Emily's POV
Mila took an urgent step back, her hands moving to her lips as she gasped wide-eyed. She looked terrified, yet she refused to leave my side.
The doctor rushed in and froze in his tracks when he saw me partly shifted.
"What the f*ck!" he yelled out. I assume he never saw a she-wolf give birth and shift at the same time. "How the f*ck did this happen?"
He rushed to my side, unsure what to do.
"The pup!" I yelled, grabbing his shirt and pulling him toward me. "Get him out!"
I suddenly had the urge to push...
Mila stepped closer, sensing the time had come to deliver the pup to the world, taking my shifted hand in hers. She had no idea how much that meant to me.
"Em!" Mila called my name over my moans. "It's time for you to push!"
Seconds felt like minutes, minutes like hours—I whimpered and yelled, and everything around me became one big blur.
The second the doctor freed the pup from me, I let go and handed all control over to my wolf; she took control and completed our first shift while I focused on what the doctor was doing.
Gasping sounded around me from all the people in the room.
Yet, I didn't shift my focus from the doctor.
"Why isn't he crying?" I demanded to know.
My wolf's focus shifted toward the doctor; he suddenly turned around to face me. I could read the sadness in his eyes, and a single tear had escaped from the side of his eye.
I looked at him, confused.
"I am sorry," he said. "We tried everything we could to save him."
Mila gasped and sobbed next to me.
"I am so sorry, Em," she cried, turning to leave.
My wolf ignored Mila and took Lex from the doctor into her arms.
I couldn't move my eyes from him. He was a carbon copy of Alexander.
Then reality hit me like a bucket of ice.
My handsome boy was already blue in his face.
"His...!" I sobbed from within, fighting for control, as my emotions spiraled out of control in all directions.
My pup—my pup is dead! He's born dead. I sobbed heartbrokenly.
The only true and good thing I had left from my mate was now taken from me.
My wolf kept her focus on little Lex. She blocked me to the side, ignoring my plea to shift back.
I could see what she was doing, but it was as if there was an invisible block between us.
My wolf walked to the window, turned to face the blood moon, took a peek, and closed her eyes.
She summoned the red moon's rays, and I could feel the power of the moon's rays moving through my body.
Was she using the rays to heal him?
The room fell silent. Everyone was holding their breath.
When the small cry of a pup sounded, there wasn't a dry eye left in the room.
My wolf gave me control back, and I shifted back to human, with Lex in my arms.
Mila was the first to congratulate me, and then Xavier's strong arms enveloped me.
"How are you feeling, my dear?" Xavier asked.
It took me a moment to pull my attention away from Lex and answer him.
"I feel fine!" I said, knitting my eyebrows together, confused.
I was in excruciating pain minutes ago; now, even my soul is at peace.
"And your wolf?" Xavier asked. "Is she fine?"
I hadn't even noticed that she had taken her place in my mind. Has she been there all along?
I focus my attention on her, tapping into her feelings and emotions.
"She's exhausted," I said.
"Maybe you should get some rest," Mila said next to me.
"No!" my wolf's angelic voice sounded in my mind. "You need to give praise to the Goddess for saving Lex."
"Lex?" I said the name out loud, feeling a shiver run down my back. I haven't even thought about a name for the pup.
"It means defender of man," Willow said. "You will need to protect him; there is only one of his kind."
I nodded in understanding. Yet, I haven't even asked my wolf her name.
"What's your name?" I asked, hoping she would answer me.
"Willow," she said tiredly, and she disappeared into the depths of my mind.
"I assume you just got introduced to your wolf," Xavier asked.
I nodded.
"Willow," I said, testing the name on my tongue. "Her name is Willow."
"Interesting name," Xavier said. I could read the excitement in his eyes; he knew something.
"Let's go down to the festival," Xavier suggested. "We have to give praise to the Goddess."
"That's what Willow just said," I gasped, wide-eyed.
"Very wise wolf you have," Xavier said, steering me out of the room.
"Shouldn't I get the doctor to check up on Lex?" I asked, my gaze searching for the doctor.
"His fine," Willow's voice echoed through my mind. "Now leave, before the blood moon passes."
I left with Xavier and Mila for the festival, gave my praise to the goddess, and thanked her for sparing Lex's life. I even apologized for doubting her for not having a wolf.
"You did amazing tonight," Xavier said.
I slowly pulled my gaze away from Lex, sucking his tiny hands. He was surely a handsome baby. It was hard not to look at him, and I still couldn't believe he was mine.
