Chapter Eleven

Nelson

As I opened my eyes, a wave of contentment washed over me. Living in a hut in the Enchanted Forest without the amenities I was used to wasn't what I'd expected when I'd made my wish upon leaving Hung. However, I did find someone whom I believed would love me for the rest of my life. I rolled over to cuddle into Holden, the shifter whose children I would one day give birth to. Only I couldn't find him. I sat up and glanced around the hut. It was devoid of him, like the bed.

I sighed. He'd probably returned to the pond after he carried me back to our new home the night before. Or maybe he had to help settle a dispute in the village. Holden had been in the bed with me when I had fallen asleep, but I didn't know how long he'd stayed.

After relieving myself in the makeshift toilet built for me the day before, I trudged to the closest well to gather some water for washing up and to make coffee. Instant coffee had come a long way from the crunchy grounds in the jar available when I was a child, but it still wasn't the same as a freshly brewed pot. Yet, instant cold coffee, the French Vanilla flavor I'd requested, remained the only option available to me to get that morning caffeine jolt.

With a cup of tasty java, I headed to the pond to find my mate. Looking out over the water, I saw many striders on top of the sparkling ripples, dancing across the surface in between the lily pads. But I didn't see a turtle. Not even the head of one poking out of the pond. Maybe he'd gone elsewhere because he'd always come to the shore any other time I'd come down there.

I finished my coffee on the way back to the hut then decided to visit Walter. He was my next best option to find Holden without having to go into the village where I might encounter Banir. The head of the council hadn't seemed happy about me choosing Holden over him and everyone else on the council. I didn't want to ruin my happiness first thing in the morning.

When I reached the country cottage, no one seemed to be around. Not even the kids played outside. About to concede and head for the village, I heard a scream from inside.

I ran toward the house before the thought crossed my mind, not even considering the danger I might encounter. The front door had no lock, so I rushed inside then paused at the scene before me. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?"

Walter sat on the floor, his legs bent and back supported by a wood-framed couch. Sweat beaded across his forehead as he breathed in and out in short puffs. His children hid behind the couch, only their mops of hair and wide eyes visible as they peeked over the top.

"No," he groaned before clenching at his stomach. "I'm in labor."

"Oh." It took a moment for his words to process in my mind. "Oh, no. Where is Oscar? What can I do?"

"Oscar is working at the community garden." He winced, pushing on one side of his large belly. "I need Rauh. And Oscar. And a bucket of water."

"Okay." I hurried out the door to do what Walter asked of me. I had no idea how to deliver a baby or how to comfort his children. And calling 9-1-1 wasn't an option in the Enchanted Forest. So, I grabbed the metal bucket off the porch and raced toward the village.

I located Oscar first. "Walter's having your baby right now. Go home, and I'll get Rauh."

He didn't say a word, simply nodded at me before taking off toward his home. To find Rauh, I had to go farther into the village, where there seemed to be some kind of gathering happening. I tried to avoid it, slipping along the outer perimeter of the huts until I found the one belonging to the healer. But he wasn't there.

I dreaded going back out, sure I would have to encounter Banir at some point since he made himself hard to avoid. If Walter wasn't in labor, I would sneak back to my own hut, but I'd promised to help.

As I approached the crowd, I saw Rauh standing among them all. Luckily, he stood on the edge closest to me, so I approached him and tapped him on the shoulder.

He gasped as he turned toward me. "Nelson! I didn't expect to see you today."

"Walter is in labor. He asked me to fetch you."

"Oh." His eyes widened as his mouth fell open. "I must get to him right away."

Upon the healer's departure, I took in the scene in front of me. It seemed to be some kind of ceremony. And Holden stood in the center of the crowd, with Banir there, too, dressed in his ceremonial robe. Someone stood between them, a being I didn't recognize. Yet, with his perfect makeup and high-end fashion I could never have afforded, he had to be an outer-worlder. An outer-worlder who held Holden's hand as Banir droned on and on about something.

My stomach twisted as vices clenched my chest. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe as I watched Banir bond my supposed mate with the new outer-worlder. A sob escaped from deep within me, and that seemed to snap me out of my trance.

I had to get away, had to flee. I would return to the meadow to call Ahmed and demand he send me back. The only being in the Enchanted Forest I would have stayed for just bonded with another. I thought we had something special, but what I felt obviously wasn't reciprocated if he chose to be with another. My wish hadn't come true. The wizard had lied. His cards were duds. I wanted to return to my own world as soon as possible.

As I ran, the bucket I carried smacked me in the knee. I remembered my promise to Walter. He'd been nothing but kind to me, so I had to fulfill my last obligation to him before I left.

At the well, I pumped water into the bucket as tears streamed down my face. I'd really hoped things with Holden would have worked out. I hadn't known him long, but I'd really put a lot of faith in my wish.

No more. No more wishing on birthday candles or the first star I saw in the sky. And definitely no more throwing coins into fountains. All a waste of time and money, hoping for things that would never happen.

With a full bucket, I trudged back to Walter's place, my body feeling empty in comparison. Sure, it had taken Walter three tries to find his perfect mate, but I didn't want to wait around to find the next. I would return to my world, somehow find the funds to move across the country, and start over. I was willing to do it in the forest, so I could do it there, too.

As I approached the cottage, I wiped the tears from my cheeks. Maybe that was what I needed to realize all along; I needed to get away from what I knew to find the happy ending I wanted.

A shifter I recognized, but couldn't remember their name, met me at the door and took the bucket from me. The kids raced out the door then, hooting about another baby and no longer seeming terrified about their father being in labor.

The youngest tugged on my hand. "When are you going to have a baby?"

I gulped, swallowing the lump in my throat and trying to keep my tears at bay. "I...I don't know."

He shrugged. "Maybe the other outer-worlder will have a baby soon. Holden brought him here early in the morning. They woke us up before Daddy started having the baby."

The vices tightened once again, my heart shattering to pieces. I had to leave right away. Yet, when I turned around, I saw Holden heading up the path toward us. And he was alone.