Ascension of a Gamma

Chapter 78 Whispering Promises

— Liam

I'd been squeezing a stress ball since morning — Gale's recommendation. As ridiculous a s it looked, it was helping.

"Did you hear back from Helia?" I asked as soon as Lexy entered my office.

“She'll be here by tomorrow morning,” she replied, dropping on the sofa like a bag of potatoes. “Are you sure you want to me to handle this, bro? We can ask the humans — they've more experience and frankly, I've only ever delivered one baby.”

We owned hospitals and leaving her in the hands of an expert would maybe lower the risks, but she was a special case.

Her blood, her race — if something hocus pocus happened while a human was around, the safest measure would be to kill that human. It would upset her. Then again, she didn't have to know. Still... “I'm leaving you in charge of preparations,” I said firmly. “If something... starts happening, do whatever you have to save her.”

“I want her to make it through this, too, Liam,” she said. “But I can’t guarantee she will.”

There was a short pause after. Helia might be there to assist, but even Lexy's magic had its limits. It was said that the first Luna gave birth alone to the first Alpha's firstborn and thus, only heir. He died in battle while his Luna was in labor. As she felt the bond break, her wolf was also in agony. Stories said this was when the first split happened.

With the pain of losing her mate coinciding with the pain of childbirth, her wolf couldn't handle the exchange of energy between her and the child and the loss from her soulmate’s death. It killed the child.

As the Luna breathed her last, she begged the Moon Goddess to save her child. The Goddess took pity on her and used her wolf's remaining energy to breathe life into her son. Both a curse and a gift, Lunas had to battle with their wolf to birth an Alpha’s child.

Some stories said the Luna returned, but who knew what really happened then? Jaymer might but he didn't even know he really was.

All Lexy and Helia could do with their magic was maintain her physical body. None of us

knew what might happen to her — she was wolf-less. It might be a normal delivery like a human's and any other normal she-wolf, or something else.

I can't lose her...

I was the Alpha and yet with her life on the line, I was helpless. And it wasn't just her. This was my fault — my desire to have an heir. Then again, at some point, she would've asked for this. Anna wanted a family with me, and as worried as I was, I couldn't deny her what I wanted as well. "We're ready for her any day... I pray the Goddess grants mercy,” said Lexy, lying on her back.

“I'm going out,” I said, standing.

"Say “hi’ to Anna for me,” she called behind me as I closed the door.

I went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. By seven, she still hadn't come down, so I decided to just bring it up to our room.

Anna was lying down on her side with a lot of pillows surrounding her. I walked up to her and stroked her hair, smiling at her peaceful sleeping figure. For many more nights, for many more days, opening the bedroom door or getting up in the morning, she would

always be the first I'd look for.

Her stomach was bigger than the rest of her and I was so proud of her for doing so well. She was going to be a great Mom and I'd beg the Goddess like the first Luna did if I had to.

I couldn't picture a future without my Anna. She was in every moment in time that I could think of and our pups... they deserved to grow up, with her.

Her eyes fluttered open.

“Hey,” I said softly as I leaned in to kiss her forehead.

She wasn't as moody as she was before, and I was thankful to the stars that phase was over.

“Hi,” she said sleepily. “We're hungry.”

I rubbed a hand over her stomach gently. “I made you spaghetti.”

“Thank you.” She smiled sweetly at me. I kissed her slowly before helping her get up.

“Thank you, babe.”

"For what?” she asked, placing her hand on top of mine.

“For this... for us... I'm so happy for all you do for me. Thank you.”

She giggled. “Have you thought of names yet?”

I'm always thinking of names!

“Too many to choose from. Do you have names in mind?”

I helped her get up from bed then held out her robe for her. She was having difficulty doing the simplest things now. I didn’t mind. She'd pamper me, too if it was the other way around.

“I have a few in mind. What do you think of “Liam Jr."?"

“No,” I said firmly with a straight face. “Fuck no.”

“Ha-ha! I'm kidding!"

She laughed as she went to the bathroom to do her business. Sometimes, she needed help with something. Usually, it was someone to hold her hair away from her face as she threw up.

We had a nice dinner after. She still had a healthy appetite which was always a good thing. I made sure she didn't eat too much, though and that she was getting the proper nutrition the four of them needed. 4

Lexy put me through countless briefings and lectures — she'd kill me if I didn't look after her right. As always, I made sure she had her supplements. Then, as she laid on her back, I gently applied natural cocoa butter on her belly before massaging her now swollen feet to get her to relax. My Anna was going through so much.

“Thank you,” she said as I slipped in beside her.

I kissed her forehead then replied, “Anything _for you, babe.”

