Trixie woke up, feeling much better. She wasn't sure why, but was grateful either way. Sam lay beside her, his breathing normal, and she was glad, but something woke her. She turned around, but the other bed was empty. She raised her hand to rub at her temple, that one spot that always tingled when it came to her brother. She wondered where he was and if he was okay. Her movement caused Sam to open his eyes, his gaze first sweeping the room to be sure there was no danger before coming to rest on his mate. Trixie looked up at him. It seemed like he managed to shower and shave. She raised her hand to cup his jaw, her thumb moving over the smooth skin. He would look good with a short beard. She was never into men with beards, but for him, she would make an exception.
Sam's hand covered hers, bringing it to his lips for a kiss. "How are you feeling now?" He asked. She scanned her body, feeling a few sore spots, but overall, she was much better. "I feel good, still a bit tired, but I think I would like to move around a bit. Sam sits up, helping her as well. He got off the bed and then helped her stand on the other side, close to the heart monitor. She took a few steps, his hand on her waist to guide her as she slowly made her way to a chair next to one of the windows, Sam bringing along her I.V. She sat with a sigh, feeling like she had walked a marathon. She scowled at Sam, mumbling under her breath about how unfair life could be when you didn't have a wolf. Sam just laughed at her, walking over to a table in the corner that she hadn't noticed before. He brought over a tray and raised the cover with a flourish. There were two sandwiches, turkey on whole wheat, with lettuce and tomatoes. Little packets of ketchup, mustard and spicy chilli mayo. Along with a pack of potato chips. Sam settled the tray on her lap and ordered her to eat like he was a teacher in kindergarten. She frowned, but grabbed up half of one sandwich, dressing it before taking a bite. It was good, and before she knew it, she had eaten them both and was now knuckle-deep in the chips. Sam just knelt there in front of her, ensuring that she ate, wiping off sauce and crumbs, or offering water in between bites. He would make a great dad, was her thought as she looked at him, her heart no longer sinking in despair.
"Have you eaten?" she asked, after swallowing the last few chips, dusting her hands. Sam nodded and walked over to the bathroom, returning with a damp washcloth to wipe her face and her hands. She rolled her eyes. "You know, I could have just washed my hands." He nodded, his eyes fixed on his task. "I know you could, but I want to take care of you." His eyes raised to fix on hers, "I need to. You don't know how scared I was when I saw just how hard you were working to keep Trishanna safe. I felt that dark mist, and I wasn't sure if we would have come out of it alive." He placed the damp cloth on the tray that was on the floor. He cupped her face with his large, warm hands, the increased beeping of the monitor, sharing just how much his simple touch affects her. "You are the most precious thing to me, and I am going to spend the rest of my life taking care of you and the children that we have." He placed a hand on her stomach.
Trixie's eyes widened. What the hell was he talking about? She shouldn't be pregnant, right? At least that's not what the book said, but the way Sam kneeled before her, looking at her as if she were as priceless as a diamond and more fragile than glass, tears began to form in her eyes. "What are you saying?" she asked, her voice trembling. Sam's own eyes began to get watery as well. "Lorenzo saw some markers on your blood test, so he wanted to make sure he wasn't missing anything, so he ordered another test, this time more detailed, and there it was, plain as day. You're having a baby. We're going to have a baby." A cry of joy tore through her as she slid off the chair and into his arms, both of them weeping, huge smiles on their faces. Trixie pulled back, her mind wanting to be sure, but his nod cemented everything. She was going to be a mom, something she always wondered about in the recesses of her mind. "Shit, Bruno's gonna be an uncle". At the mention of him, she remembered what she felt. "Hey, do you know where he is?"
At that exact moment, Bruno was stomping around the forest like a moody teenager who had heard the word no for the first time. Well, it was the first time that his heart felt like it was being stabbed. Candice's rejection cut him so deeply that he was glad that she was not eighteen. He shuddered to think just how bad it would be if she were. He moped around, trying to avoid everyone. He knew he should check in on his sister, but with the way his emotions were all over the place, she would pick up on it and nag the truth out of him. He had no strength to deal with that, so avoiding her was his best option, that is, until he came close to the house, and some of the men saw him through the trees. They motioned him over, and Bruno did his best to school his features. Great, he was sure a few of these guys were with her, or at least wanted to be. He could just imagine the laughter and teasing if they only knew how she rejected him, and all he did was bring her lunch. His brow was doing that thing it does, so he inhaled and tried to relax his body. No need to give anyone any ideas.
