Eero's perspective
I couldn't help but notice how Cielo kept an eye on me these few months. Whenever I thought that I got used to how she was suddenly acting towards me and with her riddle-like wordings that confused me most of the time, she'd do something new that would throw me off again.
“You are giving me that look again,” I commented. I looked at the little girl in front of me that I handed a school bag filled with school supplies. The young girl then went to Cielo where she received a sandwich and a yogurt drink as her snack.
“Am I scaring you, Luna?”
I chuckled at her question.
“No. Not really, but I am worried about you. You are looking at me as if there is something that I must know, and yet, you have no way to tell me about it.”
“Very well. I'd like it if you think that way.”
I looked beyond the boy in front of me. Two more and we were done with this charity work.
“Let me do that for you,” I offered. I took the school bag from my hand and distributed it to the kids.
“I don't know how you managed to convince the Alpha to let you do this charity work near the border, but I am afraid that I'll have to convince him to say no next time.”
She looked at my belly. I was due to give birth in three weeks.
“Per our deal. This was the last time that he'd let me leave the pack house. I'll have to stay within the four walls of our house until I recover after giving birth.” I sighed and caressed my bulging tummy. I gasped and held out to Cielo as Perseus kicked his feet near my rib.
“This pup is a menace.” Cielo pulled a chair for me to settle down while the rest of our little group cleaned up the boxes.
“I can help you with that,” she told me as my face contorted with pain. Perseus has been moving around lately and kicking me here and there.
“Oh my…" I exclaimed and stared at her bemusedly.
“How did you do that?”
“Do what, Luna?” An innocent smile beamed on her lips.
“My pup calmed down after you put your hand on top of my belly. Perseus had never done that.”
Cielo only smiled at me and then she got up.
“If I have the ability to heal someone, it feels like you too are blessed to bring anyone peace.”
“I am no special like you, Luna, but with years of experience regardless of whether they are still in their mother's belly or not, I know how to make a baby stop from their tantrums.”
“Speaking of that, I never had the opportunity to ask you this, but how was Claudius as a baby and as a child?”
Regret and sadness crossed her eyes, but they vanished immediately.
“As a baby, Claudius was a well-behaved one. He never gave me a hard time as a child. I don't know. I can no longer remember.” I squeezed her hand, comforting her.
“It felt like he didn't have a childhood. I… planted it in his head that he must become a great Alpha, and then we will take back what was taken from him in Regulus.”
“And he did, in a matter of two months. We'll do that.” Cielo stood up and then she looked behind her.
“It's getting dark, Luna and the trail back to Thorne is dangerous at night, so we have to go now,” said one of the newly appointed unit captains, Fallon.
I nodded my head at him and Cielo helped me get up from my seat.
While I was busily crocheting a baby hat for Perseus, inside the Sedan, the car suddenly stopped.
“A group of rogues, Luna!” Cielo alerted me, but given my situation, we weren't able to run far from where the ambush happened.
“And just where do you think you are going, my sweet child?” That raspy voice speaking from behind me halted my steps.
Cielo tried to pull me to keep running with her, but the rogues surrounded us one by one.
“Luna…" She mumbled nervously.
“We'll be alright,” I assured her.
One of Ameo's men stripped Cielo away from me, slapping her and twisting her arm as she tried to fight back.
“Claudius successfully planted his first pup to you, huh?" I took a step back, but there was nowhere for me to go.
I froze and watched Ameo anxiously as he pointed his sword at my belly.
“P-Please… please not my baby… What do you want? Tell me and I will give it to you,” I said in a soft voice.
I couldn't find Vera anywhere. Could it be that the two had separated after they escaped the night that we attacked the Moon River Pack?
A sense of relief washed over me after he withdrew his sword from my belly, but he ordered another man of his to cover my eyes.
“Where am I?” I demanded it, but he only chuckled at me as he bit a pear he was holding.
“Claudius wouldn't let this slide. He will come for you and if he fails to kill you. He'll make sure that your head is spiked in a dagger after he beheaded you this time around—” Something stung in the corner lips, and I spat blood from my mouth.
“You never know when to shut up, do you?”
“Are you once again confident that he won't be able to find you because of some barrier shit? You know that a barrier like that failed you before?”
Ameo gestured to his man to slap me hard, and the rogue did it twice.
“Luna, please! Just don't say anything to them. Your baby! Something might happen to you and your baby!” Cielo pled and Ameo pointed at her.
“That. Why don't you do that and listen to this old woman?” He asked as he was dialing something on his phone.
Ameo put it on loudspeaker and from the other line, I heard Claudius's voice.
“Who is this?”
“You owe me an entire pack, you fucking cunt. I want all my deltas and warriors back, or you'll lose your mate and your long-awaited pup,” Ameo demanded.
“I'll call you again to let you know the following details. I just want to inform you for now that I have this whore of yours and if you won't give me what I want...” Ameo smirked evilly.
“I'll let all the rogues fuck her, and I will cut her belly opened and have your lifeless pup delivered in your footstep.”