Life’s Continuation–1
Sebastian’s POV
Those words hit me like a fucking sledgehammer, leaving me frozen in place.
A girl.
Thea had given birth to a little girl. This child was Kane’s and hers, but there wasn’t a shred of jealousy in my heart right now–just reverence for life and overwhelming concern. Leo had always wanted a sister, and now his wish had come true, just not in the way any of us would have wanted.
“Can I see her?” I asked the physician, my voice so raspy I barely recognized it as my own.
“I understand you’re eager to see your daughter, Alpha, but she needs to undergo a full examination first. You’ll need to wait a moment,” the physician replied.
I realized he assumed I was the baby’s father. I didn’t give a shit about correcting him— the news was too overwhelming for petty clarifications.
“She’s premature, and while werewolf pups are generally stronger than human babies, the trauma her mother suffered when she fell after being hit by silver bullets means the situation remains critical. We’ve placed her in a special incubator. She’ll remain in the neonatal intensive care unit until we deem her healthy enough to be with family.”
I noticed he hadn’t mentioned anything about Thea. Did that mean they had no hope for
her survival?
The thought made my heart race painfully. She had to live. She fucking had to. Otherwise,
I…
“You should prepare yourself, however. While we’re doing everything possible to ensure her survival, you must understand she might not make it. And if she does survive, there could be lasting complications,” the physician continued talking about the baby, making my heart clench.
“But that’s just a possibility, right? It’s not certain,” I pressed, already feeling devastated for this little pup. She’d arrived in this world too early, and she was already facing—and would continue to face–more hardships than most wolves encounter in their lifetime.
1/3
Life’s Continuation–1
The physician nodded solemnly.
“What about Thea?” I asked before he could turn away.
“I’m sorry, Alpha, but I can’t tell you anything definitive yet. Her condition is extremely critical, so we’re uncertain how things will progress.” He walked back into the treatment room without giving us time to process any of the information.
A few minutes later, a nurse approached to inform us that Thea had been moved to a special surgery room. I tried questioning her about Thea’s condition, but again, she provided no further details–only saying that Thea’s injuries were severe and they’d decided against letting family see her in that state.
After the nurse left, I sat down and continued praying to the Goddess. I invoked my family’s Alpha name and honor that had continued for hundreds of years. I bargained with her, threatened her, and finally, I fucking begged her. Begged her to hear my prayers. Begged her to save the woman I loved.
Damien came over and handed me a cup of water. “Mom’s contacting the best silver wound specialists across North America, and Dad has Pack members donating blood. We’re going to save her.”
I took the water but didn’t drink it, just nodded mechanically. “I should have sensed the danger sooner. My instincts warned me, but I failed to protect her.” All I could do was sit here and wait–the thing I hated most in the world.
“Don’t torture yourself like this,” Damien squeezed my shoulder. “Want me to get you something to eat?”
I shook my head. I couldn’t even stomach the thought of food or drink right now. I was a fucking nervous wreck. Food was the last thing on my mind.
Time crawled by with no updates. Suddenly, the waiting room door burst open, and Leo rushed in, throwing himself into my arms. I held him tight, breathing in his familiar scent, trying to calm myself down a bit. It helped, but not much.
I saw Jaxon and Wyatt enter. I nodded my thanks, and he returned the gesture. Aurora looked stunned at their arrival, but when Margaret’s eyes landed on her grandson, they filled with tears.
Life’s Continuation–2
“Dad, where’s Mom? I asked Jaxon why he came to pick me up instead of Mom, but he said you’d explain everything,” Leo said, his face full of concern.
Shit, this was harder than I’d imagined. I had no fucking idea how to explain something
like this to a child.
“Is Mom having the baby? Is that why we’re at the hospital?” he asked hopefully.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, then started the hardest conversation of my life: “Leo, Mom got hurt. Some bad people hurt her. The physicians are doing everything they can to help her.”
Watching tears well up in his eyes, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart by claws. He shouldn’t have to go through this, shouldn’t have to worry about losing his mother at such a young age.
“What… what about the baby?” he asked, his voice trembling.
I tried to smile. “You’ve got a sister, little man, just like you wanted. The physicians say she’s strong, but she’s resting in a special bed right now.”
His eyes lit up, surprise momentarily overshadowing his worry. “Really? Can I see her?”
“Not yet. The physicians need to make sure she’s okay. She was born earlier than expected, so she needs extra special care.”
His smile quickly faded, replaced by silent tears sliding down his small face. My heart was breaking.
“Is Mom going to leave us like Grandpa Sterling did?” he whispered, his voice choked with fear, eyes filled with terror. “I can’t be without Mom…”
I pulled him tightly against my chest, struggling to contain my own emotions. “No, she won’t. Your mom is the strongest she–wolf I’ve ever known. She’ll fight with everything she has for you and your sister.”
I knew such promises might be futile, but I needed him to have hope, needed to have hope myself.
1/3
Life’s Continuation–2
No matter who had done this to Thea, I swore they would pay dearly. They’d fucked with the wrong person. For the pain they’d caused, they would feel it returned tenfold.
We stayed like that for a while, then he loosened his grip, climbed onto my lap, and rested his head against my chest, holding me tight. Leo was a strong pup, and this behavior showed just how vulnerable he was.
We continued waiting. I stood up, paced back and forth, then sat down again and again. Leo never left my side. With every minute that passed without news, a piece of me died inside. I worried the delay meant things weren’t going as expected.
Hours after Thea had been taken for surgery, Maximus and Seraphina finally arrived, looking like they’d been through hell.
“Where is my daughter?” Seraphina burst in, her eyes bloodshot and swollen, hair disheveled, looking nothing like the typically poised and elegant Kincaid Luna.
I knew they’d lost over twenty years with Thea, and now faced the threat of losing her forever–a pain that could break anyone.
Before anyone could answer, the door opened, and the chief physician walked out, his expression so grave that my blood instantly froze.
I turned to my mother: “Could you take Leo and Wyatt to get some snacks? I’m sure
they’re hungry.”
She nodded and called the boys to follow her. Leo gave me a look, but I assured him
everything would be fine.
I knew I was fucking lying, but I couldn’t let him be here if the physician brought terrible
news.
“Alpha Ashworth…” he began, then stopped.
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to make my mouth work.
“Just fucking say it,” I growled, my Alpha command and my wolf emerging simultaneously.
“She’s alive, but she’s fallen into a coma,” he said, giving us a brief moment of hope before delivering a blow none of us had anticipated.
