The next few weeks in the castle were almost completely unbearable. My moods were uncontrollable and out of character, even for me. Lucian was constantly on his toes around me, so that I would not snap at him or break into tears for no reason. Yet, he continued to stay by my side and love me unconditionally. Even Isabel, who had been a mother herself, noticed the change it me. Her normally dutiful nature of staying at my side had been scaled back. Perhaps, she knew better than I, that I needed my space. On top of my uncontrollable moods were the constant stong kicks of our child. Neither Lucian nor I were expecting the child to be so strong before it was even born. My pale stomach was lined with bruises from the child's kicks, which was concerning to Lucian. I reassured him that I was alright and that it would not be too much longer before our child was born and I would be returned to normal. That always seemed to calm his worries enough for a few days.

Despite all the complications of being with child, we had bigger problems on our hands. Twice within the last week, one of our Lycan bretheren were killed by Death Dealers. Lucian was becoming increasingly worried for my safety as the day of our child's birth was drawing close. He had contemplated moving again, but there was too much at risk since I was so near to giving birth. So, we stayed and increased the amount of Lycans staying near the castle to guard day and night. I was under constant watch as well, with either Lucian or Raze nearby. It was becoming most taxing to be watched like a child, but I endured it for the sake of my husband. I knew his intentions were well placed as he loved me and our unborn child.

"Lucian, what will we do once our child is born?" I asked one afternoon while he was spending some alone time with me.

He placed his hand on my belly. "If things have not improved by the time the child is old enough to travel, we will leave this place and find somewhere safe. I promise to keep you and our child safe, Sonja."

"I do not doubt you, my love," I replied, pressing my forehead to his. "Where will we go?"

For a moment he thought seriously before replying, "We will sail across the sea, if that is what it takes to make you safe again."

"I do not fear my father," I reminded him gently. "But I do fear for the life of our child and if we have to sail across the sea, then I will go anywhere with you."

"So long as we are together, nothing can stand in our way."

I could not have agreed more.

Several days later, I was walking the halls of the castle to be up and around. Isabel had been acting strange all morning, whimpering and nudging my hands as if something were wrong. At first, I paid no mind to it as I thought she were just reacting to all my own out of the ordinary behavior. However, as I walked the halls, I realized that she knew far more than I did. A strange cramping sensation caught me completely off guard and halted my walking entirely in the middle of a hallway. Immediately, I clutched my stomach and sucked air in deeply. Isabel was right at my feet, supporting me with her head. The pain was unlike any I had ever experienced before in my life. My body completely seized, freezing my muscles and incopacitating me from walking any further. After a minute or two, the pain passed and I was able to breathe and move again. After a few more minutes, it happened again and I cried out before collapsing to the ground.

"Go find Lucian!" I ordered Isabel pleadingly.

Her violet eyes looked at me and I knew she understood as she took off down the hall quickly. For several minutes, I laid in the hall, clutching my stomach until I heard footsteps. Suddenly, Raze was at my side, lifting me from the ground to carry me. He had heard my screams and knew it was me. Carrying me, he ran down the hall back to mine and Lucian's room. When we got there, he gently set me on the bed.

"Where is Lucian?" I asked urgently. "I sent Isabel to find him."

"Then I'm sure he is on his way," Raze answered kindly.

I tried to breathe as much as possible in between pain and worry. Raze did all he could to help me, even letting me hold his hand with a tight grip through each round of pain. But I knew that he had no inclination as to what he was doing. Fortunately, Lucian came running through the doors just a few minutes later. Relief washed over me as I knew he was there. Immediately, he came to my side and relieved Raze, giving him a few orders.

"Send for Lyra and bring hot water, towels, and some shears."

Lyra. I knew that name. She was the only female Lycan that was able to transform between human and werewolf in our Coven, but for some strange reason I knew it for another reason. Raze nodded and left the room. Lucian returned to my side and took my hand, kissing it softly.

"Everything is going to be fine," he said, his voice oddly soothing for how much pain I was in.

"Can you believe it? Our child is coming, right now." My excitement was also mixed with fear as my mother had died giving birth to me. I was giving birth to the most unique child in the world, so there were bound to be problems that could arise.

"We are going to be parents," he mused, smiling as if the thought was finally hitting him.

Lyra arrived a while later, with all the supplies Lucian had asked for. Once she was ready, she and Lucian helped change me into something more comfortable and had me lie back down on the bed. After that, she quickly checked the progress of the birth and arranged a few things at the end of the bed so she would be ready when I was. Suddenly I remembered where I had seen her before. When I had been a child, she was one of the slave children I had played with. My father had thought it would be good for me to have playmates, so that I would develop the social skills necessary to be a member of the Council. As we grew older, I never had known what became of her. She had been turned into a Lycan, most likely at the orders of my father.

