<h4>Chapter 297: The Wolf’s Gift</h4>


    <strong>Jacob~</strong>


    I pressed my forehead against Easter’s as her screams rattled the very marrow of my bones. The curse was gnawing through her veins like acid. Every second I hesitated, she slipped further from life’s embrace.


    "Hold her down," I choked out, my voice thick with grief and determination.


    Tiger’s massive hands pressed gently yet firmly onto her shoulders. Eagle was kneeling right by her feet, his head bowed low as he whispered prayers to the winds, his voice soft and rhythmic, weaving hope into every breath. Fox stood close, his fingers hovering just above her neck where her pulse thudded weakly. Little golden mes flickered along his knuckles, dancing nervously as if they too were worried.


    And then there was Bubble. Sweet, gentle Bubble. Tears streamed down his pale cheeks, each one falling soundlessly onto the floor like melting snow. He’d always been the softest of us all – the one who cried when the rest of us stayed strong. But today, seeing Easter like this, her pain so raw and deep, it was enough to break even the coldest heart.


    "Jacob," Natalie whispered beside me, her eyes brimming with tears. "Do it. Please."


    I sucked in a ragged breath and let the ancient power within me unfurl. My wolf spirit power rose from deep inside my chest, swirling around my heart with bone-chilling finality. The room darkened. Only the moonlight pouring through the window remained, illuminating Easter’s terrified emerald eyes as they locked onto mine.


    "Easter," I rasped, brushing my thumb across her burning cheek. "I’m so sorry. Please... forgive me for taking this choice from you."


    Her mouth trembled, her cries fading to tiny, desperate whimpers as her sweat-soaked curls stuck to her flushed forehead. "J... Jacob... what... what are you doing...?"


    I lowered my lips to her ear, my tears mingling with hers as I whispered, "Saving your life."


    Then, gathering every shred of my strength, I pressed my palm t against her chest. My powers surged from me like liquid silver, flowing through my veins, into my hand, and sinking deep into her heart.


    She screamed.


    The entire house trembled under the weight of her screams, the walls creaking and groaning as if they, too, were feeling every ounce of her pain. Tiger let out a deep, thunderous roar, his rage shaking the ground until cracks split the floor beneath his feet, the wooden boards splintering like snapped bones. Eagle’s winds howled in response, whipping through the room in furious, swirling cyclones that rattled every window and door. Fox’s mes burned so hot they turned white, curling and twisting around us like fierce, living serpents ready to strike down anything that threatened her. And then there was Bubble. His water rose gently at first, droplets shimmering like tiny shards of moonlight. They floated upward and spread out, merging into a glowing, translucent dome that covered all of us, locking away every sound, every scream, every whispered prayer, sealing us off from the world outside so we could face this storm together.


    Her body convulsed, arching against Tiger’s hold as a blinding light poured from her chest. The wolf spirit spiralled inside her, coiling into her very essence, binding to her bones, her blood, her soul.


    I held her tighter, ignoring her nails digging into my arms, ignoring her screams tearing apart what was left of my sanity. I felt her humanity slipping away, dissolving like mist under the sun, and in its ce... something fierce. Something beautiful. Something eternal.


    My tears fell onto her cheeks as her screams weakened to ragged gasps. Her eyes fluttered shut, hershes damp with sweat and tears.


    "She’s passing out," Bubble whispered shakily.


    "It’s okay," Tiger rumbled softly, brushing her hair back with his massive fingers. "Let her rest."


    But there was no time to rest. Another scream pierced the room – this time, not from Easter.


    "She’s crowning!" Natalie shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.


    My heart sank straight into my stomach. Until now, the baby hadn’t moved an inch, just stayed stubbornly in ce while Easter battled those brutal, unforgiving waves of pain. Panic shot through me like ice water.


    "The baby... it’s reallying now?!" I gasped, my voice cracking as I stared at her, happiness and disbelief twisting together in my chest.


    "Yes!" Natalie barked, grabbing towels and dropping to her knees between Easter’s legs. "Tiger, hold her hips. Eagle, support her back. Bubble, warm water – now. Fox, I need clean cloths."


    Everyone moved in perfect synchrony, driven by pure instinct and centuries of unspoken brotherhood. Easter was limp, unconscious, her head rolling to the side as Nataliemanded her to push.


    "Come on, baby girl," Natalie whispered, her forehead pressed against Easter’s thigh as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Come on... you can do this... your mama needs you to be strong..."


    Easter’s wolf spirit surged inside her, wrapping around the tiny life within her womb, protecting and nourishing it. I felt the child’s power hum against my senses – ancient and new all at once.


    "Push, Easter!" Natalie cried out.


