Lucian's POV
Night had barely begun when I felt the pull in my chest, an instinct, sharp and unrelenting. Something was wrong. I could feel Selene's energy through the faint thread that connected us since the night of Astra's test. It was flickering, unstable, strained. Without hesitation, I left the packhouse.
The run to the apothecary was short, but the rain made it feel endless. By the time I arrived, the storm had turned the path into a trail of silvered mud. I got to the door and froze.
Vines.
They were alive, crawling over the apothecary's walls, pulsing faintly with light, responding to her magic. It was Selene's spell, one of protection, but it looked… disturbed. Something had disrupted its calm rhythm. My heart sank.
I ran inside, the bell chiming above me.
"Selene!" I called out.
The scent of herbs, blood and smoke hit me. A moment later, Elara appeared, her robe stained with something that looked like potion residue. Her hair was loose, her eyes wide and tired.
"Alpha?" she said breathlessly. "Why are you here?"
"What happened here?" I demanded, stepping forward. "The wards, Selene's spell, it's breaking."
She pressed her hands together, shaking her head. "Kira. She attacked us with dark magic not long ago. Selene fought her off, but Flora… Flora went into labor in the middle of it. She is still in there. Selene is attending to her."
I stiffened. "Labor? But Flora is only four moons along"
Elara's face told me everything I needed to know. "It came too soon. Her body is weak, but she's fighting. Selene won't let her give up."
"What can I do?" I asked, already pacing the narrow hallway.
"Nothing," she whispered. "Unless you know how to deliver a child."
Her tone was dry, but her eyes glimmered with fear. I couldn't stand still. I paced back and forth like a restless wolf, the sounds from the birthing room clawing at my chest. Flora's screams echoed through the corridor, raw and desperate, and Selene's voice steady but urgent, rose above it.
"Do not scream, Flora. Push. You can do this," Selene said from the other side of the door.
My fingers clenched into fists. I could not fight this battle for her. I could only wait. But what I didn't know, what none of us knew, was that danger still lingered outside.
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Kira's POV
From the shadows beyond the apothecary walls, I watched the vines shiver and glow. The rain hid me well. My hood clung to my face, but my eyes never left the lit windows. He was there.
Lucian.
My dear, foolish Lucian.
He thought he could banish me and forget. He thought I would disappear into the darkness and rot. But I never left. The Shadow Court found me. They gave me power far beyond what I had before.
And now, I would make him pay.
When I saw the chaos within, that woman, Selene, bent over another's body, struggling against the will of nature itself, I smiled. What a perfect opportunity.
I pressed my palm to the wet soil, whispering a chant I learned from the Court. The ground beneath me pulsed darkly and black mist crawled up my arm.
"Blood to silence, breath to stone," I murmured. "Let the womb close. Let the child never see the dawn."
The vines around the apothecary shuddered as if in pain. My spell slithered through the cracks in Selene's wards, invisible but deadly.
"Let her scream," I whispered. "And let it end in stillness."
***************
Selene's POV
Something was wrong.
The moment the new wind swept into the room, the flame in every candle flickered. My magic responded instantly, tightening, warning me. Flora gasped, her body trembling.
"I can't breathe," she wheezed, gripping the sheets. "Selene… I can't… push anymore."
"Stay with me," I said firmly, moving my hands over her abdomen. The protective charm I drew earlier was fading fast. "Do not give up now. Elara!"
Elara looked up from the cauldron where she was stirring herbs. "What is it?"
"There's dark magic here," I said, my pulse racing. "It's feeding off her fear. Strengthen the ward!"
She nodded and began chanting under her breath, the faint scent of sage filling the room. But it wasn't enough. Something stronger was fighting back.
Flora arched her back, her breathing shallow. Her pulse stuttered beneath my fingers.
"Who came into the house before now?" I demanded suddenly.
"Lucian," Elara replied quickly.
"Call him," I ordered. "Now."
Elara hurried out. A moment later, Lucian entered the room, his eyes sharp with concern.
"What's happening?" he asked.
"There's a curse here," I said without hesitation. "A dark one. I can feel it crawling under my wards."
