The Scarred Wolf And Her Obsessive Alpha

1. “Push! Push! Push!" encouraged a female voice. —Aaaah…! —another scream, heart-rending and sharp, echoed through the room as the woman in bed clutched the sheets, pushing with all her might. The scene unfolded in the spacious and stately main chamber of Cedric's mansion, the Beta of Clan Asgard. The room was illuminated by oil lamps that cast flickering shadows across the dark wood-paneled walls. A scent of medicinal herbs permeated the air, mingling with sweat and the faint smell of blood. The carved-pillared bed trembled slightly beneath Morgana's spasms, her ragged breathing echoing through the heavy curtains that surrounded the room. Facing her, at the foot of the bed, the family doctor guided the process with a controlled voice, aware of the responsibility that weighed on her shoulders. Morgana clenched her teeth, her face flushed and damp hair plastered to her forehead. She had awaited this moment with anxiety and fear, for the pressure upon her was immense. The creature she was about to bring into the world had to be a female. She would not be an ordinary daughter: she would be the future wife of the next Alpha. Having lost a previous pregnancy—a boy who didn't conform to traditional expectations—she desperately needed this birth to result in a girl. And so, with a final cry that echoed through the room, the baby finally emerged. "It's a girl!" exclaimed the doctor, lifting the little one in her hands. "It's a girl, Mrs. Morgana!" A sigh of relief escaped the chest of the reclining woman. "Finally..." he murmured, almost breathless. "Finally... I have the future wife of the future Alpha." Joy enveloped her completely as she briefly gazed upon the newborn. Her lips trembled with a triumphant smile, an act that revealed not only maternal love, but also the feeling of having fulfilled her most important duty to the pack and to herself. The doctor nodded gently and began preparing the little one to be taken to a basin of warm water where she would cleanse her. However, before she could take a single step, Morgana's body jerked violently. A sudden spasm ripped through her abdomen, and a deep cry erupted from her throat. The doctor turned quickly, confused for a moment, until she saw the woman's face contort with renewed pain. "No... it can't be..." Morgana stammered, between gasps. "It's... contractions again..." The contractions intensified with an unexpected suddenness, eliciting another groan of pain from Morgana's throat. Her body shuddered almost convulsively, and it took the doctor a few seconds to react, bewildered by the sudden resumption of labor. She still held the newborn, her firstborn, in her arms, her high-pitched cry rising and echoing off the walls of the room. With swift movements, the doctor turned to her assistant, a young wolf who remained close by, and handed the cub to her. —Hold it carefully —he instructed. The assistant nodded nervously and held the baby to her chest. Meanwhile, the doctor returned to the bed, leaning over the mother who was breathing heavily, gripped by increasingly violent contractions. Minutes later, another life emerged. The doctor received it in her hands, with the skill that only years of experience could provide. She lifted it a few centimeters, as if to confirm what her senses were already telling her clearly. "Mrs. Morgana…" she whispered, still incredulous. "You've had twins." Morgana opened her eyes wide, bulging with panic. "No…" he murmured, shaking his head frantically. "No… it can't be… It can't be!" The doctor held the puppy in her arms, a creature so tiny and so similar to its sister that it would have been impossible to tell them apart were it not for their birth order. Morgana looked away as if she had seen a forbidden sight, as if gazing at the newborn were in itself a dangerous act. For Clan Asgard, twins were not just a rarity: they were a bad omen. Centuries ago, there had already been twins within the pack, which had ended in tragedy. Both played with their identities, mocking the Alpha of that time and swapping lives as they saw fit. The two twins were executed for treason. From then on, twins were forbidden. The thought struck Morgana with cruel clarity. This second child wasn't a daughter: she was a living threat. Her very existence jeopardized everything she had built. If Cedric were to learn the truth, there would be no mercy. They could point the finger at her, accuse her of defying the pack's sacred rules, and her punishment would be immediate: death or banishment, while her husband would take another mate to preserve the bloodline. Worse still, in her fall, she would drag both creatures down with her; not even the firstborn would be safe. That's why, the very instant she realized she had given birth to two identical daughters, Morgana felt something shatter