Shadow

Raedwulf Dolph

Life seemed to fall into a pattern. Not the same pattern I had before, but one that I enjoyed better. Three days a week, I trained with Mikkeal and Olen. The other four I trained with Rikki and Idonia. To say that she is good would be an understatement. Not only is my mate fast, she's strong. Many female warriors I've see can be one or the other, Idonia is both. She has taken both of us down on multiple occasions.

Morning and evening meals are eaten together. Usually we have breakfast alone and dinner with Rikki and Disa or my family. Afternoons are spent working for me and as far as Idonia's afternoons, I assume she spends most of them in the library with Hertha or the gardens with other females at court.

That, or with the council planning the coronation. Khannun Kol wants to pass down the throne in the summer, meaning announcements and invitations need to be sent off immediately. Seeing as winter has set in, many ships have docked for the cold season. Though we have secured several messengers who will be taking the important notices to all the right people.

Then, of course, there are the nights. The nights are spent wrapped in each others arms. Idonia and I have no problems in the bed, sleeping has never been more comforting than next to her.

It was during one of those nights, that we are both woken from our sleep by screaming. A loud, brutal noise that came from down the hall. Idonia stays wrapped in sheets while I open the door. Three nurses are piddling in and out of Rikki and Disa's room. Rikki, pacing back and forth in the hall.

"Rikki?" I ask down the hall, causing him to speed over to me.

"She's in labor," he states frantically. "You're naked."

"Yes, well."

Idonia comes up behind me, a shift already over her and a dressing gown on top of that. "Disa is in labor?"

"Yes."

She looks up at me, then pushes herself on her toes to leave a quick kiss on my cheek. "I'll go in to be with her."

Idonia must have seen the same panic in Rikki's eyes that I did. Her dressing gown flutters behind her as she rushes into the room. It isn't ten minutes later that Disa screams particularly loud and Rikki rushes in after. I wait in the hall, explaining the situation to any curious guard or servant that was distressed by the noise. At one point, Mother comes up with a solemn look on her face.

"She has been laboring since this afternoon. The pup must come soon or I fear..."

"I think that is Rikki's fear as well."

"They are bringing up more fresh water and blankets," she says to me next, pulling he shawl over her more as her unruly hair falls in front of her face.

Not ten minutes later, two servants pass us by to take a bowl of steaming water and a pile of fresh linens into the room. Idonia comes out not long after that. Her hands have blood on them and her eyes have tears in them.

"It's not breathing," she cries. I hug her into my chest and she is careful not to cover me in Disa's blood.

Then something spectacular happens. The wailing of a baby rings through the floor.

Idonia lets out a small sob. Rikki runs out with the largest smile on his face. "A female," is all he says before running back inside. Idonia pulls back from me, giving me a large smile through her tear-stained face.

Idonia and I walk to the doorway, seeing the pup cradled in her mother's arms. Her mother being cradled in her father's arms. The servants all bow as they pass us. One stopping with a bowl for Idonia to clean herself of the blood.

"Let's let them be," I whisper to her. Mother gives us a smile before going back down the stairs to her hall.

Idonia and I tuck back into bed, the blankets cold from our long absence. Her back presses into my chest as we warm each other from the cold stone castle.

"I was there when Olen was born."

"Really?"

"Yes," she nods before snuggling into me more. "I swore I would never have pups that day. Not after seeing my mother bleed and scream so."

"I'm sure every female swears not to have pups at some point in their life. Especially after witnessing another give birth."

"But Disa said something to me tonight. She said 'as long as my pup lives, it can rip me open coming out.' It seems strange, but I realized that that kind of love, the one a mother and pup share. I do want that. Especially since I know you'll be with me when it happens."

"I will be by your side the entire time."

"For a second I didn't think Rikki would come back in."

"I knew he would be by her side or he would hate himself forever for not being there."

"And he saw that precious little pup be born."

"I can't wait until we have one, maybe soon?"

"As soon as it happens, it will happen. I have no control over the conception. It's not like we're trying to prevent it."

"And I will be the first to know?"

"After me," she chuckles. "Yes, of course."

The next morning, we are awoken not by the knock of a servant bringing us breakfast, but by Rikki. He stood before me with dark circles under his eyes and a smile spread across his lips. Idonia jumps out of the bed immediately to see him.

"Khanel," he spoke very formally. "Khanelea, I would like to present our pup to you first."

"Of course," Idonia answers for us. The castle seems eerily peaceful this morning. Rikki opens the door to his room and there we find Disa and the pup wrapped in multiple blankets on the bed. The blood from last night had been cleaned and all that was left was the smell of a newborn.

"Hello," Disa smiles at us, lifting the pup slightly to present her to us.

Idonia goes up to the bed and sits there immediately. Her fingers caress the girl's head, watching as the small body responds to the new person. "What name?"

"Her name is Sinikka Helvig," Rikki responds. "Named after my mother."

"She's lovely," Idonia's eyes brighten as the pup opens hers. "Those eyes, she looks just like you, Disa."

"That is a good thing, you've seen Rikki," I clap his back, but he just scowls at me.

"Do you want to hold her?" Disa asks Idonia, who nods before opening her arms to the babe. Seeing my mate with a pup in her arms made my heart flutter. Sinnika squirms and lets our some fussy noises. Disa and Rikki both tense, but Idonia simply rocks back and forth.

"Oh sweet girl, quiet down for your mother and father," Idonia coos. Almost instantly, she calms down and listens tentatively to Idonia's voice.

"How--" Rikki starts but stops when Idonia looks back at him with a breathtaking smile.

"I practically raised Olen since I had nine years," she reminds us. "Olen never got along with the nursemaids or the nannies. He only wanted me or Mother to put him to sleep."

"Then," Disa starts, she takes a deep breath. "Would you mind being her Gaudmotra?"

"What?" Idonia responds in shock. A Gaudmotra is a woman, often a relative, that helps new Mothers with their infant. Their job is to guide the pup into the right ways. Also, if something were to happen to Disa, Idonia will be solely responsible for being Sinnika's mother.

Rikki stands in front of me, "We want you to be her Gaudmotor."

"I'd be honored," I tell him before Rikki brings me into a hug.

"Me too," Idonia passes the pup back to Disa. "I'm here, for anything you need."

This is my 10 chapters left check in!

Let me say, writing these last few chapters was some one the most stressful writing I've ever done.

There is so much buildup. And I know it's about to get confusing.

Sooooooo...

Leave some comments!

And the buildup is very important for the next book!

That's right guys, I'm am currently working on "Radiance" the next book of this series.

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