A Wolf's Honour

Chapter 3. Family

It was always the little things that changes so many things in a big way. It had been an impossible option, with only one likely result. It was meant to end with death, her death and yet, once again, the blood through her veins had other plans, things that nobody had counted on. In the beginning, she was just a lonely child who grew up in an abusive home, who escaped and found love and turned out to be one of the most powerful beings they knew of.

She was in so much pain from the bullet, what Bret had done was a purposeful act, using magic they had not known he had against her. She was fighting the whole time, to keep the bullet at bay and to cope with her body wanting to shut down. She had encased the bullet with magic, to stop what it was meant to do, but there had only been one thing on her mind. To get the bullet out to save the baby. Explaining it to Koby had been her best option, because he was the best person that would understand what she needed to do. To protect the life growing, from her body shutting down, she put up a shield to keep her vitals going, to keep her heart pumping and her breathing strong. She had done the best she could, knowing everything else would shut down on her at the same time, but it was something she had to do. It was either save one or both of them would be gone and she knew Lachlan would not have been able to cope with that information.

What she had not been expecting is that while she was shutting everything down to put all her focus and energy into her saving and looking after the baby, was that she could still find herself in a state of mindfulness. She could not answer people, she could not move, but she was there the whole time. In her mind, laughing, crying, loving every single one of them. In her mind, she was answering their comments, but she knew they would not be hearing it. Not to mention, having so much time in some kind of isolation, it gave her a lot of chance to explore the way things were changing within her, the love growing in her heart for the life growing within her.

As a result, when the pain started to form in her lower pelvic area, it had caused such a shock to her, she wanted so badly to scream. There must have been some sort of sign because she could hear Lachlan and Koby shifting about checking things, but she already knew what was happening. Pain went through her again and she knew and tried to tell them to help. Koby was quick, he was not messing around and even though the incision made was paralysing painful and she knew she was struggling, it had to be done. She was just grateful that Lachlan was talking to her, because it was helping, as he whispered words in her ear, about how much he loved her, about ideas he had for a home for them, and talking to her further about when this was all over they would finally get married and live a happy life.

At that time, she had been in full belief that she was meant to die, that because she was starting to feel everything, it was coming to the end and all she wanted was for Koby to do what he needed. Yet, on the outside she could hear Timbal arrive and he seemed not to be on his own. With Koby explaining to him what was going on, Timbal was able to help numb things and so even on the inside she was no longer feeling any of the pain, just hearing everyone talking around her, doing what they could to have a safe delivery.

She had passed out, honestly thinking that it had been the end to everything for her, fading away like she had been expecting would happen. She had felt like everything around her was getting heavy and fading and like she was no longer a part of it all. She was not able to hear Lachlan in her mind anymore and she could not feel anything or sense anyone around her. She was dying and she was accepting that as her fate, as she had six months prior. She was sad, she was crying, because all she really wanted to do was just tell Lachlan that she loved him, that she wanted everything he had said he wanted to give her, to grow old together, but it was not going to be so, this was her end.

Or she had thought.

Feeling started to return and her consciousness seemed to be doubled to what it had been. She was shocked, surprised by the fact that her mind was waking up after she had faded away, and there was only one thing that could be so, one way to explain it. She had lived. She had actually lived and all her thoughts of passing on had not been the only option, it was not the last option for her.

She could hear Lachlan, as he sat on the edge of the bed, she could feel his hand over one of her own and she could feel his heart beating. It was so different, not the beat, but the way she could feel and hear, like all of a sudden, the vampire side of her had clicked in to give her the natural abilities to see without seeing. But she wanted to, she needed to, if she was alive, then she wanted to return to Lachlan and be with him, spend her life with him like they had wanted.

“I cannot wait until you wake up my beautiful, so we can be a full family again.” He said. “I love you so much, am so proud of you and what you had to do.”

“I… love you too.” She replied back, slowly opening her eyes.

“Winter!” Lachlan exclaimed excited.