"Amazing?" I questioned.
Xavier chuckled, watching my reaction.
"Never in history did one wolf give birth, shift at the same hour, and bring someone back," Xavier said, seriously. "That's remarkable. That's excluding the fact that you are at the festivities after you just gave birth an hour ago. Most she-wolves take at least a week to heal with their wolf's help."
Willow must have healed me; no wonder she was so exhausted.
"You find this remarkable, my king?" I asked.
"I do," he said, straightening his back and overlooking the bonfire. "Would you mind if I had a look at your family history?"
"Why?" I asked, knitting my eyebrows together. My parents have always been Beta's. There wasn't anything fancy about our line.
Xavier dropped his gaze at me.
"You do know that you haven't shifted into a normal werewolf," he asked, seemingly amused.
That took me by surprise.
Was that the reason why everyone gasped? I didn't pay much attention to anyone in the room.
"What does my wolf look like?" I asked, uncertain.
"Lycan, mostly," he said. "But I have a feeling that you would be able to shift into both breeds."
That was impossible—the Lycan wolf was slaughtered out of existence more than 150 years ago. They were strong wolves with magic powers running through their veins.
I sighed.
"You are welcome to check my history," I said. "Maybe something is interesting that I don’t know about."
Xavier nodded.
"Mind if I check the father of your son's history as well?" Xavier pushed.
Mila was the only one who knew who Lex's father was.
"You don't have to tell me," Xavier said after a moment of silence.
"It's not that?" I said, taking a deep breath. "Lex's father doesn't know of his existence, and I want to keep it that way."
The burning ache inside my chest never completely left me; I just found ways to distract myself enough to be able to live through it.
"I will do my best," Xavier promised.
"His name is Alpha Alexander Black, from the Opal Pack," I said, looking back at the fire.
Xavier's hand balled into fists, yet he didn't say anything. He knew the reason why I left, but not who was responsible.
"I will have Dave look into the family history," he said.
I nodded in response. I was curious about what he would find, yet I was just as scared.
But I never thought that what he found would create a tidal wave in the history of werewolves.
****
Emily's POV "We're here." Willow's voice pulled me back out of my thoughts. I lifted my gaze to the exit of the forest overlooking my home. My four-wheel baby is already parked in his spot in the driveway. Willow handed me control, and I shifted back to human. Just four feet further, I found the clothes hidden in a hollow stump. Mila must have placed them there; they were still crisp and smelled like laundry detergent. I got dressed while making my way down the forest path toward my home. I lived in something similar to a duo home, sharing the house with Mila and Jax. We shared the same garden and driveway, but our entrance was allocated to the opposite side of our home. When I first decided it was time to move out of the pack house, Mila wanted me to live with her and Jax. I refused. I knew Mila didn't want me to be alone, but I didn't want to invade their privacy. Yet Mila pushed; she was determined to have me live close to her. After numerous arguments, Jax came up with
Emily's POV "Slow down, Lex!" I said, giggling behind him as he dragged me toward my room. He came to a stop and raised his head. "Close your eyes, mommy," he said seriously. Milan and Jax had followed us in, curious to see how I would react to the dress they picked for me. I turned my head toward the two, unsure what to do. Jax, who was holding Lilly in his arms, gave me a smile and nod of the head, which made me flinch. He was never one to get excited about anything. I turned to Lex, and I closed my eyes. He opened the door and took my hand, leading me inside my bedroom. "Okay, mommy," he said. "You can open your eyes now." My gaze landed on the dress hanging on my closet door, and I blinked a couple of times to process what I was seeing. "Wow!" I gasped. I have never seen such a beautiful dress. I carefully lifted the dress off its hanger, hanging it open against my body. The skirt hung touching the floor, but a pair of 6' stilettos would do the trick and would lift the d
Emily's POV "Did you forget something?" Mila asked when we crossed the border. At first, I was confused until my gaze fell on Mila's mask. "Sh*t!" I moaned. "No mask, no entry," she said. "Then stop the car and let me go fetch it!" I said, my heart racing. How could I have forgotten about the mask? "No, I can't do it!" Mila said. "The driver will only stop at the club and again at the pack house. Xavier's orders." "Uhm, did you bring an extra one?" I asked, hopeful. Mila giggled and pulled the box from behind her. "Jax handed it to me," she said. "Lex didn't see you take it when you left home, so he told Jax to quickly sneak it to me." I sighed, relieved. "Thank you!" I said, taking the box. I haven't opened the box and looked at the mask yet. I was curious, yet I knew Xavier and Mila wouldn't gift me a hideous mask. "Some champagne?" Mila asked, pulling a bottle out of an ice bucket. "Sure," I said. "Why not? I haven't had a proper drink in so long!" Mila carefully f
