Chapter 121: A powerful heir
Penelope
"Nathaniel, goddess!" I try to talk to him, calm him...but there was no way, I was already on a bed and the doctor and a group of nurses were taking care of me. "You are in good hands Luna"
"The pup is doing great... come on, Luna...!"
"Our Luna went into labor...we will have a new Alpha in the next few hours," the doctor said. My nerves multiplied, and I also heard the surprises and the excitement. "A new Alpha is coming!"
"Nate..."
"Here I am, my love. I will not leave your side, I promise" Nate says.
Hours of pain awaited me and it still hadn't really sunk in that this... this was really happening. My son will be born today, in a few hours.
"We're all with you, pumpkin...you are not alone" my dad told me.
I could see the concern in everyone's eyes, and beyond that...the fear. Suddenly, I was no longer a powerful Luna, nor was I Penelope, the girl who had faced so much.
I was a woman, a human like any other, a pregnant woman about to give birth to a child of a powerful species.
"My dear friend... Penny..." I heard Marianne's voice, and Luther seemed to have stayed next to her. Luke was holding my hand, and I had Nate on the other.
"There are a lot of people outside, Luna...everyone is praying for you," says Naomi, who stood like a sentinel at the door of the room.
At times, I felt like I couldn't stand the pain, Nate hold me tight while I screamed, and I could see him suffering for me.
He knew I needed him, and since he had accepted me as his mate, he seemed to have promised himself that he would never leave me. And he had kept it.
"I would rather suffer myself, my Luna...than see you in so much pain," he said to me as he wiped my face and took care of me. I felt his love and caring, and it encouraged me to keep going.
"You are doing very well...excellent Luna...just a little more. There's very little left," the doctor said.
"You can do it my Luna...we are close," my mate said.
I had seen him sad, upset, worried... but now it was a strange emotion, fear, happiness and also fear.
"You are amazing, sis....we are all so proud," Luke said, trying to distract me from the pain as I started to push and scream.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone so strong in my whole life... what you're doing my love... it's more powerful than anything, more than the king, more than our enemies... you are the true strength of this pack and I love you so much," Nate told me excitedly as I felt I was coming to my end.
"One more time, Luna, I see the little one!" the doctor said.
And when we finally heard a cry... I felt like I could breathe again.
"He's big and strong!" I heard him say as I sighed from so much effort.
"My love... you are so beautiful and wonderful!" Nathaniel said, showering me with kisses.
"This is your son... Luna and Alpha..." the nurse said and when we had our baby in our arms we stood silently watching him.
"He's a big, strong Alpha...and a wolf. I'm sure great things are in his future," the doctor said.
A wolf... I was relieved... even though I held him in my arms, all I cared about was that he was okay, that he was safe here, close to me
"He's amazing...our son...our baby boy... my Luna," Nate said and kissed me.
Our little son was already kicking and waving his hands and looking at us. He was flushed, and I could feel a strange aura coming from him. It feels... amazing.
I thought maybe it was my excitement, relief and pride at having my little baby boy in my arms, but I saw the expressions on everyone's faces at the same time.
"Ohhhh sis....he is a true Alpha...his aura is magnificent," Luke said astonished.
"Goddess, he is precious and wonderful... my grandson"said Ruth, approaching and already on the verge of tears.
"I have never seen such an aura in a newborn... he is a little one blessed by the Goddess...a miracle!" said Naomi, fascinated. Marianne was crying... my family and friends are really excited for us, I felt so much love. My father approached me, looking at the little one with love, but worried about me, his little girl, stroking my hair and crying with pride.
"You did a great job, pumpkin...now everything is going to be okay," he said to me with a smile.
"Have you thought of a name for little Alpha? He really is a child like I have never seen" the nurse asked us as she watched the adorable scene of several people gawking at a baby.
"Landon...that will be his name, Landon, future Alpha of Moonstone " Nate said happily.
We had thought of several names, but mostly I wanted it to represent something from our past. It had occurred to Nathaniel to name Landon after Linda, my mother.
A human who had done everything she could to bring me here, safe, to give me an opportunity in life. It was a great honor and a beautiful tribute.
"Without her...we wouldn't have met...she gave me the most important thing in the world, as well as you right now...my Luna," he said and kissed me. Luke and my dad looked really touched, as did everyone in the room. Soon we heard the announcements: there was a new Alpha, he was strong and beautiful, and everyone in the pack celebrated.
