The Return Of First Mate

Damien's POV:

As the soft morning light filtered through the windows, I glanced over at Leslie, sitting across from me at the breakfast table. Her face looked peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling inside me. I had made it a point to keep things as normal as possible for her, especially now. Every day, the darkness inside me warred with the desire to protect her and our unborn children. The past few weeks had been brutal—Fenrir's training, my struggles with the dark power I had embraced, and now, this.

Martin, my Gamma, appeared at the door of the dining room. His face was grim, his usual relaxed demeanor replaced by something far more serious. His eyes flicked from me to Leslie, and I could tell right away that whatever news he brought wasn't something Leslie needed to hear. Not in her condition.