Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Four years later,

"Mama?" Cato asked as we walked through the forest in the direction of the school. My twins, Francesca and Marie, who were now five years old, walked ahead of us hand in hand skipping and Mathias and Silas were trailing behind having their favourite conversation about dinosaurs...again. I also had my youngest daughter, Lili, holding my hand, the latest member to the Loren family at only four months, Stefano, in a sling across my front and his older brother by one year, Zacharius, in the stroller.  

After the miscarriage, Leo and I were trying for a baby for almost three years. Just when we were beginning to lose hope, along came little Zacharius and then not long after Stefano.

"Si, Amore mio," I replied looking down at Cato who was still looking up at me with his big blue eyes.

"When school is over, can we go and see Granny Rosa?" he asked. "I made her something with Frannie and Marie."

"Of course," I said ruffling his soft blonde hair. "She'd love to see you all."

He smiled hugged me and ran back to his brother's who were still happily talking about t-rexes and velociraptors. Mathias, Silas and Cato all had a dinosaur obsession. Leo was out this morning so getting them ready alone was difficult enough without having to prize them away from their dinosaur books, pyjamas and toys. They were also all growing up so fast. Every day, Cato looked more and more like his father and the height chart on the back of the kitchen door had an updated squiggle almost every other week for all of them.

We soon reached the gates of the school where all the other parents were dropping off their kids. Cato and Mathias were both in first grade, Silas and the twins were all in kindergarten and Lili, Stefano and Zacharius were yet to start school. 

I kissed my eldest five goodbye before beginning the walk back with the other three. When we returned, Leo had got back and was clearing dinosaur toys off the living room floor.

"Papa!" Lili squealed as she raced into the house.

"Hey, Leo," I called closing the door and stopping as much of the cold January air from getting in as possible.

"Hey," he replied briefly before letting out an exaggerated groan as the heavyweight champion that is Lili threw herself on him.

"Got you, Daddy!" she announced as I came into the living room and began to unstrap Zac from the stroller.

"Are you sure about that?" Leo asked before suddenly standing up and throwing her into the air. She let out a cry of delight and my heart skipped a beat but he caught her. He always did.

"Were you all good for Mummy this morning?" Leo asked her once she was safely back in his arms.

"I was but Cato, Mathias and Silas wouldn't um um leave da dinosaurs," she said sweetly as she grabbed Leo's face in her hands.

Leo mouthed me a 'those fucking dinosaurs' and I stifled a laugh.

"Are you still free to look after the kids whilst I go to Halimede this afternoon?" I asked beginning to breastfeed Stefano.

"Yeah sure. I can always get Max or Luca if something comes up," he replied heading over to me with Lili still in his arms before kissing me on the cheek.

Recently, I'd been visiting Halimede a lot. Whilst Leo took care of rogues and the army and all that fun stuff, we had both agreed that I was better at that whole compassion malarky so he left me in charge of the wellbeing of the pack members. That included going to the less developed factions and helping out with projects and just showing our support. Halimede, the faction almost entirely wiped out twenty years ago, was by far the most in need of help.

After lunch, I drove to Halimede which only took about an hour which considering the size of the pack, was quite a short time.

"Buongiorno, Luna," the Megestanis, Magnus, greeted when I arrived. Compared to how it was only a few years ago, Halimede was thriving. We'd built three new villages and moved residents in from overcrowded lower factions and there was even a small street of shops and a mini training centre. 

"Buongiorno-" I began before a young girl came racing up to Magnus.

She had wild blonde curls and worry rife across her face as she stopped in front of her Megestanis, panting heavily.

"Sir, sir, sir," she said hastily. "It's my sister. She's gone into labour."

My eyes widened.

"Annalisa, the baby isn't due for another two weeks. This early!?" Magnus said, raising his eyebrows.

The girl nodded frantically.

"I will call a Doctor immediately but they may not be here for half an hour at the minimum," he said. "You should go back to her."

"I might be able to help whilst we wait," I suggested. "I've had enough babies myself to know a thing or two."

"Luna, are you sure?" she asked bowing her head. "We wouldn't want to bother you."

"Don't be silly," I told her. "A baby being born would never be a bother."

She nodded before leading me up to one of the little houses on the square. Inside the small hut-like home was a single bed with another young girl lying on obviously in pain. Beside her, knelt holding her hand was a rather paled young man.

"Luna?" she asked before letting out a groan of pain. She then looked to her sister in confusion and shock.

"Don't worry. I'm only here until the doctor is," I said. "Have you been timing the contractions?"

"Every two minutes," the man replied after swallowing and wiping the sweat off his brow.

"Oh shit," I cursed. "Something tells me the doctor isn't going to get here in time. What's your name sweetheart?"

"Lola," she said breathlessly as the man wiped her sweaty brow.

"And how old are you?" I asked washing my hands.

"17. This is my first baby, Luna. I don't know how to have a baby," she said fear evident in her voice.

I smiled.

"When I had Cato, I was 17 too and you don't have to know. Nature will tell you and you just have to listen," I replied. "Are you the mate?" I added looking at the young man who looked just as terrified as she was.

He nodded.

"My name's Jack, Luna," he said with a gulp. "Do you...are you..have you got..."

I'm guessing his fractions of questions were in regards to my non-existent medical qualifications.

"No, no and no," I replied. "But I've delivered eight babies. One of them was in the back seat of the Alpha's car with no Doctor so I am by no means ideal but until the Doctor arrives, it will have to do," I reassured before Lola went into another monster contraction.

"Luna, I think it's coming!" she cried squeezing her mate's hand.

She opened her legs and I lifted her skirt. To my great shock, I could see the top of a baby's head.

"I think you might be right," I said calmly although inside I was shitting myself. I'm not a midwife or a Doctor. I don't know the ins and outs of childbirth but right now, the basics will have to do. "Okay, Lola. I need you to take three deep breaths and then give a great big push. As hard as you can," I said repeating what the midwives had said to me all those times.

She nodded and did exactly that.

"I can't do it, Luna," she replied shaking her head as tears streamed. "It hurts too much."

"I know it hurts but you can do it. I can already see some of the baby's head and they are beautiful. You can do it, Lola," I encouraged. "Now push again."

She nodded and repeated the process again and again and again. Each time the baby came a little further out until finally....the sweet sound of cries filled the room.

Lola let out a long relieved filled whimpery sigh as Jack, just when I thought it wasn't possible, turned an even ghostlier shade of white. Annalisa squealed and rushed forward to hug her sister.

"You did it!"

I was busy wiping blood and God knows what else off the baby before I wrapped it in a towel and handed it to Lola.

"Congratulations. You have a daughter," I told her as tears began to stream down both Lola and Jack's faces. 

"A girl!" Jack exclaimed the sickliness leaving his face the second he set eyes on the little thing.

"I'm sorry about the mess on your bed and I don't know what to do about the umbilical cord and-" I began.

"Thank you, Luna," Lola interrupted. "We can never repay you."

I smiled and looked down at the adorable little baby.

"What are you going to name her?" I asked.

Jack and Lola exchanged looks before nodding.

"For a girl, we couldn't choose between Angelina and Ella," Lola began.

"And we think you just helped us decide," Jack finished. "Welcome to the world Ella Mariani," he added casting his eyes down to his newborn daughter.

I smiled, more honoured than I'd ever been before the Doctor burst through the door and a chorus of laughs erupted throughout the room.

I stayed for a while whilst the real Doctor cleaned up my botched job and weighed and measured the baby before quickly leaving to get myself cleaned up.

There was a water pump in the town centre and even whilst trying to scrub blood off my white shirt, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

It's not every day you help bring life to the world.