Chapter One
Elaine stared at the little stick and the positive sign it flashed at her. "It's true," she whispered in awe. Her hand went to her flat abdomen, and she smiled. "We're going to have a baby."
"Elaine, are you okay?" A knock on the door followed the question as James, her mate, called worriedly from the opposite side.
"I'm fine, my love. I'll be out in just a minute," she called. Her face beamed with happiness over the pink-tipped stick. She splashed some water on her face and took a deep breath. "We've been wanting this," she reassured her reflection. Elaine opened the door and was greeted by a worried expression on James' face, her mate, and the Alpha to the Padfoot Pack.
They weren't a particularly strong pack but would mind their business and help their allies when they could. Often offering resources and jobs to wolves that needed them.
"I heard you getting sick. Is everything okay? This is the fourth time this week," he asked, kissing his mate tenderly on her forehead.
"I'm more than alright," she said, handing him the pink and white wand.
"What's this?" he asked, eyeing the bit of plastic.
"Look at it," she urged, her smile going from ear to ear.
As the realization dawned on the man who stood before Elaine, his face went from studying it to a soft 'oh' to a smile that matched his mate's. "We're pregnant?" he asked.
Elaine tilted her head, "Well, I'm pregnant. You just got me that way," she said with a smirk.
James bent down and kissed Elaine tenderly before smacking her butt for being sassy.
"Hey, you know I like that," she said with a suggestive wink.
"You wanna do what we did to get you like this?" James asked with a seductive wiggle of his eyebrows.
Elaine giggled, "As much as I would love a romp around our bedroom. You have a meeting with the Silverlake pack and then another meeting with the Bloodmoon Pack," she reminded him. But not before bending over in front of him and teasing him with a short wiggle of her perfectly round butt.
"Damn, do I have to?" he whined, knowing full well that he had to have these meetings.
Elaine nodded and kissed his mouth. "Yep. And then you and I will have dinner. We can announce the pregnancy then."
James smiled broadly, "Baby, you're giving me a son, and I couldn't be happier.
Elaine shook her head, "You know it could also be a girl," she reminded him gently.
The Alpha shook his head stubbornly, "No, my firstborn will be a male, and he will be the heir to our pack. Leading with his own beautiful Luna someday," James said with so much confidence Elaine wavered slightly in her opinion.
Elaine smiled, "Just be open to the possibility of a girl, my love."
James shook his head again, "Nope. Every firstborn of the Ockata line has been a male. We will be no exception," he said firmly.
Elaine bit her lip and nodded. The clock in their room chimed two o'clock. "You better get going, love. You don't want to keep Alpha Franklin waiting."
James rolled his eyes at the mention of the old alpha. "Yeah, his name suits him. He's probably older than Ben Franklin."
Elaine swatted her mate playfully, "Be nice," she scolded.
"And you rest; you're growing my son now," he said with a tender kiss on his mate's lips.
Elaine smiled as he left the room, but she couldn't shake the feeling that her mate was about to be sorely disappointed in about six months.
*****Six and half months later*****
The old omega wiped Elaine's brow with the cool cloth. "That's it, you're doing great, Luna," the old lady soothed.
"Something's wrong," Elaine whispered as another contraction washed over her, causing her to let out her breath in short spurts.
"No, your body is opening up so you can welcome your new baby into this world."
Elaine shook her head; this was different. Halfway through her pregnancy, she noticed she was growing increasingly tired. The pack doctor had chalked it up to her growing the Alpha's heir. "A son takes a lot out of you," he said with a smile. But Elaine knew that once their child, boy or girl, came into this world, she wouldn't be here for long after that.
"Alright, Luna, on the next contraction, you can push," the doctor said as he positioned himself between Elaine's legs. They had to send James out of the room because his wolf was getting antsy at the thought of another man seeing his mate's most intimate areas.
Elaine inhaled as the contraction washed over her belly; she bore down gently.
"That's it, Luna," the old omega soothed, "You're doing amazing." Irene soothed her Luna. The older woman could feel something was amiss with the female leader, but she never admitted it. Wiping Elaine's forehead again, Irene did what she could to soothe the Luna's fears, hoping that was all it was.
"Okay, Luna, this time slow, easy breathes," the doctor instructed, "Your boy has the cord wrapped around his neck, so I can't have you pushing. What a head of hair, though!" He exclaimed, "Dark brown, just like yours."
Elaine sighed heavily as the contraction hit her and the urge to push had to be squelched.
"Who, who, who," Irene said calmly, guiding Elaine to do what she needed. The omega gently wiped Elaine's face and neck with the cool cloth. It felt good and helped Elaine relax.
The exhausted woman breathed like Irene was showing her, beads of sweat forming on her brow.
"Almost there, Luna," the doctor said. "Okay, now a little push," he instructed.
