Page 11 of Hitched to the Wendigo (Monster Matchmaking #1)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Eryx

I watched as Sakira moved among the newly arrived humans, her gentle voice and reassuring touch easing their fears. Even after all this time, her compassion never ceased to amaze me. She had a way of connecting with others, of making them feel safe and understood, that I could only marvel at.

As the last of the rescued brides settled into their temporary shelters, Sakira made her way back to me. I opened my arms, and she melted into my embrace, her small form fitting perfectly against my much larger one.

"You did well," I rumbled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "They trust you already."

Sakira looked up at me, her green eyes shining with a mix of exhaustion and pride. "They're scared, but they're also curious. I think they'll adapt well, given time."

I nodded, my mind already racing with plans for integrating these newcomers into our community. But as I opened my mouth to discuss logistics, I noticed the slight tremor in Sakira's hands, the way she leaned more heavily against me than usual.

"You're exhausted," I said, my voice softening with concern. "Come, let's get you home and rested."

She started to protest, but I silenced her with a gentle finger to her lips. "The others can handle things for now. You've done more than enough today."

With a resigned sigh, Sakira nodded. I scooped her up into my arms, cradling her against my chest as I had done countless times before. As we made our way through the settlement, I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at what we had built here. Humans and wendigos working side by side, sharing meals, sharing lives. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.

Our den was a welcoming sight after the long and eventful day. I carefully set Sakira down on our bed of furs, then busied myself with starting a fire and preparing some of the herbal tea she favored.

As the water began to heat over the flames, I turned back to find Sakira watching me with a soft smile on her face. "What?" I asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious under her gaze.

"Nothing," she said, her smile widening. "I just love watching you like this. So domestic."

I snorted, trying to hide my pleasure at her words. "Don't let the other wendigos hear you say that. I have a fearsome reputation to uphold, you know."

Sakira laughed, the sound warming me more than any fire ever could. "Oh yes, the big, bad wendigo chief, terrifying all with his tea-making skills."

I growled playfully, crossing the room in two long strides and pouncing on her. She squealed with delight as I pinned her beneath me, my face inches from hers. "I'll show you terrifying," I rumbled, before capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

We lost ourselves in each other for a moment, the world outside our den fading away. When we finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, I saw something in Sakira's eyes that made my heart skip a beat. It was a look of love, yes, but also of longing, of a deep and unspoken desire.

"Sakira," I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "What is it?"

She bit her lip, a habit I knew meant she was nervous about something. "Eryx, I've been thinking about something. Something big."

I rolled onto my side, pulling her close so we were face to face. "You can tell me anything, you know that."

Sakira took a deep breath, then met my gaze squarely. "I want to have a baby," she said in a rush. "Our baby."

For a moment, I was stunned into silence. A baby? The thought had crossed my mind before, of course. The possibility of continuing my bloodline, of creating a new life with the woman I loved more than anything in this world. But I had always pushed it aside, telling myself it was too dangerous, too complicated.

"Eryx?" Sakira's voice was small, uncertain. "Say something, please."

I realized I had been quiet for too long, lost in my own thoughts. "A baby," I repeated, tasting the word on my tongue. "Our baby."

Sakira nodded, her eyes searching my face for any sign of how I felt. "I know it's a huge step," she said quickly. "And I know there are risks, with me being human and you being wendigo. But I've been researching, talking to some of the other mixed couples in the settlement. It's possible, Eryx. Difficult, maybe, but possible."

I listened as she outlined what she had learned, about the unique challenges a human-wendigo pregnancy might face, about the precautions we would need to take. But beneath the facts and figures, I could hear the hope in her voice, the longing.

"Are you sure about this? Really sure?”

She nodded, her expression resolute. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life," she said. "I want to create something beautiful with you. Something that represents the best of both our peoples."

A lump formed in my throat, overcome with emotion. The thought of Sakira carrying our child, of holding a tiny being that was part her and part me, filled me with a joy I couldn't put into words.

"Then let's do it," I said, my voice rough with feeling. "Let's have a baby."

Sakira's eyes widened, a smile spreading across her face. "Really? You mean it?"

I nodded, pulling her close and kissing her deeply. "I mean it," I murmured against her lips. "Let's start our family."

What followed was a whirlwind of activity. We spent hours discussing the practicalities, the challenges we might face. Sakira threw herself into research with her usual thoroughness, consulting with healers from both our peoples. I found myself poring over ancient wendigo texts, searching for any information about mixed-species offspring.

But amid all the planning and preparation, there was an undercurrent of excitement, of anticipation. Each night, as we came together in our den, there was a new intensity to our lovemaking. The knowledge that we might be creating a new life added a depth of meaning to every touch, every kiss .

Weeks passed, then months. With each cycle that came and went without success, the hope in Sakira's eyes dimmed a little. But she never gave up, never stopped believing that it would happen.

"It will happen when it's meant to," she would say, her voice firm even as I saw the disappointment in her eyes. "We just have to be patient."

I tried to be strong for her, to be the rock she needed. But inside, I was torn. Part of me wondered if we were foolish to even try. What if our species were too different? What if we were setting ourselves up for heartbreak?

But then I would look at Sakira, at the love and determination in her eyes, and my doubts would fade away. We had already accomplished the impossible once, bringing our two peoples together. Why couldn't we do it again?

It was a crisp autumn morning when everything changed. I woke to find Sakira's side of the bed empty, which was unusual. Normally, she was still curled up against me when I awoke, savoring the warmth of our shared furs.