With very little pain or feeling from what she had just been through, Winter was looking at Lachlan, like there was nothing else more in the world that she wanted to see. He looked a bit shocked, like he had not actually expected her to respond. Maybe it was because of all that time, the past six months, she had never replied to his comments. This time she did, and as best she could, after opening her eyes, she pulled herself up from a laying position and threw her arms around Lachlan, holding onto him tight and she felt him wrapping his arms around her, never wanting to let her go.

“Hey hey.” Lachlan said though, holding her. “Take it easy Winter. You just… had a caesarean.”

“Are they? Are they ok?” She asked, pulling away slightly, looking Lachlan in the face.

“They are perfect.” He said with a loving smile. “That is what you wanted to tell me, that night, you were planning on telling me.”

“Yes.” Winter answered with a nod. “I am sorry…”

“Oh my Princess. Never be sorry ok.” Lachlan told her kissing her. “I was the fool who did not leave anyone behind to keep an eye on things. I did not think it possible something like that would have happened. But things are ok now, it is over.”

“We weren’t to know they had their own plans.” Winter told him. “But I am glad, everyone… our family, is ok, and that we no longer have to worry about the Eval’s.”

Holding onto each other, they kissed, lovingly and passionately. Winter had miss this, even if Lachlan had laid beside her on the bed sometimes, even if he had put his arms around her, even if he had given her light kisses on the lips, it was finally time for her to return it all and she hoped he would sense how much she had missed him, how much she craved to just be with him right then, fully awake and able to respond to things. If he did or not, Lachlan held her even tighter, and Winter smiled, so happy that she was starting to cry.

Lachlan noticed and laughed at her a little, which made her laugh as well for a moment and then they calmed down. Winter took the moment to take a look around the room. They were alone, nobody else there and she was glad about that, because it gave her that privet time with the man she loved. Though, she did think back on his words, and pulling away from Lachlan some more, she pulled the bed sheet off of her and lifted the hospital gown she was wearing. Lachlan was watching her curiously, as she inspected the incision that Koby would have made.

“That looks… like nothing is there.” She said.

“Hmmm.” Lachlan sounded with thought. “Maybe… your blood is back to it’s normal healing rate.”

“Because I am no longer using the protective spell…” she added. “I feel like… I could go for a run!”

“Oh hell no.” Lachlan said laughing at her again. “I do not care how quickly you have healed in the past few hours, I want you to still rest.”

“But… can I … please see them?” she asked, her heart suddenly aching.

“That… yes!” he replied with a grin.

She watched as his eyes looked a little withdrawn and she knew he was communicating with somebody by mind link. She watched and she waited and then Lachlan smiled, laughing a little, and then looked back at her.

“I think Koby is fighting a tribe of people wanting to see you.” Lachlan said with a wink. “But he said he will be here shortly.”

Winter smiled, as Lachlan shifted a little, placing himself more or so on the bed next to her, allowing her to lean into him as a support as they rested against the back of the bed, which Lachlan had raised so they could sit into it and not need to lay down. He was always a step ahead, thinking like that and she was glad, glad to have him, glad to be his. She was the luckiest girl in the world, and not just because she had found the one person she could forever love, but because of everything she had been through, he still loved her.

There was a small knock on the door and then it opened. Lachlan and Winter looked around and watched as Koby came into the room, wheeling a small basket bed with him. When he saw Winter looking up, he smiled.

“Hey Kiddo!” he said cheerfully, a rare emotion he ever expressed. “So glad you pulled through.”

“Thank you Koby! I Owe you so much.” Winter said back.

“Trust me… you have!” he grinned. “I can officially now say I am Uncle Koby.”

They laughed a little and he moved to their side. Winter was looking past Lachlan who was grinning, as he leaned over slightly and picked up one wrapped bundle. Winter was a little scared now, worried that because she had not been awake the moment they were born that they would not know who she was, even though they were newly born. Yet, she did not need to worry about any of that, as the quiet sleeping baby Lachlan passed over to her seemed so peaceful as she cradled them. She smiled, to think, how quickly her life turned around. People yes, would consider her too young to have children, but when you knew you found the one you were meant to be with, when you had a big supporting network behind you, she knew age was not a thing to consider in this.

