Chapter 28


    ‘Ryker! My Dad! He kidnapped me!’


    ‘Are you at your father’s house?’


    ‘No, we aren’t at his house. I’m in a big, old shed or run-down, abandoned factory. I’ve never been here


    before.’


    ‘Leon is bringing me a map. We’ll mark all the abandoned buildings and sheds and check each one.’


    ‘You need to hurry. Dad said he would kill our baby.’ Thear a ferocious growl through the link.


    I’m going to kill him if heys a finger on you or our baby!


    Dad grabs my hair.


    ‘Are you even listening to me? Or are you too busy zoning out?’ He yells.


    ‘Ryker is going to find me, and he is going to kill you for this!’ |


    yell.


    ‘Your precious Ryker, hey, so, he’s your baby Daddy?’ he says.


    ‘Yes. Ryker is my mate!’ I reply.


    ‘Your mate? And what kind of term is that?’ He asks.


    ‘The Moon Goddess chose us to be together. We are soul mates,’ I say. He smirks and stands, picking


    the chair up and


    throwing it. I watch it smash into pieces.


    ‘Please don’t. I’m begging you,’ I say as Dad approaches me.


    He picks up the broken chair leg on the ground and strikes it across my head. He smiles and leaves.


    Liquid trickles down my forehead, drops off blood drip from my head onto myp, but I can already feel


    the wound healing. Dad returns an hourter.


    ‘How in the world? Where has the wound gone?’ He asks. I ignore him. He kneels to inspect me,


    realising the deep wound on my forehead has healed.


    ‘Impossible,’ he mutters as he stands.


    He grabs my face tightly.


    ‘How did you do that?’ He asks.


    ‘I already told you. I’m a werewolf. We heal quickly.’


    He res at me for a moment. Liquid runs down my legs. My stomach seizes tightly, and I let out a


    scream.


    ‘Looks like you’re inbour,’ heughs. As soon as the contraction finishes, my forehead drips with


    sweat. I brace myself for the next contraction, letting out a scream, while my


    Dad watches, smiling,


    I’m going to enjoy the look on your face when the babyes. You won’t get to even hold it!’ He says


    as he walks


    over to an old bench. I hear metal clinking against metal as he sorts through items.


    ‘I think this will do the trick, he says, holding up a box-cutter knife.


    ‘No, Dad! Please!’ I yell and scream with the next contraction.


    ‘Ryker! Hurry! The baby ising. I’m inbour.’


    ‘You’re inbour?’


    ‘Dad will kill our baby as soon as it’s born!’ I scream with the next contraction.


    ‘There are twenty different abandoned ces. We have checked most of them: We should be able to


    find you any time now. I promise I’ll be there soon!


    Dad approaches me, sits on the ground in front of me, and scratches the de into the concrete to


    torment me. My contractions are closer together now. My body is almost ready to push.


    We’re here! I can smell your scent, he links.


    I let out a scream with the contraction.


    I can hear you. He mind-links me. I hear footsteps outside, twenty metres away. Dad hears them too.


    He opens a long case and pulls out a shotgun. He points the gun toward the door.


    ‘Let her go!’ Ryker growls. My Dad chuckles


    ‘Or what?’ He says.


    T’ll rip your head off!’ Ryker warns. My Dad aims his rifle and shoots. He misses.


    ‘We’re going to y it this way then, are we?’ Ryker says, removing his shirt and jeans and shifting into


    his wolf. He charges toward Dad. The gun fires. Ryker yelps.


    ‘Ryker!’ I yell, watching the blood trickle from his shoulder. Dad reloads his gun.


    ‘Well, I’ll be damned. Werewolves exist. Just think of the money I would get if I shot you dead and skin


    your fur! He


    shouts.


    Ryker lets out a growl and circles him. Dad keeps the rifle pointed in Ryker’s direction. I scream as


    another contractiones and briefly averts Dad’s attention, giving Ryker enough time to lunge at him.


    A shot rings out, and Ryker body-ms into Dad, pinning him to the ground. Ryker snarls close to


    Dad’s face, baring his fangs and a mouth full of sharp canines.


    ‘Whoa, steady there, boy…’ Dad says, raising his hands in surrender. Ryker bites down so quickly,


    killing my Dad within seconds, Ryker shifts back into human form and runs to me. He removes the


    restraints from my wrists.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    ‘The baby ising, I pant. ‘Il need to push,


    ‘You’re safe now. I’m here now. Push babe. You can do this! He says reassuringly. I nod and push


    during the next contraction.


    ‘I can see the head!’ Ryker announces. ‘Come on, babe! One more push!’ With all my might, I push.


    The baby slides out into Ryker’s hands and wails.


    ‘You did it!’ Ryker says, wrapping his shirt around the baby and cing him in my arms. He sits beside


    me while we look down in awe at our huge but perfect baby boy.


    ‘Wow! He is one big baby, Ryker says.


    ‘Definitely an Alpha like his Daddy, I giggle.


    ‘No wonder your belly was so huge!’ He says.


    I’ve told the doctor and the others where we are. We’ll have you and our son home soon, Ryker smiles.


    ‘I can’t believe this boy is our son. What are we going to name him?’ I ask Ryker.


    ‘What about Magnus? It’s a tough, powerful name, and it also meansrge. Very fitting for a future


    Alpha. I think so anyway, Ryker says.


    ‘Alpha Magnus. I like it!’ | smile.


    ‘It’s settled. Magnus, it is, Ryker deres. The doctor arrives, and Ryker cuts the umbilical cord. The


    doctor drives us home


    to find many pack members waiting outside the packhouse.


    ‘Wow, half of Shadow Crest must be here,’ I say, surprised.


    Ryker steps out of the car before helping me up while | carefully carry baby Magnus. Ryker clears his


    throat and addresses our eager pack members.


    ‘I know you’re all are keen to meet the future Alpha of the pack, but Astrid and the baby need rest after


    their ordeal.


    ‘It’s a boy! Someone yells out.


    ‘Yes, it’s a boy!’ Ryker confirms. Everyone cheers.


    ‘A boy! The future Alpha of Shadow Crest!’ Someone says. Ryker and I smile at each other.


    ‘Unless you live in the packhouse, please go home. You’ll have the chance to meet the baby during the


    week, Ryker says. Guests aren’t happy about not being able to see the baby wrapped up in my arms.


    I sit in an armchair in the living room. Ryker crouches down beside me and strokes Magnus’ thick


    brown hair. Seth, Kane, Mia and Hayley watch on from other sofas as I unwrap him and take him out of


    his swaddle. Everyone gasps.


    ‘He is twice the size of a newborn wolf-pup!’ Seth says, shocked,


    ‘No wonder you were eating ten meals a day, Astrid! It wasn’t


    to feed you. It was to feed him!’ Mia says in astonishment. We all burst outughing at the truth of her


    words.


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    ‘We have named him, I say excitedly.


    ‘What’s his name?’ Hayley asks, wide-eyed.


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    ‘Well, we wanted a powerful name, he being a future Alpha. He is going to be huge as an adult. So,


    we’ve decided on Magnus,’ I say, with a beaming smile.


    ‘It’s perfect!’ Mia deres, pping her hands together, delighted.


    ‘Alpha Magnus. That is a powerful name, Seth smiles.


    ‘He has your eyes, Astrid. And your hair, Hayley says.


    ‘And his Dad’s nose and handsome face,’ I giggled.


    ‘Our perfect baby boy, Ryker says, proudly cing his hand on my shoulder