~Alaric's POV~
Eight Months Later...
The clock on the white wall ticked too loud. I had been pacing the same stretch of polished tiles for hours, yet my feet refused to rest.
Tazira's cries echoed faintly behind the sealed theater doors, each sound twisting my heart like a dagger. She had carried our pup a month beyond her due date.
Last night, the pain finally struck her, dragging us here to the hospital with haste. Since then, every minute had stretched into eternity.
Kaelan leaned against the wall, arms folded, gaze sharp but distant. Tazira's mother, Luna Rhiannon sat nearby, wringing her hands, lips moving in silent prayers.
I caught her whispering the old words, the ones wolves utter when begging the Moon Goddess to spare what they love.
I stopped pacing long enough to glance at Kaelan.
"How's the report from the patrols?" My voice came low, just to break the silence that threatened to drown us.