For a few hours we were completely overjoyed, many of our friends and acquaintances came over to see the baby, but soon Ruth and my dad chased everyone away so I could have a moment of peace and quiet.
But little did we know that peace and quiet wasn't really going to come, at least not yet... for in all the excitement, we had forgotten that the King was on his way to see us. And he wasn't going to wait for us. "Who the hell does the king think he is?" said Nate, annoyed, while I was still in bed.
"A king... Mrs wolf... and his Majesty doesn't seem to realize that childbirth is a complicated and difficult thing, especially when the mother isn't a she-wolf, and she doesn't recover from one moment to the next," Jeremiah said, carrying baby Landon in his arms.
Our vampire friend had just arrived and was already thrilled with little Landon. It seemed that Maximus was in our territory and demanded to see us, especially to meet the baby.
"Well, I'm sorry we were not available for him a few hours ago, my pup is more important!" my mate said in annoyance, he had really become more possessive after our son was born.
"The king is childless, it's a sore subject with him........ he has never been able to conceive in all these years. It is considered impossible that he will ever succeed. But I will talk to him, rest assured," Jeremiah says, holding my child close. "He is a beautiful and charming boy, Lady Luna, congratulations. Oh... and very powerful, no doubt," he said and left with a smile.
Within minutes, we heard a march of footsteps approaching us, which no doubt had to be the king and his retinue. And I was astonished to see Maximus enter alone with my mate.
"Your Majesty..." I said, bowing my head.
"Luna... Alpha... I heard the good news," he said without much expression, until he noticed the little boy in my arms and approached me.
For a few seconds he looked at my sweet baby in detail, he no longer had an annoyed or stern expression on his face, he seemed surprised, his green bright eyes very curious.
"He is an Alpha... really powerful..." he said as if he could not believe it.
"And he will always be loyal to you, Your Majesty..." Nate bowed.
"I hope so... truly the union of you two has been strange... but extraordinary" he said, still keeping his eyes on my baby.
"Now, more than ever, we must protect the mates, the bonds between humans and wolves" Nate adds.
"Mates are sacred... and I'm sure the humans will find comfort in the love of the wolves," I tell him and he looks at me in amazement. I remember that he doesn't have a mate, he never did.
Maximus takes a few steps back and I almost stop breathing thinking about what he will do.
"When the little Alpha comes of age, I would like him to come to the castle...perhaps he could learn in the Royal Guard and all that my people can give him. Of course, he will still be Alpha of Moonstone..." he said and I sigh. Then he left without waiting for an answer and I saw Asher in the doorway.
"It's a great honor... and if it seems like the king might want to keep an eye on the little one, see that he doesn't become a powerful enemy. But there is much for him to learn in the castle," Jeremiah told us as Asher held little Landon in his
arms.
"Maximus is becoming increasingly paranoid about possible riots and uprisings in his kingdom. He'll want to rely on as many powerful wolves as possible," Asher said.
Our Alpha friend seemed speechless with excitement, and the little guy responded very happily to him. I felt deep inside that Asher had given up hope of getting what he wanted.
He seemed to see our present, a true mate couple who had just had a child ... and he didn't think he could be so lucky.
"Congratulations, Alpha and Luna... he is an adorable and strong little guy. I've never seen an aura like that. Moonstone's next Alpha will be a force to be reckoned with," he told us with a sad smile.
I still couldn't believe what was being said about him, an Alpha who was losing control of his wolf, a cruel and violent man who was known to finish off his enemies quickly.
He was with us for a while, and then he just left, as if he couldn't stand to be here. My heart aches for him.
"He just needs time...our friend... he will find hope again," Jeremiah would tell us and leave with him.
And that morning I experienced a scene I never imagined I would ever really have: I woke up in the arms of my beautiful, loving, sweet mate, Nathaniel. The man I liked and who later kicked me out of the pack. The man I met again in the restaurant, the man I fought with, and the man who also saved me.
The Alpha who declared his love for me in front of everyone and made me his Luna. The man who had supported me like no one else for some time now. He taught me about love, about fighting for others, about learning from your mistakes and about redemption.
And in my arms... our son, a baby boy full of joy, an unexpected gift that promised love and a better future for all us.
Ruth was right, Moonstone's future is bright, we have all made it bright.