Seraphina’s POV
After a few more minutes of excited chatter about the baby and what it might an to have a little brother or sister, Ophelia gently took Adrian’s hand.
"Co on, sweetheart," she said softly, though I could see the reluctance in her eyes to leave again so soon after I’d woken up. "Let’s give Mommy and Daddy so ti to talk about grown-up things. Maybe we can get so ice cream from the cafeteria?"
Adrian’s face lit up at the ntion of ice cream, but he hesitated, looking between and Damien with the kind of intuitive understanding.
"Is it wolf stuff?" he asked seriously. "Because I know about wolves now. Daddy told ."
I exchanged a glance with Damien, wondering just how much our son had learned during the ten days I’d been unconscious.
"It is wolf stuff," Damien confird with a gentle smile. "Adult wolf stuff that might be a little boring for a four-year-old."
"Okay," Adrian said with a sage nod. "But you’ll tell the fun parts later, right Mommy?"
"I promise," I said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "And thank you for being such a good boy while I was sleeping. I love you so much."
"I love you too, Mommy. And I love the baby too, even though I can’t see them yet."
My heart lted at his sweetness. "The baby loves you too, I’m sure of it."
Ophelia leaned down to hug once more, whispering in my ear, "I’m so glad you’re okay. We were all so scared."
"I’m sorry," I whispered back. "I didn’t an to scare anyone."
"Just focus on getting better," she said, pulling back to look at with tears still glistening in her eyes. "We’ll have plenty of ti to catch up once you’re ho."
The doctor had also excused himself, giving us privacy to process everything that had happened.
Damien moved back to the chair beside my bed, but instead of sitting down, he perched on the edge of the mattress, his hand finding mine again.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, searching my face with those silver-blue eyes that seed to see straight through to my soul.
I considered the question, taking a mont to really examine my physical and emotional state. "Overwheld," I admitted. "Another baby. And this change in ..."
"She’s been waiting to et Alex properly," he said softly.
"Is it safe?" I asked, suddenly worried. "With the baby, and still being weak?"
"It’s perfectly safe," he assured . "In fact, it might help you feel more balanced. Alex has been restless since the mont you opened your eyes."
I nodded slowly, then closed my eyes and reached inward, seeking that warm, powerful presence I could feel stirring beneath my consciousness.
*Ayla?*
*I’m here,* ca her response, and her voice was completely different from what I rembered. Where before she had been timid and small, now her ntal voice carried the confident, lodious tone of a wolf who knew her own power. *I’ve been waiting so long to show you who we really are.*
*You feel so different,* I told her, marveling at the strength radiating from her presence.
*Because we are different. We’re complete now. Ready to et our mate’s wolf as equals.*
I opened my eyes and looked at Damien. "She wants to et Alex."
His smile was radiant. "Alex has been pacing like a caged animal. May I?"
I nodded, then felt that curious sensation of stepping back within my own consciousness, making room for Ayla to co forward.
Through my eyes, I felt Ayla looking out at the world with keen intelligence and newfound strength. She stretched our limbs experintally, marveling at the power thrumming through our body despite its current weakness.
Alex was magnificent—a massive sliver wolf with intelligent amber eyes and a regal bearing that spoke of centuries of noble bloodline. His fur looked thick and luxurious, catching the harsh hospital lighting and sohow making it seem warr. He was easily twice the size of any normal wolf, built for both power and grace.
And Ayla... my breath caught as I saw her through Alex’s perception. She was no longer the small, timid wolf I rembered from my consciousness. She had grown—not to Alex’s impressive size, but into sothing elegant and powerful in her own right. Her deep brown coat was glossy and rich, like dark chocolate, and her green eyes sparkled with newfound confidence and intelligence.
*Beautiful,* ca Alex’s rumbling ntal voice, filled with pure adoration.
Damien’s forehead ca to rest gently against mine. It was the wolf equivalent of nuzzling, and I felt Ayla’s pure contentnt at the contact. Damien’s free hand moved to the side of my neck, his thumb gently stroking the spot where wolves would normally scent each other.
*Mine,* Alex’s voice was a contented rumble, not possessive but satisfied, like a wolf who had finally found what he’d been searching for his whole life.
I responded by turning my head and gently nuzzling him back, my lips brushing against the strong line of his jaw. The gesture was innocent but intimate, pure wolf affection translated into human form.
I could feel both wolves’ contentnt, their recognition of each other not just as mates but as perfect complents.
Gradually, both wolves began to settle back into our consciousness, satisfied with their reunion. As I felt myself fully returning to human awareness, I realized I was smiling through tears I didn’t rember starting to shed.
Gradually, I felt Ayla beginning to step back, content now that she’d had the chance to properly greet her mate’s wolf. As she receded, I felt myself fully returning to control of my body and consciousness.
I blinked, refocusing on the hospital room around , and found Damien watching with an expression of complete tenderness.
"How do you feel?" he asked softly.
"Complete," I said without hesitation. "Like a part of that was always missing has finally been found."
He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Alex is ecstatic. He’s been waiting for this mont since the day we first t you."
"Ayla too," I said, then paused, processing sothing else I’d beco aware of during their interaction.
He took my hand in both of his, his thumbs tracing gentle circles across my knuckles. "Sera, there’s sothing I want to discuss with you. About our future."
The seriousness in his tone made pay closer attention. "What about our future?"
"Once you’re fully recovered, once you’ve had ti to adjust to these changes..." He paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. "I want to complete the mating bond formally. I want to mark you, claim you as my Luna before the entire pack."
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