Chapter 196

Maeve’s POV

Something was wrong with my baby… I kept saying it in my mind. More pain shot through me, and I screamed, scrunching myself up on the ground, practically rolling in the blood pooling beneath me. Tears spilled out of my eyes as I held onto my belly, my fingers trembling as I tried to feel for any signs that my baby was okay.

I was so wrapped up in what was going on and the pain I was feeling that I didn’t notice Mirage kneeling by my side, her warm hands hovering over my belly, trying to find a pulse for the baby. I could see the genuine worry on her face, as I did for the others as well. They were no longer hovered in their circle, protected by their shield; they were now hovering around me, focusing their entire attention on me and my baby.

“He needs to come out,” Mirage said, worry clear in her tone.

“What?” I gasped. “Now?”

Mirage nodded.

“It’s the only way to keep him safe. Something is wrong, Maeve he needs to come out and soon,” she told me firmly, her tone urgent and leaving no room for arguments.

“She isn’t marked yet,” one of them said. “Giving birth could kill her if she isn’t marked.”

I shook my head, not caring. I needed to try. Mirage was right, I had to give birth to my baby if I wanted him to survive.

“We don’t have time,” I panted, fighting through another wave of pain. “I have to give birth… now!”

“Try to take deep breaths,” Mirage coached as she got me into position on the ground. “Ella, get behind her and help elevate her body. Celeste, help me get her legs apart.”

They worked together to get me into position, each movement made me scream out in pain. I held onto my belly as if it were enough to keep my baby protected.

“She won’t be strong enough to push,” Ella whispered, her eyes focused on Mirage.

For a moment, I saw a flash of uncertainty in Mirage’s eyes as she glanced at me, but she quickly masked it.

“She’s going to have to try,” Mirage said with finality.

Before she could say anything more, she heard a voice behind her.

“I can help her through this… I have the power to do so.”

Mirage froze and turned her attention to the voice behind her, her eyes growing large with recognition. I recognized the woman too; she was the older woman I rescued from the basement.

“it can’t be…” Mirage whispered, her eyes never wavering. “How is this possible… Athena?”

Athena?

The name sounded familiar but I was certain I didn’t know an Athena. The more I looked at her though, the more familiar she got. Her features reminded me of someone I knew. The woman gave a faint smile, her thin frame moving slowly as if each step pained her.

“I thought you were dead…” Mirage continued to whisper, her tone starting to shake as Athena grew closer.

“I am not dead…” she said softly. “But more often than not, I wished for death to come.”

“What happened to you?” Mirage asked, her voice coming out as a choked whisper.

“I will answer your questions after this girl gives birth to an Enigma and lives to tell the tale,” Athena said, kneeling down beside me.

Her hands were glowing a soft white color as she placed them on my belly; they were warm to the touch and made me suck in a sharp breath as I felt the pain immediately ease. She caressed my belly gently, whispering something that made my baby rapidly fluttering ease. I felt like I could finally breathe again, and my heart went from its rapid pounding to a normal pace.

She remained concentrated on my belly, calming both me and the baby with only a single touch.

I looked at her face, like really looked at her, and I saw the familiar features etched behind the age lines and the years of abuse and starvation that led her to look elderly. I realized at that moment that she wasn’t elderly, she was a prisoner of the palace and treated poorly. Otherwise, she would have flawless skin and look to be the age of late 40s to early 50s. Instead, the years of wear and tear on her body led her to look about 80.

She had me curious about her and her story.

“Who are you?” I whispered, drawing her attention.

Her eyes found mine, and she smiled.

….

Third Person POV

After Charlotte leaves with Cole and Nicholas, it left Eric feels hollow inside. She was right; he was no better than the King. He had helped take innocent lives and now children were going without parents, just as he pretty much did. His father took his mother’s life, and he had been so focused on getting revenge, avenging the humans, that he didn’t stop to think about those who had nothing to do with it… these children didn’t deserve this type of fate, nor did most of these women. Some of the men were even innocent…

Eric’s stomach twisted in a strange sense of guilt as he looked around the place that used to be his home. It was the home of so many, and now it was nothing but a wasteland because of his choice to help the bears. Without him, they wouldn’t have been able to do any of this.

