"Where did you put your clean clothes?" Nate asks as he steps out of the water.

"I didn't bring any. I didn't plan to take a swim," I say, standing beside him.

"How did you plan to walk back to the packhouse?" he asks, arching his brows at me. "In your bloody clothes?"

"I didn't think about that. I just wanted to get the dirty clothes and blood off me."

"It's fine. Raise your hands," Nate says, and I do as he asks. He slides his T-shirt over my head.

"Thank you," I say, dropping my hands.

"You're welcome. Let's go," Nate says, when he's done putting on his shorts. I start walking in front of him, but he pulls me back. "Not in front of me. Walk-behind me," he says, pushing me behind him.

"Why?" I ask, confused.

"I need to block any unmated wolf from seeing your legs."

"Really? My legs?" I scoff.

"Yes, your legs. You don't know what beautiful legs you have, mate. Stay behind me," he says.

"Okay," I say, smiling at his compliment. Nate is one possessive werewolf.

Nate and I walk into the packhouse straight to our room. This pack was lucky the fight happened outside the packhouse, so the place is still livable, unlike the last pack. I put my phone to charge and get under the covers to go to bed. I'm closing my eyes to sleep when Nate speaks.

"She-wolf, is your plan to drive me crazy?" Nate says from beside me on our bed.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, turning around to face him.

"Why are you sleeping with only my shirt on? I can see your ass once you lie down."

"I don't understand what's wrong with you seeing my ass?"

"Elizabeth, it's bad enough I smell you in my bed all night. That enough drives my wolf crazy because he hasn't marked you. Now you want to sleep almost naked in our bed. It's like you're asking me to mark you so you die"

"Oh," I say, understanding now why it's a problem that I want to sleep with no underwear. "I'll put on some PJ bottoms," I say, going to my luggage to find some bottoms.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," I say, walking back to bed after putting on my PJ bottoms. I love Nate's scent, so I keep his shirt on.

***

The following morning, I wake up early and go downstairs to help in the kitchen. As I walk into the kitchen, I'm facing the one person I don't want to see this early in the morning.

"Morning, Scarlett," I greet her. She's supposed to leave today. I can't wait. I'm so happy Nate didn't listen to me and asked her to leave once her replacement arrives. "Do you need any help making breakfast?" I ask, one of the omegas cooking in the kitchen. Before she can answer, Scarlett does.

"No, we don't. We have everything covered here," she smiles.

"Okay, if you need me, I'll be outside," I say, walking out of the kitchen. I guess I woke up late because it seems I'm not needed since her Royal Highness Scarlett is in the kitchen. Royal highness, my foot. I'm sure she woke up earlier than me to intentionally help in the kitchen before I got a chance. She wants to make me look like I'm not helping, so others will say she's the perfect match for the Alpha King.

I walk around the pack grounds to find something to do or someone to help. We've found and treated almost all the injured since we arrived two days ago. I walk into the woods to clear my head of my racing thoughts.

While walking, I hear someone in pain. I quickly run toward the sound.

"Are you alright?" I ask, the pregnant she-wolf on the floor. Who was screaming?

"Thank goodness you're here. I need your help. The baby is alm—" she doesn't get to finish talking because she's interrupted by her own screams in pain.

"Are you in labor?" I ask, worried she might be.

"I need you to help me give birth to my baby," she says, grabbing my hand as she screams again from another contraction.

"I can't help you deliver your baby. I need to take you to the clinic," I say, placing my hands around her shoulder to lift her off the ground, but she stops me.

"There's no time to get to the clinic. We need to deliver my baby now."

"Are you sure you can't hold it in a little longer? The clinic isn't far from here."

"I'm sure. My...baby...is com...ing nowwwww..." She screams. "Please help me," she pleads with her eyes. I look at her and think about what to do. I'm not a doctor. I don't know how to deliver a baby, but I don't think I have a choice right now.

"What should I do first?" I ask, rolling up the sleeves of my shirt. I also use it to wipe off the sweat on her forehead. Childbirth seems so difficult. I wonder if I'll ever get blessed with something as amazing as getting pregnant.

She gives me all the instructions on what I'm supposed to do. "What's your name?" I ask, wanting to know who I'm helping. Then she screams again. She tells me her name is Vanessa.

"Deep breath in, deep breath out, now push," I tell her as we try to bring her baby into this world.

"Good job, one more. I can see the head, Vanessa!"

"I can't go on anymore," she says, throwing her head back in exhaustion.

"You can, and you will, just one more." I made my voice certain and authoritative, knowing that's important to hae.

"Ahhhhhh," Vanessa screams while pushing the baby out of her with all her might. Once she stops pushing, a baby cry is heard.

"You did it, Vanessa, you did it," I say, smiling as I wrap the baby in my shirt. I quickly release my claws and cut the umbilical cord.

"Can I see my baby?"

"Of course," I say, handing the precious thing to its mother.

'Nate, where are you?' I mind link my mate.

'In the packhouse, you sound tired. Is something wrong?'

'Nothing is wrong. I just helped a woman give birth. Please send doctors to where I am."

'You did what? How are you? How is the baby? Is the mother fine? Where are you?'

