Awaken

Chapter 6

She yawned, stretching her arms over head as sunlight trickled into the window of their room. Beside her, her young son lay softly snoring in rhythm. His father, on the other side of the bed. Novalynn smiled. Alaric had a habit of waking up in the dark of night and climbing his tiny frame in between Maverick and herself. She relished it, he would only be so tiny for so long before his interest in his parents would be gone. She smoothed a piece of his hair off his forehead, stroking along the chubby cheek as he smiled in his sleep. This was life, her mate and son nestled in bed sleeping peacefully without a care in the world.

Rising slowly so as to not disturb them, she wrapped her arms around her chest in front of the window, her forehead resting gently against its glass pane as she took in the sight outside.

It was late Summer. Alaric and her birthday had just passed. Dew still sprinkled the grass, and the first bits of sun were touching the garden the village had erected. They grew all sorts of vegetables and plants, enough to feed everyone who sought sanctuary in Prix.

In the far corner was Novalynn's plot of herbs, those she used to help her in her healing. She grinned, remembering the disdain on Mikael's face as she and Dianna had convinced him it was a necessary cause to have the garden and that all hands would be needed to get it up and running. Mikael was many things, just not a gardener.

Over the fence she could see the first signs of life stirring in the village. There were no official ranks in the Rebel Pack, save that of Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Mikael, Maverick, and Dennis had the flow of leadership down to a science. Felix was in charge of training their forces, as well as keeping the ports safe. Over the last two years, many a trader had come to Prix, trying to stir trouble up without ever succeeding. Everyone else contributed to daily life as they saw fit. It was not only a pack, but a community and Novalynn was proud of what they had built.

A gentle tug at her robe told her Alaric was awake. She smiled, bending down to the lift the boy in her arms. She nuzzled her nose against his, as his small hands caressed her cheeks.

"Good morning to you, my little Prince. How sneaky you are climbing in bed with Mama and Daddy." She teased him, tickling him gently just under his ribs.

He giggled, wiggling in protest. "Mama, the bad lady come." He whispered.

She quirked her eyebrows at him as she sat down in a chair across from the bed, holding her son on her lap. She smoothed the fly away hair from his face as she looked into his green eyes, much like her own.

"What bad lady sweet boy? Did you have another bad dream?" She asked him.

Alaric nodded his head in reply, his tiny fingers pulling at a button on the night shirt he wore.

She clicked her tongue at him soothingly. More and more the boy would wake up from a dream, always talking of a "bad lady" who had a mean face. She sighed. She had never worked her powers on Alaric, but perhaps it was time to see what sort of mess he had in his tiny head. While it was never uncommon for him to have a childish squabble with Draven, he had never hit the other boy before until just yesterday. Clearly something was bothering him and Novalynn wanted to know what it was.

"Do it, Novalynn. Let's see what worries our pup to the point of a nightmare." Dia's voice was firm in her head.

Novalynn nodded in understanding, taking Alaric's hands into her own. She tilted his head towards her, keeping his attention as she spoke. "Alaric, Mama wants to see what you see when you have the bad dreams. It may be scary, but just know, I am here with you. I won't let the bad lady hurt you okay? Will you let Mommy see what's in this handsome head of yours?" She asked gently.

His eyes searched hers for a moment, and he finally smiled. "Okay Mama, you stay, hold me." He answered, his arms wrapping tightly around her neck as he placed his head against hers.

She pulled him in close, one hand on his back the other resting gently on his head. "Close your eyes Alaric." She murmured.

He did as she said and Novalynn closed hers as well. She felt the opal pulsing gently against her chest as she woke her healing. It coursed through her, spreading throughout her body and she tightened her grip on her son. The moment the power hit the hand on his head, she felt a jolt. She could see herself standing in the middle of a dark abyss, shadows swirled around her, a sound coming from them almost like a moan, or perhaps a growl.

The image of her in Alaric's head c****d its head in curiosity, her physical form following suit. She was literally inside her son's head. A path opened up and she began to walk it, noting how cold it was, the goosebumps rising on her skin. Her teeth chattered as the path came to an abrupt end. That's when she saw it, or her rather.

The "bad lady" Alaric spoke of, though only a silhouette, had eyes of flames. When she smiled, she had fangs that gleamed red with blood. Novalynn gasped as the woman shifted into that of a wolf, turning as the shadows closed in. She turned to run, a scream echoing in her ears. Her own scream. She was running terrified. The wolf chasing through its army of shadows, snarling and snapping to get her.

She felt her body begin to shake as a pair of hands reached for her. "Nova! Nova, open your eyes!" Maverick's voice penetrated as he yelled her name.

