Chapter 92
Read The Silent Alpha by Stephanie Light Chapter 92 – The Fire Tree
*Four Months Later*
***Natalia***
Life has changed drastically for my little family over thest four months. For starters, upon her return
from
France. Zane asked Queen Aurora for an alliance and she made an offer that Zane and I did not expect.
At first, I thought she was joking but the serious look on her face made me realize not only was she
serious, but
this was very important to her.
* shback
“There are luckily very few people in this world who understand the life these girls were forced to live…
but that also means very few people have the patience andpassion to handle the pain they’ve
endured,” she exins.“ I’ve spent months working with them, training them, rebuilding their homes into
a sanctuary, but they need leadership and guidance, things I cannot offer to them exclusively without
neglecting the rest of my kingdom,” she sighs, her face grim. “Things didn’t go as well as I had hoped in
France and I suspect Alpha Jacque and Benoit are already plotting their next moves. I need help with
Amethyst Lake while I start finding more allies, so if you are willing, I would be most honored to offer you
Amethystke and its territory.”
Timmediately like the idea as I hade to enjoy working with the girls. They deserve the very best
Alpha and I
could not think of a greater man than Zane for the job.
“B-But Ravenstone, your Majesty,” Zane asks in disbelief. “H-ow?”
“Amethyst Lake is being built to house 600 wolves with the idea being that it will be a sanctuary for
strays and rogues escaping abusive packs or war,” Aurora smiles proudly to herself. “It currently only has
about 200 wolves and Ravenstone isn’t very big. I’m sure thend can amodate all of your pack
and the girls just fine”
“But would integration be a good idea, your Majesty?” I ask her. “I’ve spent time with those girls and
while ! adore them, many are still frightened of men and even people. I’m not sure they are ready to be in
a pack with
strangers.”
“That is a valid concern,” the Queen replies. “But integration wouldn’t be immediate,” Aurora exins. “I’ll
admit, this task isn’t going to be easy but I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t think you could handle this.
The pack grounds are still under construction but it’s almost finished. Ravenstone could move in first
while the girls continue
their therapy and training until we’re sure they can live peacefully among other wolves. It may take
months or even a
year before your pack would be whole but if you’re up to the challenge, this could be really good for
Ravenstone and Amethyst Lake.” Her lips curl into a gentle smile. “I don’t need an answer right away.
Just think about it. Regardless of what you decide, I will respect your decision and will dly set up an
alliance if that’s all you seek.”
*End shback
Zane was very nervous to present the idea to Toran and the rest of Ravenstone, but after weeks of
deliberation, the Ravenstone wolves voted in favor of the move.
Things began to move quickly after the vote and I officially moved out of my little house in Poulsbo to live
with
my new pack. Zane didn’t want me to be overwhelmed with traveling between the packs, so he
urgently
suggested that I stay in the River Moon guest house with Kota, Agnes, and Nikki to keep mepany.
While in River Moon, I have worked closely with Aurora to n out theyout of the new pack, organizing
housing arrangements and representing the pack in Alpha meetings on Zane’s behalf. We have set up a
smallmercial center for our pack members to establish their own trades, builtmunity gardens,
parks, and even a
new elementary school. Construction of thest buildings waspletedst week and Zane has been
helping our pack members settle into their new homes and setting up our very own pack house. I want to
help but after witnessing some falsebor contractions, Zane has refused to let me anywhere near the
movers.
After my first month of pregnancy, I stopped being able to use my powers and I can no longer shift safely
without risking the life of my baby. In Zanes’ eyes, I am now the same human he met all those months
ago and he worries day
and night for my safety. It’s adorable but a little suffocating at times.
To please him, I’ve stayed home with Agnes, Nikki and Rionnna checking up on me every 20 minutes but
I’m on the verge of losing my mind after being confined within these four walls for the past 2 days. This
morning after Zane left for work, I began to feel contractions and have busied myself packing my bags
for the hospital. I forget, however, that mates feel each other’s pain and soon receive a worried mind-link
from Zane.
“Talia, are you okay?” Zane asks and I exin it’s nothing to worry about. “Are you sure?” he asks.
“They’ve been pretty far apart, “I sigh.” There’s no need to worry just yet. I’ll let you know when it’s time.
Okay?”
