64. Happiness Redefined

**Third Person's POV**

"Now it is all making sense," Sedona whispered to herself as she sat down on one of the vacant chairs in the hospital's waiting area. The surprise on her face was evident as she collected each piece of information and solved the puzzle in her head.
"What?" Xander asked. His highs and lows were so extreme that he didn't know whether to be happy or melancholic. The one person he wanted to share the news with - his mate - was lying in an unconscious state in a bland hospital room. And he didn't know when he'd wake up. At least, health-wise, she was recovering at a snail's pace.
"The reason Maeve has survived, despite being linked to Ametrine's life, was because of her pregnancy," Sedona explained to him. "She is carrying a wolf pup, Xander. Your pup. Shifter DNA is strong enough to heal on its own even when they are in the womb of the mother."
The realization was beginning to dawn upon him. "So, she will wake up soon, right?" He was dying to hold her in his arms, kiss my supple cheeks, and looked down at her smile. And then probably he would scold her a bit to have dared to leave him alone in his world. But above all, he wanted to see her awake.
"She should," Sedona said and then added. "She will wake up soon, Xander. Maeve is a strong woman. She has her divine wisdom and your strength. She will overcome this."
Xander sighed heavily and threw his head back. Even though he looked resigned, his wolf was very much alive and ready to fight for his mate.

***

Maeve woke up at the break of dawn on the next day. The sense of time was lost on her, but she wanted to look outside her window no matter the time of the day or night.
Suddenly, she has the urge to feel the wind in her hair, the silver moonlight on her pale skin, and the solid earth beauty of her feet. She was alive and reunited with her mate - the man who vowed to protect, love, and cherish her until the end of time.
Maeve simply couldn't believe it.
Xander was stark alerted the second she opened her eyes as if he could hear the soft fluttering of her lashes as well. That was the kind of alertness he reserved for her. When he came closer, his intense eyes never left her face, and an unreadable smile on her lips spread on its own. Xander could feel the heat radiating from her skin, and over the monotone of the electronic machines, he could still hear her heart beating rapidly within her chest.
His mate was finally awake.
Her chest rose and fell…in rhythm, and her eyes…He could see her lively soul flaring through those marvelous eyes.
"My love," Xander whispered, tracing her forehead. He spoke and touched her so delicately as if she was the most fragile thing he has ever touched or felt.
Maeve tried to croak her words, but her throat was beyond poached. Instead, she opened her arms and embraced him, yearning for the warmth of his touch and feel of his body against hers. She hugged him as tightly as she could manage as if they had never been apart…as if fate didn't play a cruel joke with them.
"Don't…leave," Maeve managed to utter the words, almost brokenly.
"Never."
Satisfied, Maeve closed her eyes once again and fell asleep. She woke up sometime around the evening, like clockwork, Xander was by her side. She was feeling much better now, having the doctor and nurse visiting her every couple of hours.
When the dangers have worn off slowly, and they could finally breathe a sigh, Xander found the courage to speak to his mate, to share the ultimate, joyful news one could ever reveal to his other half. Inside his head, his wolf was howling in ecstasy, and he could no longer hold back the news.
"Maeve, I know you have just woken up but I have to tell you something."
"What is it?" she asked.
Xander took her hands and softly squeezed. "Do you know how you survived even when Ametrine died?"
The name itself dreaded her. "No. I thought our lives were linked together and that…"
Xander nodded as she trailed off. "It was but something inside of you…healed you." He paused and smiled. "Our pup. You are pregnant, Maeve. The Moon Goddess has blessed you with my pup."
"Oh, my God." She was moved to tears. "I can't believe it, Xan…We are going to be parents."
"We are, my love," Xander assured her and sealed his words with a small kiss.

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