Northwood

The days following Kane’s disappearance were difficult on Adline who found that she only had her brothers to rely on for help when it came to learning about pack business. It was them who were trained by her parents to take over. Not her. And suddenly she found herself having to learn everything at a lightning pace.

Unfortunately for Adline she was extremely distracted and kept thinking back to the video of Kane. After watching it over and over again she didn’t find anything new and there was nothing much for them to go on. He’d vanished. That was that.

“Focus Addle,” one of her brothers spoke up as Adline struggled with what she was doing. Her brain felt foggy and her head heavy with sorrow. “There are a lot of people out there depending on you.”

Pulling her head up from the papers on the large desk at which she sat the young woman let a raggedy sigh slip from her lips. She was barely holding herself together.Casting her gaze towards her brothers they looked at her more than a little concerned. She had been so confident when taking control of the three leaderless packs and now she sat there barely functioning.

“I have an idea!” Her older brother almost yelled. “What if Adline focuses on Northwood, I take Carriere and Ethan you take home. Just until Addle gets a handle on things.”

It was a great idea that Adline couldn’t ignore and would give her some freedom to still do what she wanted, which at this time was sleep and mourn the loss of her mate.

“We’ll report to you daily and that way we can make sure anyone that’d be disloyal is made to leave to a neutral zone?” The more Nathaniel spoke about what they could do the more weight Adline felt lifting off of her shoulders. It was a brilliant idea!

“I’m fine with going home. I can go see what’s left of mom and dad’s place.” Ethan smiled rather enthusiastically, he was excited to be able to live at home and know there would be no threats.

“It’s settled then.” Adline sighed as she tried her best to see the good in the solution her brothers offered. “Make sure everyone deals to their dead. Northwood will be dealing to their dead tomorrow.” It would take time for some of the dead to be laid to rest. Their bodies torn to shreds and bits of some were spread far and wide.

Before long an insistent knock hounded at the door. Adline looked at her brothers from the large leather seat in which she sat. “Wonder who that is,” Nathaniel murmured as he walked towards the large wooden doors that shut off the office from the hallway beyond. Taking the handle and pulling the door open quickly Adline heard him gasp.

Neal entered the room in a rush. “You have to come quickly!” His breathing was ragged and strained. “There’s something wrong with Babel.”

Adline’s heart stopped in her chest as she flew out of her seat faster than the blink of an eye. Taking Neal’s hand she squeezed it gently, “What’s happening?” The thought of anything happening to Babel and the unborn child made Adline tense up.

“I think she’s going into labour!” He blurted out as his brows came together in worry and concern. “She’s in our room were waiting for the doctor but she asked me to get you.”

Adline’s hand closed around Neal’s as she tugged him out the door. “You two go see what’s happening in your territories. Call me tonight,” she ordered of her two brothers as she disappeared with Neal.

As the pair made their way down the corridor she heard one of her brothers murmur, “was that an order?”

To which the other replied, “I don’t know.....do you want to stick around and find out.”

Before she and Neal reached the end of the corridor she turned and narrowed her eyes at her brothers who stood there sheepishly.

“Yeah okay I’m going. You know what that look leads to.” Though Adline wasn’t an easy person to annoy and set off she had her moments just like everyone else. Ethan and Nathaniel disappeared quickly so as not to incur her wrath.

Before long Adline and Neal made it to the room he shared with Frosty just as the doctor arrived from the opposite direction. A slight bout of concern hit Adline as she wondered quickly who Neal had left Babel with. What if something bad happened in his absence?

Leaving the doctor to talk with Neal a moment Adline pushed the door to the bedroom open and spied Esme sitting there holding Babels hand.

“Oh thank god!” Esme cried as she pried her hand away from Babel. Opening and closing her fingers she looked as though she were struggling. “I may need the week to recover from this,” Esme joked as Frosty let out a pained cry.

“What the hell is happening to me!” She screamed at Adline as Esme exited the room quietly and carefully.

From memory Adline clearly remembered Babel telling her she was only a few months along. The child had longer to develop but it looked as though it was coming early.

