The Silence of the Clan

The clan was quiet, a stark contrast to their usual lively nature. Lilitha sat alone, as did Damon. Carmella found solace in Mateus’s lap, her face hidden in the crook of his shoulder.

This had been their reality for the past three days. Lilitha had been silent since that fateful night. She ate. She slept.

But she didn’t truly live. There was no laughter, only tears and hushed whispers. She felt like a shell of her former self.

They had ventured deeper into the forest. Despite the fire that had ravaged a significant portion of it, the forest was vast, extending into the hills and further into the mountains.

If Silus were here, this would have filled her with hope. But hope seemed like a distant memory now.

Lilitha found herself staring into the darkness of the trees, the flickering fire casting long shadows. She could feel Damon’s gaze on her. He had been quiet since their return, understanding her need to grieve.

It had only been three days. There were still weeks, months, years, and decades to come. How was she supposed to endure it all?

Lilitha remained silent as Damon rose and sat next to her. He pulled her into his arms. She didn’t resist, but she didn’t speak either.

She buried her face into the crook of his neck as he held her. It was strange. Damon should be blaming her. He should be angry, shouting, pointing fingers.

But he didn’t. He just looked sad. This somehow made her feel even worse. She missed the old Damon. She missed the way things used to be.

Carmella’s soft sobs filled the air again. Mateus quietly led her away. Lilitha listened as their footsteps faded into the forest.

Damon’s fingers traced a soothing path up and down her back. Lilitha felt numb. His breath. His presence. His scent.

Once, they had stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her, but now, she felt nothing. He might as well have been a tree or a rock.

He gently tilted her head back, his jade eyes searching hers. He traced his finger over her bottom lip.

“When are you coming back to us? I miss you, Lila,” he said.

Lilitha stared back at him, her gaze vacant. He kissed her gently, his tongue parting her lips.

When she didn’t respond, he sighed, kissed her again, and wrapped his arms around her. Lilitha hung limply against him, her arms lifeless at her sides as he rocked her gently.

Then he started singing. Actually singing. The surprise made her turn her head reflexively. She watched him. His lips. His eyes.

He was smiling gently at her. She barely registered the words. She almost felt something. Almost.

Every night, they walked. They avoided the “big three” as Damon called them: Norfolk, Mainstry, Esteria. It was too dangerous.

They planned to journey up the coast, to somewhere far away. Somewhere they could start anew.

They ate together, and Lilitha didn’t question how they managed to find meat so far from any major settlements. She didn’t care.

Mateus and Damon carried heavy sacks filled with their necessities. Carmella carried the rest. Only Lilitha was empty-handed, struggling with the weight of her own body.

When the sun rose, they slept together, huddled close, their heads touching, arms intertwined. Still, Lilitha felt nothing.

Carmella always woke up with tear-streaked cheeks. For the first few mornings, Mateus would ask how Lilitha was. He soon stopped asking.

Then it happened.

They were walking at their usual slow pace, accommodating Lilitha, the slowest among them. The night was dark, the clouds heavy.

It was cold enough for Carmella to wear her cloak. Mateus had his draped around his neck. Lilitha was absently staring at his horns when she suddenly stopped, pulling against Damon’s hand.

Damon turned to her, his eyebrows raised in question.

Lilitha took a deep breath and continued walking. A few minutes later, she stopped again.

“Lilitha?” Damon asked.

Carmella and Mateus watched her closely. Then the pain subsided, and they resumed their journey. A few minutes later, she stopped again.

This time, she grunted and doubled over, clutching her hips.

“We make camp here,” Carmella declared, her eyes shining.

The two alphas were unusually quiet as Lilitha paced the clearing. Mateus was crouched on the ground, his biceps bulging as he clasped his head in his hands.

His tail swayed agitatedly behind him, the sharp tip glinting in the moonlight. Damon looked smaller somehow, his face so pale his eyes seemed to glow as he leaned against a tree for support.

Carmella, however, was all business.

“Keep walking,” she instructed Lilitha. “It’s the best thing. You’ve already lost your mucous plug. Now we just have to wait for your waters to break.”

Lilitha paused to lean over her knees. Usually, it was with a groan. This time, it was with a cry.

Mateus shot upright. Damon let go of the tree and rushed to her side. Lilitha gripped his arm.

“Breathe, Lilitha. Breathe with it,” Carmella instructed.

