Aspen-Eve

Damon POV



My heart was shattered into a million pieces, my sweet little baby, gone before any of us could know her. Aspen-Eve, Allison had picked the most beautiful name for her. I tried to hold it together. For my Allison. I knew she needed me to be strong right now, but trying to be strong when it feels like your entire world just came crashing down around you, feels damn near impossible. How am I supposed to be strong?

Allison asked us to leave her alone. I didn't want to, I wanted to lie with her and stroke my baby girl's hair on her tiny head, comfort Allison. But this wasn't the time to argue. I lost a piece of myself, but Allison lost the most. She needed this time to mourn.

We left the room but didn't dare go far. Raidon and I each sat down on either side of her doorway. Neither of us said a word.

Lena came out and kneeled down in front of me,"I'm so sorry child." Was all she said as she pulled me in for a hug, and did the same to Raidon.

Lena had tears in her eyes, threatening to fall, but she was a strong woman, she held them in. I could tell she wanted to cry more than anything. She sat on the floor across from us,"We need to give her time to be with her baby, then you can both say goodbye, we will need to plan a funeral." Lena whispered as she played with her hands.

Raidon and I nodded but didn't add anything. I feared if I spoke I would break-down completely.

Hours went by, we knew that we needed to say our goodbyes soon before our baby started to decompose. The thought of it broke my heart all over again. Lena offered to be the one to go in and talk to her. Raidon and I stood up but waited on the other side of the door. We both wanted to hold our baby before she was taken away from us forever.

We heard Allison yell at Lena to get out. We both came running through the door, but Lena gave us a broken look and pointed at us to leave.

Lena followed us out and quietly shut the door, "I'm afraid she believes her baby is alive. If we leave Aspen-Eve there much longer, the decomposition will begin. We need to turn her room to as cold as we can, freezing temperatures if possible. Allison's wolf will keep her warm enough. But it will slow down the decomposition process long enough that we might be able to talk to Allison, help her understand what happened, without forcing her baby out of her arms. It will not be easy but you both need to hold it together and comfort her. If we have to take her baby away by force, she will never forgive us, it will scar her for life. She doesn't want to see me right now, so you both must go."

I went straight to the temperature dial for Allison's room and turned it completely off, while engaging the air conditioning to the coldest it would go. Raidon and I entered her room slowly.

Allison clutched Aspen-Eve closer to her and let out a low warning growl.

"Allison, we are not here to hurt you or our baby. We promise. We just wanted to hold her if that's okay with you?" I asked cautiously as I walked closer to her bed.

She looked between Raidon and I and then back at our baby as if thinking for a moment about whether she trusted us or not. There was a look in her eyes when she looked at Aspen-Eve, a look I had never seen in her before. It was full of love but not the same look of love she gives me. This kind is different. The love of a mother.

It was hard seeing Allison this way, the way she is protecting our daughter. I know that she will be an amazing mother. I just wish her time with our daughter didn't have to be cut so short. Why was the world so cruel? A little baby did nothing to deserve such a short life. I felt tears prick my eyes and had to quickly push these thoughts away.

Allison looked up at me again and held my gaze before speaking,"You promise you won't take her away from me? She is mine. My grandmother tried to take her away and I will not allow this. I will raise my baby girl with or without you two, so do you promise not to take her away from me?" Her voice was so low, it was a threat, one that I knew she meant. I didn't know how to answer. I didn't want to make a promise that I knew we couldn't keep, she would hate us forever, she would never forgive us. I looked at Raidon, unsure of what to say, when I felt a mind-link being opened up to me from Lena. She must have overheard our conversation.



You need to promise Allison. It's the only way you can say your goodbyes to your baby and then bring her out to be prepped for a funeral, if you don't promise her she won't let you anywhere near her.



I can't do that, Lena, I can't lie to her.



It's either that or you have to take your baby out forcefully, which would be traumatizing for everyone. This way is easier, she will understand one day once she comes out of her trance. Right now she still believes your baby is alive and, for now, we have to let her believe that because it would absolutely destroy her if we forced this reality on her. She needs to process and then mourn at her own pace.



I don't like this Lena, I wish it didn't have to be this way.



I know child. I know.



I took a deep breath and looked at Allison, "I promise. We won't take Aspen-Eve away."

Raidon was about to process and I gave him a subtle head shake. I walked up to the bed and took the tiny bundle from Allison. She seemed so small in my arms, my sweet baby girl. I gently brushed my hand over her hair, trying my hardest not to cry. I felt the familiar sting in my eyes and nose as a tear fell onto her face. I gently wiped it away, wishing that the moon goddess would bring my baby life she deserves to live. If I had the choice, I would give my life in exchange for her's in a heartbeat.