"Lyra?" I managed to gasp between breathing.

"Yes, my lady?" she replied, looking up at me. Her eyes were the same pale blue I remembered them being when we were children that glowed against her dark hair.

"Do you not remember me?" I asked. "We were friends as children."

A small smile escaped her lips, faint and fleeting. "Yes, I do."

The pain calmed enough for me to speak fully. "Lyra, I am sorry for what my father did to you. I did not know what your fate would have been."

"That is in the past, Sonja and there is nothing to forgive. You did not know what happened and I am certain your father did not tell you that all of the children you played with as a child ended up like me," she said, casting her eyes to the ground. "But, I do not blame you. And now, thanks to you and Lucian, I am free."

Another strike of pain prevented me from responding right away. I gritted my fangs and tightened my grip on Lucian's hand. This one was worse than all the others before it had been. I felt like my entire body was burning. Without realizing it, I was screaming in pain. Minutes later, it was finally over and my body relaxed. Lyra checked progress again and looked back at me with a smile.

"Sonja, are you ready to meet your child?" she asked.

"Now?" I replied, stunned.

Lyra nodded. "When you next feel pain, I want you to push down as hard as you can. Lucian, hold her hand and do not let go."

The pain did not take long to return as I felt it seize my body again moments later. As instructed, I pushed as hard as I could. My hand did not let go of Lucian's, nor did he attempt to move it. I pushed until I could no longer and the pain stopped.

"Good. Push again when you feel pain," she urged.

"You are doing wonderful, love," Lucian whispered in my ear.

When the next wave of pain hit, I pushed even harder. I felt like my entire body was shaking, which probably was true. The pain was unlike any of the pain I had felt before. Something was happening. Lyra stopped me.

"The head is out," she said. "And the child has dark hair."

"Did you hear that Sonja, dark hair!" Lucian was getting more and more anxious by the minute.

"Alright, just one more push and you will see your child Sonja," Lyra encouraged me.

With more resolve and focus, I pushed one last time. Moments later, I felt a tiny body leave my own. Lyra caught this tiny, bloody bundle. A second later, I heard my child's cry for the first time and laid back in relief. Lucian let go of my hand and walked up to Lyra and peered into the bundle she held in her arms. He returned to my side as we waited for her to clean off the child and bring it back. When she did, she laid the baby in my waiting arms.

"It's a son," she announced. "A healthy son."

I gazed down at my son in my arms and almost cried from joy. He was perfect, with dark hair and beautiful blue eyes. Tenderly, I kissed his little forehead and breathed in his scent. It was a perfect mix of my own and Lucian's. As I held our son, Lucian came closer and sat next to me. He was admiring what we had created together. Our son was the very first hybrid; a union of our bloodlines. We were now a family.

Lyra began to walk out of the room to give us some time alone when I stopped her.

"Lyra," I called.

She turned around. "Yes?"

"Thank you. I could not have done this without you to help."

Smiling, she nodded once. "You are welcome."

With that, she turned and was gone. I turned my attention back to my son.

"He is perfect," I murmered softly.

"Indeed he is," Lucian agreed.

"Here," I said, moving the tiny bundle in my arms. "You have not held him yet."

He was hesitant. "Sonja, I have never held a newborn before."

"You will be fine, just hold his head." I placed our son into my husband's arms.

Lucian looked down at the infant he held in his arms, awed. This tiny being was really our child, the one we had waited for and loved before he was even born. He was not the abomination that my father referred to. He was my son.

"What are we going to call him?" Lucian asked, looking back at me.

"Lucan," I said, smiling. For some time I had been thinking on that name because it sounded like Lucian's.

Lucian looked back down at our son. "Lucan, welcome home."

This was the beginning of our new life as a family. No longer was it just myself and Lucian we had to be concerned for, but Lucan as well. He was our world now and nothing was going to harm him if Lucian or I had a say. My mothering instincts were already taking over as my concerns for our son began to surface. He was going to be kept safe no matter what we had to do. Soon enough, my father would piece together that I had already given birth just by the sheer amount of time that has passed. But, I pushed back thoughts of anything but the joy of the moment as I continued to watch my husband hold our son. Despite his fears, Lucian was a natural father, holding Lucan and making sure he was warm enough. I knew he would be though. Watching him with Lucan reminded me of how precious our life really was. Lucan was a miracle by himself. A mix between Lycan and Vampire was always thought impossible because of the species being so different, yet here he was right in our arms. He was our miracle.

A/N: Again, thanks for all the reviews guys! I really appreciate them and am glad that you guys are enjoying this story.