*Noah*
Pacing back and forth in the healer’s room, I anxiously awaited news about my daughter. Days had passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, Calvin had assured that she was gaining strength.
It was a long, grueling process, and everyone involved was exhausted. The weight of it all was heavy, and I often found myself on the edge of a breakdown.
I needed to stay strong, be the anchor, though. I needed to keep my chin high for my family and have faith. It was all I could do.
Calvin turned away from the incubator as I craned my neck to try and catch sight of her again. I could see my baby’s chest rising and falling more and more as she took deeper breaths.
When Calvin looked at , I felt a surge of hope. The expression he wore was a soft, tired smile, but his eyes had a certain positive glimr to them.
“Status?” I asked.
“Well,” he said. “She’s been fighting. She is definitely a fighter like you, Noah. She is getting stronger. The process is slow, but she’s approaching the point of true recovery.”
My eyes widened in delight, and I let out a sigh, turning to a chair and collapsing into it. I covered my face, nearly breaking down in relieved sobs right there.
After a mont, I said in a soft tone to Calvin, “Thank you... you and all the healers. My daughter may just pull through. Thank the Goddess.”
It’d been several days since the incident with the Elders, and I’d been assured they’d drop the idea that Zara, or my daughter, was a ‘curse.’
I ignored the wary glances.
I ignored the lecture from my father.
This was my family, and I was going to protect them. It didn’t matter what the fucking Elders said. Like a miracle, my daughter was pulling through.
Curse... their asses were more cursed than either my mate or my daughter.
I shook those thoughts away, chasing the anger out of my mind to replace it with relief and, well, worry.
Zara hadn’t changed, and she had been spiraling deeper and deeper into a depression. The thought of her state right now caused to furrow my brow and feel a heavy sense of dread settle on .
Maybe the news about our daughter would help her see the light at the end of the tunnel, I assud. After a brief amount of thought, I stood up and entered the room she was staying in.
“Hey, Zara,” I said softly. “Calvin says the baby is recovering. Would you like to go see her?”
“No,” Zara replied, her lifeless eyes fixing on . She didn’t elaborate, which caused to feel a pang of deeper worry.
“It would do well to bond with her,” I said softly. “She is so fragile, but she is making it through. She’s strong, Zara, like you.”
“Yeah,” Zara said, her voice weak and trailing off. Her eyes were distant, and she had this stare to her, like she was in so faraway land.
Her mind was fixed on sothing else, I could tell. A tear crawled down her cheek, and her chest heaved as she let out a low whimper. She definitely wasn’t there right then.
“What is on your mind?” I asked her, going to sit by her bed and take her hand into mine. I squeezed it, adding, “You’re not alone. I’m here for you, Zara.”
“Everything... the kidnapping, just... we’re going to lose her because of .”
“I don’t think there is a high possibility of that anymore.”
“It doesn’t matter. She is s-suffering so much because of .”
“Not because of you, baby,” I whispered. I brought her hand up to my mouth and left a soft kiss upon it, then furrowed my brow. “Can you do sothing for ?”
She focused on , giving a deep frown. “I don’t know,” she replied.
“I want you to see counseling. We should see one together. Okay? It can help.”
“I don’t know.”
“Please think about it, Zara.”
She went silent then, and I stayed there in her room with her for hours. I wasn’t going to leave my mate’s side when she needed the most.
***
*Zara*
Eventually, I agreed to go. I needed help. I couldn’t do this. I just couldn’t.
I felt so hollow, so tired. My baby... she wasn’t okay. Noah said it was not because of . I didn’t believe him.
I sat on the couch in front of the pack’s therapist, my eyes distant. Words were muffled, and I didn’t pay attention much, not until the question ca.
“How are you feeling, Zara? Please. Express yourself here. It is a safe place,” the therapist said gently.
I blinked once, then twice. Everything ca crashing through at once. Tears started pouring from my face as I let out a choked sob.
It was all too much.
It took several minutes to even be able to speak, and when I did, everything ca out in fragnts of pure despair.
“My child is endangered because of . I don’t deserve to be a Luna. I don’t deserve to be a mother. I don’t deserve Noah.”
Noah squeezed my hand at that, opening his mouth to say sothing, but I continued.
“I made so many bad decisions. Maybe I am a bad on, a curse. Soone said that. I heard them... a curse on my daughter, a curse o-on my husband....”
Our marriage wasn’t even real. It wasn’t. We wouldn’t ever be a happy family. The fakeness of it all was just so heavy. I couldn’t handle it.
