Chapter 83

Almara

In the midst of life's storm, there comes a moment of calm. For me, that moment arrived when Dana was finally out of the picture. The last two months of my pregnancy unfolded in blissful serenity.

Gone were the harrowing days of assassination plots, challenges, and unwelcome surprises. It seemed that, at last, I could embrace the prospect of genuine happiness. I could finally have all my dreams come true.

The weight lifted from my shoulders was palpable. I had weathered a tempestuous journey, fraught with danger and uncertainty. Dana, a relentless force of opposition, had cast a long shadow over my life.

The constant threat of danger had left me perpetually on edge, a sentinel guarding not only her own life, but also the life growing within her. I hadn’t even realized it. Not until Dana was gone for good.

I hated that I was the reason that someone was dead, but Dana’s persistence had made me realize that she was never going to stop. She was too blinded by her ambition and obsession for Arthur.

I shuddered. I could still hear the sound of her neck breaking, even two months later. I knew I would probably carry that with me for the rest of my life. But it was a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. Me and my growing family were safe. That’s all that mattered.

The transition from turmoil to tranquility was a balm to my weary soul. The subtle shift in the atmosphere around me was akin to the first rays of dawn after a long, dark night. The air seemed to hold a promise of better days ahead, a whispered assurance that the worst was finally behind me.

As the weeks passed, I marveled at the transformation within myself. The anxiety that had once been my constant companion now yielded to a newfound sense of peace. My days were no longer punctuated by heart-stopping moments of fear, but instead flowed in a gentle rhythm, like a calm river winding its way through a serene landscape.

The sanctuary of this newfound tranquility allowed me to connect with my pregnancy in ways I had never imagined. I reveled in the simple joys of feeling life stir within me, a symphony of tiny movements that served as a poignant reminder of the miracle unfolding within my body.

Each flutter, each kick, was a testament to the resilience of life, a beacon of hope that illuminated even the darkest corners of the past. I knew that it might not last, especially since we were the leaders of the Hurricane Pack, but I forced myself to live in the present.

With the threat of Dana no longer looming over me, I could focus on nurturing myself and the life I carried. I devoted myself to a regimen of self-care, relishing in the small rituals that celebrated my connection to the unborn child.

From soothing baths to moments of quiet reflection, every action was imbued with a profound sense of purpose and love. Arthur had insisted that I take it even easier the last two months, so I was no longer going to the gallery. I was only going to Noah’s house now.

The absence of present danger allowed me to dream of the future with a clarity I had never known. I envisioned a life filled with warmth, laughter, and the boundless possibilities that awaited our little girl.

The specter of fear had been replaced by a sense of empowerment, a belief that I could shape the destiny of my family on my own terms. I had been strong enough to watch an execution. I could do anything if it meant protecting my family.

As the days counted down to the arrival of our child, I found myself surrounded by a network of support that had blossomed in the wake of Dana's departure. Apparently Dana had been threatening the staff and punishing them for being nice to me.

However, now that Dana was gone, they had felt comfortable enough to start getting closer to me. In the past two months, I had made many friends on the staff and now I didn’t feel so alone whenever Arthur had to go away on business.

In the quiet moments before sleep claimed me, I would often reflect on the journey that had brought me to this point. I wondered at the resilience of the human spirit, the capacity to endure, and the ability to find hope even in the darkest of times.

The trials I had faced had shaped me into a woman I didn’t recognize, but I was glad for it. I was now a woman of extraordinary fortitude, a mother who would stop at nothing to ensure the safety and happiness of her child.

As the final days of my pregnancy unfolded, I stood on the precipice of a new beginning. The shadows of the past had receded, replaced by the radiant glow of a future filled with promise. I had navigated treacherous waters and emerged stronger than I ever thought possible.

With each passing moment, the anticipation grew, and I knew that the moment our daughter entered the world, she would be met with a love that knew no bounds—a love forged in the crucible of adversity, and destined to light the way for generations to come.

As the days grew shorter and the nights longer, I found myself in a state of quiet anticipation. The final stretch of my pregnancy was a time of introspection and preparation, a bridge between the trials of the past and the promise of the future.

In those waning weeks, my thoughts often wandered to the legacy I hoped to leave for my daughter. I envisioned a world of boundless opportunities, opportunities that I had never had. I would be able to provide a better life for my daughter, one that I had never anticipated.

The nursery, once a spare room filled with echoes of uncertainty, now stood as a sanctuary of hope and warmth. I poured my heart into every detail, from the softness of the bedding to the gentle hues that adorned the walls. Each item was chosen with love.

Some days I would just sit in the nursery, in the rocking chair that I had picked out and read one of the books out loud. I couldn’t wait to meet her. It would be any day now. I had started to feel minor contractions, but the doctor had said that was normal.

Werewolf pregnancies were unpredictable, though. She could come early or she could come late. It’s why we were never given a due date. The doctors simply never know since it’s up to the baby.

Call it mother’s intuition or something else, but I could tell she would be coming soon. Maybe she wanted to meet me as much as I wanted to meet her. Lily thought she was just impatient like her father.

The thought made me giggle. I wondered if she would be more like me or her father. For her sake, I hoped she was more like Arthur. I didn’t want her to have my people pleasing tendencies. I wanted her to be strong. I wanted her to be able to stand up for herself.

Most of all, I wanted her to be able to after what she wanted. I didn’t want her to be too scared to try anything. I would do everything in my power to make sure that my daughter had a better life than I had.