Chapter 90: Chapter 90
Kyra’s POV
I never imagined raising a pup alone would be this hard. Every day was a struggle, especially with only my little Snow by my side. No one was there to help when she cried over things I couldn’t figure out. No one to hold her when my arms went numb. No one to take her during those midnight cries that shattered my already fragile sleep.
Nathan used to do all those things. He had been attentive after Snow’s birth. But I had made my choice to leave, and neither Sylvia nor I would let ourselves regret it.
"Please take care of her while I’m at work. I’ll do my best to come home early."
Martha, my middle-aged neighbor, smiled and nodded. She had no clue she was caring for a wolf pup disguised as a human baby.
"Don’t worry about a thing, Elle," she said, using my fake name. "I’ll take good care of little Yuki."
I had been hiding in this apartment for almost four months, and my savings were running low. I needed income to provide for my pup.
"It’s tough raising a kid alone," Martha continued. "Especially as a single mom. You have to work hard for your daughter’s future. But you can always count on me for support."
I smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Martha. I don’t know what I’d do without you."
Sylvia whined within me, uncomfortable with depending on a human, but we had no choice. Living under a false identity meant I could only take jobs that didn’t require documentation, another complication of hiding in the human world.
I found work as a dishwasher at a small restaurant. The job was physically demanding, and the chemicals were harsh on my sensitive wolf nose, but I endured. There was even a night I worked through a fever, nearly collapsing. But thoughts of Snow gave me strength. My pup was the only thing keeping me going. As long as she was with me, I could face anything.
"Living costs are going up," Perry, my landlord, informed me as I handed over my rent. "I need to increase your monthly payment. Sorry, Elle. If it were just me, I’d let it slide, but I’ve got three kids to feed."
I forced a smile. "It’s okay, Perry. I understand. We’re all just trying to survive."
Being a mother without a pack was harder than I’d ever imagined. I had surrendered everything, my identity, my pride, all for my daughter’s future.
Nothing was easy. Not even surviving.
"Shh! Baby, why won’t you stop crying?" I whispered one midnight, my wolf senses picking up her distress but not understanding the cause.
After working all day, my bones ached for rest, but Snow’s piercing cries had interrupted my shallow sleep. I tried nursing her, but she continued wailing, her tiny face red with frustration.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I bit my lip to keep from joining her. My wolf paced anxiously inside me, urging me to do something, anything, to soothe our pup.
I checked her temperature with my heightened senses, but she felt normal. No fever, no illness scent. I was at a loss.
Someone pounded on the door. "Hey! Shut that kid up! Some of us need sleep!"
My lips trembled. If only they knew a werewolf was living among them, they wouldn’t dare speak to me that way. But here, I was nothing. Nobody.
"B-Baby, please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Mommy’s here. What does my little pup want?"
"Don’t you dare talk to her like that!" Martha’s voice echoed through the thin walls. "She has no control over an infant’s crying!"
When she knocked, I immediately opened the door, relief flooding through me at the sight of her familiar face.
"M-Martha..."
"What’s wrong, Elle?"
"S-She won’t stop crying. I don’t know why."
"Let me hold her."
She was more experienced with babies, so I carefully handed Snow over, praying my daughter wouldn’t inadvertently show any wolf traits.
"Oh! She’s teething. That’s why."
I blinked in surprise. "But she’s just four months old." Was this normal for wolf pups? I had been raised in the pack but knew little about pup development.
She smiled, gently swaying with Snow. "Some babies start teething early."
"What should I do? She must be in pain."
"For now, use your clean finger to massage her swollen gums. Tomorrow, buy a teething ring, it’ll help her."
I nodded quickly. "Thank you, Martha."
When she handed Snow back, my pup’s cries had softened to whimpers. "Try it so you can both get some sleep," Martha advised. "You look exhausted, Elle. Remember to take care of yourself too."
Martha had become my lifeline. Beyond being Snow’s nanny, she was the only friend I had in this lonely human world. She supported me when I was too exhausted to function, reminded me to eat when I forgot, and shared her wisdom about motherhood. Without her, I might have succumbed to depression those first few months.
Some nights, when Snow finally slept, I would lie awake questioning my decision. Had I been too proud thinking I could survive alone? Too stubborn? The mate bond with Nathan ached constantly, a physical pain that reminded me of what I had left behind.
And truly, it was worth it. All my sacrifices, the tears, the exhaustion, the loneliness, paid off the first time I heard my little angel speak. The first time I saw her toothy smile or watched her take wobbly steps across our tiny apartment. Joy unlike anything I had known before.
"Mma...mmm...my..."
At twelve months old, Snow was trying to say words, looking at me with beautiful eyes while clapping her tiny hands. When she pulled herself up on chubby legs, something inside me swelled with pride. My wolf howled with satisfaction; our pup was growing strong despite everything.
I clapped encouragingly as she pointed at me.
"Mmmmy...mmmy..."
I nodded through happy tears. "Yes, baby. This is Mommy. Mommy loves you so much."
They say a baby’s first word, first steps, and first laugh are a parent’s greatest rewards. I felt that truth deep in my bones, deeper than any mate bond. I had done this. Despite losing everything, I had kept my pup safe and helped her thrive.
"That’s it, sweetie," I whispered, "Grow fast and strong. Grow beautifully. Grow smart, with a kind heart."
Sylvia stirred within me, her thoughts aligning with mine. Soon we would need to stop running and face our past. Soon we would reclaim what belonged to us—my position, my dignity, my revenge against those who had wronged us. That would be my reward to myself: to free myself from the pain and from the horror of the past.
