Redeeming the Broken Dragon

Chapter 8. The Checkup

The morning sun was barely over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the Moondance Pack territory as Lila and Gabriel made their way to the clinic for a pregnancy check-up. Lucky for them, Dr. Cassandra was visiting. Their strides were synchronized, physically manifesting their deep connection as mates.

“Crimson joining forces with Solstace to seize Zoltan will be quite a show for the rest of us.” A chuckle escaped Lila, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she recalled Solstace’s dramatic exit. “What do you think his problem is with Crimson?” She asked Gabriel.

Gabriel laughed. “With her? Or the world in general? That dragon has a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas.”

Lila laughed. “Oh, this is going to be a show and a half. But I feel bad for Crimson. Working with Solstace will be like walking through a minefield blindfolded—especially if he continues to play the trust card.”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened, his gaze drifting away as worry washed over him. “Let’s hope she has the ability to help dragons overcome their mistrust.” They both shrugged a gesture reflecting their shared uncertainty. Lila’s eyes held a thoughtful glimmer as she pondered Solstace’s solitary existence.

“Solstace is the last of his kind,” Lila mused, her voice. Her fingers idly twisted a lock of hair, a habit she fell into when deep in thought.

“I can understand his apprehension with others. It’s unlikely he’s ill-intended, just very…” Lila paused, searching for the right word as her gaze drifted to the horizon, “awkward?” Her eyebrows arched slightly, conveying empathy and a hint of curiosity about the enigmatic character.

Gabriel let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world, his shoulders slumping slightly. He paused, searching for the right words, “I want to believe that; we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

“Solstace is like something out of an old legend, living by the raw rules of survival and keeping his bloodline going,” Lila sighed. “But he’s not about to risk this new alliance just to scratch an itch—it’s not his style.”

Gabriel’s eyes warmed, a tender smile playing on his lips as he gazed at Lila. ‘You know,’ he began, his voice softening to match the fondness in his eyes, “You’ve got a knack for finding a spark of good in the trickiest of characters, even dragons.”

“Because I’ve seen the alternative,” Lila countered, her voice tinged with sadness. “In our shaky world, where any choice might flip everything from calm to crazy, hope keeps us going.”

Gabriel squeezed her hand gently, pulling her closer as they walked. “And that’s why I love you, my pretty one. You remind me that even in the darkest moments, hope should be the last thing we lose.”

“Just for that?” she winked at him,

“For that and so much more.” He kissed her tenderly.

Mate is amazing. Zeus chimed in.

I know, buddy, I know. Gabriel gleamed at his mate.

As they approached the clinic, their attention shifted from the pack to their growing family.

“Let’s go meet this little one,” Gabriel gleamed as he touched Lila’s belly.

As Lila crossed the threshold into the examination room, she drew a deep, steadying breath, her fingers briefly tightening around Gabriel’s. The sharp, sterile scent invaded her senses, an unwelcome reminder of the clinical world they were stepping into.

Why does it smell so bad? Venus complained.

You are such a diva! Lila replied to her with exasperation.

Pff… gestating mammals have a heightened sense to keep their buns in the oven safe. Venus countered.

Are you for real? Lila replied.

Gabriel was right beside her, his hand warmly enveloping hers. Doc Cassandra entered, the leather pouch in her hand emitting a soft clink of medical tools with each step, her brisk, purposeful stride filling the room with professionalism.

“Thank you for meeting us, Doc,” Gabriel commented, his eyes scanning the room before settling on Doc Cassandra. The atmosphere was light and full of unspoken happiness that seemed to defy their turbulent times.

“It’s my pleasure, Alpha.”

Doc started setting up her work area, laying a paper cloth on the examination table, and powering the ultrasound machine.

“Alpha, you know you must replace me, right?” She asked, smiling.

Doc Cassandra had been the pack doctor for about ten years when she met her mate, William, the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack (see Book 2 of the Moondance Pack Series – The Witch and the Wolf). Several weeks ago, she accepted her role as Luna and moved to the Blood Moon Pack, but Gabriel still had not replaced her.