Elaine grunted slightly; the burning sensation was intense, but she wanted to feel everything.
"His shoulders are out, and here is your so-" the doctor stopped, his eyes were wide with shock.
"What's wrong?" Elaine asked, terrified that there was something wrong with the baby. "Let me see," she cried.
The omega smiled broadly, "There is absolutely nothing wrong with your daughter, Luna Elaine."
Elaine looked at the old omega, "I have a daughter?" she asked in awe.
Irene nodded, "Yep, with ten fingers and ten toes. And eyes as blue as yours."
Elaine looked towards where they were wiping her baby down and getting her weight and length. She couldn't help but smile. "I have a daughter."
Irene nodded, "And she's beautiful." She looked from Elaine to the baby and back again. The old woman could tell something was bothering her Luna. "What is it, Luna?" she asked gently.
Elaine sat up in the bed as they brought her baby to her, the nurse omega and the doctor both reluctant to leave the room for fear of what their Alpha would do with the news.
Elaine placed a gentle kiss on the baby's nose. She yawned slightly and snuggled into her mother's arms. "Hello, princess," she whispered. The baby's mouth pursed slightly and made a slight sucking motion.
"Your baby is perfectly healthy, Luna," the doctor assured Elaine. "As you can see, there was nothing to worry about. You are both right as rain." He looked reluctant to leave the room but knew that he wouldn't be able to delay much longer.
The nurse snuck out a side door, ensuring her safety from James' anger when he finds out about the baby.
"I'm sure he'll love her just as much as you do, Luna," Irene tried to placate Elaine's growing nerves.
James was pacing the hallway impatiently waiting for news about his mate and son, "How long does this take!" he shouted angrily as the doctor exited Elaine's room, "Hello, Alpha," the doctor greeted. He couldn't meet James' eyes.
"What happened? Is something wrong with Elaine? Or my son?" James asked, suddenly worried that one of them had died during childbirth.
"Luna Elaine is fine," the doctor quickly reassured James. "And as for your baby," he hesitated.
"What?" James asked as he barged into his mate's room and opened the door. Relief washed over him at the sight of Elaine holding their baby. The doctor followed him back into the room.
"She looks pale," James said, his voice full of concern at the sight of his beloved mate.
"It's normal after childbirth, Sir. She'll be okay in a few hours."
"Come in, Alpha," Irene called with a smile. "And meet your-"
"Son." he finished.
Irene shook her head gently, "Your daughter."
James' expression darkened as he shook his head, "Nonsense! All Alpha firstborns are male!" He glared at Elaine for the first time ever in their relationship. "That bastard pup can't be mine," he snapped and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Elaine didn't bother to hide her tears at the pain of the accusation her mate just made. Not only was it blatantly false, but he would have known if she had cheated on him simply by their mate bond. The pain would have been unbearable for him.
"There, there," Irene soothed, "What is her name?" She asked, changing the subject to something brighter.
Elaine smiled sweetly, "Her name is Destiny." The new mother touched her daughter's cheek tenderly and placed a finger beside the baby's tiny hand. The baby immediately grasped it tightly. A sudden wave of exhaustion came over luna, "Irene, please, take her for me."
"Of course, my luna, are you alright?" the omega asked, very concerned by Elaine's sudden change in appearance. Her paleness had increased so much that even her beautiful dark red lips were a light shade of pink.
Elaine barely nodded, "Please, just take care of my baby for me. Don't let her forget me," she whispered as her eyes closed and darkness took hold.
"Luna?" Irene said gently. "Luna!" she called again, more urgently this time. Elaine didn't respond at all to the omega's calls.
The old woman quickly mindlinked the doctor and the Alpha. "Sir, please, you need to come to the hospital wing; there is something wrong with the Luna!"
The doctor rushed back in, "Luna?" he called as he stood over her bedside. "What happened?"
Irene shook her head, "I don't know; she asked me to take the baby and then closed her eyes."
The doctor shook his head sadly as he searched in vain for a pulse.
James burst through the door, "ELAINE!" he screamed, falling to his knees at the foot of the bed. He had felt their bond break before the omega had called for him.
"How?"
Irene tutted, "Sir, you should have stayed here," she scolded her alpha. At her age, she'd earned the right to reprimand the man in front of her. After all, she helped raise him.
James stood and glared at the helpless infant in the old omega's arms, "That thing is not mine. It killed my mate."
The old woman stood her ground, "Her name is Destiny, just as your mate insisted."
James sneered, "I want nothing to do with it. I don't care what happens to it."
"She will come with me, and I will do as the Luna instructed," the omega said stubbornly.
"I don't care," James snapped as he walked away from his mate for a second time, slamming the door so hard the glass pane shattered.
"Come on, Destiny Elaine," the old woman said gently to the baby. Irene turned to the lifeless form on the bed. "You won't be forgotten."
