Chapter Two: The Birth
1330 Words
The forest was silent, save for the soft rustling of the trees and the rhythmic sound of Selene’s labored breath. The weight of the two lives growing inside her felt overwhelming, yet there was little time to stop. Every inch of her body screamed for rest, but she couldn’t. Not now.
The escape from the Crimson Moon Pack had taken everything from her—her strength, her peace, and soon, her last hope. Her heart pounded as the cool night air hit her face, mixing with the sweat on her brow. She didn’t know how long she had been running, nor how much farther she could go.
She stumbled on a jagged rock hidden beneath the underbrush, falling to the ground with a sharp gasp. Her head spun as darkness crept at the edges of her vision. The exhaustion from days of running without food or rest was taking its toll. She had hoped to find some form of sanctuary, but with every step, she felt the distance between herself and safety stretch farther.
As Selene’s body betrayed her, her mind raced. She had kept her pregnancy a secret, even from herself at times. The fear of being found, hunted down, and killed because of the precious life growing inside her kept her silent. She had no choice but to keep moving, to leave behind everything she once knew. The twins.
She reached her hand down instinctively to her swollen belly, the subtle reminder of what was at stake. She hadn’t prepared for this, hadn’t expected her life to change in the blink of an eye. And now, she had no choice but to survive for them.
Her vision blurred, and her breath hitched as she slumped against the cold earth. She was done. She couldn’t move.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps in the distance caught her attention. The hair on her neck prickled as a figure emerged from the shadows, an older woman with silver hair and a kind face.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” the woman’s soothing voice came closer. “You’re safe now.”
Selene’s eyelids fluttered as the stranger bent down beside her, examining her with careful eyes.
“I’ve got you,” the woman said, lifting Selene with surprising strength and cradling her in her arms. “You’ve been through a lot. Just hang on.”
When Selene awoke, she found herself in a modest wooden hut, the soft glow of the fire dancing on the walls. The warmth of the room was comforting, but the exhaustion in her bones made it nearly impossible to move.
Her hand immediately went to her belly. The twins. They were still inside her, safe for the moment. But for how long?
“Drink this,” the woman’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She handed Selene a cup of warm tea that smelled faintly of herbs. “It will help with your exhaustion. You’ve been through quite the ordeal.”
Selene took the cup and sipped slowly, feeling the warmth spread through her body.
“I’m Matilda,” the woman said, settling beside her. “I found you unconscious in the forest. What happened to you?”
Selene swallowed hard, the memories of her escape flooding her mind. The terror. The heartache. But she couldn’t tell this stranger everything. She didn’t trust easily, not after what had happened to her, but for some reason, she felt an odd sense of safety here.
“I had to leave,” Selene replied quietly, avoiding her gaze. “I was running from them. The Crimson Moon Pack.”
Matilda’s sharp eyes studied her for a moment. “You’re pregnant,” she said softly. “I can tell. You don’t need to hide it from me. I’ve seen it before.”
Selene stiffened, her hands instinctively moving to cover her belly, as if protecting the life within her from this stranger’s gaze. “I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t want anyone to know.”
Matilda’s eyes softened, and she nodded in understanding. “You don’t have to explain. But, you need to rest. You’ve been through so much.”
Selene laid back, the exhaustion overwhelming her. The bed was soft, the blankets warm, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she allowed herself to relax.
But the relief was fleeting. Hours later, as Selene slept, her body began to stir restlessly. A sharp pain coursed through her abdomen, and she gasped, clutching her side. Matilda was beside her in an instant.
“Matilda,” Selene whispered urgently, her eyes wide with panic. “I think it’s time.”
Matilda nodded, her hands already moving quickly and expertly. “It’s okay. You’re going to be alright. I’ll help you.”
Selene’s breath hitched as another wave of pain hit her. “I can’t—”
“You can,” Matilda said, kneeling by her side. “Just breathe. Focus on me.”
The labor came quickly, faster than Selene had anticipated. With Matilda’s guidance, she pushed, her body trembling with effort. After a long moment of intense pain, a loud cry filled the room, and Matilda smiled triumphantly.
“It’s a boy,” she announced, wrapping the newborn in a soft, warm blanket.
Selene breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived. Matilda’s expression turned grave as she checked the still-distended belly.
“There’s another one,” Matilda said, voice tinged with concern.
Selene’s heart raced. “Another?”
“Twins,” Matilda confirmed, her gaze shifting between Selene and the baby. “Get ready. The second one is coming.”
The second child arrived moments later, but the situation quickly turned dire. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of the baby’s first breaths, and Selene, though overwhelmed, was too fatigued to do more than glance at the second child before another sound reached her ears.
“They’re coming!” someone shouted outside the hut.
Matilda’s assistant, a young wolf named Rowan, burst into the room, his face pale. “We can’t hold them off much longer,” he said.
.
The door splintered as three rogue wolves lunged inside, their eyes glowing red with bloodlust. Rowan shifted instantly, his fur bristling as he met the first attacker head-on. The clash of teeth and claws reverberated through the tiny space.
“We need to split them up,” Matilda urged, her voice laced with urgency.
“What? No!” Selene shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t.”
“You have to,” Matilda insisted, her voice firm. “It’s the only way. If the rogues find you, they’ll kill all of you. Take one and go. I’ll send Rowan with the other.”
Selene hesitated, fear clawing at her chest. “But I can’t… I can’t just give them up.”
“There’s no time. They’ll come for both of them. We need to protect them. Please, trust me.”
The weight of Matilda’s words settled heavily on Selene’s shoulders. She kissed and placed a mark on the baby she held, then handed him over to Matilda’s trusted companion, Rowan, with shaking hands.
“Go,” Matilda ordered. “Head for the northern border. Don’t look back.”
Rowan shifted back into his wolf form, holding the infant gently in his jaws. Without another word, he bolted out the back of the hut.
The village fell silent as the rogues departed, leaving destruction in their wake. But when the dawn broke, and the chaos had subsided, Selene was left alone. Matilda found her still huddled in the remnants of the hut, cradling her surviving son.
“We’ve lost him,” Matilda said quietly. “Rowan didn’t make it. They took the other child.”
Selene’s cry of anguish echoed through the forest.
“I’ll find him,” she whispered through her tears, her resolve hardening. “No matter what it takes. I’ll find my son.”
- Writer
