Isaiah pulled over to the side and helped Trixie out of the cart. She pointed to a tree with a soft bed of moss. “There! Yes, please,” she moaned.
“Are you sure about this,” Isaiah asked, helping her to the ground. He tried his best to make her feel as comfortable as he could.
Trixie only laughed. “Of course, I’ve always wanted to give birth among nature. It feels like home-oh-oh.”
She started to moan again, and everyone looked around trying to figure out what to do.
“I would like to make a comment,” Hunter said.
“Don’t,” Isaiah and Mary said at the same time as Hunter grumbled under his breath.
“Lana, you should help her. You’re a woman,” Councilman Faulkner suggested.
Lana wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I will not respond to that.”
“I can help,” Hunter offered.
A resounding ‘No’ came from Isaiah, Lana, and Mary.
"I'm just trying to be helpful, jeez," Hunter grumbled again and moved away from the group.
“I’ll do it,” Mary offered. “It’s a…a learning experience. Yeah, that’s what I’ll tell myself.”
Mary moved in front of Trixie, who widened her legs. The light nearly blinded Mary before her eyes adjusted. “When they say look into the light, I didn't expect this,” Mary laughed.
Trixie tried to laugh but instead moaned, her hands digging into the fresh earth and her head thrown back. The light between her legs shone brightly until she screamed out loud. Her pitched scream spread throughout the forest as everyone covered their ears. Everyone but Mary, who reached inside until she felt something to grab onto.
When the light shimmered down, everyone turned back to see a baby cuddling in Mary’s arms. She looked up and smiled at everyone. There was no crying, no blood, no anything messy. Just a bright-eyed, smiling baby.
“You did it, Trixie,” Mary said. “He’s handsome.”
Trixie smiled as Mary leaned the child towards her to see. “He’s perfect.” Out of nowhere, Trixie started to laugh. “Of course, I have a boy first.”
“Is it not what you wanted,” Mary asked with panic in her voice.
“No, it’s not that,” Trixie said, trying to catch her breath. “I just promised someone I would name my firstborn after her. Never imagined a boy named Bloom but here we are.”
As precious as this moment was, Isaiah was only reminded of his son and the fact they needed answers. He moved a bit closer to Trixie only to hear a loud growl, coming from a huge black wolf on a hill. Isaiah held his hands up and moved away as the wolf approached them. It shifted to reveal a tall woman with long black hair, who eyed all of them as she moved to Trixie.
“Hey, stop that,” Trixie reprimanded her. “They are helping and, Mary, your hands are extremely soft. Thank you.”
Mary didn’t know how to respond to that, so she gave a little nod and looked down sheepishly, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks. The woman growled and Mary took a step back.
“You shouldn’t be out here at all, Tri. You were supposed to be in bed.”
“This is a bed of grass,” Trixie said, spreading her arms along the blade of grass, moaning at the feel of it through her fingers. “Besides, what’s done is done. You can be mad, or you can help.”
The woman’s eyes glazed over, and Isaiah knew she was talking through their links. It only lasted for a minute before the woman turned to Isaiah.
“Alpha Isaiah, Alpha Fiona of the Ancient Walkers. Finally, nice to meet you,” she said, holding out a hand. “I’m assuming you’re here for Zira.”
Isaiah’s eyes lit up. “Yes, please. If there’s anything you know or where I can find her. Anything would be appreciated.”
“Of course, she went to-”
“Ah! Ahh! Ahhh!” Trixie started again, startling just about everyone. The light returned and Fiona moved beside her, coaxing her through. After another minute or so, Trixie’s light flashed as Fiona pulled another baby into her arms. Fiona didn’t have time to cuddle their daughter as another round of moaning started. Fiona passed the baby to Isaiah.
“How many more do you think she has in there,” Lana asked.
Five high-pitched, orgasmic screams and a walk later, the group made it to the Ancient Walker pack with seven babies. After settling Trixie and the babies down, Alpha Fiona joined everyone in the dining room where they were chatting over food. Isaiah, however, didn't have an appetite. Zira and Arias were on his mind. Alpha Fiona was about to speak when Trixie came and plopped down beside her.
“Trixie, you need to rest,” Fiona said, while Trixie waved away her concern.
“Miraculously, they’re all asleep and I’m bored. So, what’s going on,” she asked Isaiah. “Did Zira do something in Pixie Land?” Trixie scoffed. “That girl can never stay out of trouble.”
“Is that where she is right now,” Isaiah asked, feeling hopeful. “How do we get there?”
Fiona looked at Trixie with a bit of confusion. They decided to tell him everything Zira told them. The book she brought with her, where they sent her, and the company she was keeping. Isaiah shook his head. The only good thing about this situation was the fact they were only a few hours behind Zira. It was enough for Isaiah to feel hopeful.
“She must’ve been forced to say that. And you didn’t see Arias?”
“No, it was just her, the girl, and the twins. I’m so sorry, Alpha Isaiah. This is all my fault. I should’ve known…”
Trixie started to tear up and Fiona pulled her into a hug, telling her it was okay.
“It’s no one’s fault, Trixie, but please, is there anything you can do to take us to her,” Isaiah asked.
Trixie nodded and stood up quickly to leave. Everyone followed her as she led them to the tree her mother used as a portal. The markings on the tree lit up when she placed her hand on it. For a moment the markings shone brightly, then stopped. Nothing happened.
“That’s weird,” Trixie said, looking at Fiona with a worried expression. “That’s never happened before.”
“Maybe you need to rest, Tri,” Fiona urged. “You just gave birth.”
Trixie waved her away. “I’m not human, babe. It doesn’t affect us like it does humans. As a matter of fact, I feel even stronger than before.” Trixie placed her hand on the tree and tried again, but still, nothing happened. “No, something’s wrong. The portal is being blocked somehow. Someone doesn’t want us to come through.”
Isaiah swallowed his disappointment and turned toward the group. “Well, we can’t give up. There has to be another way." He pulled out the page of the book and handed it to Trixie. “Is there anything on here you can read or maybe point us in the right direction?”
Trixie took the page and studied. She paced in front of them but the symbols on the page were unfamiliar to her. She shook her head and handed it back to Isaiah.
“Sorry, Alpha Isaiah. I just can’t decipher these symbols. Only my mother and a few other pixies know the old ways.”
Isaiah shook his head. “I can’t give up. There has to be another way there or someone who could help.”
Trixie sighed and shook her head. Only the descendants of the royal family have access to opening the portal, but even a select few in her family were able to do it. She walked back over and placed her hand on the tree. Hoping it will have a different result.
“This is stupid,” she muttered to herself. “Stupid portal. Just open already!”
Trixie banged her fist on the tree and, just like that, it did. Everyone stared in awe as Trixie stepped back in disbelief.
“Well, that seemed to work,” Trixie smiled. “We should hurry in case it closes again.”
Everyone followed Trixie through the portal and the scene they came upon wasn’t what they expected to see.