Six months had passed since that terrifying night in the forest. The days had settled into a fragile rhythm of safety, love, and cautious hope. Adrian and Celine had returned to a life that was peaceful, though the shadow of Damien lingered somewhere beyond their sight.
Celine stood outside the clinic, the evening sun casting a golden glow over the city streets. Her hands rested gently on her growing belly. Six months had brought her both joy and anxiety, every movement of the baby reminding her of the fragile life she carried—and the danger that had once stalked them.
Adrian stood beside her, his golden eyes scanning the surroundings, alert even in the calm. Shadow padded silently at his side, senses always alert. "Ready?" he asked, his voice low but gentle.
Celine nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes. I just… I need to make sure everything is okay. I need to know the baby is safe."
Inside the clinic, the atmosphere was calm, clinical. The soft hum of machines, the quiet footsteps of nurses, and the faint beeping of monitors filled the room. Celine lay on the examination table, Adrian holding her hand tightly, both of them watching the screen as the doctor examined her.
"All looks perfect," the doctor said with a warm smile. "Your baby is healthy and developing well. Everything is normal. Keep following the usual precautions, and you'll continue to have a smooth pregnancy."
Celine exhaled, relief flooding her. "Thank you," she whispered, a small smile breaking across her face. She looked at Adrian, eyes shining. "Everything… is okay."
Adrian squeezed her hand, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "I told you… we'd get through this. Together."
Celine leaned against him, feeling the steady warmth of his body, the security in his presence. For the first time in months, she allowed herself to relax fully, to imagine a future with their child, safe and loved.
Even though the danger of Damien still lingered somewhere beyond their horizon, today, at least, peace had returned. And in Adrian's arms, Celine felt an unshakable truth: no matter what threats lay ahead, together, they could face anything.
Shadow let out a soft, reassuring growl, as if agreeing, and the three of them—mother, father, and the little life growing within—basked in the rare, beautiful calm of the moment.
Celine tossed and turned in her sleep, her face damp with sweat. The dream came suddenly—dark, suffocating.
Out of the shadows, Damien's figure appeared, his crimson eyes glowing with cruel amusement. His voice slithered like smoke.
"Hello, little mother-to-be," he mocked. "It's been a while."
Celine's heart pounded. She tried to move, but her body was frozen.
Damien stepped closer, his grin widening. "I'm waiting for your child to grow strong. And when the time comes, I'll take him. I'll take everything."
Celine's breath hitched as she instinctively cradled her belly.
Then Damien leaned in, his words colder, sharper than knives. "You have no idea what's growing inside you, do you? Something the ancients feared. Something even Adrian has not told you. That baby… is more special than you think."
Celine's eyes widened in the dream, her fear spiking. "No… you're lying."
Damien chuckled darkly. "Lying? No, Celine. I'm the only one telling you the truth. You carry the Chosen One. A child born of two worlds… with the power to end them both. And I will be there, waiting, when the moment is right."
With a low laugh, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Celine trembling, clutching her stomach as tears burned her eyes.
Adrian stirred beside her, opening his golden eyes immediately, sensing her distress. "Celine?" he whispered, voice low and concerned. "What's wrong?"
"I… I had a nightmare," she stammered, voice trembling. "Damien… he said… he's waiting to take the baby… he's coming for him…" Her hands trembled as she held her stomach.
Adrian immediately pulled her close, arms wrapping around her protectively. "Shh… it's just a dream," he murmured, voice firm yet soothing. "You're safe here. I'm here. I'll never let him touch you… or our baby."
Celine buried her face against his chest, still shaking, but the warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his heart began to calm her. "I… I don't know how to stop him… I don't want to lose anyone…"
"You won't lose anyone," Adrian said fiercely, voice low but filled with promise. "I'll protect you both, no matter what. Dreams or reality—he will never take you or our child."
Celine felt his strength, his unwavering protection, and slowly, the terror of the nightmare began to fade. But the fear didn't disappear entirely; Damien was still out there, waiting, plotting.
She whispered softly, voice shaky but determined, "I hope… I hope we'll always be ready for him."
Adrian kissed her hair, holding her tighter. "We will be ready always."
Outside, the city slept unaware, but inside, Celine and Adrian braced themselves for the battles that lay ahead, strengthened by love, trust, and the unbreakable bond forming between them—and the life they were determined to protect at all costs.
Celine buried her face against his chest, still trembling. But even as she tried to calm down, a new terror began to creep in. From the shadows of the room, she began hearing strange sounds: the low, resonant growl of a million wolves echoing in the distance, scratchings that seemed to circle the house like claws on walls, and eerie, haunting whispers that set her nerves on fire.
"Adrian… do you hear that?" she whispered, eyes wide, trembling against him.
Adrian tensed instantly, senses sharpening. Shadow rose, ears flicking, low growl rumbling from his throat. "It's coming," Adrian murmured, voice tight with warning. "Something's out there… I can feel it."
Celine's hands clutched her stomach tightly. "I… I don't understand… why… why are they here?"
Adrian pressed a finger to her lips, calming yet firm. "It's Damien… he's not finished. Those sounds… the wolves… he's sending them. But I'm here. You're safe with me."
Even with Adrian's reassurance, Celine's heart pounded. The shadows outside seemed darker, the noises closer, and the fear in her chest was undeniable. But she held onto Adrian, and the life growing inside her, knowing that together, they could face whatever came next.
Celine, still clinging to Adrian, pressed her hands protectively over her belly, heart pounding. Then suddenly, the sounds of growling wolves, snapping claws, and eerie whispers vanished. Silence filled the room, so complete she could hear her own rapid breathing.
Celine stared in shock at the quiet. "Adrian… how… how did I sense that?" she whispered, a mix of fear and wonder in her voice, still clutching her stomach. "I'm just… a normal human. How did I feel… all of that?"
Adrian's golden eyes scanned the corners of the room, alert and cautious, while Shadow circled silently at their feet. Then he pulled Celine close again, holding her tightly, and looked into her eyes with a calm intensity.
"Sometimes," Adrian said quietly, his voice firm and low, "you can feel more than you realize… instincts, intuition… the bond between us, the baby, and me. It's strong, Celine. And it's natural for you to sense danger, even if you're human. What you felt… it wasn't just imagination. It was your connection to all of us. To our child."
Celine lifted her face, eyes wide with awe and lingering fear. "So… it wasn't just in my head?" she asked softly.
Adrian shook his head, brushing a strand of hair from her face, then gently tipped her chin toward him. "No. You felt it. And that's why you're special, Celine. You and the baby… our bond is stronger than anything Damien can throw at us. Never doubt that."
Celine felt a wave of calm start to wash over her, still holding her stomach protectively, her heart a mix of fear, wonder, and hope. Even though danger was still out there, she now understood… she was stronger than she had ever realized.
Celine stayed quiet for a long moment, her fingers tightening over her belly. Then she lifted her gaze back to Adrian, her voice low but full of uncertainity.
"Adrian… tell me the truth," she whispered. "What exactly makes this baby so special? Why does Damien want him so badly? And you—what kind of wolf are you really? What powers does this child carry because of you?"