'I'm fine, so is the mother and the child. I don't know where I'm, but you can try following my scent to find me.'

'Okay, the doctors and I will be there shortly.'

'Okay, we're waiting.'

Nate arrives a few minutes later with a few doctors and warriors. The doctors take care of the baby while the warriors help Vanessa to the hospital. Nate walks with me back to the packhouse so I can change my clothes and shower.

Walking into the packhouse, I bump into Scarlett walking out.

"Oh heavens, my Queen, are you injured?" Scarlett asks when she sees the blood on my shirt. She might sound concerned about me, but I know it's fake.

"I'm not injured. The blood isn't mine."

"Thank goodness, I was worried something terrible happened to you. I started to wonder who would become our Queen then."

"It's not that easy to get rid of me, Scarlett. Even if I die, you'll never take my place."

"Don't be too certain. The kingdom will always need a Queen, so I'll keep my hopes up." I'm about to say something but get cut off by Nate. I totally forgot he was here.

"Scarlett, if you like your head attached to your body, you'll never say such things to my mate again," Nate says, using his Alpha tone.

"Yes, my King," she says, with her head bowed in submission.

"Good, what time do you leave?" Nate asks Scarlett.

"In an hour."

"Make it now."

"Yes, my king," Scarlett says, rushiing away from us, probably to start packing.

"Thank you," I say, smiling, as we walk up the stairs

"You don't have to thank me. I should've never asked her to come"***

Nate and I walk into our bedroom, and I head to the shower. I take off my bloody clothes and hop in. I wash all the blood off me and walk out of the bathroom feeling clearner than I have in year..

"I'm sorry," Nate says once I step out. He's sitting at the edge of the bed.

"What are you sorry about?" I ask, confused. I walk to my luggage to find something to wear.

"I'm sorry I can't help you bring another life into this world."

"Nate, you don't have to apologize for that, and besides, we'll find a way to break the curse."

"In case we don't, I want to apologize for ruining your chances of becoming a mother."

"Nate, you haven't ruined my chances of becoming a mother. We just have a setback, and in time, we'll break the curse, and then we'll be swarmed with pups." I'm highly optimistic that we'll break the curse one day, and Nate and I will be able to truly mate.

"Then I'm sorry you ended up with me."

'Nate," I say, surprised to hear his words. "Why are you talking like this? You're making it sound like you being my mate is the worst thing that ever happened to me."

"Because it is. If I wasn't your mate, I'm sure you'd be happy and probably pregnant with another's wolf's pup by now."

"Nate, where is this coming from? You've never said such things to me before."

"Hearing you tell me you helped a she-wolf give birth today broke my heart. It pains me knowing I can never fill your womb with my seed. I started to think about how happy you'd be if you weren't mated to me."

I walk away from my luggage and toward him by the bed "Nate," I say, placing my hands on his face so I can gaze directly into his eyes. He's been avoiding eye contact with me since he started speaking. "Do you remember when I said that even if I was human, I'd still end up with you?"

"Yes."

"I meant it. Even if we have a problem getting pregnant. I would still choose to be with you."

"You won't."

"I will. The mate bond might make me feel drawn to you, but my decision to stick with you regardless of your curse is all me. You are the man who took silver arrows and bullets for me. You are the man who steps away from his kingdom to find my Mom. I want to be with you."

"Really?"

"Yes. Stop worrying about me. I didn't feel sad because I helped a she-wolf give birth today. If I allowed myself to feel sad about that, I'd feel sad every time I see a mated she-wolf. I'd feel sad every time I see a pregnant she-wolf. I'd—" I get cut off when Nate seals his lips with mine.

"I get it. I'm happy you're not sad when you see those things," he says when he ends our kiss.

"I'm not, so stop worrying," I say, sliding my hand through his hair as I stand between his legs.

"I will," he says, smiling.

***

Later in the evening, I go over to the clinic to see how Vanessa and the baby are doing. I knock on the door. I was told she was staying in.

"Come in," Vanessa says from inside the room. I turn the doorknob and walk inside. "Luna Queen," she says when she sees me.

"How do you know I'm the Luna Queen?"

"The doctors told me when I asked who helped me give birth to my beautiful baby girl."

"And how is she doing? I hope everything is fine?"

"She's doing well. Everything's fine."

"That's nice to hear. Can I hold her?" I ask, looking at the baby in the crib beside Vanessa's bed.

"Of course, Luna, you don't have to ask."

"Thank you," I say, putting my hands into the crib so I can carry the baby. I gently lift her and place her in my arms. "She's so beautiful. What name did you and your mate give her?"

"My mate is dead. I plan to name her Arya."

"I'm very sorry about your mate. That's a beautiful name." She must have lost her mate during the vampire attack. I feel guilty for taking away this beautiful baby's father. It's all my fault. I really need to do something before the situation gets worse.

"Thank you, Luna."

I look at the precious child in my arms, and as much as I told Nate I'm not sad that he can't give me children yet, I was lying. I can't allow him to feel like he's the reason we can't have children when the curse is out of his control. As I stare into Arya's eyes, I can't help but wonder what my child's eyes will be like. If they'll be green like mine or blue like Nate's. I hope we'll be able to break the curse soon so we can finally start a family of our own.