Sam left Becca with Paul as he and Jacob went on ahead to ensure that everything was ready for her. She no doubt would want to rest once she made it to Sam's home, her travel here and her pregnancy taking a huge toll on her frail body.
Paul was holding Becca the same way his alpha had, an arm hooked around her shoulders and her own around his lower back. They walked slowly, Becca refusing to be carried as if she wasn't a proud alpha. He glanced at her or more like at the swell of her belly. He remembered the joy Lyla and he had shared about hearing the news. And, now?
Now, Becca was dying without her mate. Paul wanted to say something, but his throat was thick with emotion and tears he couldn't bare to shed.
Becca could feel his distress at her predicament, she felt the same. Soon she'd be with David, but their child would be alone. A child they had both so desperately wanted.
David had left Becca and their baby, and now she was leaving him, too. Becca did sob then, fainting into Paul's chest from the exhaustion, the pain, the loss of everything she had ever held dear. It was all gone.
x-x-x-x-x
Lyla was at home, laying on her and Paul's bed. Her mind replaying everything over and over, from her first phase to the moment she found out Becca was pregnant.
After her phase, she was convinced she would never be happy, that she wasn't meant to be happy. Everything that happened with the vampires, Bella, even Jacob and Ness, it was all so dragged out. And, then just as suddenly it was all over. Lyla wasn't accustomed to the peace anymore, but then it wasn't quiet for long in her life.
Paul came rushing in with his love, devotion and imprint. She frowns at her rejection of him, the time wasted being happy as his mate.
Baby fever had hit Lyla hard, Paul wanted children just as badly, though he was willing to go on without a baby. He had reaffirmed his love for her, over and over, but Lyla wanted a baby. She had hope, though it was small. Yet, it had burned with a brand new life when she found Becca was pregnant.
A female wolf that was able to have a child was unheard of. Up until that point, a nagging part of Lyla kept telling her it was a lost cause, she was infertile. She hated that word, she hated it so much. It meant what she want, she would never have.
Lyla felt tears slide across her face, a few crossing over the bridge of her nose as she was laying on her side. She wiped them away, clutching tight to Paul's pillow. She was dreading seeing Becca, it made everything she had heard up until that point a reality. Lyla felt like it was a sign; she would never be truly happy with Paul. She could only hold onto her false reality of joy. It'll never be real.
x-x-x-x-x
Sam was waiting with Emily, having sent Jacob to Nessie. The younger wolf was slightly disturbed by what Becca had said and felt the need to be with his mate. Emily was sitting at the kitchen table, she was understandably concerned about Becca. It was a natural instinct in her to worry about those around her, which is why Sam felt she mothered just about everyone.
The alpha sensed Paul coming up the drive, his head turning to see him carrying the pregnant woman. His eyes grew wide with concern, but he could still sense her heart beating, even if dully in her chest.
Emily looked fearful as Paul stepped in, asking where to go. Sam gestured for Emily to stay put, guiding Paul to the back room in the house. The room was bare of furniture, tons of pillows, throws, and comforters were tossed about the floor. Paul stepped carefully as Sam waited outside the door, as he neared a corner of the room, his foot bumped the edge of a mattress.
He kneeled down slowly, settling her against the pillows near the center of the bed. Her body was at a slight angle, she moaned and shifted ever so slightly as Paul pulled himself back up. Before leaving the room, he closed the heavy, dark blinds over the windows. The room only had a dim bit of light coming through the crack of the curtins.
Paul swiftly left the room, his heart beating rapidly against his rib cage as Sam closed the door, leaving it slightly open. They shared a look, both concerned. Sam was about to speak when Paul jerked his head towards the door. "I have to go to Lyla." The alpha nodded, watching him leave.
Sam returned to Emily who was drinking a cup of tea to help her nerves. She glanced at her mate, giving him a soft smile that didn't reach her eyes. He kissed her then, his fingers petting her hair.
"We'll make it through this, just like we did everything else." Despite Emily not being a wolf and fighting alongside the others, she was just as much part of the battles they shared. Mates felt the turmoil, the pain, the panic, losses and wins. They knew just by the emotions of their mates, what was more or less occurring in the battlefield.
"I know." Emily's arms coiled around the back of Sam's neck, leaning into the warmth of his chest.
x-x-x-x-x
Becca awoke within a few hours, her body resting on something soft and she felt fairly comfortable. She rubbed her belly in a slow circle, her other arm stretching out to reach for David. Her hand touched cool sheets and empty air. The shewolf felt the hurt flood through her senses as the loss of him was again too real.
She sat up slowly, hearing Sam and a woman she recognized but couldn't place talking down the hall. Becca felt around in the darkness as she continued to listen to the muffled words and soft drizzle outside the window. Her fingers only came in touch with the mattress under her body and many layers of pillows and blankets.
It was a good birthing room, much like the one she had previously set up with David… her mate. Her big brown eyes gazed down into the black at her belly, her hands on either side of her bump. She knew she'd be with him soon, her child alone.
Another voice caught Becca's attention rather quickly, it stood out familiar and though sad, it was easy to place a name to; Lyla. The pregnant woman stood slowly, moving with whatever bit of grace she still held despite the new life growing within her. She shuffled through to the door that was cracked and pulled it back.
It creaked lightly, the voices going quiet. Becs ruffled up her hair, making the thickness feel more settled against her skull. The light in the hall was dim and brightened slowly, helping her eyes to adjust. She kept her gaze down as she wobbled down the hall to what she assumed was the living room.
There was this strange pull in her chest, as if it was David telling her to go to that room. It was the same urgency as her mating pull whenever he had been in distress. Like the final moment of his life. She pushed that thought down, as deep as she could. Becca had expected eyes to be on her, which as of late was nothing new.
Her eyes were immediately on Lyla. Her wolf easily read Lyla's spirit, knowing this was the woman that held the same desires as she had before this pregnancy. Her energy was mixed with Paul's whom she knew was Ly's mate. Becca didn't mean to stare, but her soul said 'Go to her, she's the reason you're here'.
The voice of her soul, she could swear, was David.
"Lyla." The girl moved forward, away from her brother towards Becca. The shewolf was leaning against the wall, though the moment Lyla was close enough, they embraced. Becca cried, tears streaking her face as Lyla held her. Her heart that had felt so heavy with grief and pain, felt so relieved, even if only for a moment.
And, Lyla understood when she looked at Becca. She had thought when she saw this woman, it would be a sign she was never going to be happy with Paul, but that wasn't the case at all. Seeing Becca made a fierce love course through her because she would be happy with Paul, Becca's baby wouldn't be alone in this world.
Sure, any Quileute family could have adopted this child, but no one wanted nor deserved this baby more than Lyla and Paul.
Paul stood in complete stillness, feeling everything that passed through Lyla. The amazing gift the spirits were giving them through Becca, the love, the sadness, the pain, the want, the need, the selfish claim. He felt himself shudder at the beauty, out of death was coming life and such a promising future for this child.
Becca pulled away from the embrace first, her hands holding Lyla's face, she could feel Sam and Emily's gaze on them, though she didn't look away from the woman that would be raising her child. "Thank you so much Lyla, thank you."
Paul wrapped his arms around both women then, letting himself sob softly against Lyla's shoulder. "No, thank you Becca." Ly's voice cracked, the three standing there a bit longer before allowing themselves to pull away, though Becca did hold Paul's forearm for support.
Sam felt Emily move away from him and enter the kitchen, though his gaze lingered a bit longer, just until they stepped away from each other. The alpha went to his mate, holding her in the warmth of his chest. She felt content with the whole ordeal, a sigh escaping her lips as he swayed them back and forth.