He frowned. "Could it be my presence? The pack's mark?"
"No," I said, shaking my head. "This is not you. This is malice pure and intentional. Someone wants Flora and the child dead."
The realization settled heavily between us. His jaw tightened.
"Kira," he muttered.
I pressed a mix of crushed moonflower and motherroot onto Flora's belly. The herbs glowed faintly as they made contact with her skin, radiating warmth. "This will help her heartbeat stabilize," I whispered.
Flora whimpered softly, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Selene… I can't do this. Please, save her, save my baby."
"You will both live," I promised, even though the weight of my words trembled in my chest.
The air grew thicker. I could feel the shadow pressing harder against the walls. I chanted louder, calling on the Moon Mother's light.
Then the doorbell chimed again.
Elara froze mid-incantation, her voice catching. Lucian turned instantly.
"I'll go," he said.
"Be careful," I whispered.
**************
Lucian's POV
When I opened the door, the storm slapped me in the face. Two figures stood under the porch light....Darius, drenched to the bone and Alora beside him, her eyes sharp and focused.
"Thank the goddess," I muttered. "Come in, quickly."
Darius followed silently while Alora stepped inside, already pulling off her gloves. "Where is she?"
"Second room. She's not breathing properly."
She did not waste a breath. "Get me clean towels, warm water and candles," she ordered Elara the moment she entered. "And clear the air. I need light."
Her presence steadied the room instantly. Flora's gasps turned softer under the rhythm of Alora's calm voice.
"Good. Breathe slowly," Alora murmured, placing an oxygen mask over Flora's face. "In and out. There you go."
She reached into her bag, pulling out her tools—sterile cloths, scissors, a pulse meter, potion vials and herbs wrapped in silk.
Selene stood beside her, her magic pulsing in waves. "The curse is still here," she said quietly. "I can feel it fighting back."
Alora's eyes narrowed. "Then keep your barrier strong. I'll handle the rest."
****************
Elara's POV
The night stretched endlessly. The storm outside matched the one inside. I moved back and forth between the cauldron and the table, mixing herbs and boiling water. Every breath in the room felt like a battle.
Selene stood by Flora's side, her silver aura flickering like moonlight caught in a storm. Alora worked swiftly, her hands sure and precise, guiding Flora through each contraction.
I could feel Lucian's presence behind me, pacing, tense, helpless. Darius stood near the window, watching the rain like he could keep danger away by staring hard enough.
Then, for a moment, everything went still. No sound. No cries. Just silence.
"Selene?" I whispered, fear clutching my chest.
"Not yet," she said firmly. "She is still fighting. Come on, Flora. One last push."
Flora's body trembled, her eyes rolling back. Selene bent low, whispering in her ear. "You are stronger than this pain. Push now."
And then, it happened.
A small cry, faint but real, pierced the silence.
The room seemed to exhale all at once. Alora smiled tiredly, tears glistening in her eyes. "It's a girl," she said softly.
Selene took the tiny baby into her arms, wrapping her in a white cloth. The child's skin shimmered faintly, a soft luminescent glow under the candlelight.
Flora began to sob, relief and joy mingling in her tears. "My baby…"
"She's perfect," Selene said gently, placing the newborn in her arms. "Both of you are safe."
************
Lucian's POV
When I stepped closer, the sight stole my breath.
Flora cradled the newborn with trembling hands, whispering to her softly. The air was warm again. Peaceful. The vines outside had stopped trembling.
I looked at Selene, her face pale from exhaustion, her eyes gleaming with quiet triumph. Our gazes met for a brief, unspoken moment and in it, I saw everything.
Strength. Grace. Light. Care and Love.
The curse had failed. Kira's darkness had been pushed back.
But the faint scent of shadow lingered still, hidden beneath the smell of herbs and rain.
I clenched my fists. This was not the end. Kira had started something, and she would not stop until she was destroyed.
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Selene's POV
The dawn came softly, painting gold on the apothecary walls. I sat by the window, watching Flora and her baby sleep. The world outside was quiet again, but my magic told me otherwise.
Something in the distance pulsed faintly....dark, waiting.