It takes a little convincing but Zane finally relents and lets me handle my business. As I fold the baby’s
clothes into their bag, I feel a rather strong contraction and decide toy down for a few minutes, closing
my eyes to rest.
“Talia, my darling little b***h, are you resting?” I hear a familiar voice call out from the stairs and I burst
intoughter as Gwen pops her head into my bedroom.
“Is that a witch I hear climbing up the steps,” I chuckle, rubbing myrge belly. “Have youe to steal
my children and bake them into pies?”
“Ugh,” she groans, gently pushing me off to the side toy beside me. “I have enough with the little
gremlin growing inside me to be eating more children.” she mutters, cing her hands on her little round
belly.
“Oh, but you do look amazing, Guinevere,” I smile, a tiny smirk curling on her lips. “I look like a f*****g
potato with an extra bud sprouting on my stomach,” Iugh.
“Oh, eat horse s**t, you c*nt,” she scoffs as I burst intoughter. “You look like a bl**dy princess with all
your …” She gestures to my entire body and grumbles.
“You didn’t say anything!”I giggle.
“Yeah well I’m tired and ran out of words,” she mutters, curling up in my arms and kissing my belly.
“You’ve been in there for quite a while, little one,” she murmurs to my baby. “Any ns oning out
soon? Your aunty Gwen would like to meet you so I can teach you how to terrorize your mummy.”
anks,” I mutter, Gwen smiling like a fool. “I’ll be sure to return the favor in two months.”
SU
“Oh goddess, don’t remind me,” She mutters. “I’m already over being pregnant. I don’t think I willst
another two months. These cravings are awful and my gods, the hormones! Last night, I burst into tears
when Svador ate one of my fries. I bl**dy offered it to him in the first ce!” she cries. “I scared him
half to death because I couldn’t stop sobbing! Poor b**tard just sat there shaking like a leaf bringing me
all kinds of snacks. I’m an awful person,” she
“Pregnancy just makes me horny,” I sigh, Gwen rolling her eyes at me. “I just see Zane and jump him like
a starved wolf. He coulde home exhausted from work and I will literally tear off his pants and climb
on him. No forey, no kisses, just ride him until I’ve had my fill so I can roll over to sleep. It confuses the
f**k out of him.”
Gwen chuckles to herself. “Men. They truly are at our mercy, aren’t they?”
“Indeed,” Iugh, caressing her belly. “Are you nervous at all? The first pup is always the scariest.”
Guinevere returned from her trip not too long ago and to my pleasant surprise, came back with a baby
growing in her belly. She’s been staying in Lluvia nca for the time being and despite loving her mate, i
know she’s afraid of
settling down and being a mother.
I’m terrified.” she admits in a whisper. “I never thought I would ever have a child,” she shrugs. “Much less
with a
wolf.”
“It’s alright to be afraid,” I reply, “Just take it one day at a time. You have me and Salvador, and this entire
kingdom at your disposal, okay? You’re not on your own anymore no matter how much you like to think
you are
“I know,” she smiles. “But I-”
“Mommy! Mommy! Look what I made!” Kota squeals as he bursts into the room and pounces on the bed
to show
me a string of pine cones. “Look, Mommy! It’s for Baby!”
“Oh how lovely,” Gwen says, taking the s ring from Kota’s hands. “These will look wonderful in Baby’s
room. Do you know what tree they’re from?” she asks, the pup nodding his head proudly.
“The Koyah tree,” he smiles, Guinevere bursting intoughter.
Content ? N?velDrama.Org.
“It’s Sequoia, Kota,” she corrects him. “Like this. SEH-KOH-YAH. It’s the biggest tree in the world and
one of the strongest,” she exins, Kota crawling onto herp and petting her belly as he listens. “They
are so powerful that their cones can only open with fire!”
“Woah!” Kota gasps, examining the cones with his fingers.
“Pretty cool, huh?’ Gwen smiles. “The heat makes their cones dry out and POP! Oute the little
seeds to grow
into new trees.”
“The cone has babies?” Kota gasps with delight. “Mommy-”
I feel a trickle between my legs and Kota looks down at the growing wet spot on my bed.
“Uh-oh Mommy! You peed on the bed!”|
“Talia?” Gwen asks, pulling Kota off to keep him dry. “Was that.”
“Yeah, my water just broke,” I groan, feeling another contraction ripple through my abdomen and across
my back. I breathe in and out slowly and force myself to sit up. “I should have shaved my legs,” I sigh
tiredly, throwing my legs over the bed.
