Black Ice-Completed

In the secret bedroom, Nyota watched her patou pace back and forth in anger.

“Analise, you know this isn’t a good time to be pregnant!” he growled and punched at the wall in frustration, “You just recently got sick, your body isn’t strong enough to handle it!”

The woman just smiled sadly, “I know my love, but the Great Allaidh wishes it to be so!”

Braytek snarled and glared at the woman, “Do not bring the wolf God into this. We both know that the reason you are pregnant is because you quit drinking the herbal drink!”

Analise’s small smile disappeared and she snarled right back, “Maybe if you had actually did what was normal for wolves and taken others to mate with instead of continuing sexual relations with me, this wouldn’t have happened! You knew of my condition!”

The tension in the room was thick as Analise and Braytek glared at each other. Analise sighed and lowered her eyes, “Braytek, I want this baby. Tymothyn is five now and wants nothing to do with me. Your beta’s have taken him into their pack and his views are changing,” pausing, Analise closed her eye and showed the pain she had been hiding for the past five years, “And should this baby be another girl we can bring my sister and our oldest back!”

“Analise,” he choked out, tears starting to appear in his eyes, “I would love nothing more than to bring them home. It’s still not safe though.”

Analise sniffled as a tear rolled down her cheek. Braytek leaned forward and kissed it away before softly kissing his mate’s lips.

Nyota watched as the vision blurred away and then reform with Analise on the bed. She was very pregnant. She watched her mother breath harshly and deep inside, Nyota knew this was not normal.

As Analise tried to push the babe out, she cried out in agony, “Bring him!”

“My Lady, the babe is not yet born, it is against-“one of the nursing woman tried to say but Analise snarled at her, “I don’t care! I need Braytek!” she cried.

Before the nursing woman could respond, the door was kicked open and Braytek rushed through, his nostrils flared as the scent of death’s blood was apparent in the air. “Analise,” he choked out and rushed to her side and wrapped his arms around her thin shoulders.

Feeling her shiver, he nuzzled her head and pulled her close to his warm body. Weakly she began to talk, “My love, my time is upon us. You must promise-“

Growling out a broken moan Braytek hugged her even closer, “Don’t say such things!”

“You must promise,” Analise started again, “You must promise to bring our Starlight back, no matter what! Especially once this child is born, it will need our Starlight as much as we have needed her!” Analise gasped and then shrieked as the pain tore through her body.

“You must push now my Lady!” one of the nursing women said as she rushed forward, “You must push or we will lose you both!”

“Promise me Braytek!” she shrieked as she started to push.

“I promise my love, just don’t leave me!” he cried.

Nyota sniffled as tears ran down her cheek. She watched her mother, Analise, push the baby out, but neither survived. Neither Analise nor the baby sister Nyota would have had. She watched as Braytek started his mourning howl, one that would last through the whole night.

Nyota suddenly felt a jerking sensation and shivered as she felt herself in her own body once again, the voice quiet as she whispered softly, “Now you know why he is so ill-tempered.”

“Thank you, Starlight,” Nyota murmured as she watched some of the clouds part to show the starry black sky.

A jolt of surprise went through Nyota’s body and pleasure soon followed, “A wolf usually waits to show his or her human their history when the human is ready to shift.”

“I’m ready!” Nyota all but shouted, her body vibrating with excitement at the aspect of turning into a wolf.

“No you’re not,” the voice whispered with mirth. “Listen to what Patou says and learn the ways of the wolf. Tomorrow, when its daylight, go directly north and keep going that way. You’ll make it in time for dinner.”

Crying in panic, Nyota sat up, “You’re leaving me?”

Amusement flickered across Nyota’s consciousness, “I’ll always be with you. We’ll be together again when the time is appropriate.” Nyota’s wolf muttered before she disappeared into unconsciousness and left Nyota alone.

Shifting to a more comfortable position, Nyota pulled her hood up and fell asleep.

“She’s only six, Braytek!” Veronica fisted her hands as she bit her lip. Her poor niece was stuck in the middle of unknown territory with slavers who would snap her up to make a pretty penny. Fear was beginning to seize her.

“She needs to learn,” but in truth, Braytek was worried as well. If Nyota was smart, she’d simply follow his foot prints back. But if she had, she’d be home by now.

“Learn, yes, but not this way. Nyota is not part of the pack. She has only ever been by herself. She’s a lone wolf as it is!”

“Veronica, calm down, if she isn’t back by sunset, I will go out and find her myself. But my daughter is an alpha, she’ll find her way home. You don’t give her any credit!”

Huffing in agitation, Veronica started to make dinner, hoping that Nyota would appear, “And you give her too much credit with her being a little girl!” she shot back at him.

Both sat down to eat Veronica’s rabbit stew, and as they were about to eat, the door flew open with Nyota coming through, stomping snow off her boots.

After taking off her coat and boots, she made her way over to the table where both Veronica and Braytek watched her in surprise. Sniffling a little bit, Nyota sat in between the two and snatched Braytek’s stew, shoveling it into her mouth. When it was empty she pulled Veronica’s near her and ate a little slower.

Once Nyota was full, she leaned back into her chair and closed her eyes. It was silent for some time while both adults watched the six year old and Veronica jumped when Nyota spoke up.

“Patou, what will we be learning tomorrow?” Nyota asked as her emerald gaze clashed with his ice blue.

Braytek opened and closed his mouth several times before he said quietly, “We’ll continue with tracking.”

Nodding, Nyota hopped off the chair and hugging her Aunt Veronica, she murmured good night.

Braytek though was caught off guard when Nyota launched into his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug, “Good night, Patou,” she whispered into his ear and kissing his cheek, she bounced off to bed.