[Old World – Blackmoon Colony…Outer Camp]
The camp was hushed, moonlight glazing the clearing in silver.
Fires smoldered low, warriors stood guard, but the night was restless…word had already traveled fast that their Alpha had gone into the Greater Woods abandoning his Luna in active labour…and had not yet returned… It was past midnight.
When he finally did… he was almost unrecognizable.
Kieran stumbled out of the treeline, his body shredded and soaked in both blood and mud. His steps dragged, yet his arms were rigid…unyielding…as he held the tiny bundle to his chest.
The pup was wrapped poorly in bloodied cloth. She whimpered faintly as the sound muffled against his skin.
The warriors nearest the border froze. "Alpha!" One of them gasped. "Goddess… you are bleeding, Alpha…"
"Don't touch me." Kieran's voice cracked like a whip, broken even…his face shadowed by grime and dried tears.
