The pain hit me before I even had a chance to catch my breath.
It wasn't just the aches from shifting—a kind of bone-breaking, pulling-apart feeling that left me raw. No, this was something different. Deep and fierce, twisting low in my belly like the whole world tilted sideways.
"Ronan—" The name stumbled out, strangled.
He was already there, lifting me like I weighed nothing, holding me tight against his chest. "I've got you."
"The baby—" Another contraction slammed into me so fast it stole my words. Way too early. The baby wasn't due for at least another month, but my body didn't care about schedules. The shift had torn something loose inside, and now—
"Inside. Now." Lyra's voice cut through the fog, sharp and no-nonsense. Blood still trickled from the cut on her temple, but she moved like a general on the battlefield. "Selvara, clear the birthing mat. Boil water. Get the herbs."
"I'm bleeding," Selvara gritted out, clutching her wounded shoulder.
