124. A Life

KIARA

The following day, things didn't turn out as expected. Liam told Dad he wanted to leave for his Alpha training immediately. I knew Mom and Dad knew something had happened, but they didn't know what.

Raven came to see baby Azura but like always she was all smiles and energy. She was in pain, I could sense her emotions that she was trying so hard to hide but she still acted so cheery, waving a very cute yet ugly octopus teddy she had brought for Azura.

I too couldn't stay any longer either, although I wanted to be here for Raven, I felt unsettled and the urge to go to Alejandro was at breaking point. So the plan was made, Liam will drop me off and then head on to meet up with Rayhan who was leaving for his training soon too. Liam would stay at The Black Storm Pack for a week or so before both continued to their first location for their training together.

I was dressed in Alejandro's shirt and leggings, my hair up in a ponytail and a pair of sneakers on my feet. Liam was just taking his bags to the car. We hadn't spoken about it again, but it was clear he was running away.

I was standing by the window inside Dad and Mom"s house watching him, my hand caressing my stomach.

"Are you really not going to tell me what happened?" Mom asked from where she lay on the sofa with the baby.

"It isn't my place to," I said quietly.

There was no point in lying to her that I didn't know when she knew I did. She sighed.

"I know… He needs to figure it out. I have a few ideas about what it could be, but I'm not sure." She murmured.

"Hmm." I said not wanting to ask her what, just in case she was close to the truth and my heartbeat gave it away, but she decided to share anyway.

"One, Raven didn't turn out to be his mate. Two, he's mated to a handsome boy! I swear it could be Angela's story all over again." Mom said with a smirk.

I looked at her, sometimes I felt I was older than her. Well, her assumptions were wrong…

"Who knows." I said, turning back to the window just as Liam slammed his trunk shut.

"You know." Mom remarked.

My heart skipped a beat as none other than Damon walked over to him. I watched him trying to stop Liam from walking away, who clearly didn't want to talk to him.

"Kiara, what is it?" Mom asked me sharply.

I shook my head.

"Nothing." I said quietly watching the boys.

It was clear Damon was trying to talk to Liam, who refused to even listen. He was shaking his head before he suddenly punched Damon straight across the jaw, making me gasp. Damon shoved him back into the car and I stepped back ready to rush outside when Damon walked off.

"Kiara."

"Liam's ready to leave Mom… I should go…"

Mom put Azura down and came over to me. Without her red lipstick and makeup, she looked so much younger and dare I say it, gentler. I smiled at her when she wrapped her arms around me.

"I will come to you a week before your due date." She said kissing my forehead. I had to bend down a little for her to reach me.

"Thank you, Mom." I whispered, I didn't have long left.

It was finally time to go home.

-----

The journey had been ok apart from two stops thanks to me needing the toilet and this baby kicking me like there's no tomorrow. Liam hadn't spoken much, but he had also been really patient with me. I felt restless the closer we got to home and my stomach was twisting. Something just wasn't right. The warriors who had accompanied me were following in two cars. I had no idea why I felt so uneasy.

We had just entered pack grounds; the "welcome home, Luna" came from many of my pack members through the link. This truly was home… I just wish I had Alejandro with me.

"You should stay for a bit." I said to Liam.

I could feel his troubled state.

"No thanks, but take care of yourself." He said as he helped take my bags inside before giving me a tight hug. "Can't wait to meet my little nephew either."

"I will… you too." I said quietly.

I rested my head on his chest wishing that he found his happily ever after.

"Things will be ok, Kia." He said softly.

I nodded before he got back in the car and drove off. I hurried inside and up the stairs, his faint smell mixed with several others hitting me as I inhaled it deeply, wanting to get to him quickly. My heart was racing as I rushed down the hall.

"Kiara!" Darien said suddenly appearing in front of me, I gasped, jumping back and I may have fallen if he hadn't caught me.

"What are you doing?!" I scolded, my heart thudding.

"Sorry… Can we-"

"What happened?" I asked, sensing his panic and fear.

"Nothing… His vitals just dropped a little."

"And you didn't tell me!" I shouted, my heart squeezing as I pushed past him and into the bedroom.

Serena, Doctor Callum and two nurses were rushing around Alejandro.