Concerned, I rose and made my way through our den, following the sound of her heartbeat. I found her outside, standing at the edge of the cliff that overlooked our settlement. The rising sun painted the sky in shades of pink and gold, casting a warm glow over her face.

"Sakira?" I called softly, not wanting to startle her. "Is everything alright?"

She turned to me, and my breath caught in my throat. There was something different about her, a glow that seemed to come from within. Her scent, too, had changed subtly in a way that made my heart race with possibility.

"Eryx," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I think it happened. "

For a moment, I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Then I was across the distance between us in two long strides, gathering her into my arms. "Are you sure?" I asked, my voice a hoarse whisper.

Sakira nodded, happy tears spilling down her cheeks. "I'm late, and I can feel it. Something's different."

I placed a hand gently on her stomach, marveling at the idea that a new life might be growing there. Our child. Half wendigo, half human, and all miracle.

"We did it," I breathed, feeling overwhelmed with joy and fear and a thousand other emotions I couldn't name. "We're going to be parents."

Sakira laughed through her tears, wrapping her arms around my neck. "We're going to be parents," she repeated, as if saying it aloud made it more real.

I lifted her off her feet, spinning us both around in a moment of pure, unrestrained happiness. As I set her down, I was struck by the enormity of what lay ahead. This child would be the first of its kind, a bridge between two worlds that had been separate for so long.

"Are you scared?" Sakira asked softly, as if reading my thoughts.

I nodded, seeing no point in trying to hide it. "Terrified," I admitted. "But also excited. And happy. So incredibly happy."

She smiled, reaching up to cup my face in her hands. "Me too," she said. "But we'll face it together, just like we've faced everything else."

I leaned down to kiss her, pouring all my love and hope and fear into the gesture. As we stood there, bathed in the light of the rising sun, I felt a sense of rightness settle over me. This was meant to be. Our child, whatever challenges it might face, would be loved beyond measure .

"We should tell the others," I said when we finally broke apart. "They'll want to know."

Sakira nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. "Can you imagine Lyra's face when we tell her she's going to be an aunt?"

I chuckled at the thought. My fierce second-in-command had become like a sister to Sakira over the years. She would be thrilled, even if she tried to hide it behind her usual gruff exterior.

As we made our way back to the settlement, hand in hand, I found myself imagining the future. Our child, running through these mountains, learning the ways of both wendigo and human. A living symbol of the peace we had fought so hard to achieve.

We had already changed the world once. Now, with this new life growing inside Sakira, we would change it again. And I couldn't wait to see what the future held.

As we approached the center of the settlement, the curious glances from both humans and wendigos hit us. They sensed something was different, even if they didn't know what yet.

Lyra was the first to approach us, her keen eyes taking in our linked hands and the barely contained excitement on our faces. "Well?" she said, crossing her arms. "What's going on? You two look like you're about to burst."

I looked at Sakira, silently asking if she wanted to do the honors. She nodded, a radiant smile spreading across her face.

"We're pregnant," she announced, her voice ringing out clear and strong.

For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then, like a dam breaking, the settlement erupted in cheers and congratulations. Lyra's usually stoic expression cracked, a wide grin spreading across her face as she pulled Sakira into a fierce hug.

"I knew you could do it," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Then she turned to me, punching me lightly on the arm. "Well done, Chief. You're going to be a father."

As the news spread, more and more of our people gathered around us. Humans and wendigos alike offered their congratulations, their excitement palpable. This child, not yet born, was already bringing our two peoples closer together.

As the excitement began to die down and people started to disperse, I noticed a small group of elders from both human and wendigo communities approaching us. Their faces were serious, and I felt a flicker of apprehension.

"Eryx, Sakira," the eldest wendigo said, his voice gravelly with age. "We would speak with you in private."

I nodded, feeling Sakira tense slightly beside me. We followed the elders to a quiet corner of the settlement, away from prying eyes and ears.

"What you have done," the human elder began, her voice stern, "is unprecedented. A child of both wendigo and human blood has never been done before."

I bristled, ready to defend our choice, but Sakira's gentle touch on my arm calmed me. She stepped forward, her chin lifted defiantly.

"We know it's unprecedented," she said firmly. "But so was our union. So was this entire settlement. We've proven time and again that 'unprecedented' doesn't mean impossible."

The wendigo elder nodded slowly. "You speak truth, young one. But you must understand the gravity of what lies ahead. This child will face challenges unlike any we have seen before. "

"We're prepared for that," I growled, my protective instincts flaring. "Our child will have the strength of both our peoples."

The human elder held up a hand, her expression softening. "We do not doubt your commitment," she said. "But we must consider the wider implications. This child could be seen as a threat by those who still oppose our alliance. It could reignite conflicts we have worked so hard to quell."

My heart hurt as the truth of her words sank in. In our joy, we had not fully considered how others might view our child. To us, it was a miracle, a symbol of hope. But to our enemies.

Sakira, ever the diplomat, spoke up. "Then we must work harder than ever to spread understanding and acceptance," she said firmly. "Our child will be living proof that wendigos and humans are not so different after all. That love can bridge any gap."

The elders exchanged glances, a mix of concern and admiration on their faces. Finally, the wendigo elder spoke again.

"Your courage is admirable," he said. "And perhaps you are right. Perhaps this child is exactly what our people need to truly come together." He paused, his ancient eyes meeting mine. "But the path ahead will not be easy. You must be prepared for anything."

I nodded, drawing Sakira closer to my side. "We are," I said, my voice firm with conviction. "Whatever comes, we can face it."

The elders nodded solemnly, then turned to leave. As they walked away, I heard the human elder mutter, "May the spirits watch over them. They're going to need all the help they can get."