Gabriel chuckled. “But don’t you do house calls anymore?” He replied with a childish grin and pleading eyes.

“You know I love you both and the Moondance pack. But the situation is not viable. You need someone on-site, not several hours away.”

Gabriel had been postponing looking for a replacement doctor. She couldn’t say she blamed him. How was it even possible to replace Doc?

A gentle chuckle escaped Lila as she gently settled onto the examination table. “Ten weeks. Can you believe it?” She said, trying to change the subject. Like Gabriel, she wasn’t quite ready to accept they needed to find a new doctor to replace her aunt. “Already 18 weeks of baking this little bun!”

“Time flies,” Gabriel said softly, kissing her forehead gently.

Doc finished laying out her instruments and then turned to Lila. “I still can’t believe you’re carrying the next generation. Your mother would have been so proud of the woman you have become. And she would have loved to be a grandmother to your pup.” She paused and glanced at both of them, tears filling her eyes.

“Thank you,” Lila said, fighting tears of her own. “I’m happy you’re here for it. You’ll make a fantastic great-aunt.”

“A what now?” Gabriel looked at her, confused.

“Well, my mother would have been a grandmother. So it would make sense that my aunt is a greataunt. No?”

Gabriel and Doc shook their head.

“Great Aunt Cassandra it is then,” Doc replied, proud of her newest title.

Doc took on a more serious face. “But I’m not letting this go, Alpha. You need to find a new doctor for the Moondance territory.” She hoped returning to business would ease the overwhelming emotions from thinking about her sister.

“I already started the search,” Gabriel told her, his eyes momentarily flicking away as if grappling with an invisible burden. “The trick is finding someone who can hold their own—someone as proficient as you.”

Doc caught his gaze, aware of the gravitas lurking beneath his words. She offered a reassuring nod. “If you’d like, I could lend a hand in the search.”

A visible wave of relief washed over Gabriel’s face, his eyes lighting up with newfound hope as he eagerly nodded. “Help? Are you joking? That would be a goddess send.”

Cassandra chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Alright, alright, let’s not get overly dramatic here.”

Turning her attention to Lila, Cassandra gently placed the stethoscope against the swell of her belly. As she listened, her eyes closed briefly, savoring the rhythmic beat. “Ah, the sound of life. It’s a melody that never loses its luster.”

Gabriel leaned in, his voice tinged with exhilaration and apprehension. “And how is our little one faring?”

Cassandra removed the stethoscope. “So far, so good,” she assured them. “But given Lila’s unique hybrid nature, we should prepare for any possibilities.

Lila’s gaze lifted to meet Gabriel’s, a silent conversation passing between them in that lingering look, a mix of fear, wonder, and unspoken questions shimmering in their eyes. They both knew their unborn child symbolized their love. But much like she had been, their pup could become an infatuation for power-seeking supernaturals.

“Routine or not, every day is a blessing,” Lila murmured, her hand resting on her still-flat abdomen.

“A blessing and a mystery,” Gabriel added, his fingers lightly touching hers.

“A mystery I look forward to solving,” Cassandra said, her eyes twinkling. “But for now, let’s enjoy these little moments of peace.”

Cassandra placed a warm, lavender-scented towel over Lila’s abdomen and prepared the ultrasound machine. “Ready for the first glimpse of our future?” she said, looking at both Lila and Gabriel.

“More than ready,” Lila replied, her eyes sparkling excitedly.

Gabriel felt his grip tighten around Lila’s hand as though he could shield their unborn child from the weight of destiny just by holding on a little stronger.

What are we bringing this child into? he asked Zeus. A world of packs and prophecies, alliances, and ancient creatures.

You forget love, human. You are bringing our pup into a world where he or she will be loved. Zeus replied.

