ELIA

Later, Elia was dragged out of sleep, out of a dream that didn't want to lose its grip. For a short time her world was half-dream, half reality, and terror in both.

She'd been dreaming that the wolves had sent a team into the Royal Cave to kidnap her again. That Lerrin had somehow run in behind them, screaming at them to stop, that this wasn't the way to handle their problems. But they just kept coming, their eyes alight with that murderous light she'd seen in Lucine. Then, as her eyes fluttered and she became aware of the bedchamber, it seemed like Reth was there, fighting for her, and she was screaming. The wolves were fighting, but she couldn't move out of the furs because her belly hurt and the baby was coming and…

And…

And she woke with a start, sucking in a terrified breath—that only filled her nose with the scent of wolf. That made her open her mouth to scream—

But the bedchamber was dim. Most of the lanterns had been blown out. And as her eyes roved, searching… there was no Reth. There was no Lerrin. And there was only one wolf.

Jayah.

Elia's heart pounded as she pushed up onto an elbow and scanned the room looking for intruders.

Jayah turned from the dresser where she'd been measuring something out of a bottle, and she smiled—then her smile faded.

"Are you well?

" she asked carefully.

"I'm sorry if I startled you. Aymora was called to the elder's meeting about Lerrin. I told her I would come. I do not mean to intrude. But we need to check… are you well, Elia?

" she asked softly.

Elia blinked several times and swallowed, pushing up to sit, grimacing at the way the sides of her stomach grabbed when she moved her hips.

"I'm sorry, I had a bad dream,

" she murmured because Jayah was looking more and more worried.

"Are you hurting?

"

"No, no. Just the… the normal aches and pains. I didn't sleep well.

"

Jayah nodded and turned back to her bottles.

"It is a difficult time. The body loosens to allow things to move to make way for the pup, but it means that everything is more easily hurt or strained.

" Then she picked up that long, thin, cone and turned back to Elia.

"May I listen to her heart?

"

Elia wanted nothing less than to be touched by a wolf just then, but she knew Jayah wanted to help. And she wanted to make sure Elreth was okay, too. So she nodded and pushed herself further up the bed.

"No, no, go ahead and lay down. It's actually easier,

" Jayah said.

"You can lay on your side if that's more comfortable.

"

Elia thanked her and laid down slowly. She felt bigger this morning, which seemed impossible. Her stomach already stood far higher than her much-bigger-than-usual breasts when she laid on her back. Reth had teased her about stealing the furs to cover it.

He'd also talked to her at length about how much he was thoroughly enjoying her new, larger chest.

Elia felt her cheeks heat at the memory and swallowed back the embarrassment.

Jayah pretended not to notice and waited for her to find a comfortable position, then placed the wide end of the cone low on her belly, the pointed end in her ear, then shifted it here and there until she found what she was looking for.

"Ah, she is strong,

" Jayah said soon, pleased.

"She is not in distress. But if you begin to feel pain, or as if something is wrong—even if you can't tell what it is—you call for Aymora or for me.

"

Elia nodded.

"I will.

"

Then Jayah began to press at different points all over her belly. With a smile, she took Elia's hand to show her where she had found a tiny fist under the skin.

Elia could only feel a smaller lump among other lumps, but she enjoyed thinking that that lump was a hand.

"It will be only a week, or ten days at the most, I think,

" Jayah said quietly.

"Aymora disagrees, but I think she has not accounted for your humanity. Your body is smaller. It is likely your offspring, even if it is a cub, will also be smaller. I think she is almost ready.

"

Elia shook her head.

"It seems impossible to have grown a whole human in such a short time,

" she said, and to her own horror, almost began to cry.

Jayah patted her shoulder, but didn't meet her eyes, giving her a moment to pull herself together. Then, when Elia had taken a few deep breaths, she spoke softly.

"The Creator can do… whatever he pleases,

" she said gently.

"But it is my observation that He often brings the most difficult tasks to… strengthen us before great joy. This offspring has been a great trial for you,

" she stated without question.

"But it will also be a great blessing, I think.

"

"Thank you,

" Elia said, tears threatening again.

"I just hope… can you please tell me what the risks are? What is going to happen? Am I going to shift? Is she? It seems like everyone wants me to just accept that we can't know. But you've seen these deliveries before, right? Can't you give me any idea?

"

Jayah's forehead pressed into lines.

"Every delivery is different. Every baby is different. Every mother is different.

"

"Yes, but you could tell me different things that have happened so I at least know what's possible, right?

"

Jayah picked up her cone and walked it back to the dresser. She busied herself there for a moment, then returned to the bed and took a seat on the edge of it near Elia' feet, settling herself slowly, her eyes never quiet meeting Elia's.

Fear shot through Elia at the look on Jayah's face. As if she had terrible news and didn't want to share it, but felt like she had to.

"What is it? What's wrong?

" she asked, her voice high and quavering.

*** THE END IS NEAR - Got Questions? ***

I'm putting together a reader Q & A for the end of BEAST. If you have any burning questions about the characters, my writing, the process of telling the story, or me as an author, please ask them in the comments and I will add them to my list!