    Easter’s body obeyed with violent tremors, and then – a wet cry filled the room, cutting through the chaos like silver lightning.


    Everyone froze.


    The baby’s first scream was sharp and fierce, echoing off the walls with breathtaking vitality. My knees gave out as I fell beside Easter, sobbing with relief and awe. Tiger’s tears fell silently, darkening the wooden floor beneath him. Eagle let out a trembling exhale, Fox pressed his ming hands to his chest as if holding his own breaking heart together, and Bubble copsed back onto his heels, covering his face with shaking hands.


    "She’s beautiful..." Natalie whispered, her voice cracking as she cradled the newborn close to her chest. "Jacob... Tiger... look..."


    Tiger reached out with trembling fingers, brushing the baby’s tiny cheek with such reverence that my tears fell harder. Her skin was soft and pink, her ck curls damp against her head, and her little fist was clenched tightly near her chin. But what stole my breath entirely was the pale full moon birthmark glowing faintly on her arm.


    Tiger let out a choked sob. "She bears the mark of the moon mother... she is blessed."


    I pressed my forehead against Tiger’s massive shoulder, both of us shaking with tears. "She’s perfect, Tiger... she’s perfect."


    Fox sniffled loudly. "Great, now I’m crying like Bubble over here."


    Bubble swatted his arm weakly, still wiping his tears with his sleeve. "Shut up, Fox... she’s just so... so tiny and perfect..."


    Natalie’s eyes shimmered as sheid the baby gently onto Easter’s chest. "Wee to the world, little moon child."


    Tiger sniffed deeply, wiping his nose with the back of his hand before looking at Natalie. "You... you’re crying too."


    Natalie chuckled wetly. "I am... because..." She swallowed hard, her eyes flickering between us nervously before she whispered, "Because I’m pregnant too."


    The room fell silent. Eagle’s silver eyes widened. Bubble gasped so dramatically I thought he’d faint. Fox let out a strangled squeal before flinging himself at her, hugging her so tightly she squeaked.


    "Oh my mother, Natalie!" Bubble sobbed, hugging her from behind. Eagle wrapped his arms around all three of them, his winds curling around their bodies like silver ribbons. Tiger and I joined the embrace, pressing our foreheads to hers as her tears dripped onto our cheeks.


    I chuckled softly, pressing my lips to her hair. "I already knew, but... congrattions, Little moon."


    She pulled back, wiping her tears. "I know you knew. You always know."


    Fox wiggled his brows. "We need to have a private talk about this pregnancy, Natalie. All six of us."


    Natalie snorted. "I’m aware. I’ll schedule it after Easter wakes up."


    As if on cue, a small groan rose from the bed. Everyone spun around as Easter’s eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused. She blinked at the moonlit ceiling before her gaze shifted to me. Confusion flooded her expression as she saw Tiger towering over her, Bubble’s glowing water floating around the room, Fox’s flickering mes, Eagle’s whispering winds, and Natalie holding her baby.


    "W... what... where...?" Her voice was hoarse, breaking on each syble. She tried to sit up, her eyes widening as she saw the tiny bundle resting against her chest. "Is... is that... my baby...?"


    "Yes, sweetheart," I whispered, brushing her hair back with trembling fingers. "She’s perfect. You both are."


    Her lips quivered into a smile of stunned relief. But before she could reach for her child, her entire body seized up. Her back arched violently as her eyes rolled back, a scream tearing from her throat so raw it made my bones ache.


    "Jacob!" she screamed, her voice shaking with terror. "What’s happening to me?!"


    Her veins glowed silver under her skin. The wolf spirit was merging fully with her essence now, bonding to her cells, her bones, her blood. I grabbed her hand tightly, pressing my forehead to hers as she writhed beneath me.


    "Breathe, Easter," I whispered fiercely, though my voice shook with my own grief and guilt. "Your wolf is joining with you. It will hurt... but you’ll be stronger than ever before. Just hold on to me... hold on, my love... I’ve got you... I promise I’ve got you..."


    Her screams pierced the night as my brothers stood around us, silent sentinels of power and sorrow. Natalie pressed the baby closer to Easter’s chest, tears dripping down her cheeks as she whispered prayers for strength and peace.


    "Please... please... make it stop... make it stop..." Easter sobbed, her green eyes wide and terrified as they locked onto mine. "Jacob... please..."


    I pressed my lips to her temple, my tears falling onto her burning skin. "I’m so sorry... but I promise, when this is over... you will never be weak again. You will never be alone again. I promise you, Easter. I promise you..."


    And as her screams echoed through the moonlit room, I clung to her with every ounce of my immortal soul, silently begging the high gods to let her survive what I had done.


    Because I knew...


    If she didn’t... I would never forgive myself.


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