Big girls don't cry

Aleida’s POV

I’m alone in the hospital room when I wake up; I’m starting to get really tired of ending up in the hospital all the time. What poor luck do I have, seriously? My hands move automatically to my stomach. I can’t feel the baby move yet; it’s too early. A smile spreads across my face when I think of my little growing pup. Thoughts about how my life within a few months will considerably improve my life float around within me as I caress my still flat stomach. Soon it’ll be a big bump that I’ll carry with pride. The nagging feeling inside me that something terrible is about to happen doesn’t stop bothering me. It keeps growing inside me; my only wish is to understand why I keep feeling like this. Is it my traumas who spook me and make me afraid for no reason, or is this fear accurate to feel? I guess only time will tell; I begin to check my injuries. My nose doesn’t hurt anymore, and a scab is already forming around the wound on my head. Nothing hurts, except my heart, because I miss my mates terribly. I sniff the air to find out if they’re nearby. A faint fragrance is the only thing I manage to find, and it’s several hours old. I sit up in bed and press the alarm button. Quick steps come from the hallway outside before Gina comes running into the room. When she sees that I’m okay, she let out a sigh in gratitude that nothing has happened to me.

“Good evening, luna. How are you feeling?” she asks.

“I’m fine, really. I just want to go home,” I answer honestly.

“May I please check your vitals before we do anything drastic?”

I nod my head, and Gina begins her examination. She soon finds out that I’m telling the truth when I say that nothing is hurting me.

“Okay, I will release you. But I need you to promise me to take care of yourself. No heavy lifting, no running around, and absolutely no fighting!” Gina says with a stern look.

“I promise, doctor,” I answer with a salute, and she smiles at me.

“Should I call the alphas?”

“No, thank you. I want to surprise my mates.”

“I understand. Is there something else I can do for you before you go?”

“Yeah, you can answer one of my questions... Why’s nobody in here with me?”

“Oh, that’s my fault. The alphas, betas, and your brother was going beserk about you not waking up. So I decided that the best thing to do in this situation was for them to leave. You needed that rest, and they needed to calm down. It was undeniable that they couldn’t relax in that room.”

“Okay, thank you very much for your help.”

“No worries, don’t forget to come back here in two weeks to check on the baby.”

“I won’t.”

She nods her head and heads out. I put on my clothes and walk out of the room. My body is tired, but my brain is spirited. My wolf chants that I should go to our mates, which I’m also about to do. The walk back to the packhouse is healthy, and I relax. When I walk in through the front door, all my boys sit in the living room, discussing. No one notices me until I clear my throat. The room becomes quiet, and they look at me.

“Hi, everyone,” I say, and my mates run to hug me.

“Oh, baby girl, you’re all right!” Miliano sniffles at the crook of my neck.

I hug them both close and inhale their scents until my wolf calms down inside. In their arms, I’m complete. My mates, my only reason to live. They back away and look me over.

“How’s our pup?” Kian asks worriedly, and I smile at his question.

“He or she is fine, and so am I. In fact, we’re better than ever before.”

“Hey! It’s my turn to hug her!” Henry yells and puts his arms around me. “Thank god you’re okay. I was so worried, sunshine.”

“Thank you, Henry.”

I hug everyone as long as they need. When all of my boys are satisfied, I excuse myself and am about to walk upstairs when my mates stop me. They take one arm each and begin to lead me upstairs.

“Um, what are you guys doing?” I ask in confusion.

“You’re carrying important cargo. You’re not going up and down the stairs alone anymore,” Kian explains.

“Huh, why? The pup is the size of a peanut!”

“You can still fall,” Miliano answers.

I roll my eyes because I know there’s no point in arguing; this isn’t alpha pheasants; this is daddy wolves. They’ll give their lives to protect their puppies. It doesn’t take long for us to get to the highest floor where our bedroom is; this is the first time I see the room, and it’s beautiful. My wonderful mates have specially ordered a bed to make sure that all three of us will fit. The room is more extensive than what we had in Kian’s private house- light blue walls, large windows, a flat tv on the wall, and a cozy corner with armchairs. Furthest into the room, large doors show an even more oversized balcony. I love this room!

“Are you guys going back downstairs or staying here?” I ask.

“We’re not leaving you, lepa. Never again,” Kian says with a sad look.