An explosion sounded in the distance, drawing Xaden and Lucas’ attention away from Eric.

Lucas could see the Vixen warriors heading in that direction and his heart twisted thinking about Mia putting herself in danger.

“I need to go and check on Mia,” Lucas announced to Xaden.

Xaden glanced at Eric who was still at war with himself.

“Eric, do the right thing,” Xaden said, narrowing his eyes. “Join us in stopping this. It’s not too late despite what you might think. But Charlotte is right; you’re no better than Dad if you continue down this path.”

Eric met his brother’s eyes, and Xaden could finally see that Eric was at odds, truly considering his words.

“I’m going with Lucas to make sure Mia and the others are okay,” Xaden told him as he shifted into his wolf form and took off after Lucas.

“Eric!” One of the witches shouted as she rushed towards him, minutes after his brothers had left him. “Maeve had gone into labor!” She announced, making his stomach drop.

There was no way Maeve could give birth to this baby with everything going on, plus she hasn’t been marked yet, so the likelihood of her surviving is slim.

“Take me to her,” he demanded.

The witch led Eric straight to Maeve who lay on the ground in the wasteland with the witches and someone he didn’t recognize, surrounding her.

He rushed to her side, kneeling by her head.

“Maeve, are you okay?” He asked, noticing the blood pooling beneath her.

“Where’s Xaden?” She whispered, her breathing heavy.

“There was something he needed to tend to,” Eric told her.

He glanced up at the woman who was helping her; he didn’t recognize her, though her eyes seemed familiar to him.

“Is she going to be okay?” He asked.

The woman looked up at him, her eyes soft as she took in his face.

“I will do whatever I can to make sure she is,” she assured him.

Eric nodded, trusting her confirmation.

Ella wiped the sweat off Maeve’s forehead while whispering soothing words to her, while Eric sat frozen, watching everything happening.

It was as if the war had been forgotten; in the haze of Maeve’s labor, the darkness that was controlled by the witches began to simmer and weaken, which meant the bear's defense was also weakening, making it easier for the wolves to kill them.

“Maeve, we are going to need you to push now,” the woman told her. “It’ll be okay. Trust me.”

Maeve took one look at the woman, and then nodded, putting her entire trust in the palm of her hands. She started to push, but as she did, she also screamed because of how much pain she was in. It broke Eric’s heart… he wanted to be there for her in every sense of the way. He thought about marking her himself to make her stronger, but he knew it would only make her hate him even more than she already does.

She stopped pushing and leaned back against Ella who was keeping her upright. Her fight left her and exhaustion took over almost entirely.

“Another push, Maeve,” the woman ordered gently.

Eric took hold of Maeve’s hand and gave her a reassuring smile.

“You got this,” he told her softly.

She gritted her teeth and pushed again, tears spilling out of her eyes when she felt more blood leaving her body. She was pretty much being ripped apart from this baby and it made Eric queasy.

The woman placed her hands on Maeve’s belly, her fingers glowing, making Maeve calm a bit down a bit.

“Only a little bit longer,” the woman assured her. “I can see his head. I need another big push.”

Taking in a deep breath, Maeve pushed again, cursing and crying that Xaden wasn’t there to help her through this. This push was much longer than the others like her strength and energy had been restored to her. Her face had gone red and soon, she released it, lying back against Ella in an exhaustion huff.

“Great job, Maeve,” the woman breathed. “One more big push and you should be done.”

Taking in one last breath, she started to push, screaming again as tears flooded her cheeks. My hand was numb because of how tightly she was squeezing it.

“Keep going, keep going!” The woman chanted as she continued to pull the baby until he was out of Maeve’s body entirely.

The baby had the intense aura of an Enigma; Eric and the others could feel it right away. An infant, and he was already so strong. He was covered in blood but one of the witches used their shirts to clean it up. Mirage focused on getting the baby cleaned and to breathe on its own.

The baby soon took a deep breath and then started to cry, making relief flood into almost everybody.

“Stay with me, Maeve,” the woman said, noticing Maeve’s groggy state.

Eric watched in horror as Maeve completely passed out.