Chapter 22

SCARLETT

“Anthony,” I whispered his name, my fingers reaching out for him. I yearned to hold my son, to know he was safe.

Jack handed him to me, swaddled in a surgical cloth. I cradled Anthony, taking in every detail of his perfect little face. He was the spitting image of Christopher, but with my lips and my blonde hair.

When he opened his eyes, I let out a sigh. His eyes were the same sky blue as Christopher’s, the same shade that Caroline had inherited. But he was struggling, his breathing and heartbeat labored.

I felt helpless. There was no guidebook for this.

“If he were an adult, we’d do a blood transfusion. But he’s too young for the anti-silver serum and…” Jack began, but I could already feel the despair creeping in.

We needed to get him to a hospital, and fast.

“Blood transfusion? But what blood? We can’t,” I choked out, tears streaming down my face.

“Use mine.” A soft voice interrupted my thoughts. It was Caroline, offering her blood to save her brother. I looked from her to Jack, unsure of how to respond.

“Do you think it could…work?” I asked Jack.

He was silent for a moment, deep in thought. “It’s our best chance. It doesn’t hurt to try.”

It was a glimmer of hope. But we still needed to know if their blood was compatible. I knew my blood type was A, and Christopher’s was B. Anthony was likely AB, but what about Caroline?

“What’s going on? Talk to me.” Christopher’s voice echoed from the other side of the wall. “They’re containing the structure for another hour at least.”

“Anthony was born, but he’s weak. He might need a blood transfusion,” I managed to say, my voice breaking.

“What? No, no, no—” Christopher began, but I had to interrupt him.

“What was Violet’s blood type?” I asked him.

“What?” Christopher shouted back.

“What’s Violet’s blood type? You’re B. Was she A, O, or B too?”

“I don’t know, Scarlett. It’s been so long, but why?”

“Because if Caroline and Anthony’s blood is compatible, we can do a transfusion, and it might save him,” I explained, still trying to wrap my head around the idea.

“Jack, bring me a syringe and some thin needles. He’s small. One or two syringes should be enough,” I said, trying to lay him down and think clearly.

“Scarlett,” Christopher’s voice echoed, but I couldn’t let it distract me. I had to focus on saving Anthony.

Jack handed me two syringes. I took the first one, removed the needle, and pricked Anthony’s foot. He was so weak he didn’t even cry. I tasted the blood, the metallic tang confirming his blood type was AB.

“Caroline, sweetheart, I need to check if your blood is compatible. I need to prick your finger,” I told her.

She nodded and held out her hand. I repeated the process, tasting her blood. It was AB too.

“It’s compatible,” I said, relief washing over me.

I looked into Caroline’s eyes. “Honey, you can save your brother. But we need to draw blood from you. Are you sure you want to do that?”

Caroline, always so mature for her age, nodded yes.

She held out her arm, and Jack helped me draw her blood. It took a while, but soon we had a syringe full of her blood.

I looked at Anthony, his tiny body fighting for survival. I couldn’t bring myself to inject him, so Jack took the syringe from me. He found a vein and slowly injected Caroline’s blood into Anthony.

As the blood entered his body, his color changed. He became more animated, his little legs kicking. Jack took another half syringe from Caroline and injected it into Anthony. When he removed the needle, Anthony let out a loud cry.

“Is that his crying?” Christopher’s voice came from the other side of the wall.

“Yes, our son is fine,” I said, tears of joy streaming down my face.

Anthony’s cheeks turned pink, his breathing steadied, and his heartbeat was strong.

Anthony was going to be okay. Jack was there for me, assisting in the final stages of labor. He delivered my placenta, changed the soiled linens, and gently placed Caroline next to me on the stretcher. I was able to nurse Anthony, with Caroline by my side, her tiny hand stroking his leg.

The three of us were there, a family. Christopher was absent, but the bubble of love and peace we were in felt far removed from the fear and chaos of just moments ago.

We remained in that state for an hour until Christopher managed to burrow his way through the rubble. He entered the small opening, practically crawling. I could feel his heart swell with love at the sight before him. He embraced us, and our family was finally whole.

“I can’t believe it,” Christopher murmured, his breath hitching. He gently ran his fingers through Anthony’s hair, tears of joy streaming down his face, mixing with his smiles. Everything was right.

We managed to escape the wreckage and headed straight for the hospital. My mother ran every possible test on Anthony and me, but we were both fine.

When we were finally settled into a room, it felt like a pack gathering. My entire family was there, including Carl and Marquardt.

“He’s beautiful, Alpha,” Carl said, his gaze fixed on little Anthony sleeping in his crib. “Can we announce the birth of the heir?”

Christopher looked at me, his eyes wide, seeking my approval. I knew the news would spread regardless, so I simply nodded.

Carl and Marquardt exited the room, leaving my family and the pack’s leadership behind.

“Karen, I know you wanted to wait, and Anthony was just born, but if I don’t tell you, I’m going to lose it,” Thomas blurted out, his voice more frantic than I’d ever heard it.

Karen covered her face with her hand, laughing.

“What?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“Anthony was just born, but he’s going to have a little cousin soon,” Karen started, placing her hand on her belly.

“I can’t believe it.” My mother echoed what we were all thinking.

We all congratulated them, sharing hugs. After hugging her uncles, Caroline asked to climb onto the bed to be next to her brother. Even though he was asleep, she held his hand as if to reassure him she was there.

“Red comes as salvation,” I murmured, running my fingers through her red curls. I saw Christopher’s eyes widen, recognizing the phrase.

As soon as we had begun to inject her blood into him, the Goddess had recited the prophecy inside my head.

~In the midst of the war, Red comes as a salvation,~

~Bringing hope and new life~

~To the whole new nation.~

~The second chance was the right mate,~

~Which was already decided by fate,~

~And there is born the new leader who withstood,~

~Of the people gathered again for good,~

~And he was born on the border.~

“You’re saying that the ‘red one’ in the prophecy is Caroline,” Christopher began, trying to piece it all together. “But the Goddess said it was about you.”

“Maybe it’s about both of us,” I suggested, gently stroking Caroline’s cheek.

“But what we do know is that she saved Anthony’s life today, and ours too.”

End of Book 2