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E veryone was on their feet in an instant, Yelena dropping down in front of Calliope. “I’ve already alerted the doctor.”

Calliope shifted from human to tiger in an instant, flopping onto her side. I didn’t know anything about human birthing, but I had helped a fair few cats give birth over the years. Could tigers really be that different?

“Murdoch, can you support her head, please,” I said to her mate.

He gathered up her massive head and set it on his lap. I kneeled in front of her, laying my palm on her belly.

“You’re gonna do so great and these babies will be out in no time.”

She let out what I assumed to be a tiger approximation of a whimper. I didn’t have any healing magic that I was aware of, but I stroked her fur, at least lending the comfort of my presence.

Dr. Atling and Nurse Sarah bustled in. “Calliope, we’re going to transfer you down to the clinic. Everyone get in a position to lift.”

We hoisted Calliope onto a gurney.

Dr. Atling looked up at me. “She’d like you to accompany us, if you’re available.”

“Of course.” I wasn’t about to say no if I could help, and it would certainly be a useful distraction from everything else barreling toward us.

I followed after them, letting my mind focus on the task ahead of me.

I’d told my mates everything I could for now, and they would have to come to terms with it all in their own time.

The bond held a rush of excitement from everyone over the impending birth, temporarily muting the despair beneath it.

We got Calliope settled on one of the jerry-rigged hospital beds more appropriate for larger animals, Sarah shaving down spots for an IV and monitors before hooking up an IV.

“There we go.” Dr. Atling kept a steady hand on Calliope, watching the monitor.

“I assume she’s a tiger right now because it’s easier?” I asked.

“Quadruped births and labor tend to be faster and more comfortable. A lot of shifters choose to give birth this way, especially if they don’t have ready access to a hospital with one of our kind working there.”

Two incubators were already set up and warming, ready for the tiger cubs when they emerged.

With a doctor and nurse handling the medical side of things, Murdoch and I were in charge of comforting the mother-to-be. He sat by her head, whispering sweet words about what an amazing parent she was going to be and how well she was doing. I was tasked with keeping her relaxed.

The cat births I’d helped with had been a lot of lying nearby and petting them. I wasn’t about to climb onto the bed with Calliope, but she deserved some pampering right now. “How do you feel about a brush-down?”

Oh my gods, please. I love getting brushed in this form.

“On it.”

“I’ll get them,” Murdoch offered.

No! You’re not allowed to leave me until every baby is out.

He laughed softly and nuzzled her cheek. “All right, I’ll stay.”

Yelena or Velda, if you have a second, could you please bring me a couple of Calliope’s hairbrushes? I’d ask the others, but I don’t imagine she wants them rooting around in her room.

I’ve got it, babe , Velda replied.

My sweet bear shifter mate arrived a couple of minutes later with a tray in her arms.

“What all did you bring besides brushes?”

“I brought every brush she has, plus some olive oil from the kitchen so we can give her a paw massage and also get her a little bit high.”

Nurse Sarah laughed. “I almost forgot olives affect some cats the same way catnip does.”

“I’ll allow it, but not too much,” Dr. Atling said.

“Fuck yeah, spa day.” Velda pulled up a chair, passing brushes to me, and dipping her fingers in olive oil to rub into Calliope’s paw pads. “How are you doing, sweets? Do I need to give those babies a talking-to?”

I’m okay. Contractions aren’t too often yet.

I ran the first brush down her body, triggering her purr. Regular tigers couldn’t make that sound, but shifters could, and I loved it.

Velda chatted away, distracting Calliope from labor. “When do we get to find out the names?”

We have a short list of about twenty, but I need to see their little faces before I pick any that suit them.

“You know what, fair enough.” Velda looked over Calliope at me. I’m glad I’m going to get to meet them before…

My heart squeezed. You’re going to do more than meet them. You’ll get to see them grow up.

Velda sucked in a measured breath, closing her eyes while she worked on Calliope’s paw. I want to believe that. I do. It’s hard. I guess it doesn’t matter if I hope too hard. If I die, it’s not like I can disappoint myself at that point.

I stared at the ceiling, willing my tears to stay back. This was all my fault.

I’m sorry, little star. The world warped, launching my spirit into the forest to meet Hecate.

“Why didn’t you tell me? You didn’t warn me at all.”

I didn’t. I made sure Anya didn’t see your message before your heat .

“How could you make me risk their lives? I wouldn’t have bonded them if I’d known.”