I felt Raidon come up beside me. I handed her over to him. His eyes were red, he was trying equally as hard as I was to hold it together. I wish this didn't have to be goodbye. It isn't fair that we have to say goodbye to our baby girl. It's fucking heartbreaking.

I felt the mindlink with Lena open again.



It is time, we need you guys to bring your baby out. If she doesn't get prepped soon, her body will begin to decompose.



I sighed and looked at Raidon. He understood that it was time.

"I think she needs her diaper changed. I'll go do that and be right back." Raidon said.

"Okay, let me give her a kiss first." Allison waved him over.

She kissed Aspen-Eve on the head and then looked between Raidon and I,"Why are you both crying?"

"It's tears of happiness Ali, it is such a blessing to meet our baby girl." I answered, but my voice cracked as I fought my sadness.

She grabbed Raidon's arm before he could take our baby out of the room,"On second thought, I think I will go change her." She stated.

"Allison, it's okay, rest. You just gave birth. We can handle a diaper change." Raidon said as he tried to remove his arm from her grasp.

"No, I think I will do it." She started to sit up out of bed.



She cannot come, this will break her. You need to keep her in the room.



Lena spoke into my mind.



"Raidon will take her. Why don't I stay here and keep you company?" I made my way to Allison's bed and sat next to her, placing my arm around her.

"Damon, I am serious. I am taking her." She tried to stand up and stop Raidon again, but I tightened my hold around her waist, trying to hold her in place. Raidon made his way towards the door as Allison fought harder against me.

"What is going on, Damon? Why can't I go with him?"

"I'm sorry Allison, you just can't."

"You promised Damon, you fucking promised!" She screamed at me while scratching my arms, fighting with everything she had to get out of my grip.

I cried silently as I held her close. I felt her pain through our bond, it was worse than any pain I have ever felt.

I could feel her body heating up as the glow spread up her arms. It was burning me as if my arms were in a fire, but I just held on to her, preventing her from seeing whatever was going on out there with our baby girl. My skin was melting off as she burned hotter. I bit my tongue hard to hold in any sounds.

Allison flung her arms open and I went crashing into the wall. She dropped to her knees and let out a loud scream. One that was full of heartbreak and sorrow. It shattered windows and shook the entire house. She put her head in her hands and continued sobbing.

"You promised me, Damon, you promised me and you still had her taken away. You lied, and I will never forgive you. I hope you die, Damon. You, grandmother and Raidon. You all deserve to die for whatever you are planning to do with my child. You are no better than Summer or Lucy. Is this what this is about? You want her blood to make you stronger? You sick bastards. What the hell is wrong with you? She is your daughter! A little baby!" She yelled at me.

I went down on the floor next to her, "Allison, I promise you, that couldn't be further from the truth. We would never hurt her." I begged, trying to take her hands in mine, trying to show her my sincerity.

"Then tell me what is going on!" She demanded.

"I can't Allison, I can't. You're not ready. I never meant for it to happen this way. I'm sorry, so fucking sorry."

"Tell me or I will kill you right now Damon!"

"You don't mean that, you aren't thinking straight right now, Ali." I hoped she would one day understand why we did it this way,

She stood up, her eyes glowing bright white. She raised her hand and I felt like I was being crushed. I couldn't breathe. I tried fighting it, but my body was forced to lie down flat, as if in an invisible press, I heard a loud snap as one of my ribs broke under the pressure. I let out a roar as I tried to fight it.

I couldn't take much more and I wasn't sure how far Allison was willing to take this. I didn't want to tell her this way, but it might be the only way.

"She.....she is...gone...." I forced the words out in between gasps for air.

The invisible weight was gone in an instant and Allison's glow disappeared.

"What are you talking about gone?" She demanded.

"Dead Allison, she is dead, she died before birth. I'm sorry I had to tell you this way." I sat up, trying to ignore the sharp pain from the broken rib.

Allison looked at me in disbelief for a moment, but I could tell by the look on her face the moment she realized I was telling the truth. I saw the tears start flowing down her face as she walked slowly to her bed. She looked at the pool of blood still there from giving birth, and curled up in the fetal position on top of it. She was staring at the wall, but it was like she wasn't even in her own body.

I tried connecting with her feelings through the bond, but all I felt was nothing. She felt empty. So hurt that she was completely numb to the pain. I started crying once I realized that she may not come out of this alive.

A:N hello readers, what do you think so far? I will start updating every Saturday, either two chapters or one long one, if I have time to write more I will. Thank you all for reading my book.