Page 64 of Heart of the Wolf
Leif placed a string of rabbits by the fire and cupped her face, his thumbs stroking the swells of her cheeks.
“My sun and sky,” he murmured, kissing the tip of her nose.
“My moon and stars,” she said, gazing into his endless eyes.
“Hjartað mitt,” he added, stealing a heady kiss from her that left her lightheaded. “Min dottir,” he said, rubbing a palm over Brielle’s swollen belly.
“You don’t know if it’s going to be a girl, Leif,” she huffed a laugh. “It could be a boy.”
Bending down, Leif pressed a tender kiss to her stomach, smiling as he felt their baby kick.
“I know. Even in your belly. She is stubborn and fiery, like her mother,” he laughed.
Brielle swatted the back of his head.
“See,” he snorted, rubbing the tender spot. “Firebird.”
***
After dinner, they crawled into bed, both tired for different reasons. The demands of hunting, meeting with the clans, and constantly checking on her stretched Leif thin.
Sleep proved to be pointless for her and had been for weeks. Beside her, Leif’s eyes were closed, his mouth parted with slow breaths while his hand palmed her stomach.
A malicious side of her wanted to shake him awake. It was his fault she hadn’t slept well in weeks. Why should he enjoy a restful evening when tiny feet kept kicking her?
No matter what position she tried, her protruding belly made it impossible to get comfortable. Her ankles were swollen, her back ached, and she had developed an insatiable appetite for rabbits.
She huffed, knowing that she still had a few weeks left of this torture.
Careful not to wake him, she slipped out of bed. Sometimes, when she couldn’t sleep, going for a walk helped. It was unseasonably warm, and she took advantage of it, only taking a light shawl with her as she stepped outside.
The midnight sun had barely sunk beyond the horizon, the chill of darkness brushing along her pink cheeks. The moon and stars had awoken before the sun had fully descended for the night. A few lingering smiles welcomed her, bowing their heads in greeting as she moved toward the outskirts of the village.
She stroked her palm over her bump, flexing her bare feet in the lush grass.
It was their favorite spot, one that previously belonged to Leif alone, but had since become theirs. The valley was in full bloom with wildflowers, spring dancing its way across the clearing that overlooked the swirling tides below.
Now. Now, it was the place she sought when she couldn’t sleep.
It wasn’t long before a familiar thud of footsteps drew up behind Brielle. Two hands cradled her stomach, lifting it gently to hold the weight, making her sigh. Lips brushed along her jaw. She was never able to sneak away without him noticing. Even before their child, he was always in tune with her, but now everything intensified.
The warm body wrapped around her, stepped back silently, and the hum of magic blew her hair over her breasts. Her wolf’s face nudged her spine, urging her to sit.
Easier said than done.
Once she plopped onto the ground, Leif joined her.
Brielle hummed, leaning into the plush bed of fur curled protectively around her. A cold snout nudged her cheek, forcing her gaze to connect with a pair of enormous, icy eyes. They blinked slowly at her before the massive wolf laid its muzzle gently atop her belly. Brielle relaxed into Leif’s warm embrace, her fingers stroking between his ears.
Amusement made her lips twitch as her wolf’s eyes widened in awe at the persistent kicks from their baby. While she was exhausted, sore, and in dire need of a nap, Brielle couldn’t help but smile at the joy on Leif’s face.
Wolf or human mattered not; his excitement was obvious.
As much as Leif insisted they were having a girl, Brielle was just as sure it was a boy. Both their reasons for their confidence in the gender were the same. Their baby was stubborn and strong-willed. Astrid had given her a remedy to help with the burning in her throat that happened every time she ate now. While Leif soothed her discomfort, he would chuckle warmly about firebirds and daughters, always making Brielle smile, no matter what her discomfort.
Brielle enjoyed the warm sun, even as the days grew longer with her changing body. The weeks sped by, but the hours dragged on.
During the day, she walked along the coast with Astrid and Liv while Leif met with Amund and hunted. With each passing day, their path grew shorter and shorter as Briellestruggled to take full breaths. Their baby now lodged comfortably in her ribs by her lungs.