A little? I could sense the anxiety and fear rolling off every single person in this room.

"…ready, just in case. Oxygen levels dropping to 78… heart rate- Luna…" Callum looked pale.

My eyes blazed in pure rage. How dare they not tell me!

I rushed to the bed, placing my hands on Alejandro's chest and poured my healing into him. Callum looked at the machine.

"It's not picking up."

"Why did no one tell me?!" I shouted, I felt sick.

"It only happens ten minutes ago Luna and when we heard you were on your way back, we knew you'd be here soon, rather than panic you on the way. I was coming to get you." Darien replied tight-lipped. I could feel his worry despite how composed and calm he was trying to act.

I couldn't even focus on anything, my hands splayed on Alejandro's chest. Pouring everything I had into him.

"What changed?!" I cried in frustration; his heartbeat was dipping.

"I don't know." Callum said. "The only thing I can think of is you not being here by his side."

It felt as if my own heart had stopped beating. My visit away cost him. No! No!

"Luna move back, we"re going to use the defibrillator." Callum said.

"He can't die." I said, "He can't!"

I looked at his face, his beard as groomed as always. I had washed him and taken care of him for the last four months and he truly looked like he was just asleep. Praying that he'll wake up soon, this can't be happening.

‘Please baby, wake up!' I cried through the link as I moved towards his head, letting Doctor Callum do what he needed to. I didn't stop healing him, I couldn't let him go. Wasn't this my ability? To heal? Tears streamed down my cheeks and I felt as if I couldn't breathe.

Sharp pains wrapped around my stomach, dragging me from my thoughts, another strong cramping pain hit me and I gasped in pain.

Not now, baby, not now… I whimpered, feeling him kick. It was then I realised the pain I had just felt seconds earlier was not from his kicking… I bit my lip when another wave hit me and I realised it was contractions.

"One two… three! Again!" Doctor Callum shouted as Alejandro's body jolted up from the bed as he used the defibrillator.

"Kia are you ok?!" Serena asked.

"I'm fine!" I whimpered, ignoring the agonising pain in my abdomen.

I wasn't ok. How could I be? When my mate was dying! I was trying to heal him, but nothing was happening! The pain in my chest and stomach was only growing. Listening to Alejandro's heart rate drop then beat weakly, then the most terrifying thing I had ever experienced happened. His heart didn't beat.

A long beep rang in the room and I felt something wrench in my chest, the pain was even more than my contractions. I didn't even realise when I cried out, falling to my knees. I couldn't breathe… This pain… I felt as if something was being clawed from me. I screamed out in agony and then I felt a sudden emptiness.

"Luna!"

"Again!" Callum shouted, but it was useless. His heart didn't beat again.

"He's gone." Darien whispered, stepping back.

No… No!

I gasped as I clutched my stomach, staggering to my feet. No… He can't go, he can't leave me.

"He can't." I whispered to no one in specific, my aura flaring up as I grabbed onto my king's hand. "Alejandro no! Wake up!"

Ignoring the pain that tore through me, I put everything into my healing. Tears streamed down my face as my wolf whimpered in pain.

You cannot leave me!

"Luna… Stop… You're going to wear yourself out!" Callum pleaded.

But no one was able to get close to me. My burning aura filled the room and everyone was pushed away.

"You promised to be here!" I cried out.

I had hope! Hope he'd wake up someday but how could he do this!

"Wake up!" I screamed, "Damn it! Heal!"

My body tensed, another round of contractions rushed through me.

"She's in labour!" Serena cried.

I felt a gush and knew my waters had broken as well, but I couldn't focus on anything but him. How could it be the day his son was to come into this world he would leave? My vision darkened and I realised I had exhausted everything I had. I didn't realise when Darien lifted me up, I only felt Alejandro's hand slip from my grasp.

No… I can't leave him…

I turned my head, my gaze taking in the man that lay on the bed. A king… My king.

I need you…

-----

I opened my eyes gasping as I jolted upright, a dull pain in my lower stomach.

"Alejandro!"

"Luna..." Callum said, his eyes shadowed. "We're sorry, but there was nothing we could do."

It was dark outside. How long was I out?! I closed my eyes, tears streamed down my cheeks as I sobbed in agony. Please don't say that.

