Prelude 6
Maureen
Green Bay has been my home for the past eight months now. It's beautiful and peaceful here. No one cares who or what you are or why you live here. The scenery is also breathtaking. The colorful wildness of the lily flowers dances to the soulful music of the wind. This fraction of the South is the countryside. I'm glad it is because I enjoy it very much. There are no judgmental stares, rude remarks towards you for no reason, or pretenders. People just go about their daily business.
The journey here was so tediously awful, with the boat almost capsizing twice, thank god for my water elemental powers. I'm glad I managed to tame the tides just enough so we could move a bit smoother than we were traveling. Even though it almost killed my baby and me.
I'm pregnant.
The thought of being a single mother still scares me, the way I found out was shocking. Thinking about it now, it explained my odd behavior towards Samantha, and Dante the day he grabbed me, along with why I was so aroused all the time. I would've never been brave enough to speak to him like that or slap Samantha, for that matter.
At first, I didn't know how to react to having this baby, wanting nothing to do with it. The child's existence would be a constant reminder of what I had, and what I've lost. Adding salt to the already-opened wound, I received news about my mother's death afterward.
She was burned alive.
After a few weeks of mourning, I felt a sense of power, pride, and dominance, I had never possessed before. My hand had gone to my stomach and for the first time in a while, I smiled. No, I laughed because my baby gave me a second possibility of happiness. Another chance at something I never dreamed of.
The feeling of hope.
“Here you go, sweetheart," Sara says lovingly. Handing me a cup of her famous green tea, that's sweetened with honey.
"Thank you, Auntie Sara," I utter gratefully while sipping the tea. "For everything you've done for us," I added at the end with a smile.
Sighing, she replies. "Maureen. I'll do anything for my goddaughter. Your mom was all I had left, now, I have you two." She proclaims rubbing my ever-growing stomach affectionately. Placing my hands on top of hers, returning the smile. She heads back inside, but I remain seated for a few more minutes.
Getting on my feet, I make a silent promise to him or her. "You'll never be weak, or naive like I am. You'll be strong, and ruthless when necessary, but also kind and gentle to whoever deserves it... And one day you'll meet the right person, who's willing to fight for you no matter what." I whisper as the wind blows the raven-black curls of my raven-black hair.
My baby deserves a happy home with both its parents, along with a memorable childhood. Rosewood, the place of our heritage, is not for him or her right now. How much I wish that Dante could be here, enjoying the growth of our child inside of me as much as I do. I want the sex of the baby to be a surprise. My family consists of mostly women, but this baby is an alpha's child too. That alone is unpredictable enough.
Werewolf pregnancies progress up to seven months. Alpha babies, however, only last for six months because of their rapid development. I'm eight months along, so I think it's a safe bet, it's a witch. Only one more month to go before I can meet my little one.
Soft ripples tickle my insides, and I chuckle. "Don't worry little one, you'll meet your daddy someday." I caress my stomach affectionately. A few more moments and said stomachs growl. "We just ate, how can you eat so much." I scowl at my belly. Another kick and I sigh. This child is going to be a handful, greedy, and demanding.
My craving for meat is so ridiculous, it's not even funny. But, if I don't eat it, this rebel makes it impossible to sleep much less breathe. Waddling my way across the yard, I begin to feel pain in my lower abdomen. Breathing in and out, I try to move, but it only gets worse. My breathing is frantic, and liquid flows heavily down my legs as if I had peed myself.
“SARA!” I yelled.
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"PUSH! PUSH Maureen! PUSH! I need you to give me one more big push," Auntie Sara along with Dr. Grace keeps on screaming.
I'm pushing dammit! This is so hard.
“I can't do this, it's too difficult,” I groan, sobbing as I try to catch my breath.
Wiping my sweaty forehead, “I know sweetie but think of the gift you're about to be blessed with,” Sara encourages. With all my energy, gritting my teeth together, I muster the largest push I can summon, and after a few minutes along with two more pushes I didn't know I had the strength to do, a loud, ear-shattering scream bounces off the walls. It's my baby. I sigh in relief.
"It's a girl," Dr. Grace says, smiling from ear to ear. "Say hello to your beautiful and healthy daughter," she added, holding the baby upward for me to confirm ten fingers and toes.
A girl! The lineage continues Mom.
Placing the baby into my arms. I'm so weak, and sweaty, and only want to rest, but the moment she's placed in my arms. I feel a burst of energy along with love. Her skin is so soft, pink, and smooth.
My baby.
I smile lovingly at the droopy child. "Welcome to the world, Destiny Hawthorne." A lump forms in my throat, really wishing Dante could be here in this very special moment, he deserves the truth.
"Did you get it?" I ask Sara, to which she nods. Good!
Destiny starts to make funny noises so I place my left nipple inside her mouth, with Sara's help, and she latches on immediately, hungrily suckling away.
"Someone's greedy," Sara snorts, and I give her a small smile.
Dr. Grace is cleaning me up, but she frowns. “What's wrong?” I ask, placing a sleeping Destiny into Sara's arms.
“You lost too much blood, you'll be very weak over the next few days. So be very careful alright,” she warns.
“Don't worry, she will,” Sara replies, giving me a pointed look, not as if I'd disagree with her.
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Even though it's been a full month, I'm still extremely tired, but I can't seem to sleep. So getting out of bed carefully towards Destiny's crib, I stare at her. She's so beautiful, perfect, and looks peaceful.
The more I stare at her, the more the guilt eats at me, and her father comes to mind. I don't know if it's the hormones that are still inside my body but out of nowhere, falling to my knees in broken sobs became a reality. I almost didn't keep her, the stress of my journey here, my mom dying and the news of Dante's marriage almost drove me into doing an abortion for sure during my first trimester.
I'm so used to him curling up to me at night in my bedroom when I knew my mom was working late. I miss the way he would caress my skin, and soothe me into dreamland, along with the light feather kisses he would wake me up with before leaving in the mornings. But now, someone else is receiving them, and I'm forced to raise our daughter alone.
"I'm sorry Dante, but this way is better," I silently mumble, brokenly. He's the one man that I truly love and I'll miss his warm touches, his cheeky grin, that cocky smile he plasters on his face, and those beautiful silver orbs of his, that twinkle a bit like wishing stars.
Strong arms lift me from the floor, engulfing me in a muscular chest. “It's going to be alright Sweet Pea,” Blue whispers, kissing my trembling form.
“I-I-I didn't want her!” I wail, guilt crippling my heart. “I don't deserve her after considering getting rid of her,” I hiccup.
Taking my face out of his chest, “But you didn't,” he says, wiping my tears with his thick fingers. “After what you've been through, you more than deserve this gift, Precious.”
“What he said,” Martha's gentle voice adds. “Now let's get you cleaned up before she wakes up, a relaxed mommy, is a happy baby.” She suggests.
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Just like clockwork, Destiny wakes up every four hours. This time, however, I guess she just wants to be in my arms, since she only fusses to be fed, or changed. Sitting in the rocking chair, I just admire her sleeping form.
It's not about me, or Dante anymore, only about creating happy memories for my daughter because I know, the hardship of her life is unavoidable. Especially with our family's maternal history. Smiling, thanks to Mother's years of sacrifices, we'll never be short of money. Or a place back home, Blue told me about his offer to her.
Holding on to the necklace. “Thank you, mama, may the ancestors protect and guide our future,” I mumble, kissing it.
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