"You're thinking about it, aren't you?” she asked. Her head was resting on my chest, her back and legs and sides supported by pillows. “You're worrying too much.”

My heart sank.

Your life and theirs are at stake.

“I just... want you and... our pups to be healthy,” I replied, trying to divert the subject.

"We'll be fine, Liam. Keep worrying like that and your hair will fall out,” she said, giggling.

You're so adorable.

I held her hand and kissed her fingers.

“I worry because I care about you, Anna,” I murmured.

She looked up at me and touched my cheek. I leaned into her palm, her warm touch comforting “As do I, my love,” she said softly.

She suddenly gasped and I was instantly on high alert. Was it happening? Is the bed wet?

“They're kicking!”

She took my hand and placed it on her stomach. “Wait...”

I felt a small kick and my heart swelled. It was an amazing feeling.

She smiled as she breathed deeply. “Oh!”

I felt another kick and I couldn't help but be in awe. Life was growing inside her and letting us know. “I love you,” I whispered, leaning down to kiss one side of her belly.

"And you,” I said as I kissed the middle.

“You, too.” I also kissed the other side.

Then I kissed her slowly until we parted for air. “And you, my love.”

“They're going to need you, Liam,” she said.

I held her hand, rubbing small circles at the back of it with my thumb.

“Us, Anna. They're going to need us. We're going to raise them together then kick them out the house when they're old enough so we could make up for the sexless nights.”

She playfully slapped my chest and I chuckled. “Liam! They can hear you.”

“No, they can't.”

“We're not kicking them out the house!”

She rubbed her belly. “Your Father didn't mean it, kids.”

“They'd have to go to college.” I shrugged. “I'll have the walls soundproofed instead.”

"Oh, Liam!” she exclaimed, laughing.

“That's right, babe,” I murmured, placing soft kisses on her shoulder.

“You're distracting me with the sex talk, aren't you?” she questioned.

How did she —

A woman's intuition is scary.

She laughed at me then pecked my lips. “You're adorable,” she said, smirking.

I sighed. She looked at me with a soft expression as she touched my cheek, her forefinger tracing along my jaw. These peaceful moments lasted for as long as they could when I wished they could last forever. It made me think that we'd be alright, that when this was all over, she would still be here with me. The prickly feeling in my gut made me feel otherwise — that these were simply consolation, memories to live by, for when the impending day came

I held her hand and kissed the back of it.

“I can't lose you,” I whispered.

“You won't,” she whispered back. “I'll always be with you. I promised.”

“But I want you here, with me, just like this... the way we are now.”

I can’t continue without you.

“Whatever happens, promise me you'll love them,” she said, taking my hand and placing it on her belly. “And raise them well and look over them... and always tell them I love them, and their Mother has absolutely no regrets... and you don't, too.”

“You can tell them yourself,” I whispered, afraid that my voice would crack if I said it aloud, a clear sound from my heart.

“Promise me, Liam,” she said firmly.

“I can't...” I said, looking away.

How can you be so selfish? You can't leave me... us.

“Please, Liam,” she whispered as she blinked rapidly and inhaled deeply.

I balled my hidden hand into a fist.

“I... promise,” I said. “But you have to promise me... you'll fight for us, all five of us.” 1

I wiped her tears with my thumb.

“I promise.”

I brought my face closer to her, then captured her lips. Flicking my tongue at her lips, she gave me permission.

Sweet... addictive...

I poured all I had in me into the kiss as her hands tugged on my hair. I nibbled on her lips, captured her lips, and sucked the air out of her until we parted for air.

Goddess, don't take her from me. Don't take her from our pups.

My mind kept me awake. My eyes were closed, and I breathed in her scent to calm me. I pretended to be sleep because Anna wasn't sleeping. When it was close to midnight, she got up and locked herself in the bathroom.

She turned the tap on a little, then for thirty minutes or more, she cried. I could hear her a s she muffled the sounds — hiccups, sniffles, and the silent screams. I turned to the side, my pillow soaking up evidence of my eavesdropping. I was helpless and it was worse than getting punched in the gut a thousand times.

I calmed myself down, thankful that she didn’t turn the lights on when she came back to bed. She touched my face, tousled my hair, and kissed me all over as she whispered things I recorded in my heart. Then she slept, her hand holding mine tightly.

Brave. She was the bravest person I'd ever known.

“You can bring me down on my knees and strengthen me at my weakest.”

I brushed the few strands off her face then kissed her cheek. I took in the sweetest and most calming scent that only I could smell.

One more day. One more night. I lived in these moments now and I would until forever, a s we create more. Stay with us, my love...