His eyes show me sorrow and guilt because they left me alone in the house. That almost breaks my heart; this isn’t their fault. There’s nothing they can do. I help them take off their clothes and let them return the favor. We lay down in the soft bed, Kian to my left and Miliano to my right. Their warmth surrounds me and makes me tired in no time. Knowing that they won’t leave me until I wake up makes me feel secure, and that thought slowly lulls me to sleep. In my dreams, I’m in a green meadow with tall grass. The sun shines and gives me the feeling that everything will be okay. A foal runs towards me and whines playfully; I follow, running after the foal that gallops in front of me. It stops under a majestic oak; a woman with such light blond hair that it almost looks white stands in front of me, caressing the foal. She wears a light blue long dress with silvery stars; her sea-blue eyes look at me with cheerfulness.

“I understand that you’re confused, my dear,” the woman says in the softest voice I’ve ever heard.

“Who are you?” I ask, and she chuckles.

“I’m the moon goddess,” she answers, and I immediately fall on my knees. “There’s no need for that, child. Please rise; we have important matters to attend to.”

“What do you mean?” I ask with slight fright, and she sighs.

“The world isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Various supernatural creatures try to interfere and change other beings’ destinies, which isn’t their right to do. As you know, a witch has tried to change the fate of your mother without success. She tried to take over something that didn’t belong to her, and your mother defended you with her life. Even though the witch didn’t manage to destroy your destiny, she managed to change it for the worse. Therefore, I have decided to visit you in your dreams.”

“It was you!” I exclaim.

“Yes, I’m the one who showed you your nightmares. Several scenarios can occur if you don’t fulfill the prophecy.”

“What prophecy?”

“The white-furred wolf arises once every thousand years. You can recognize it through its red crescent moon on the side of the stomach. That wolf is you. It belongs to your destiny to protect, betray and rule over your people. In what order things will happen, I can’t tell. But be prepared. I will come to you when it’s time for you to disappear and leave everyone behind. Then I need you to do it without hesitation for one second. Okay?” she asks, and I nod my head slowly, trying to understand.

“Can I ask you something?” I wonder.

“Of course.”

“This darkness inside me... Is it... Is that really me?”

“No, it’s not. When you killed that witch, Hailey, a fragment of her dark soul moved inside of you. Like a curse. The thoughts and the mood swings are not who you are. I can suppress them temporarily, but you need to learn how to control them. Don’t listen to what the voices say. Don’t follow the dark thoughts. But above all, don’t give up! The witch will wipe out the whole werewolf population without you. They need their queen to rule them. Help them rise as a united kingdom and stop the petty fighting about territories. Raise your children into strong and compassionate wolves. Do your best, and I know that you will succeed,” she answers, smiling at me and caress my cheek. “I’m sad to say that it’s time for me to go now. But you have a visitor for a brief moment. Take care of yourself, Aleida, and remember what I said.”

She walks away from me, and all I can do is stare at her in awe. Someone clears their throat behind me. I turn around and fall to my knees when I see who it is. I raise my hands to the face of the person.

“Mommy, is that really you?” I ask, unable to believe it.

“Hello, my beautiful princess. I’ve missed you dearly,” she says and hugs me close to her chest while I sob like a little child.

“I missed you, mommy,” I cry.

“I know, darling, I’ve been watching you closely over the years, and I’m proud of the woman you’ve become,” she says with a smile, but that smile soon turns into a dark frown on her face. “You shouldn’t believe in what Jonathan and Cathrine tell you about what happened. Not for a second. The hesitation about if your mates’ pack was involved in that, you can throw away, because it’s simply not true. Jonathan manipulated his mate and the whole pack to overthrow us, and they did. We died protecting you. I know the hatred you feel towards that pack, but you shouldn’t hate the members. Turn your anger towards those who are responsible, the alpha and luna. Claim what’s rightfully yours, or at least assign them an alpha who takes care of them properly. Revenge has been on your mind a lot lately, which I can understand. But please, baby, now isn’t the time. A war is coming, and you’re at the front, protecting everyone. Revenge can wait when you have to save your people from devastation. I have to go now, baby; promise me to stay strong. I will always love you.”

“Mommy, please, no! I have so many questions to ask you. I love you; please don’t leave me again!” I exclaim; her eyes hold tears that begin to fall down her cheeks.

“I never left you, baby; I’m always by your side with your dad.”

“Mommy, please don’t leave me!” I exclaim, sobbing harden than ever before.

“Lepa, relax, you’re all right,” Kian’s voice wakes me up from my dreams.

He caresses my hair and kisses my temple, mumbling sweet nothings in my ear. Slowly, I begin to relax and process the things that the goddess told me tonight. Is that a manifestation from my imagination, or is it real? And if it’s real, how am I supposed to leave my mates behind when the time comes?