☽ Chapter 45: Family ☾

?Chapter 45 – Family?

I smile down at the white- and curly-haired angel sleeping soundly in her bassinet, wondering if I will be a good mother to my newborn daughter. These last few weeks have been a blur but she is here safe and sound. First, we returned home to announce Ariven as my mate and make sure that Alex did not do the “brotherly love” beating that Ariven would have won instantly. Then came the announcement of our pup’s impending arrival, which sent the pack into even more of a celebratory frenzy. After that, we welcomed the many new pack members and began our expansion, building new cabins and dorm buildings to accommodate my growing pack, with Ariven and I arguing many times over me helping with building, considering I am pregnant. We then officially moved into my cottage I designed the day I claimed the land as my own, slowly feeling the warmth and love I longed for inside it, making me happy that I agreed to Ariven’s request. As my pregnancy progressed, many pack duties soon became irritating and I found myself snapping more than usual as my hormones fluctuated. Thankfully the cottage became a sanctuary for us to relax after a long day, with no one to bother us up until my pup was born. Then everyone came to pester me and the future-future Moon Goddess much to my displeasure and Ariven needing to shoo them all away before I electrocuted them. Now, as I look down at Destiny, I wonder if I will be a good mother to her. Watching my pup sleep safe and sound and knowing my own upbringing, would I be able to raise her opposite to my own childhood? Can I really train her to take the place of Moon Goddess when her time comes? “Penny for your thoughts, Little Wolf?” I turn and see Lizaria walking into the room with two mugs, the smell of hot apple cider wafting towards me. “I’m just thinking.” Meekly I reply. But this causes Lizaria to sigh as I take the offered drink and the Elf turns to look at my pup. “I was never able to have children, but I’d like to think I raised you just how I would raise my own, to be strong and honest, but also know when they are wrong.” She states, causing my eyes to widen with shock as she gently caresses Destiny’s tiny cheek. “I remember when I first started teaching you, every bump and scrape. I remember all the worry and pain I faced when having to see you leave, to return to those wolves who hurt you so badly. You are the daughter I always wanted.” My eyes begin to tear as I think to the day when Lizaria first approached me. Snuggled up to the unicorns in the wildflowers napping with the foals, the Elf carefully woke me up with a smile, asking me if I was okay. It was another day of being punished by Jasmine, and the red mark of a handprint across my face was answer enough that I was not okay at all. Lizaria hugged me as I cried, combed my unruly hair into braids, and for once I felt safe in an adult’s arms. The years of her teaching me about history, hand-to-hand combat, and then weaponry as I grew older are years that helped me to be the woman I am today. Lizaria is the mother who raised me. “I love you, Mama.” I whisper, leaning into the Elf beside me and getting a choked chuckle as a response from her. “Will this pup call me Grandmother?” I look to see the tears falling from her eyes and smile, looking down to see Destiny watching us. “Of course, you earned that title.” I return to those thoughts about if I will be good mother or not to Destiny and smile. Because of Lizaria, I know I will be a good mom. Destiny and any future pups will always have a place to call home and a family. “Ladies, if we were having a party in the nursery, why wasn’t I invited?” I smile as my mother, Lisandra, walks in, coming to stand on my other side as she pulls me into her arms, hugging me tight. “To think our daughter just had her own daughter.” She states, looking over my head at Lizaria. The Elf chuckles and joins in the hug, her long hair blending into mine and my mother’s. “Yes, our daughter had her own daughter.” Lizaria agrees. I smile, thinking about how horrible Jasmine was to me, but this led me to meet my chosen mother, Lizaria, and my real mother, Lisandra. “Did you speak to Liz yet about your idea?” Mother asks as the three of us pull away from the hug and—with their help—walk over to the small sitting area Ariven set up in the nursery as a surprise for me. “Not yet.” I answer as a confused-looking Lizaria looks between the two of us. I smile, and link Ariven to bring the folder from my office and meet us in the nursery. Minutes later, he appears with a smile, passing me the folder before making a beeline for our daughter to coo over her. I chuckle and shake my head. The sight of the tall and muscular, tanned, tattooed man holding a small newborn wrapped in pink melts my heart, his long, black hair tied into a braid down his back. I wonder if a pup will look like him when we expand our family. “The idea that Ariven, Alex, and I came up with is to allow the unicorns to roam the pack lands freely and have my wolves introduced to them.” I state, looking away from my mate and handing the folder to Lizaria. “All the wolves know you as part of the pack and my second mother, but they have no idea where you disappear to and why you cannot leave the land.” I continue, Ariven coming to sit beside me with a sleeping Destiny in his arms. “Gem, we talked about this. The pro—” “Protection of the unicorns are your responsibility as they are the last herd, I know. But my pack will gladly take care of them with you and help lessen the burden. They all came here for a second chance and a true family, and you are part of that family.” I see her hesitation as Lizaria looks through the folder of wolves who know about the unicorns and their letters pledging to protect them. Silence takes over the room while we sit waiting for Lizaria’s answer. I can only suggest this idea to her and not force it if she says no. “Okay.” She finally agrees, closing the folder. I smile, turning to Ariven who nods in understanding. Tonight, we will have a pack meeting and place Operation Unicorn into motion. Lizaria needs a break, and as part of my family, I plan to help her like she has helped me.