Her eyes snapped open and she found Alaric clinging to her. Her shoulder wet from his tears where he had lain his head. His tiny arms clutching to her back as his legs wrapped entirely around her body. Maverick's crystal blue eyes were dark, a storm of fury and fear swirling behind them.

"Nova, NOVALYNN! Look at me!" He bellowed. His gaze desperately sought hers.

"Wha- what just happened Maverick?" She shook her head, trying to chase the cold from her body. She gently unraveled Alaric from her body. The poor boy was shivering, his fingers as cold as ice and his face streaked from tears.

Maverick sighed, his head hanging slightly. "I don't know, but you scared me. You scared us both. I woke up to you screaming and Alaric sobbing. I looked over and you were glowing green. I called for you but it took so long to bring you to it. What on earth were you doing?!" He exclaimed.

"Alaric was in bed with us when I woke, he told me he had that dream again. I wanted to see what he is seeing." She bit her lip.

Maverick knelt on his knees in front of them, his hands resting gently on either side of her as he lay his head in her lap. She smiled, stroking his head.

"I'm sorry that I scared you Mav, and you, my little Prince. I understand what frightened you. But you must understand, just like Daddy was here for Mommy, we are here for you and that bad lady will never be able to hurt you." She promised.

Alaric nodded, his fingers twirling in her hair. "Mommy, what's in Daddy's head?" He asked, tapping his Father's crown lightly.

"That my boy, is not something a child should see." Maverick laughed, causing Novalynn to also chuckle. He grinned, stood up and scooped their son on o his shoulders.

"Come on, you two green eyed wolves. You've caused me enough grief this morning. Someone needs to feed me before I have Alaric's toes for breakfast!" He teased, grabbing one of the boy's feet and tickling it.

Novalynn laughed, shaking her head as she watched the two men she loved most in this world head down the stairs for breakfast. Alone, she said a prayer of thanks to Selene and one of protection as well. The foreboding cold still seeped into her bones despite the moment having passed. She had never entered someone's head quite like she did Alaric's and she made a note to ask Dia what that was about. Perhaps there was a way to clear the young boy's mind of the abyss within it.

It wasn't a belief that he was evil or dark, but more like something evil and dark plagued him. She shivered, shaking the thoughts from her head as she pulled some pants over her legs before tying her hair into a tight bun. She knew what she needed, and that was to make a spread for her family and then go out with Felix for some rigorous training. Taking one final look in the vanity mirror, she set her head high, like the Alpha she was, and made her way down to the dining area.

Felix grinned at her, panting and out of breath. His forearm wiped across his brow, a small sprinkle of sweat falling to the ground.

"Nova, you never cease to amaze me. I remember when you were just a shy stable girl, now here you are, kicking my ass on the training field. I'm proud to call you an Alpha." He said firmly.

Novalynn smiled as she took a swig of water from one of the jugs they kept handy. "I learned a lot in those stables and grew some muscle in them as well." She giggled, flexing her arms in show.

Felix shook his head, laughing at her theatrics as he reached for the water she held. "Well, Ringo Mangata is sitting with the Moon Goddess, smiling down on his daughter, I assure you that." He replied, tilting the jug toward her before taking a long pull.

"I sure do miss him, and Mother as well. I wonder what they would thought of all this: of Cora being a mermaid and my mission to unseat Jagson." She mused, her eyes squinting at the sun.

Felix sighed as he came to stand next to her. "I think they would be very proud, Nova. You and Cora have both come so far in such a short time. So has my Rosalie. The pain the three of you went through... ugh! Well, as a man, it makes my blood seethe to think Jagson ever lay a hand on any of you. His time will come and he will die by the hands of one, if not all three of you."

She put a hand on his shoulder. "You have suffered too, Felix. I know that Nica is smiling down on you and Luey, proud of the Father you are and the son you are raising in her honor. I didn't know her very well, but from all you've spoken of her, I think she would approve of Rosalie as well."

Felix smiled at her, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "It's a dark way to think, but if I hadn't lost Nica, I don't know where Luey and I would be today. I can't imagine raising him back at Droake, living in fear of the King at every moment. I wouldn't have Rosalie, let alone Titus or even Tala for that matter.

I miss Nica, still, I think I always will, but you're right. She would've loved Rosalie." He finished, a hint of tears behind his eyes.

Novalynn gave him a small hug as they stood, passing the water jug between them, taking in the moment of silence. Suddenly, they heard shouting. Novalynn looked up to see Dennis running across the field.

"Felix! Come quickly! It's Rosalie!" He shouted toward them.

Felix dropped the water, speeding off in Dennis' direction with Novalynn following closely behind him.

"What is it! What's wrong? Is she okay? Are my children okay!" Felix roared.