“Excuse me Alpha,” the doctor scooted around Adline and made his way to the side of the bed.

Everything became blurry as the man busied himself with Frosty.

“Ouch!” She screamed loudly, “get this thing out of me!” Babel demanded of the doctor quickly and rather rudely.

“Babel,” he took her hand gently as she suffered through another contraction. “I need you to calm down. Your screaming and stressing isn’t going to do anything to help the situation.” The doctor was calm and level headed as he took in everything that was happening. “If you would like something for the pain I can give you something but I just need you to take deep breaths and try and relax.”

“Drugs?!” She screamed again as another contraction took hold. Writhing around the bed she placed one hand in her stomach and resisted the urge to push. “Give me drugs!” She demanded of the doctor as a demonic sounding voice filled the silence. If having a child was like this then Adline found herself wondering if she wanted any at all.

A sad thought struck her then. She couldn’t have children. Kane was dead.

Adline stood and watched what was happening, “how is she in labour now? Won’t the baby be tiny and sickly?” Adline couldn’t help but ask as the doctor prepared to administer what Frosty requested intravenously.

“Do you not know about the reproduction cycle of our kind Alpha?” The doctor asked as he prepared a clear liquid to administer to Frosty.

“Well,” Adline began with a blush. “It never really crossed my mind.” She shrugged her shoulders cluelessly. “Besides I had better things to do like read.”

The doctor laughed at Adlines clumsiness, “my dear you have much to learn.” He shook his head as Babel began screaming again. He quickly administered the morphine to Babel as she stilled between contractions. “It varies depending on the pairing but the gestation period for two of our kind is between four and eight months. If a human is involved well,” he mused rather grimly. “The results aren’t always good and there have been many cases of women dying during childbirth.”

Listening to his words drowned out all of Babels moaning and complaining and even drove out Adlines self pity and sorrow for she now had something else to focus on.

“Will you teach me more doctor?” She questioned curiously. “I want to learn as much as I can.” Adline had much to learn about everything but at least she was surrounded by people who were willing to spend the time with her and educate her.

Babel soon quietened enough for Adline to sit at her bedside. “Can you believe it Frosty! Soon your baby are going to be born,” a gentle smile caressed Adlines lips as she squeezed Babels hand tightly.

Hours passed and the doctor was soon joined by nurses as they checked Frosty at least once an hour for movement in the cervical area. Her contractions were closely monitored and timed and near the setting of the sun Babel began pushing uncontrollably.

“It’s time!” The doctor yelled as Adline was rushed from the room and to to wait outside.

She could hear Neal mumbling his apologies to her and even the nurses were apologetic at having to remove their Aloha from the room.

It felt like hours more till Adline heard a screaming cry as the babe sucked in huge breaths and let them out in gargled, slightly strangled cries.

With great anticipation Adline waited still and when finally she was allowed to enter the room again the most beautiful sight greeted her. Neal holding his mate who held their child. All the love in the world in their eyes as they stared down at the perfect tiny humanoid they’d created.

“Oh Adline come!” Babel called happily as she looked up at her friend who was on the verge of crying.

“Frosty,” Adline sighed. “Congratulations!” She whispered happily. Though part of her felt and wanted it to be her child she was happy for the pair.

“It’s a boy,” Neal beamed brightly.

“We want to call him Kane,” Babel added quickly.

For a moment Adline was taken aback by their choice of name and didn’t know what to think or say. She stared open mouthed at the pair for a moment before slowly nodding her head. “I hope he grows up big and strong like Kane was too,” though she couldn’t be happier for them Adline found herself on the verge of tears. “I’m sorry....” She mumbled softly. “I have to go.”

Turning from the happy little family she rushed from the room and down the corridor. Weaving her way through the house she soon emerged out onto a small, rarely used patio. As soon as the crisp evening air touched her ace she broke out in tears as she let her legs buckle and give way beneath her.

Her emotions were conflicting. She couldn’t be happier for Babel and Neal but hearing Kane’s name being bestowed upon their child just solidified what she would never have. It made her realize that what she wanted most in the world was now unattainable.