Insight

As night came, Flint and Eve were finally in a room alone with their newborn pups. Johnny, Lynn, Austin, Ellie, Lauren, and Faye had all gone to their homes. The others were in their guest rooms getting some rest.

Flint held their son in his arms while Eve cradled their daughter. She had just finished feeding the boy and was now doing the same for her daughter. The small, suckling noises she was making brought a sense of peace to the space. It felt like the family were in a bubble of pure warmth.

“We never decided on a name. Now we need two.” Flint thought aloud.

“What do you like for a girl? We haven’t talked about any.” She nodded.

“I’ve been thinking about that. What about Nora?” He replied.

“Nora...” Eve pronounced the name. “I like it. It kind-of fits her.”

“Well, we need a middle name before we can decide.” Flint smiled and softly bounced his son the crook of his arm.

Eve felt like her daughter had changed everything. Her very existence was a surprise and a miracle. One name came to her mind and she couldn’t get it out.

“Sunshine.” She breathed.

“Nora Sunshine Dolan.” Flint repeated.

The Luna felt a pang in her chest. Her neck still felt injured, open, and stiff. She allowed the name to hang in the air.

“Weirdly, I like that one.” The Alpha answered.

Eve nodded painfully. This name would be another reminder of the time she’d spent away. Though, it’s not as if she could ever forget a moment of it.

“I know what we should name him.” She spoke quietly.

“We talked before about Stone.” Flint recalled.

“How about, Elijah Stone Dolan?” Eve stated.

He looked at his mate abruptly. The pain of his father’s death was still so fresh and new. He felt like his throat was closing; his eyes began burning.

“I think my father would be honored.” He replied stiffly.

“He would be.” A voice from across the room drew their attention.

The new parents looked up to see Selena entering the room. She sat beside her son, looking carefully at the pup in his arms.

“Mom-” Flint examined her.

Selena’s dark hair was pulled into a tight bun. Her cheeks looked somehow sunken. Her eyes were swollen and red from hours of crying. She had no make-up on, which was unusual. She wore a pair of torn jeans and a very large shirt. It was clear that she wasn’t in a good condition.

“I’m okay. They released me from the hospital thirty minutes ago.” Selena replied.

“Mom, I-” Flint felt tears on his lashes. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” She looked at him in confusion.

“I didn’t... I-I couldn’t...” He felt too strangled by his emotions to finish his sentence.

“Oh, my sweet boy.” Selena touched his cheek, wiping the tears away. “You couldn’t save him...”

Flint closed his eyes as more tears fell from his lashes. Selena kissed him on the forehead, pulling him into a hug.

“I heard all about little Eli Stone.” Selena eventually wiped her own damp face.

“Eli... Cute.” Eve whispered.

“Very.” The proud father smiled.

“What’s my granddaughter’s name?" Selena asked.

“Nora Sunshine.” Flint answered.

Her eyes abruptly met Eve’s. Selena had heard Bastian call Eve ‘Sunshine’. She was surprised but after a moment, her gaze softened.

“It’s beautiful.” She stated still watching her son’s mate.

Flint suddenly sat up, staring at the baby in his arms in bewilderment.

“What is it?” Eve probed in alarm.

“His eyes...” He breathed in awe.

The Luna sat up and looked at her son’s eyes. Their coloring was coming in, and it looked unnatural. His irises glowed with a jade, turquois color. It was as odd and fascinating, as it was gorgeous. Eve looked immediately at her daughter’s sleepy gaze. Her eye color was becoming brighter as well. But her right eye was green, and her left one was blue. The trio stared at the babies in surprise.

“The vine.” Flint acknowledged.

“That explains his. What about Nora’s?” Eve pondered.

“I don’t know.” He looked to his mother.

“My father had one brown eye, and one blue. Maybe she got it from him.” Selena pondered, “Did Elkin check their eyesight?”

“He said they both did outstanding on the APGAR test. 10 out of 10.” Flint answered.

“Good.” She sighed.

“Do you need me to call Gracie? She’ll set up a room for you.” Eve probed.

“No. I’ll find my way.” Selena smiled briefly, looking around at her marital home. “I’ll be leaving in three days, anyway. After the memorials.”

“Where are you going?” Eve probed.

Flint and Selena shared a long look. He put an arm around Eve’s shoulders meaningfully. She winced at the feeling of her non-existent neck wound, trying to ignore it. Her mate had a heavy look in his eyes. He needed to tell her something. A lot of things.

“I had to negotiate to get the vine.” Flint spoke slowly, trying to be clear. “I made some hard decisions.”

“Like what?” Eve asked worriedly.

“Mom isn’t part of StarLight anymore. When the mindlink was broken years ago, she reconnected to her previous Alpha. Noah.” He explained. “He wanted her back and, this way, she escapes whatever punishment StarLight would wish for her. Suspicion over her time of disappearance won’t be gone for long.”

“Are you okay with that?” The Luna looked to Selena.

“I am now. I think being part of a pack, feeling like part of one... It could be good.” Selena replied hesitantly.

“Will we see you again?” Eve asked in a concerned tone.

“Of course, dear. We’re a family.” She answered with a soft smile.

“Good...” She sighed.

“There’s more.” Flint stated reluctantly.

“Uh-oh.” Eve could feel the strain in her mate’s chest. He was unsure of his decision. It was weighing on him.

“I made a deal. I think I mentioned it you in a dream.” The Alpha held her closer to him. "Eli won't be able to attend the Call. His offspring will kill his mate; if he's even able to create them. They'll be too strong."

"No." Eve shook her head. "Condemning him to live without a mate... He'll be miserable! What about being Alpha? He needs a Luna to do that."

The newborns began crying at the feeling and sounds of rising tension.

"Listen, baby." He handed his mother the child in his arms before turning to his mate intently. "The vine has a side effect. Nothing bad, but it's important."

"You told me something about him being really strong in that shared dream. I remember that." Eve recalled.

"Yes. Each generation is stronger than the last. Eli is stronger than me, just like I was stronger than my father. But when the binding breaks, his wolf will be ten-fold stronger than he already would have been. If each generation is stronger than the last..." Flint let his explanation trail away.

"Goddess..." Selena sighed in awe.

"But he'll need a mate to be whole, Flint. He has to be whole." She looked at the baby in Selena's arms.

"I told them if he found a mate, I wouldn't stop him. He just can't attend the Call." He tried to comfort her.

"O-okay..." Eve felt overwhelmed.

She had dreams for her son. And his feeling incomplete and alone forever, wasn't one of them. She was trying to find a way around it, a way to fix it, something. Anything. Gracie entered the room in a nightgown and fluffy robe. She rushed to Selena's side, hugging her.

"You're here." The old woman rubbed a reassuring hand over Selena's back.

"For now." She nodded.

"Elijah will be missed." Gracie whispered.

"He already is." Selena wiped fresh tears from her eyes. "He left a wonderful legacy."

She handed the old woman the small pup in her arms.

"Let me introduce you to Elijah Stone Dolan." She stated.

"That's beautiful." The old woman began crying and cooing to the little bundle.

Flint's phone rang and he answered it. Eve listened as Duncan called in to report the secure status of the pack.

"But there's a rat. We both know it." The commander eventually sighed.

"Monroe." Eve interjected.

"What?" Flint looked at her curiously.

"The traitor. I was told. Monroe." The Luna commented.

Eve recalled the proud look in Bastian's eyes when she guessed the name Monroe on her first try. Though he never said anything, Eve knew his answer.

"Alpha?" He interjected.

"Did you hear that?" Flint asked into the phone.

"Yeah. Graham Monroe." Duncan replied stiffly.