inside her. That second cub represented utter loss: of her position, her life, and the future she had envisioned for her firstborn. And so, Morgana hated her from the very first moment, convinced that as long as that cub breathed, her life was in danger. "Kill her!" Morgana exclaimed to the doctor. "The newborn... kill her! Get rid of her before Cedric finds out!" But it was too late. Before the doctor could respond to or even process Morgana's desperate order, the unmistakable echo of firm footsteps began to resonate in the corridor leading to the room. Morgana's heart raced, and a veil of terror settled over her pale features. "Hide it!" she whispered. "Hide it now! I don't want Cedric to see it. Later... later we'll have to get rid of it... but for now, just hide it!" The doctor obeyed without a word. She wrapped her in one of the thin blankets that lay beside the side table and went to the large carved wooden wardrobe that stood on one of the room's side walls. She opened the doors and placed the newborn inside, taking care to position her so that her crying would not be heard, and gently closed the doors. A moment later, the bedroom door opened decisively. —Morgana— Cedric said. —Has the birth already happened? The pack's Beta advanced with a solemn expression. The assistant, still nervous, came forward with the firstborn in her arms. With reverent care, she offered him the baby, and Cedric took her gently, as if that small body were a treasure he had to protect with the strength of his entire lineage. "Yes... yes, dear," Morgana replied. "I have had a female. The future wife of the future Alpha... just as we wished." Cedric looked down at the puppy he was holding. "Is she healthy?" he asked without taking his eyes off the girl. The doctor tilted her head slightly. —At first glance, it appears to be in perfect condition. I haven't done a thorough inspection yet, but I don't detect any obvious problems. He nodded approvingly. "That's good," he said, before turning his gaze to his wife. "You look exhausted... but you did well, Morgana." She tried to put on a weak, hesitant smile, which was meant to hide the anguish that coursed through her insides. Then it happened. A small sob rose like a thread of shattered glass. Cedric stopped dead in his tracks. He tilted his head slightly, as if he needed to confirm that he hadn't imagined that childish murmur. The crying returned, this time clearer. Cedric frowned and looked down at the baby he was holding. He studied her for a moment: her lips were closed. The crying wasn't coming from her. Cedric looked up, puzzled, and his eyes went toward the wardrobe. The sound was coming from there. "I can hear a baby crying in that closet," Cedric declared. Morgana's face tensed immediately. "N-no… it's nothing, darling," she stammered, forcing a fragile smile. "You must be confused, it's the baby… it's our daughter who's crying. Why don't we… why don't we think of a name for her? Our firstborn, the most important one now… the one who will be the future Luna…" Cedric was not fooled. "I know perfectly well what I'm hearing," he retorted. "I'm not stupid. And right now I want you to explain to me what the hell is going on in this room." "Please…" Morgana pleaded. "Just believe me… nothing's happening… I swear…" The doctor, aware that the situation was about to explode, intervened. —Sir… please… Lady Morgana mustn't be agitated. She's still very frail from childbirth. Her condition is delicate… Cedric looked at her for a few seconds. Then, without saying a word, he held out his arms and handed the baby to the assistant, who received her with the same start as someone catching a valuable glass about to fall to the floor. Morgana understood what her husband was about to do and a desperate sob escaped from her chest. "Cedric... no," she begged, uselessly stretching out a weak hand toward him. "Don't go near there! Please, don't open that cupboard..." But Cedric had already moved forward. He stood in front of the wardrobe, and without hesitating for a single instant, placed both hands on the wardrobe doors and opened them wide. There, wrapped in the blanket, with her face reddened from crying and her fists closed, was the second puppy. Cedric stared at her in astonishment. "You had two…" she said, as if revealing a devastating discovery. "You had two puppies. They're twins." Morgana, who was already pale before, remained completely motionless, with a lost look in her eyes. "Cedric… please," she whispered at first, then the plea turned into a heart-wrenching sob. "Please, I had no idea… I swear I didn't know! I had no way of knowing there were two. She just… she just arrived, she just appeared. But I promise I'll get rid of her. I'm not going to raise her. I'm not going to keep her!" Cedric became thoughtful. —Twins have always been a bad omen…