Page 39 of Rogue’s Reckoning

I nod, grateful as always for her understanding. Even without knowing the details, Natalia has always seemed to grasp the gravity of my situation.

"Whatever you decide, I'll support you," she says, squeezing my hand. "You know that, right?"

Tears well in my eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Nat. You've been such a good friend to me."

Natalia smiles. "That's what friends are for. I’ve spoken to my parents and you know how much they adore you, Will. My mom’s been looking at three-bedroom apartments in the area, and they found one. They’ve purchased it, and they want us to move in. It’s totally up to you. We don’t want to pressure you.”

I stare at her, my heart pounding as tears well in my eyes.

My heart races, overwhelmed by her words. "Nat, I... I don't know what to say. That's incredibly generous of your parents, but I can't accept that. It's too much."

Natalia shakes her head, a gentle smile on her face. "It's not too much, Willow. My parents adore you, and they want to help. They know you've been through something terrible, even if they don't know the details. This is their way of giving you and the baby a fresh start."

Tears spill down my cheeks. The kindness of Natalia and her family continues to amaze me. After everything I've been through, to find such genuine care and support feels almost unreal.

"But what about you?" I ask. "You've already done so much for me. I can't ask you to uproot your life too. This is your home."

Natalia takes my hand, squeezing it gently. "You're not asking; I'm offering. Willow, you're my best friend. These past eight months, watching you heal and grow stronger every day... it's been an honor to be part of that journey. And I want to be there for you and this little one," she says, placing her other hand on my belly. “Besides, my dad’s already talking about renting this apartment out. It’ll be fine.”

I close my eyes, feeling the baby kick against Natalia's hand. The thought of raising my child with her support, in a safe home,is tempting. But the fear that's been my constant companion these past months rears its head.

"What if they find us?" I whisper, voicing my deepest fear. "What if I'm putting you and your family in danger by staying?"

Natalia's eyes harden with anger, but I also see fear in them. "Then we'll face it together. Willow, I know what happened to you. I know that it’s affecting your life and that you're scared. But you can't live your life in fear forever. You deserve to be happy, to feel safe. Let us help you build that life."

I take a shaky breath, considering her words. She's right—I can't keep running forever. And the thought of my baby growing up in a loving, supportive environment... it's everything I've dreamed of.

"Okay," I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "Okay, let's do it."

Natalia's face lights up with a brilliant smile. She pulls me into a gentle hug, mindful of my belly. "It's going to be okay, Willow. I promise. We're going to give this little one the best life possible."

As I hug her back, I feel a glimmer of hope spark in my chest. For the first time since I left Boston, I allow myself to imagine a future—a happy one. A future where my child is loved and protected, where I can heal and maybe, just maybe, find peace.

I feel a popping inside of me followed by a gush of water spilling between my thighs.

I gasp, my heart racing with fear and excitement. "Nat," I say, my voice trembling, "I think my water just broke."

Natalia pulls back from our hug, her eyes wide with surprise and excitement. "Oh my god! Okay. Don't panic. We've got this."

Despite her words, I feel panic rising in my chest. This is it. The moment I’ve been both anticipating and dreading for months. "It's too early," I whisper, fear lacing my words. "I'm not due for another two weeks."

Natalia squeezes my hand reassuringly. "It's okay. Babies come when they're ready. Let's get you to the hospital."

As Natalia helps me up and starts gathering the hospital bag we prepared weeks ago, I feel a contraction hit, ripping through my stomach. I grip the edge of the couch, breathing through the pain.

"You're doing great," Natalia encourages, rubbing my back. "Just breathe. Remember what we practiced."

I nod, focusing on my breathing just as I was taught to. As the contraction passes, I look at Natalia, tears falling from my eyes. "I'm scared, Nat. What if something goes wrong? What if I can't do this?"

Natalia cups my face gently. "Listen to me. You are the strongest person I know. You've survived so much, and you're going to get through this too. I'll be with you every step of the way."

I nod at her words, hoping she’s right. As we make our way to Natalia's car, another contraction hits, stronger this time.

"It's happening so fast," I gasp.

"That's okay," Natalia assures me, helping me into the car. "We're going to get you to the hospital in no time."

As she drives us through the quiet Portland streets, another contraction rips through me. I’m scared, beyond that. A part of me wishes Ezra was here. Despite everything, a part of me still longs for him at this moment. But that could never happen. The love I had for him died the day he allowed me to be tortured. It died when he didn’t trust me.

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