Dennis bent over, clearly out of breath as he tried to speak. "Stop yelling at me, you buffoon. The baby is coming. Rosalie is in labor! She tried mind linking you to tell you, but the labor is coming on too strong for her to focus!" He spat.

Novalynn couldn't help but snort in laughter at the exchange. Men and child birth were always so entertaining; they all tended to lose their minds when the time came for a pup to be born.

"Why didn't you just mind link instead of racing across the field?" She laughed.

Dennis looked up at her from the corner of his eye. "Whatever! I was just doing as I was told." He huffed, earning him another snort from Novalynn.

She held her hand out to him as Felix made a bee line to back to the inn. "You did just fine Dennis. Come on now, let's go see what all the fuss is. I swear you men, you all act as though a baby is a new thing around here." She teased, earning her another glare from Dennis.

They arrived back at the inn just in time, from the sounds of it. Cora met her at the doorway, her face pale with worry as she ushered them inside. Novalynn could hear Rosalie screaming in the agony that is childbirth.

"Nova! Don't just stand there smiling! Go help! Goddess, is this what I'm in for?" Cora groaned.

Novalynn chuckled at her sister. "Relax, Cora. This is nothing like when she gave birth to Titus. Go have a seat. You look like you're going to collapse from terror. And to answer your question, yes, this is the sound of motherhood." She quipped.

Cora rolled her eyes. "Thanks a lot, Ronan." She mumbled as she took a seat.

Shaking her head, Novalynn ran up the steps to the room Rosalie was in. Her friend's eyes caught her own and relief swam over them.

"Took you long enough!" Rosalie grunted.

Novalynn took her place at the end of the bed. She was the resident mid-wife. Her healing powers came in handy for both the delivery and keeping nerves calm in the room. Placing her hands on either of Rosalie's knees, she gently spread them apart. She smiled softly. She could already see the small head peeking its way through the portal of life.

"We need to push Rosalie, your pup is ready." She instructed.

Rosalie nodded, glancing up at her mate as Felix put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She bore down, pushing with all of her strength at Novalynn's guidance. It didn't take long before the baby came, kicking and wailing his way into the world.

Novalynn caught him, quickly wrapping him up in a blanket when she heard Rosalie scream again. She passed the baby to one of the other women in the room, just in time to see a second head pushing its way into the world.

"Goddess Rosie, TWINS!!" Novalynn exclaimed joyfully.

"DAMN YOU FELIX!" Rosalie shouted as she gave a final push. Felix winced, her hand having traveled to his chest, twisting his n****e instead of squeezing his hand.

There was no sound as the baby landed in Novalynn's waiting hands and for the briefest moment she was worried the child was stillborn. Its eyes blinked, the color of amber, and she smiled at the sweet face in front of her.

"Why, hello there sweet girl." She cooed. "It's a girl." She said, louder.

Rosalie fell back against the bed. "A boy and a girl. Felix, we have twins!"

"You have done so well my darling Rose. Thank you for blessing me with my children." Felix replied, leaning in to kiss her on the forehead.

Rosalie smiled at him, her arms outstretched as Novalynn placed first her son, and then her daughter, bundled into her arms. Felix helped her to sit up, the newborns nuzzling at her breast for comfort and soon enough, food.

Novalynn grinned at the scene before her, feeling the joy emanating from her loved ones. "Okay you two, or rather four. I am going to leave while you acquaint yourselves." She said quietly. "Before I go, what are their names?"

"Well. I have been thinking that perhaps we should honor someone very important to this family, even though she is no longer with us. Someone who, despite her physical absence has contributed to my own joy and that of my mate's and children's.

Felix, I would like to name our daughter Nicalette, in honor of your first mate. Our son, well, I think he should be named by his Father, what do you think?" Rosalie asked.

Felix knelt beside his mate and their two children. "I think the Goddess knew what she was doing when she sent you to find Luey and myself. I love the name you have chosen for our daughter. It means so much to me that you would honor Nica in this way. Our son, I would name him Rosco, in honor of his Mother, and the strongest woman I know. You are my pillar, Rosalie." Felix replied as tears streamed down his face.

Novalynn smiled at them. "I love it. Welcome, Rosco and Nicalette. Get some rest you two. I'll send food up for you in a bit. Let me know when you're ready for their brothers and sister to come visit." She said.

They thanked her and Novalynn left quietly, shutting the door behind her. She stretched her neck, the sudden appearance of Nicalette had scared her momentarily. The child still had not let out a cry and Novalynn hoped that wasn't a sign anything was wrong. Her head shook, too many negative thoughts in one day. She sighed. It was time to go have a talk with her wolf.