赤裸裸的滑稽故事

"No offense, Grandma, but I don't think a pep talk will end the war and bring peace to the territories," Axel sighed.

Lily smiled.

"No," she said. "But that's not why I'm here."

"Then what?"

Lily stepped closer, and between them, a small bench appeared.

"Let's sit," she said, taking a seat.

Axel saw no reason not to. He joined her on the bench.

"I'm here," Lily began. "Because you are now aware of the miracle growing inside your mate."

Axel's eyes widened, and he turned to face Lily, clenching his jaw as his fingers curled into tight fists.

"How do you know about that?" he demanded.

"Calm down," Lily smiled. "Even if I were a threat, this is a dream, remember?"

Axel took a deep breath, relaxing his body.

"You have every reason to be concerned," Lily said.

Axel closed his eyes, clenching his jaw again.

"The Dark Queen's manipulation of your blood has left a ticking time bomb inside of Alice."

His heart ached, and the pit in his stomach continued to grow and grow.

"And if you had conceived at any other time, the child would not have survived, and Alice would also be at risk of losing her life."

His eyes shot open, and he looked at the woman beside him.

"At any other time? What does that mean?"

Lily smiled.

"There is very little that I or any of the other original Lunas could do to help any of you through your life," she began. "Each time we get involved, it seems to make things worse or cause problems."

She took a deep breath.

"But, Talis could not stand by and do nothing as she watched Alice sacrifice herself for the last remaining member of her bloodline. When Alice made the decision to save Myka, Talis made the decision to save Alice."

"What does that mean?" Axel asked softly.

"Talis sacrificed her life to give Alice a chance at a miracle," Lily replied. "As she passed from this world to the next, I spoke with her. She felt that Alice deserved some kindness and joy in her life. Talis wanted to atone for the sins of her bloodline, past and present."

"Does this mean they'll be all right?" Axel asked with caution.

Lily looked at him carefully. She put her hand on his shoulder before she spoke.

"Great son, you love so passionately," she smiled. "Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in this world."

Axel swallowed and looked away.

"But the power that Talis used, a combination of the ley lines and her own life force, will keep back the infection."

Axel looked at her again.

"There is still reason to be cautious, as there is with any pregnancy," Lily said. "But the initial threat has been prevented."

Axel smiled and clenched his jaw as hot tears gathered in his eyes.

"So, it's real?" he asked with a shaky voice. "We're really having a baby?"

Lily smiled.

"It's real," she said. "You are becoming a father."

Axel laughed as the tears fell from his eyes, and the weight slipped away from his shoulders.

"I can't believe it…" he whispered. "I need to tell Alice… though she might not believe me."

"She will," Lily replied. "She already knows. She just doesn't understand yet."

Axel nodded and licked his lips. He let out another laugh.

"I'm going to be a father…" he whispered happily.

"Yes," Lily nodded. "But do not forget, the infection is not the only threat to our family."

Axel lifted his gaze to Lily.

"War is coming to Winter, Alpha Axel, be ready."

He woke with a start but still held Alice tightly in his arms.

"Axel?" she whispered groggily.

"Sorry, weird dream," he whispered back, loosening his grip to make her more comfortable.

Alice turned her body so that she could nestle against his chest. She listened to the gentle rhythm of his heart and the steady breaths he took in.

Just as she started to fall asleep again, he called her attention.

"Alice…" he whispered.

"Hmm?" she murmured.

Axel licked his lips and swallowed.

"You… you said that you spoke to Luna Talis before you exchanged wolves with Myka…."

Alice furrowed her brows. All thoughts of sleep left her mind as she processed what he said.

"Uhm.. yes?" she replied with confusion.

Axel ran his fingers gently down her back, easing the tension he felt in her.

"Have you seen her since then?" he asked.

Alice lifted her head to look up at him. It was a strange question.

"Why are you asking?" she said.

"Have you?" he asked, meeting her eyes.

Alice pulled away and sat up to look at him.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Axel sat up in the small bed. He reached out to her and pulled her back to sit beside him, putting his arm around her and encouraging her to lay against him.

"Alice…" he whispered.

"Yea?"

Once comfortable with her head on his chest, Axel reached down and placed a gentle hand low on her stomach.

Alice swallowed.

"It's real," he whispered.

Alice felt a tightness in her chest, and her mouth ran dry.

"How do you know?" she asked quietly.

"I had a dream," he replied. "A strange dream. I met Luna Lily."

Alice looked up at him.

"The one that visits Ashleigh?" she asked.

He nodded.

"She said that Luna Talis sacrificed herself to give us a chance at a family…" he whispered. "She said you already knew that you just didn't understand."

Alice furrowed her brows and then gasped as she remembered the old woman standing above her and Myka, the green glow. The lotus.

"Oh my…" she whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.

"What?" Axel asked.

Alice didn't know how to react. Was it possible?

"How?" she asked.

"Lily said that Talis used her life force and the power from the ley line," he replied. "That somehow it will protect the baby from the infection."

Alice's jaw shook, and her eyes filled with hot tears. She covered her face with her hands as a sob escaped her lips.

Axel pulled her close, kissing the top of her head and soothingly running his hand down her back.

"It's real?" she whispered into his chest.

Axel smiled as the tears fell from his eyes.

"It's real," he whispered.

Alice let go. Her tears fell, and her sobs filled the room as Axel held her close and cried silently with her.

To anyone who entered the room, it would have looked like they had been given the worst news.

But for Axel and Alice, the heaviest burden either of them had ever had to carry was lifted from their hearts.