Cassandra applied the gel to the ultrasound probe and gently moved it across Lila’s stomach. The screen flickered to life, displaying the grayscale outlines of their unborn child. But something immediately caught her eye—a shimmering halo surrounding the baby.

“Do you see that?” Cassandra said softly, her eyes narrowing at the screen.

Our pup! Our pup! Look at our beautiful pup! Venus was jumping up and down in Lila’s mind. She was ecstatic.

“What is it?” Gabriel asked, his tone turning from expectant to concerned in an instant.

Idiot, you can’t even recognize our pup? Zeus scoffed.

“I’m not sure,” Cassandra admitted, her hands slightly trembling as she adjusted the settings. She had been a doctor for years, but never had she been so emotionally invested in a sonogram. This pup wasn’t just a future pack member; this was family. Her eyes narrowed. What does this mean for Lila, Gabriel, and us all? She wondered to herself.

Lila looked up at Gabriel, their eyes locking. At that moment, a myriad of thoughts raced through her mind. Is this what the prophecy meant? Is our child not just a symbol of our love but also a beacon in the turbulent times to come? She felt a mix of awe and a creeping sense of responsibility. She searched Gabriel’s eyes, finding a reflection of her own complex emotions.

“Could it be... magical? I mean, given the prophecy and all,” Lila finally said, breaking the silence.

Doc paused, her hand hovering over the ultrasound probe. “It’s possible. The prophecy alluded to a ‘child possessing all the elements,’ we couldn’t be sure what it meant.”

“Maybe it’s time we consult with Amara and Eliza,” Gabriel suggested. “If this is related to the prophecy, their magical insight could be invaluable.”

“Agreed,” Cassandra said, turning off the machine and wiping the gel from Lila’s abdomen. “We should all be prepared for whatever this means. Given the alliances we’re forming, even with Solstace, every piece of information is crucial.”

Lila sat up, pulling her shirt back down. “I never thought my first pregnancy would involve high-level magical consultations and prophecies. Then again, why is this surprising?”

Gabriel moved closer to her, enveloping her in a warm embrace. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, my pretty one.”

“There’s also the size of the baby,” Cassandra interjected. “While you are 18 weeks into the pregnancy, the baby seems almost fully matured.” She paused, taking in Lila and Gabriel’s wide eyes. “You may be parents sooner than you think. I’d start picking paint colors if I were you.” Cassandra laughed.

Suddenly, the door to the examination room swung open, and Amara and Eliza walked in, their eyes immediately locking onto the ultrasound machine. Behind them, Thomas entered, his usual happy-go-lucky demeanor oblivious to what had just transcended.

Looking at Lila, who was now dressed, Amara took a step closer. “I hope we’re not too late,” Amara apologized, taking off her scarf and setting it aside. “We came as soon as Thomas got your message.”

“So, you might need some magical insights?” Eliza said, her eyes meeting Lila’s. For a moment, she hesitated, her eyes flicking to Amara.

“Thank you for coming,” Gabriel said, his relief palpable. “We’re dealing with something... unusual.”

Doc replayed the ultrasound video, drawing their attention to the shimmering halo around the unborn child. “We’ve never seen anything like this. Physiologically, it’s beyond explanation.”

Amara and Eliza shared a glance before turning to Lila. “May we?” Eliza gestured toward Lila’s belly.

“Of course,” Lila replied, her eyes filled with hope and uncertainty.

Both witches placed their hands gently on Lila’s abdomen. Closing their eyes, they took a deep, synchronized breath and recited a soft incantation.

“Lucem filii revelare,

Potentiam ancestrale declarare,

Veritatem intra ostendere.”

A soft glow emanated from their hands as they spoke, meeting and mingling with the invisible shimmer around the child. The room was filled with a serene energy, almost like time had slowed down.

Finally, they lifted their hands and opened their eyes, looking at each other first and then turning to Lila. Their expressions were a blend of astonishment and reverence.

“Your child will be very powerful, my dear Lila,” Amara said, her voice tinged with awe.