Alexanders's POV I stood at my office window, overlooking the sea of people on the dance floor. I have done this so many times before—just watching them as they sway to the sound of music. Tonight was no different; the music pumped loud and clear, the alcohol flowed, people got drunk, and those who came to actually move their bodies claimed the dance floor. The only difference about tonight was that we had a themed party just to try and spice things up. My gaze traveled over every person there, searching for Emily in the crowd. My eyes eventually settled on a dark-headed girl in the center of the dance floor, swaying her body to the music. She had a striking-looking blond friend dancing next to her. Yet I couldn't move my eyes from the dark head. She reminded me too much of Emily. I focused my full attention on her, noticing the gorgeous black mask covering her face. Her body was strikingly sexy. She was slender, with curves in just the right places. I couldn't help but notic
Emily's POV "Hide my scent," I ordered Willow, and she growled at me. Mila had dragged me to the center of the dance floor, unconcerned about what was going on around her. I tried to keep my pose, but it was difficult with Willow clawing to take control. "Why should I?" She demanded angrily. "He is our mate. He should love us! We need to find him!" "Do as I say, or else I will block you off!" I warned her. I wasn't sure if it was Alex or someone else standing and watching us, but I could feel his eyes burning into the back of my head. I had become uncomfortable under his continuous gaze. "Fine!" Willow growled, hiding my scent—it was a little perk of being a fire wolf. Mila must have noticed my struggle, and she came closer, swaying to the music. I noticed that many men, especially humans, were drooling on the floor while watching her. "What's wrong?" Mila asked. "Top office, to your left?" I said, trying to act normally. Mila's gaze slowly moved and got stuck on the dark
Alexander POV As soon as I walked out of my office, the soft scent of roses invaded my nose, and Ghost went wild inside my head, scratching to be released. "Calm down!" I snapped, pushing him back. "That's Emily, our mate we are scenting," Ghost yelled. "She's here! Find her!" "I am trying!" I growled impatiently. But her scent seemed to be fading!" That confused both of us—was the girl I just saw Emily or someone else? My gaze traveled over the dance floor, seeing that Emily's friend had left. She wasn't at the bar. My gaze snapped at the tables on the top floor, looking over the dance floor. I spot Mila first. If the girl who is sitting opposite her isn't Emily, she should know where she has gone. I was sure Mila and Jax had something to do with her disappearance; why else would they both jump packs and disappear? I sighed under my breath as I made it to the stairs. I had followed Mila's and Jax's trail as far as I could, but the trail ran cold. I even asked Mila's fath
Alexander POV "Find her!" I roared. "Find her now!" How could I have let her slip from my hands!? I was furious, beyond upset that Emily managed to get away. Where has she gone? Where did she hide all these years, and how was she able to block off her scent? "Her wolf blocked me," Ghost said. "She's strong. She might even be stronger than us." "You are a snow wolf, Ghost," I said, turning my attention to him. "No wolf can compare to you." "Except fire wolves," he said, taking a seat in my mind. "They are extinct," I said. "The chance of her being one is extremely slim. That would mean she has Lycan blood in her system." "Think about it," Ghost said. "I could feel her wolf, but she didn't have one. She must have shifted after she left." "Do you think my father expected that?" I asked. "Well, he believed she was a late bloomer," Ghost replied. It did make sense, but did her parents know? I sat back in my office chair, thinking. Emily's parents weren't too concerned about
Emily's POV "You have got to be kidding me," I sneered, reading the information on the report Xavier gave me. "What's wrong?" He asked, taken aback by my sudden mood change. "You are telling me that the Opal Pack is part of this attack?" I growled. It had been a week since I saw and danced with Alex in the club, and as much as I tried to fight my unwanted feelings, my mind kept drifting back to him. Willow helped me escape the club undetected while some woman distracted Alex; I wasn't ready to face him. Now, it seems impossible to hide any further. I would be living in the club and surrounding areas until my mission was complete. "Not particularly," Xavier said. "My informant just states that whoever is responsible, likes using the Tango club as their base." "Is Alpha Black part of the scheme?" I asked, feeling my blood boil inside my veins. If he was, I would personally rip him to shreds and make sure Lex would never know Alex was his father. "We are not sure," Xavier said wi