Chapter 88: Chapter 87

Katie “Is everything going to be okay?” | demanded.

Amoment ago, speaking seemed impossible, but now that my pup was in danger, there was nothing |

wouldn't do.

“| have to remove the cord, otherwise the pup can’t breathe,” Sable said. “It’s not too complicated. I'll tell you when to push again.”

Quinn came to my side and grabbed my other hand.

I shut my eyes tightly, willing everything to be alright, Mason and Quinn both squeezed my hands.

After what felt like an eternity passed, a wail echoed through the room.

My baby.

“Okay, I've unwrapped the cord,” Sable said, and her voice was stronger, more encouraging now. “One more push, Katie.”

| pushed with every last ounce of energy | had left.

Searing hot pain shredded through me, like | was being ripped down the middle.

And then release.

“It's a healthy girl!” Sable yelled over my pup’s high-pitched cries Quinn squealed with excitement, and through my tears, | could see Mason beaming.

“Is Katie okay, too?” he asked his mother.

“She’s lost some blood, but nothing concerning. I'd call it a success.”

Mason turned back to me and pushed back my hair from my face.

“That was bada ss, Katie,” he said softly, squeezing my hand once more. “You're going to be an incredible mom.”

My heart swelled.

But before | could even thank him, he was out the door and Sable was standing at my side with my beautiful baby girl.

My heart leapt.

The pain left my body, and it was like | became weightless.

“You need to shift now, Katie. You tore when you birthed the pup, and you're losing blood, but it will heal completely when your wolf takes over.”

Atush of joy flowed through me at the thought of finally meeting my wolf for the first time.

That | could remember, anyway...

My body had been so focused on growing this baby that I’d barely felt her presence.

| knew she was lurking somewhere deep in my soul, thanks to my little encounter with Mason last night, and | couldn't wait to set her free.

“It's important to commune with your wolf as soon as you can, so you don’t weaken the connection,” Sable explained. “She needs to bond with the baby just like you do.”

Already she was running circles inside me, desperate to be let out.

“Lily, you're there,” | said to my wolf.

| guess that was her name...

“I've been here all along,” she answered.

Quinn offered me her hands, and | stood slowly.

My knees nearly buckled, and | had to look up to keep from seeing the thick, red blood dripping onto the floor.

“Close your eyes, Katie,” Quinn whispered. “Let your wolf take over.”

| squeezed my eyes shut, and Lily immediately broke free.

My head flew to the sky, my back arched, and my nightgown ripped to shreds as fur sprouted from every pore on my body.

Lily went to Sable immediately.

She bent down slightly, so my pup was level with my head.

My wolf took in her scent, and my whole body vibrated, my fur rippling from my head down to my tail.

Lily leaned in, brushing my fur along my tiny pup’s skin.

She'd been crying since she’d come out of the womb, but suddenly she stopped, We turned back around to face her, looking into her tiny eyes, and it was like she could see straight into our soul, and we could see into hers.

Light seemed to blossom from the small space between us, and a warm flood of emotion erupted from my heart, traveling through my wolf's body, down to the pads of my paws.

It was love.

The strongest I’d ever felt before.

But than Illumn harbina sunu and a lesu anul care un in mu throat It sounded like a warning.

“No,” Lily was saying. “No, no, no,”

Every hair on my body stood up.

Something was very wrong.