“Tal, I think that is the least of your worries, love,” Gwen chuckles nervously.
“Just because I am a wolf, doesn’t mean my legs have to have fur,” I mutter, turning to my pup and
looking for an excuse to get him out of here. “Kota, go downstairs and tell Nonna to call Daddy, okay?”
He nods and runs away while Gwen checks my dtion and helps me into a new dress for the hospital.
Within
minutes, Zane bursts through the door in full panic mode, Agnes, Rionna, Kota, and Nikki flooding the
room.
“A-Are y-you okay?” Zane asks. “W-where does it h-hurt? l-is the baby okay? Should y-you even be s-
standing? W-where are the baby’s things? I-I knew I shouldn’t have left-”
“Zane,” Iugh, cupping his cheeks to calm him down. “I’m fine,” I murmur, breathing in and out slowly
with him. “It’s okay… We’re just having a baby,” I whisper, kissing the tip of his nose.
“W-We’re just having a b-baby,” he repeats, his panic slowly melting away as he smiles.
“It’s going to be okay,” I add. “But I’m going to be in a lot of pain very soon and today.”
on a
“N-not be an Alpha?” he asks in confusion.
“Exactly,” I shake my head, Just be my Zane today because I am going to hate you for the next few
hours and I
need you to love me through it all, okay?”
“O-okay,” he agrees, though I still hear the nervousness in his voice
Gwen agrees to watch Kota while the girls apany Zane and I to the hospital for the delivery. We are
checked
into a room and given gowns to change into. Almost immediately, the contractions grow in intensity and I
know Zane can feel all of them.
“Zane, put up your walls so you don’t feel it,” I insist when I notice him grimacing in pain as I brace for a
contraction.
“N-No,” He shakes his head. “Y-you’re in pain… So l-I’ll endure it with y-you,” he whimpers.
I almost want tough at him but the sincerity in his voice makes me feel bad.
“What good would that do?” I mumble, Dr. Meghan stepping into the room to check my dtion.
“Goddess, I hate you for this,” I groan, the doctor chuckling to herself as a number of nurses bring in
equipment for the delivery.
“I-I’m sorry,” he whispers, tying my hair up into a ponytail for me.
“Alright, Luna,” the doctor smiles. “It looks like it’s time to push. I need you to hunker down now,
She says. “Atta girl, that’s right.”
The nurses get into position and Zane stays by my side to hold my hand.
“Okay, Momma. Time to start pushing,” Dr. Meghan instructs and I squeeze Zane’s hand as I push with
all my
might.
“O-oh f**k,“ Zane whimpers, squeezing my hand in return.
“Zane, if you pass out, I will actually kill you,” I mutter, ring at him. “Put your walls up!”
The seriousness in my voice frightens him and he finally puts up his wall to block out our connection.
“Okay, now take a deep breath and we’ll go again,” Dr. Meghan exins.
Zane and I take several breaths before I once again hunker down to push. Zane grimaces as I crush his
hand for the next three pushes and I curse him under breath for impregnating me in the first ce.
“Okay, Luna, I see the head here,” Dr Meghan sighs. “Give me a big push. Big Push. Come on, Momma.”
Zane wipes away the beads of sweat on my forehead and I let out a loud scream as I push, feeling as
though my ***a is on fire.
“Do it again,” Dr Meghan instructs as I throw my head against the pillow in exhaustion.
I can hardly say a word as I push again, pain ripping through my body as Ignash my teeth together and
scream.
“Okay, momma breathe,” Dr. Meghan says in a soothing voice. “Take a few breaths. You’re almost there.”
“I-I can’t,” I whimper, Zane kissing my forehead. “Ce on, T-Talia. Just one m-more. Y-you can do
this,” he murmurs.
“I’m tired,” I cry.
“Y-You can do this. J-Just- oh shit-” he mutters to himself.
“What? What?” I ask, fear gripping my heart.
He shakes his head and blinks a few times, refusing to answer until I re at him.
“M-my wolf fainted,” he blushes with embarrassment, a small chuckle escaping my lips. “S-Sorry.”
Oh, for f***s sake, Devina mutters.
“J-Just one more push Ta-Talia and y-you can rest,” Zane pleads.
“O-Okay,” I sigh, once again taking his hand to push.