"Hey, guys. You needed me?" They nodded, "I heard the Alphas were looking for you. I guess they want some answers." Bruno nodded his head, getting ready to leave, when one of them held him back by his arm. Bruno turned, wondering if this was a love rival of Candice's, but he simply asked, "You got what you went into town for?" Bruno looked at the man, a bit confused, until he realised that he was one of the guys by the garage. His shoulders relaxed just a tiny bit. "Yeah, thanks, man. I found a great little dinner with some of the best food and even better coffee." The man nodded a smile on his face, "Yeah, I know where you're talking about. That place is definitely one of the best." And with that, Bruno left, heading to James's office so he could give his report about what happened that night.
Bradley sighed as James closed the door after Bruno. His information was detailed but held no new leads. It did explain why they couldn't find Trishanna or feel that she was in distress, but again, Bruno made it clear that those details and explanations would be better if they came from his sister. Bradley looked at his hand, where the scar from their bond was, not overly surprised that it didn't heal the way most wounds do. James looked at his own. After the ceremony, they shifted and came back, neither wanting to be too far away from Trishanna and Chip. James wondered if they should pick a real name for their child. "I think we should. We can't legally register him as 'Chip' with the Council." James spun around, looking at Bradley with his mouth open. "How did you know that is what I was thinking?" Bradley sat up in the chair. "You just said it." James shook his head, "No, I thought it". Both men looked at each other before a laugh burst forth from both of them. Bradley stood, and James hugged him, hitting him on the back in joy. "It worked, it really worked." Bradley pounded back just as hard, two men celebrating a new level of communication and protection of the people most precious to them.
Trishanna walked in, carrying a wide-awake baby in her hands. She felt the connection earlier, but now she felt her body being flooded by a new level of joy and hope. "Hey guys, what are we celebrating?" The two men turned to her, their eyes going over her and then to their son. "Come in, we have something to tell you."
In the other realm, the witch sensed the shift that would change the tide in her favour. She had been pretending to be deeply trying to see what the stars foretold, but she knew what was about to happen, and she couldn't be happier, even though the stars said the same thing: that this reign was coming to an end, and a new one was about to begin. Many of his soldiers have lost more than they had wanted to risk, for nothing. The only one who seemed to have gained was him, and even he didn't seem happy with the world he created. She met his second in command at one of the abandoned houses, lost to many of the fires that ravaged the land. She knew that it was his home, his happy memories taunting him, but he could not stay away. Her feet were firm as she stepped between the falling remnants of the walls and ceiling, heading to the place where he and his family would have spent countless winters enjoying a warm fire that rivalled the warmth of their laughter. She saw it all whenever she dreamed, different folks she'd interact with sometimes, once, sometimes often. That was how she knew the tide had turned and whom to reach out to, drawing them to her cause while making it seem like theirs. She was no fool, only an old woman desperate to spend her last days in peace once more.
The man standing in the shadows shifted, sensing her presence. He held a soot-covered rag doll, his sister's. She laid her hand on his arm, comforting, but she had a vision where she would find it and came by two days ago and simply allowed it to be found easier. "I know how much you miss them", she said, her voice hoarse with sadness and empathy. His hand clenched on the doll. "My sister did not deserve to be treated like that and then tossed away. I should have come home when I heard my parents were dead, but I was so blind. A fool falling for the words of a snake clothed in moonlight, making us think that he would be better." She nodded next to him, "Now the dark side of that moon has plunged us into an eclipse that many feel like the sun will never return, but..." The man turned to look at her, and she gave him a toothy grin. "Even the stars are on our side, for things are shifting faster than he ever knows. This will all end, and peace can return." She squeezed his arm. "Keep finding more like us, but be careful, for I sense that he is noticing something is amiss. I will do my part, for he will demand my counsel soon." The Second nodded and she left him, fading into the cold mist that always filled the village at night, the weak sunlight keeping it at bay during the day.
The Second looked down at the doll in his hands, memories of his little sister carrying it everywhere, her laughter lighting up her face. He remembered his father's chuckle and his mother's smile, but their features were beginning to dim. His thoughts drifted to when he returned briefly after volunteering to get fresh supplies for the army, and he checked in on her. The hollow look about her, the whispers of neighbours. He remembered the confrontation, the way he pestered her until she broke down like the home they stood in, for with his parents gone, and taxes increasing to fund the stupid war, maintaining it was hard for her. He remembered the sick feeling that filled him and his desire for blood. He had promised that after his next return, they would both flee, but she could not take the whispers and she fled on her own to a place where only their parents would meet her. Tears filled his eyes even as stubborn determination filled his heart. He would see this monster killed, and he wanted to be the one to do it. Kissing the doll, he vowed to get revenge for her and all the other girls like her before placing it on the mantel and walking out through the ruins of his once happy home, his back straight, his mind set on freeing the people from this hell.