Kate’s POV
The sun streaming through the windows of the packs hall, cast a warm light interested the space.
I stood at the front, my hand instinctively settling on my swollen belly rubbing slow circles. , where our child grew while trying to ignore the dull ache in my lower back.
Our baby was almost here, each day made it clearer to me but there was too much to do for me to stop work, Dimitri stood next to me tension radiating off him. He glanced at me every few moments, his lips pressed into a thin line, he was not happy with my insistence on being here today.
But I was Luna. I had responsibilities, and our pack needed our leadership. The battle had taken so many of our warriors, and many others had chosen to stay with other packs during the rebuilding efforts, we had new members too but a poorly structured system.
Now, it was up to us to appoint new leaders, to ensure the strength of our pack.
“We should be wrapping this up soon,” Dimitri whispered under his breath, leaning closer so only I could hear.
“You should sit down,” he whispered softly, his hand brushing the small of my back.
“Let me handle this.”
I smiled at him, leaning into his touch briefly
“I’m fine,” I replied. “This is important.”
He sighed softly but didn’t argue. I knew he wanted me to rest, especially this close to the birth, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop working.
The ceremony was in full swing, the room filled with pack members watching as we appointed new leaders.
The first of the new appointments was called, and I watched the young woman, Talia , step forward.
She had proven herself in the heat of battle, and afterwards she was taking her place as one of our new warriors, leading a group of fighters that would protect the pack’s future.
The crowd erupted in cheers a she approached her face a mix of pride and happiness.
She knelt before us, bowing her head as Dimitri placed a hand on her shoulder, sealing the appointment. Dimitri’s voice echoed through the hall,
“Talia Black, you have shown loyalty, strength, and willpower. We welcome you as one of our new Elite Warriors. May you serve the Blood Moon Pack with honor.”
One by one, more names were called, each new leader stepping forward to take on their role. I felt a swell of pride as I watched them, knowing that these pack mates would carry the pack forward, ensuring our survival and strength for generations to come.
But even as I stood there, I couldn’t ignore the sharp twinges in my stomach. They had been coming and going all morning, but I chalked them up to exhaustion and the stress of the day.
I kept telling myself that the baby would wait until the ceremony was over. That was all I was willing to believe for now anyway
Dimitri must have noticed my discomfort his hands and found mine, squeezing gently. His gaze full of concern,
” I’ll be fine” I muttered and he nodded, he turned to. tge podium
“Beta Alaric,” he called out the next name, I watched the next and strongest of our warriors, step forward. He had been with us since the beginning, and he was being promoted to hunting unit, a role left vacant after Lina had stepped away to fill Louis vacant role.
Louis absence was deeply felt by all of us, but especially by Dimitri he had been more than just his Beta; he had been our closest friend, his confidant and Dimitri missed him, though he rarely spoke of it.
The door opened and a familiar figure walked into the
“Louis!” I gasped, a wide smile forming on my lips
There he was, as if he’d never left his signature grin plastered on his face, and he looked as if he had walked in from a long-awaited vacation instead of having been gone for a few weeks at most.
“Louis?” Dimitri called out
“I hope I’m not too late,” he answered, his voice carrying through the room with ease.
Dimitri let out a bark of laughter,
“You’re just in time.”
Louis stepped forward,
“Miss me?”
” Of course you idiot” Dimitri muttered pulling him into a hug, his mate joined him by her side
” I hope I can get my old job back” he asked
” Yes” Lina exclaimed and they laughed, I rushed toward him, my excitement almost overriding the discomfort I had been trying to push aside. But the first step I took forward sent a sharp, intense pain ripped through my stomach, stopping me dead in my tracks.
I gasped, doubling over as the sensation hit me again-stronger this time the unmistakable feeling of rushing liquid dripping down my legs and pooling at my feet.
My water had broken.
My hands flew to my belly, and I knew, without a doubt, that this wasn’t just another twinge.
“K-Kate?” Dimitri’s voice was tight with panic as he rushed to my side,
“I think… it’s happening,” I managed to say between shallow breaths, my heart racing.
The room erupted into chaos as Dimitri scooped me up into his arms without hesitation,
“Get the doctor! Now!”
Louis was already moving, his expression shifting from playful to serious in an instant. He shouted orders to the others, making sure the path was clear as Dimitri carried me out of the hall and toward the infirmary.
I clung to Dimitri’s neck, my breath coming in quick, ragged gasps as the contractions hit me one after the other.
The pain was overwhelming, but I kept my focus on Dimitri’s voice, and his reassuring words
“We’re almost there,” he whispered, his tone calm
“You’re going to be okay, Kate. Just breathe.”
The infirmary was already prepared was already prepared and Clara the new pack doctor was waiting for us, she had helped me through this pregnancy.
She helped guide me to a bed,
“Breathe, Kate,” Clara instructed as she helped me settle.
“You’re in good hands.”
Dimitri hovered nearby, pale with worry his hands gripping mine tightly.
“Dimitri,” I whispered between deep breaths,
“I’m here,” he murmured.
“I’m right here.”
The contractions came one after the other each one more intense than the last.
Hours passed, time blurring as the pain took over, Clara ‘s voice remained a steady anchor, guiding me through each contraction, telling me when to push, when to breathe.
” I can’t do this anymore” I pleaded, sweat dripping into my eyes
” Please” I murmured
After what felt like an eternity, I heard Clara ‘s voice break through the haze of pain.
“One more push, Kate. You’re almost there.” tears falling from my eyes, I summoned every ounce of strength I had left, my body trembling as I gave one final, desperate push.
And then, a small, piercing cry filled the room, a sense of relief washing over me.
“You did it,” Dimitri whispered, his voice thick with emotion as Clara handed me our newborn.
” It’s a boy” she mumbled
Tears blurred my vision as I looked down at the tiny, perfect face of our child.
“We did it,” I whispered back, my heart swelling with love as I held our baby close.
Dimitri leaned in, pressing a kiss to my forehead before resting his hand gently on our child’s head.
“Welcome to the world, little one,” he murmured softly.
I looked up at him, seeing the same mixture of awe, love, reflected in his eyes.
I was a mother, the future of the pack cradled in my arms.
It had taken me three tries to finally get here to a life that I was proud of, to fall in love, with this man and have his son.
As the exhaustion finally began to set in, I leaned back against the pillows, cradling our baby in my arms.
The world outside the infirmary faded away, leaving only the three of us in this perfect, quiet moment.
” I love you” I whispered to him softly and he smiled
” I love you too Kate, both of you forever”
I smiled softly, I was the cursed lycan rejected Luna but he wasn’t Cursed and I wasn’t rejected anymore.
We were each other’s new beginning.