out, and nodded, still too tired to say anything.
“Ainsley?” Wendy called from the bathroom. “Can you come here?”
My mom pulled back and stood up, cleaning her hands as she went. She caught my eye, and I nodded once, letting her know I would watch over the woman in my arms as she took care of her baby. Alannah pushed up weakly. “What’s wrong with my baby?”
My mom patted her knee. “I’ll check on him. Worry about the little girl in your stomach.” Then she walked out of the room. We all heard the whispered conversation from the bathroom.
“Amy…” Alannah’s fear scented the room. “My baby is going to be okay, right?” She panted for a few seconds before another scream hit.
“Are you okay?” I leaned over to see her face clearly.
She clutched at her stomach as she smiled. “Seems like I won’t get much of a break. She is raring to follow her brother.” She gritted her teeth as she grunted with another contraction.
My mother and Wendy walked out of the bathroom, both a little paler than before. My mom got back down. “You sound about ready. Let me look, and then we can start pushing again. Okay?” Alannah just nodded.
Wendy’s eyes were still wide as she stared at us, and I started to worry. Nix came out of the trees. Go to Wendy. She has something to show you.
I looked toward Ternen. His face was pale, but I could tell he was doing his best to support her.
I leaned over. “I am going to check on your pup. Move over.” I gestured to follow me and Ternen gave a tiny jerk of his head as he shuffled over.
I stood with a reassuring pat to Alannah, and I moved next to Wendy.
I held open my arms, and with a tight smile she handed him to me. “Here.” She slid the baby into my arms, and without drawing attention to it, she bared his arm.
“Oh.” The word slipped out before I could stop it, and all eyes snapped to us.
“What’s wrong?” Ternen’s voice broke as he asked.
I smiled down at the dark-haired baby in my arms. His bright green eyes were gorgeous; his unfocused gaze locked onto my face.
“Nothing is wrong. Ten fingers.” I moved the towel and quickly counted.
“Ten toes.” I smiled down at this precious baby with his trembling lip, and I walked over to the bed. “He’s perfect. And blessed.”
Alannah grunted as another contraction hit, but her focus was on me as I shuffled back onto the bed. “I want to hold him so badly.”
I grinned. “And you will as soon as your daughter is born. That way you don’t have to worry about being in active labor, you can focus on them both, and bond with them.” I slid next to her and tilted my arms. “But here is your son.”
Both Ternen and Alannah leaned closer, forgetting the pain in the moment so they could see their pup. “He’s perfect.” Ternen’s voice was soft.
Alannah leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Our Taryn.” She pulled back, and I watched as they both registered his arm. “What’s that?”
“A blessing from the Goddess.” The soft pink skin of Taryn’s shoulder was marked with a pale, almost luminescent trio of stars. I touched the blessing, and it seemed to glow with my touch.
“What does it mean?” Ternen’s fingers trailed over the blanket, and then the mark.
“I can’t say. Only the Goddess knows the truth behind her blessings.”
Alannah opened her mouth, but she reared up, and screamed again. My mom popped out from under the blanket and smiled. “Your baby girl is ready.” She disappeared again. “Next contraction we are going to push again, okay?”
It sounded like it was a question, but she meant it as a statement. Alannah nodded anyway. “Okay.” She panted for a second before the next one hit. I handed the baby back to the waiting Wendy, and I grabbed for Alannah.
“Push.” I grabbed her leg, as Ternen did, and just like the first time, she screamed. She pushed until she couldn’t and collapsed against us.
“I can’t.” She panted.
“She is almost out.” My mom called up to us. “Push harder on the next one, and she’ll be free.”
“You can do this.” I wrapped my arm behind her back, and Ternen pressed closer.
“Okay.” She nodded again as another contraction hit. She grunted as she bared down, and with a final push, another tiny scream tore through the air.