"We tried for thirty minutes, but there was nothing we could do." He whispered.

"I left him... this is because I left him." I sobbed, clutching my chest.

It hurt, yet it also felt empty, like most of me was gone… and it had. Alejandro…

I grasped my belly when I suddenly realised, I no longer had a large bump.

"My baby!"

"He's a healthy boy..." Callum said smiling gently. "Relax my queen, we had to do a C-section."

"Where is he?!" I asked, panicked.

I didn't even wait for an answer as I pushed the blanket off and rushed to the baby crib that stood beside the bed, but it was empty.

"Where is he?!"

"Calm down, Luna, the nurse has gone to clean him up. There's something we need to tell you-"

"I want my baby!" I screamed.

Everything was unravelling, I felt as if the walls were enclosing in on me. I couldn't lose them both. No, how could I lose Alejandro?!

"Luna… calm down." Callum said just as a nurse rushed back in. He had probably mind-linked her to return.

I rushed over, taking the bundle from her as I looked down at my baby. My breath hitched as I felt his warmth in my arms. I fought back the tears as I gazed at my beautiful baby boy. He had a head full of black hair, juicy cheeks and when he opened his eyes and looked at me... I gasped.

Looking back at me was not just an ordinary pair of eyes, but eyes that were bright red. What made my stomach twist with nerves was the slight dark glow that emitted from them. A softer version of Alejandro's Lycan eyes.

"Yes… that's what we want to tell you. His eyes seem unique."

Unique.

My heart thumped as I felt the power that rolled off the child in my arms.

"He's powerful." I whispered, in awe and worry.

I held my baby close, inhaling his soft scent, feeling all life leave me as I staggered to the bed. The nurse and Callum rushed to assist me.

"Skin to skin will help you both." The nurse murmured, helping me slip my gown open and put my little boy inside before she adjusted my pillows for me.

"He was three weeks early, but he weighs 9 pounds and 6 oz." Callum said.

I couldn't respond, I felt suddenly numb. This was supposed to be one of the best days of my life... But it was the saddest day at the same time… I couldn't believe he was gone, it didn't feel real. It hurt that instead of crying in happiness to meet my little prince I was crying for the loss of his father.

A father he'd never get to see. I sobbed as I rested back, looking down at him. Alejandro… I saw him, in our pup. He would have been so proud, he had wanted a baby boy.

"Alejandro." I whispered. The pain in my chest was unbearable.

"Luna, you can go to him soon. We won't move him until you tell us to." Callum said gently, sadness in his own eyes.

Move him? Meaning to bury him? I began crying as I hugged my baby tightly.

"Is he really gone?" I whispered.

"I'm afraid so Luna."

-

DARIEN

I closed my eyes as I listened to Kiara's gut-wrenching sobs as she hugged her child, turning away from the small window in the door.

We had all felt our Alpha pass. Seeing Kiara's agony, her pain and her effort to revive him… it broke me. We had no idea what had changed, he was fine this morning.

I took a deep breath, fighting back my own tears. Right now, I was in charge. Do we tell Rafael that his brother had passed away? So far, only those in our pack knew, but it was too soon to tell anyone else. The entire pack was restless. Although I had broken the news that our future king had been born, we were still mourning the loss of our previous king. This day would be the saddest for this pack…

I was in awe when I had seen the child. His glowing red eyes, the power I could already sense in him, a child that would be equally feared and respected. Something told me he would be far stronger than his father even.

This should have been a day of excitement, a day of happiness... But it wasn't.

Seeing Kiara, a young girl who was only eighteen, lose her mate... She had been so strong, so positive that he would wake up. I made my way back to the mansion, the setting sun casting long shadows on the floor.

Why Selene…? Why did you do this? I pushed open the door and walked up the stairs with a heavy heart. Why did we have to lose our strength? The one who was the shield for us all. We needed him. Kiara needed him; his son needed him.

Why didn't he get a chance at his happy ending?

I pushed open the door to the bedroom, taking a deep breath, bracing myself to look at the body of my best friend. Someone I still could not believe was gone… I looked up slowly and my breath hitched.

My heart thudded as I stared at the room before me, the setting sun cast warm light through the room, illuminating the bed. The bed that we had left Alejandro in. A bed that was now empty.