The last month was the longest.
Every day felt like a year. Every night felt like forever. I was huge, uncomfortable, and utterly, completely happy.
The baby moved constantly now—kicks and rolls and somersaults. She was active, especially at night, especially when I was trying to sleep.
"She's going to be a handful," I told Kael.
"Like her mother."
"Hey."
"Like her father too." He smiled. "We're doomed."
"Completely."
---
Kael rarely left my side.
When pack duties called, he handled them quickly and returned. When I needed something—food, water, back rubs—he was there before I could ask. When I couldn't sleep, he stayed awake with me, talking, touching, being present.
"You're going to be exhausted when she comes," I told him one night.
"Probably." He kissed my forehead. "Worth it."
---
Lia visited every day.
She'd sit with me, hand on my belly, waiting for kicks. When they came, her face lit up like the sun.
"She knows me," she whispered.
"She does."
"She's going to be the best baby ever."
"The best."
---
Sasha came with advice.
Lots of advice. Endless advice. Some helpful, some terrifying, all delivered with love.
"You'll be fine," she said. "Women have been doing this forever."
"Wolf women."
"Same concept." She grinned. "Besides, you have us. The whole pack. You're not alone."
I knew that. But hearing it still helped.
---
The dreams started in the final weeks.
Vivid dreams. Strange dreams. Dreams of the cave, the paintings, the ancient wolves. They came to me in sleep, showing me things I couldn't understand.
Kael held me when I woke gasping.
"The ancestors," he said. "They're watching. Preparing you."
"For what?"
"For motherhood. For leadership. For everything that comes next."
I leaned into him.
"I'm scared."
"I know." He kissed my hair. "Me too. But we're together. That's what matters."
---
The pains started at dusk.
Not real contractions—not yet. Practice ones, Marnie said. But they woke me anyway, sent me pacing the cabin, waiting for something to happen.
Kael woke too. Always did.
"Okay?"
"Fine. Just practice."
He rubbed my back. "Want tea?"
"Always."
We sat in the kitchen at 3 AM, drinking tea, talking about nothing. The forest was quiet. The cabin was warm. Soon, there would be three of us.
"Soon," he said.
"Soon."
"Scared?"
"Terrified." I leaned into him. "You?"
"Terrified." He kissed my head. "But we've faced worse together."
"True."
"And this time, we get a baby at the end."
I laughed. "Good point."
---
The real contractions started three nights later.
At 2 AM. Strong. Regular. Unmistakable.
I woke Kael calmly. "It's time."
He was out of bed before I finished the sentence. "Okay. Okay. Marnie. Sasha. The birthing hut. I'll get—"
"Kael."
He stopped. Looked at me.
"Breathe."
He breathed. Then he laughed. "I'm supposed to be the calm one."
"You're never the calm one."
"I know. That's your job."
---
Marnie arrived within minutes.
Sasha followed. Lia appeared, despite the hour, despite being told to stay home. The birthing hut was prepared. Fires lit. Water heated.
Kael stayed with me through every contraction.
Holding my hand. Whispering encouragement. Being exactly what I needed.
"You're doing amazing," he kept saying.
"I'm dying."
"You're not dying. You're having a baby."
"Same thing."
He kissed my forehead. "Almost there."
---
The hours blurred.
Pain and pressure and Marnie's calm voice guiding me. Kael's hand, never letting go. The bond, blazing with his love and fear and hope.
Then, finally:
"One more push, Luna. She's almost here."
I pushed.
And heard the most beautiful sound in the world.
A cry. A baby's cry. Our baby's cry.
---
Marnie placed her on my chest.
Small. Perfect. Screaming. Dark hair, tiny fists, lungs that worked perfectly.
"She's beautiful," I whispered.
"Like her mother." Kael's voice broke. He was crying. "She's perfect."
I looked at him. At my mate, my love, my everything.
"Meet your daughter," I whispered.
He touched her face gently. She stopped crying. Turned toward him.
"Hi, baby," he breathed. "I'm your daddy. I've been waiting for you."
---
Later, after Marnie and Sasha had cleaned up, after Lia had peeked in with wonder-filled eyes, after the pack had been notified with joyous howls—it was just us.
The three of us. A family.
"What should we name her?" I asked.
Kael looked at our daughter. At her tiny face, her perfect fingers, her eyes that were already showing hints of gold.
"Luna," he said. "After the moon that brought us together. After the goddess who blessed us."
"Luna." I tested it. Smiled. "Luna Stone."
"Luna Stone." He kissed my forehead. "Our daughter."
"Our daughter."