I didn’t tell the therapist that, though. That was sothing we needed to keep secret. But Noah could hear it in my voice. I noted the spark of despair in his gaze when I said it.
“I’m going to lose my baby, and I am going to lose him, too,” I sobbed, burying my face into my hands as everything just continued to pour out of .
“I want you both to research postpartum depression,” the therapist said gently. “I want to use cognitive behavioral therapy to help you through this. I may also suggest dications. But—”
He looked between and Noah, studying our expressions to ensure we were paying attention. Noah was, intently. I was... vaguely.
“Knowledge is power. And I want you to both know about this problem, and depression in general, so you will know what to expect. There is another factor to this.”
“Oh?” Noah asked, his tone dripping with wariness.
He pulled close, though I didn’t have much of a reaction to that. He was comforting, but it just... wasn’t clicking for .
The therapist nodded. “You and Noah need to spend ti really talking to each other about what you’re feeling. I want you to look Noah in the eye and talk to him.”
I furrowed my brow, unsure if it would do any good. I turned to him, though, blinking and taking in a heaving breath. “Noah,” I whispered. “I don’t just fear losing our daughter.”
Noah dipped his head, furrowing his brow, concern brimming from his eyes. His mouth was twisted into a light frown, and he reached up to gently move a strand of hair from in my face to put it behind my ear.
“What else do you fear?”
“I am afraid of losing you. I know you don’t feel the sa way I do, but–”
“Zara,” he interrupted, leaning forward and taking into a warm, comforting hug. He held there close, taking in a deep breath. His lips brushed up against my ear.
“I will never abandon you,” Noah whispered, “no matter what. Our relationship is very important to . We will get through this. You are a strong, beautiful woman. You have gone through so much. I am here for you.”
“A-are... you sure?”
“I’m positive. I’m beyond positive, Zara. You are my mate. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to stay with you and be a family... with our daughter, who will survive. I know it. She is strong, just like you.”
“I ... I hope you’re right, Noah.”
“I will do all in my power to show you my feelings, and how you will not be left alone, Zara... all in my power. I am listening, and I am here for your needs.”
“The pack, though, they—”
“The pack will accept you too. They will. I know they will. We will be a wonderful Alpha and Luna together,” he said. He leaned back and reached up to cup my cheek.
I gave him a faint smile, and he tilted his head, letting out a soft sigh. “You cup my cheek like this, Zara.”
“What do you an?”
“To comfort ,” he explained. “It sends warmth surging through . I want this gesture to feel the sa for you, even if not now... but soday. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
I felt a surge of relief and warmth at the tenderness of his tone. I reached up and put my hand over his, holding it there and gazing into his blazing blue eyes.
For the first ti in a while, I felt a flicker of hope within .
*****
“I have good news,” Calvin said.
I was in bed, and the pack’s main healer was stopping in to inform Noah and about the health of our baby. I lifted my chin, paying close attention to his expression.
He smiled at , his warmth clear in his features. “We can now allow skin-to-skin contact with your daughter. It’s very important for bonding. Would you like to see her now?”
I nodded, letting out a breath and watching as he exited the room. A minute later, I spotted the fragile infant in his arms, my heart surging with hope.
She looked so much stronger now, with more life in her. She was still so tiny, but... would she be okay after all?
I was handed the baby, cradling the very tiny preemie gently against my chest. Her beautiful blue eyes t mine, and I felt a smile stretching across my face.
I reached up and wiggled my fingers in front of her. The baby let out a happy gurgle and gently grasped my fingers, encircling them around my thumb trustingly.
Overwhelming emotions rushed through , and I gasped, tears pouring from my cheeks. “She’s... okay. Here she is,” I managed to gasp.
I gave a light chuckle, relief seeping into as I realized she was so strong. A profound rush of love ca over , sweeping away any lingering doubts.
She was my baby, and she was so, so strong. I was so proud of her for making it through, and I had confidence my daughter would finally be okay.
We would be a family.
My eyes t Noah’s as he smiled with so much warmth that my breath was taken away. He reached out and gently stroked the fuzz on our baby’s head.
As our baby nestled into my chest, I leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then, I looked at Noah again.
I could see the clear relief in his gaze, joy and triumph ignited in his smile. Did that reflect in the smile I gave him back, I wondered.
“We’re on the right track, beautiful,” Noah said. “I ant everything I said. Look at how strong she is, just like her mommy.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)