“I just finished doing the checks, they are healthy as any normal baby born full term.” Koby stated. “I also think, they are much like you Miss Winter.”

“As in, the same blood abilities?” Winter asked looking up.

“Yes, a three-way mix. They are just as amazing and special as you are.” Koby grinned.

She looked over at Lachlan, giving him a gentle smile, as he held in his arms another bundle. They looked so much alike, they had Lachlan’s skin colour that was a beautiful olive tone, but it was hard to tell eyes and hair as they were not even a day old yet. However, she knew there was one major difference between them.

“Have you named them yet?” Winter asked, looking over at Lachlan.

“No.” he said thoughtfully. “I wanted to wait until you woke, so we could decide names together.”

“Oh! But I loved the names you were considering.” Winter told him. “Alinda and Nathanael, after my mother and your father.”

“You do?” Lachlan asked surprised. “But… they were just thoughts, without even knowing the gender or that they were twins.”

“We couldn’t see past your protection shield, so we could not determine anything.” Koby spoke.

“I know. I am sorry. I did not realise it would block that side of things.” Winter said honestly.

“It does not matter now, because both are very healthy and well, and you have woken up, so everything seems to be working out for the better.” Lachlan stated. “And if you like the names, then I am happy with them too. Alinda and Nathanael.”

Winter looked up at Lachlan, swelling with even more love for him then she could have imagined. Every day she seemed to find more and more reason to fall in love with the man before her. She did not care what others thought, that she was barely out of her teens, still nineteen even if she missed her last birthday. She did not care that Lachlan was twenty nine and more of an adult then she was. They were one, they were each other’s halves, making them a whole and now that they had two little babies, it was like for them, things were complete. She had known it was twins, because she had been able to sense them and protect them while she had used her spell to keep them alive, but she could image what a surprise it would have been to Koby once he was able to reach the babies and found not one, but two within, clearly proof that the twin gene ran through Lachlan’s family, considering that Koby and Shay-Lee were twins as well.

Lachlan leaned to her slightly, a very loving and proud look on his face as he gave her a tender soft kiss on the lips. There was a click noise at the same moment which made them both look around shocked and they saw Koby grinning while holding up a camera.

“What!” he asked with a laugh. “Come on! We need to get photos of this moment!”

He was right and so without fuss, Lachlan and Winter allowed Koby to take a few more photos. She was a little surprised at how excited Koby actually was. He had always come across as a tough one, who did not express emotion well. Yet here he was, almost like a new puppy, full of joy and excitement, like it was the best thing ever. Lachlan laughed at his brother and leaned over to whisper in her ear.

“Koby and Corrie cannot have children.” He admitted.

“Oh really? Why?” Winter asked a bit sad.

“When Corrie was younger, she had an injury in a fight and the damage was significant enough to cause the possibilities to be very slim.” Lachlan explained. “So, Koby becoming an Uncle would be the next best thing for him. As well when a new baby arrives in a pack, it is more than just a general welcome to the family, it is a big change, an exciting change. These two cuties, potentially will be the next Alpha’s, and so the whole Clan will feel the same excitement over the news once they are told, because it means the Clan’s legacy will continue to live on.”

“And you are ok… with this… that very quickly… you have now become a father?” Winter wondered.

“Oh Winter. I have been ready the moment you came into my life, the moment I knew you were my true half, I wanted to be with you forever, marry you and have a family with you.” Lachlan smiled. “While this was a big surprise and a lot sooner than any of us thought, it was clearly meant to be.”

“I love you Lachlan, and I am so glad I have you, and now our children.” Winter told him.

They smiled at each other and shared yet another kiss, their sleeping babies very comfortable in their arms. Winter was so happy, so full of joy, she was ready for the new part of her life to now start, to be a mother and a support to her family, to everyone around her.