The wolfless Heir

The BloodMoon Birth

Mallory, the Luna Queen of the Redclaw pack, was moments away from giving birth to the heir of the Redclaw pack.

On that historic night, the BloodMoon appeared for the first time after ages. The elders believed that any child born on such a day was marked by either a profound blessing or a dark curse. Outside, the pack was deep in celebration—drinking, eating, and dancing wildly. Alpha Kaelen stood nearby, filled with intense excitement and pride, certain that his newborn heir would bring ultimate glory to his kingdom.

Suddenly, Mallory screamed out in agonizing pain...

Ahhhhhh...

Hearing that piercing cry from inside the chamber, the silver wine cup slipped straight from Kaelen's hand. His hands trembled violently, and his legs shook. The traumatic memory of Aria's birth rushed back to him—years ago, standing outside this exact same room, listening to Mallory scream as if her life were slipping away. For a terrifying moment back then, Kaelen had believed he was going to lose her entirely.

Now, that same nightmare echoed in his ears. His eyes flashed a dangerous, blazing red as he strode furiously toward the door where Mallory lay. He shoved the heavy wooden door open, lifting a foot to step inside. But before his boot could cross the threshold, the head midwife shot him a single, piercing glance—a warning so sharp it forced him to pull back his step and slowly shut the door. Left with no choice, he resumed his frantic pacing right outside.

Inside, Mallory smiled faintly through the blinding waves of labor pain, whispering weakly to the midwife.

“I have never seen Kaelen this happy nor smiled for a very long time,” she breathed out, letting out a heavy sigh. “I wish the baby would bring endless joy into Kaelen's life.”

Mallory squeezed her eyes shut, digging her fingers so tight into the wooden bedpost that her knuckles turned white. Another agonizing scream tore from her throat as fresh tears streamed down her flushed cheeks. Though she tried to smile, it vanished instantly when the elder's prophetic words replayed in her mind: "A curse or a blessing."

The words echoed mercilessly inside her head. She fought desperately, pushing with every ounce of strength left in her broken body, but she was rapidly growing weak, cold, and pale. One of the midwives locked eyes with the healer, her face gripped by stark terror as Mallory's breathing grew shallow and faint.

At her side, her personal maid gripped her hand tightly, pleading,

“My Luna, stay with us. You must be strong for your child, my Luna.”

Mallory tried desperately to hold onto the voices around her, but her eyelids felt impossibly heavy. Her vision blurred, and the entire room began to spin violently as she deliriously whispered,

“My child, you must make it out alive.”

Her limp fingers slipped and fell away from the bedpost.

In the haze of exhaustion, a sudden vision flashed before her eyes—little Aria playing outside in the sun with her baby brother, both of them laughing freely. Then, her thoughts drifted to Kaelen. She had promised him she would return safely to his side. A weak, wistful smile touched her lips as she instinctively tried to raise her hand to touch him. But before she could lift her arm, the midwives caught her hand in a sudden panic, urging,

“My Luna, keep pushing! He’s almost here.”

That dark warning hammered in her ears once more.

A blessing... or a curse.

Gathering every last fragment of her remaining life force, Mallory threw her head back and screamed aloud.

Ahh.......

At that exact, deafening shriek, the BloodMoon bloomed brighter and more fiercely than before. Crimson light poured straight through the glass window, a sudden gale-force wind whipped through the chamber, and the candles flickered violently.

The midwives and the healer froze in place, exchanging terrified glances. From somewhere far off in the dark wilderness, wolves began to howl into the night—one voice rising, then dozens joining in a haunting chorus toward the BloodMoon.

Even the loud celebrations echoing from Kaelen’s palace quieted for a terrifying heartbeat. Something about this night feels entirely wrong, Kaelen whispered to himself in dread.

Inside, Mallory pushed one last time, her eyes glowing an intense red as her inner wolf burned with feverish heat. The healer let out a sharp gasp of relief as the baby's head finally crowned.

“Keep pushing, my Luna Queen! The baby is almost here,” the midwife cried, rubbing Mallory’s cold hands frantically to keep her warm. Looking deeply into Mallory’s failing eyes, she pleaded, “My Luna, just one more push!”

Mallory could barely draw breath. Her vision was fading into complete darkness. She gripped the bedpost with supernatural tightness and screamed out once more.

Outside the door, Kaelen stopped his restless pacing the second he heard Mallory's voice cut through the silence. A fragile smile touched his lips for the first time that night.

Then—suddenly—absolute silence swallowed the room.

A miraculous, joyful smile broke across the midwife's face. Her hands shaking uncontrollably, she turned to Mallory and whispered,

“My Luna... it’s a baby boy.”

The healer looked down at the tiny form cradled in his hands.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

Outside the heavy door, Kaelen heard the midwife's muffled voice. Instantly, the smile vanished from his face. His chest hammered like a war drum. He trembled violently when he realized he couldn't hear Mallory’s voice responding. His legs buckled against the stone floor, his hands shaking as he threw himself against the door, pressing his ear hard against the wood to catch any sound of Mallory or the child.

Flashes of the terrifying fear he felt during Aria's birth paralyzed his mind. His head pounded. He reached for the handle to shove the door open, but the midwife's earlier warning flashed in his brain, forcing him to yank his hand back as his inner wolf clawed frantically at his consciousness: Is she safe? Is she okay? Should I go in?

Then, after agonizing seconds of dead silence...

A baby's sharp, piercing cry broke the stillness.

One by one, looks of pure relief washed over the midwives' faces, and the healer let out a massive breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Outside, Kaelen stood completely rigid. Hearing that healthy cry, the paralyzing terror of losing his mate began to recede.

Mallory was alive.

His child was alive.

Kaelen lifted his face toward the BloodMoon through the corridor window. At that exact moment, the chaotic howling outside the palace faded away piece by piece, as if the entire pack had been holding its breath for the newborn's arrival.

Kaelen whispered with fierce pride,

“My heir is alive.”