Lilitha tried, her nails digging into Damon’s arm as the pain intensified. She turned into him, pressing her head into his chest.

Damon grabbed her shoulders, enveloping her in his embrace. Then the pain subsided, and Lilitha sagged against him, gasping for breath.

She sagged further, and Damon helped lower her to the ground.

“No. Get her up,” Carmella commanded, her face set in determination.

Carmella went to a nearby stream. Lilitha could hear the water trickling and splashing. Carmella retrieved some fabric from one of their sacks and soaked it in the icy water.

She then returned to Lilitha and wrapped the cool fabric around her burning neck.

“Thank you,” Lilitha gasped. The word felt foreign, out of place. It was the first word she’d spoken since Esteria.

“Keep moving, Lilitha, keep pacing,” Carmella ordered. “Take your clothes off too. I don’t know why you’re still wearing them.”

~Why you’re still wearing them…~

~With Silus gone…~

Damon helped her undress.

Carmella tied up some of Lilitha’s loose black braids into a second knot at the back of her head. She rubbed her hands together.

“We’re getting close now.”

“You’ve been saying that for hours,” Lilitha grumbled, pacing back and forth in the small clearing.

Mateus was hunched over again, his face etched with concern. He was completely out of his element, and it was obvious he wasn’t used to feeling so helpless. Neither of the alphas had ever witnessed a birth before, and Lilitha hadn’t either.

Carmella must have noticed the fear etched on Lilitha’s face because she gently grasped her chin.

“You’re doing wonderfully. After everything you’ve been through, this will be a piece of cake. All right?”

Lilitha nodded in response, and Carmella dabbed her face with a damp cloth.

An hour later, Lilitha was staggering as she continued to pace. She felt a warm trickle down her thigh and for a moment, she thought she had wet herself. Carmella guided her to the stream to help clean her up.

Sweat was pouring down Lilitha’s face and under her arms, yet she was shivering uncontrollably.

“You’re frightened,” Carmella observed. “There’s no need to be scared. Not while I’m here.”

Hours later, tears were streaming down Lilitha’s face, even though she wasn’t crying. It felt as if her womb was trying to force its way out of her body, dragging down her hips and all her vital organs. The pain was particularly intense in her kidney area.

She clung to Damon’s arms, resting her head against his chest, saliva dripping from her mouth.

“Lilitha, I need you to lie down,” Carmella instructed firmly. “Mateus!” she called out sharply.

The large Diablon immediately snapped to attention.

“Sit over there,” she directed.

Lilitha heard Mateus sit down somewhere. Damon guided her over to him. Mateus was propped up against a tree.

Lilitha dropped to her knees and crawled into his lap, turning over and panting heavily against him. Carmella knelt in front of her, pulling Lilitha’s knees up and spreading her legs to take a look.

Damon stood behind Carmella, his face pale and sweaty. Mateus held her hips with his large, trembling hands, his hot chest pressed against her back.

Carmella looked up, her face filled with joy. “It’s coming.”

Lilitha clung to Mateus’s hands. Damon turned a ghostly white. He swayed for a moment, then began to pace the clearing, running his fingers through his long red hair repeatedly.

Lilitha cried out, pushing into her heels and bracing herself against Mateus’s large frame as the pain intensified in her hips. It felt as if her bones were being slowly pried apart. The pressure was unbearable.

Her body instinctively pushed, completely beyond Lilitha’s control. It felt as if she was being torn in half. Was she giving birth to a baby or a damn boulder?

She threw her head back and screamed. She screamed and screamed.

Carmella was barking orders. Damon was bellowing.

Lilitha let go of Mateus’s hands and shifted so she was on all fours. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, closing her eyes and squeezing him tightly as all the muscles in her hips, pelvis, and thighs contracted with all their might.

Suddenly, something gave! Something moved! She screamed again as the boulder pushed through what felt like the smallest opening in the world. She buried her face in Mateus’s neck and bit down hard.

The pressure in her hips suddenly eased as something large slid out of her. Lilitha collapsed. She could smell Mateus’s blood. She could smell his sweat.

She opened her eyes, then closed them again, moaning in relief as the pain subsided.

Mateus placed his heavy hand on her shoulder. Lilitha’s eyes flew open. His eyes were wide and bloodshot.

“You did well,” he said.

And then she heard it—the cry of her baby.