Chapter 3 Ch 3

Gwen’s  POV

"You need to eat more than that."

I looked up from the small piece of bread in my hand.

Three months had passed since he saved me in the woods

"I am not very hungry this morning," I said, even though my stomach rumbled at the smell coming from his basket.

He walked over and set it on the table. "You have been saying that for two weeks now, are you feeling sick?"

"I am fine," I lied. "Just a little tired from the change in weather."

Horace knelt down beside my chair and took my hand. His touch still sent sparks through me every single time. "Gwen, please tell me the truth. If something is wrong, I need to know so I can help you."

"I am pregnant," I whispered.

He went completely still. For a long moment, then his eyes went wide. "What?"

"I am pregnant, Horace, I am going to have a baby, Your baby."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. All the signs are there. The tiredness, the sickness in the mornings, my body feels different" I put a hand on my still flat stomach. "There is a life growing inside me,  I am certain."

Horace laughed, A loud, joyful sound that filled the cabin. He pulled me into his arms and spun me around, "We are having a pup! Guinevere, we are having a pup”

"But Horace, think about what this means, a baby with witch blood and werewolf blood. A hybrid, your pack will never accept this, they will want to kill it."

His smile faded "No one will touch our child, I will not allow it."

"How can you stop them? You are just one person. If your father finds out, if the pack finds out"

"They will not find out," he said firmly "We will keep the baby hidden, just like we are keeping you hidden, and when the time is right, we will figure out what to do next."

"What if there is no right time?" I felt tears starting to form

Horace pulled me close again, holding me tight against his chest "Then we will deal with that. Together. But right now, let us just be happy about this. We created a life, Guinevere. A life born from our love. That is a miracle."

The months that followed were the hardest of my life. My belly grew bigger every week. Horace brought me everything I needed, extra food,  soft clothes that would fit my changing body. But he also grew more worried. I could see it in his eyes every time he visited, the lines on his face got deeper, he smiled less.

"What is wrong?" I asked one evening as we sat by the fire. I was seven months pregnant now, my belly huge and round. The baby kicked constantly, reminding me it was there.

"Nothing is wrong," he said, but I could hear the lie in his voice.

"Horace, please. Do not shut me out. Tell me what is bothering you."

He sighed "My stepmother has been watching me, Luna Rhonda. She knows I am hiding something, she has been asking questions"

My blood went cold, "Does she know about me?"

"I do not think so. Not yet, but she is suspicious" He took my hand "I have been more careful, making sure no one follows me. Taking different paths through the woods, but I cannot shake the feeling that time is running out."

"Maybe you should stop coming for a while," I said, even though the thought made my heart ache.

"No" His grip on my hand tightened "I will not leave you alone, especially not now when you are so close to giving birth. You need me here."

Two months later…..

It was the middle of the night. I woke up to a sharp pain in my belly that made me gasp

"Horace!" I called out

He was sleeping on the floor like he always did. He was up in an instant

"What is it? What is wrong?"

"The baby," I panted. "The baby is coming. Now."

His face went pale. "But you still have two weeks left."

"Tell that to the baby!" Another wave of pain crashed through me and I cried out

Horace ran to me and helped me lie back on the bed. "It is going to be okay, I am going to get the pack doctor. He is the only one I trust."

"No! Horace, you cannot bring someone here. What if he tells your father?"

"He will not,  Doctor Callum has been our family physician for thirty years. He will keep this secret, I promise" He kissed my forehead and  ran out the door, leaving me alone with the pain.

It felt like hours before the door finally opened again. Horace rushed in with an older man following behind him. The man had gray hair and kind eyes and carried a black medical bag

"Hello, my dear," the doctor said calmly, setting his bag on the table. "My name is Doctor Callum. Horace has told me everything. Do not worry, your secret is safe with me."

"Please help me," I begged "It hurts so much."

"I know, but that is normal. Your body is doing what it is designed to do" He washed his hands in the basin of water Horace provided

Horace held my hand the whole time, letting me squeeze as hard as I needed. Doctor Callum stayed calm and professional, giving me instructions.

"Push now, good, Rest, Push again. That is it."

Finally, after what felt like forever, I heard a sound that made everything worth it. A baby's cry

"It is a boy," Doctor Callum announced, holding up a tiny, wriggling thing covered in blood and fluid. "A healthy baby boy."

"A son. We have a son."

The doctor cleaned the baby quickly and wrapped him in a soft blanket before placing him in my arms. He had dark hair like mine and Horace's blue eyes, ten perfect fingers, ten perfect toes.

"Hello, little one," I whispered "I am your mother"

"He is beautiful," Horace said, sitting beside me on the bed, he reached out and gently touched the baby's tiny hand. The baby grabbed his finger and held tight. "He is perfect."

"What should we name him?" I asked.

"Dominique," Horace said immediately.

"Dominique," I repeated. "It is perfect."

Doctor Callum finished packing his medical bag, "I will come back in a few days to check on both of you, make sure everything is healing properly."

"Thank you, Doctor," Horace said, standing up to shake his hand. "I cannot tell you how much this means to us."

"Just doing my job, son." The doctor smiled

After he left, Horace and I sat together with our son between us. For the first time in months, I felt true peace

"I love you," Horace said, kissing me

Little did I know  this was the beginning of the end