And then you would all be lost. I wanted you to be free to make that choice without the pressure of life and death. This is the only way you have a chance.

“That’s not fair.”

It’s not. A mess created by mortal hands can only be healed in the same manner. We tried to stop Fiona, but she chose her own path. Now the burden has fallen to you and I’m sorry for that.

“Why wasn’t Rachel able to fix it?”

Maeve O’Clery was never meant to be the one to heal this rift. It takes a very particular person, and she was not it. Your motivations are drastically different, and your capacity to love without reservation is greater than hers. Maeve’s path wandered too closely to Fiona’s.

“So it was always supposed to be me? Always my loved ones at risk of losing everything?” Even disconnected from my body as I was, I felt the rise of nausea. “Can you at least guarantee it won’t all be for nothing?”

Hecate shook her sparkling head. Other factors are still at play, more free will to be contended with.

But if it will comfort you, by going through with the bonding because you loved them and wanted to share your life with them, you have at least not assured death for yourself and your bondmates.

That is the most I can offer at this time.

Fury all but choked me. I wanted to cuss her out, to tell her thanks for nothing, but what good would that do?

She crossed the short distance between us, wrapping me in starlight. I know you would prefer the easy path, and I promise I do not relish your pain. There is no easy path when destiny comes to call. Have faith in yourself and your mates. No one is better suited to this task.

I let myself cry in her arms, pouring out all of my fear and anxiety into her loving embrace. “Can I at least know how much time we have left?”

Will any amount be enough?

No.

Be brave. Trust yourself and have faith in each other.

When I opened my eyes I was back in the clinic, hot tears sliding down my cheeks, and Velda holding my face in her hands.

“Scared the shit out of me. Was that one of your vision thingies?”

I nodded slowly, not quite able to make myself form words.

What’s going on? Calliope asked.

“Nothing—” I croaked. “Nothing you need to worry about right now. Let’s just focus on getting these babies into the world.” I looked Velda in the eye. How are we going to protect them?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Can the pilot come back? Evacuate this whole family?

I’ll get Shakti to reach out , Velda promised.

I zoned out, brushing Calliope to keep her relaxed, allowing the time to pass while I struggled to keep myself together. We had one chance to make everything right and if we failed… well, there was no coming back from failure.

Calliope was in labor for about five hours before the first cub shot free like a slippery little rocket.

She didn’t move to lick the baby or chew the umbilical cord free like I knew cats did, not that I blamed her.

Sarah scooped it up, snipped the cord, took it over to a separate space to make sure the airways were clear and gave it a good scrub-down, stimulating its lungs to start working.

Cub number two made a similar entrance before Sarah was finished with the first, and I elected myself in charge with that one.

They were so much bigger than the kittens I usually worked with, but still cute as hell. I helped Sarah get each one cleaned up while Dr. Atling coached Calliope through the birth. We set each baby at her belly so they could get a snack while she worked on bringing their siblings out to join them.

Murdoch looked absolutely beside himself with joy, shifting to his own tiger form to bathe the cubs.

“How long until they can shift?” I asked.

“They’ll do it sporadically for the first few years before they gain any sort of deliberate control,” Sarah replied.

“It’s one of the reasons nests are so ideal for young families.

No one is going to look at you sideways if your baby turns into an animal out of nowhere.

Do that out and about with regular humans and they’re going to panic. ”

“I don’t doubt that for a second.”

This is endleeess . Calliope huffed.

I laughed softly and hugged her giant tiger body. “You’re almost done.”

“This is what happens when you get knocked up in animal form,” Velda said, patting Calliope’s hip. “You wanna get freaky, you risk having a whole litter.”

It was one time!

“And that’s all it takes.” Velda beamed.

The final of five cubs made their way into the world and Calliope slumped with a groan. Freeeee!

Murdoch licked her cheek, the two of them purring together while Sarah and I tidied up the last cub, setting them among their siblings for their first meal.

“They’re so cute, I almost can’t stand it. Calliope, do you mind if I pet them?”

Pet away.

Dr. Atling and Sarah managed the placenta delivery and check-over while Velda, Murdoch, and I fussed over the new babies. I was so curious what they’d look like in their people form. Right now they all looked the same except for different patterns in their fur.

“Hello, sweet angels.” I planted a kiss on the babies I could reach. “You’re so lucky to have such amazing parents. Everyone here is going to love you, and I promise I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you all stay safe.”

It wasn’t a promise I was certain I’d be able to keep, but dammit, I was going to fucking try.