A thunderous scream rips through my throat as I push until finally, my paines to a climax and I hear
the baby’s cry for the first time.
“Congrattions, Luna,” Dr. Meghan announces, the nurses quickly wiping and cleaning my baby. “You
have a beautiful baby girl.”
Uit’s a girl?” Zane asks, his eyes welling up with tears as he looks proudly down at our small pup. “W-we
have a BIN? W-We have a girl. O-Oh my goddess, w-we have a girl!”
He kisses my forehead in pure happiness as the baby is ced on my chest and I get to see her
beautiful face for
timeche screams with life. She has a full head of hair already and her face, while swollen, is among the
à most beautiful I have ever seen.
“Oh she’s perfect,” I whisper, finally breathing with relief. “Hi baby,” I s*b, finally bursting into tears of joy
as Zane is instructed to cut the umbilical cord.
***Zane***
I didn’t realize pups were so small, Grayson purrs as we stare down at our sleeping pup, his tail wagging
happily from side to side. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I know, I murmur,pletely in awe of her beauty.
I did a good job, he says, puffing out his chest proudly. She looks just like me. She doesn’t look like
anyone, I mutter. Especially not you.
You’re just jealous of my strong genes, Grayson huffs. But that’s my baby. Just like Kota. He looks just
like me if you squint
Strong genes? You fainted, you j***t, I sigh, Grayson growling at me as I get up to check on my mate.
She too sleeps soundly, finally getting the rest she deserves after being bombarded by visitors all day.
The room is now flooded with pink flowers, balloons, and gifts for our baby and it pleases me to know
she is already beloved by
all.
We have still not thought of a name for our pup but we are in no rush. It’lle when ites.
“How is she?” Talia murmurs, her eyes still closed as she stretches.
“Perfect,” I reply, searching for a chair to rest in.
Talia scooches over and taps the empty space beside her. “Come hold me,” she whispers.
Thesitate at first but her pleading eyes are enough to convince me that I fit and I climb in beside her,
pulling her to my chest and sweeping away her hair from her neck. Exhaustion quickly lulls her to sleep
and I remain awake to watch over my girls as they rest.
I help Talia with nursing all throughout the night, and in the morning, I let her sleep in while I take care of
our daughter. There is a rocking chair by the window and I settle down to watch the sunrise with the baby
on my bare
stomach.
How about Rose? Grayson asks as he watches the sleeping pup. Or Cherry? She’s pink like a Cherry.
Can I hold her now? I promise I’ll be good.
don’t respond, Talia waking up from her slumber and calling me to bring the baby. Once in her mother’s
arms, the baby opens her mouth in search of a meal.
“You’re a hungry little caterpir, aren’t you?” Talia murmurs, pulling down her gown to nurse the baby.
She gently strokes the baby’s nose and the little pup slowly closes her eyes as she suckles. Talia then
smiles up at me, her voice a gentle whisper, “You know, it’s funny. I had a dreamst night and-”
She doesn’t get a chance to finish before there’s a quiet knock at the door and Gwen pokes her head in.
“Morning,” she whispers. “Sorry I’m early. Kota woke me up at dawn and won’t go back to sleep until he’s
met his sister.”
I step out into the hall where Kota jumps up and down in excitement.
“Y-you have to be quiet, K-Kota, okay?” I instruct, putting my finger to my lips. “Y-you don’t want to scare
her. She’s sleeping.”
The pup agrees to use his inside voice and I carry him inside the room. Talia has already covered up and
she wipes the baby’s little lips before presenting her to her brother. I gently set Kota on the bed and he
crawls to his mother’s side, peering over the pup and smiling at her with excitement.
“Hi s*ssy,” he whispers loudly, the pup opening her eyes and blinking up at him. He leans down to kiss
her cheeks and looks up at us curiously. “Mommy, when does Quoia (KOH-YAH)e home?” he asks.
“I want to show her her cones!”
“Quoia?” | ask, Talia’s eyes twinkling with delight. “Mhmmm,” Kota nods proudly. “Like the fire tree!” “It’s
perfect,” Talia agrees, smiling down at the sleeping pup. “Her name is Sequoia, like the fire tree.”
(A/N: Wahoo! We’re almost done! I have a huge announcement right after the epilogues so hang in
there! PS: 1 think Ravenstone will take on a new pack name once the move isplete. Any
suggestions? I’d love to see them!)