Nothing could explain the amount of warmth swimming in Roxy’s heart.
But she understood Mara, they had been born from enemies to friends not too long and yet Mara wanted her to na her children.
"Okay," Roxy whispered through the tears clouding her eyes.
She reached out and touched the first pup, the large grey male who had co out first and strong. He was sturdy, loud, and already trying to crawl over his siblings.
"This one," Roxy started, feeling the na settle in her mind. "Hati, which ans ’the wolf that chases the moon.’
The females outside cheered in victory, for just a na, moved by the scene.
Kaelen and Torian watched their mate as she trembled, trying to contain her tears. They draped each of their hands on her, giving her the support she needed before she broke down.
Mara smiled. "Hati... Strong and destined to rule..."
Roxy smiled with her, then she touched the third boy, who sat curled close to Hati, a lighter grey with white paws. He was quieter, curled up tight like he didn’t care about the world.
"Sköll," Roxy decided. "It ans the wolf that chases the sun. The opposite of our Hati, who is always active, they would even each other as one."
The females cheered once again!
Roxy touched the second boy, finally calming down, the runt of the litter who had fought so hard to breathe at first.
"Karhu," Roxy smiled. "Brave like a bear. He would be the strongest wolf to protect the pack."
Finally, she touched the girl. The only female. She was dark, almost black, with a tiny patch of white on her chest in the shape of a crescent moon.
Roxy watched her sleep. She looked peaceful, yet there was a spark of fire in her tiny spirit that Roxy could feel.
She was going to be feisty.
"And her?" Mara asked breathlessly.
Roxy traced the white crescent fur on the pup’s chest, giving the pup the chance to curl its small paws around her hand.
"Reika," she breathed, "Because she is the power of the wolf, the woman of power. She might grow up to be a good hunter or a leader, wherever her heart leads her to..." She kissed the pup on the forehead, and it let out a wl of acknowledgent.
"Hati, Skoll, Karhu, and Reika," Mara repeated, testing the nas on her tongue. She looked up at Roxy, beaming. "They are perfect."
Roxy smiled, leaning back. "Glad you like them. Now, use those cooling pads and get so sleep. I have a feeling Reika is going to keep you up all night."
Mara laughed airily, her heart feeling full.
Though Roxy didn’t have an issue with Mara recovering soon because she was a wolf, their recovery was quick. She just needed rest.
Roxy felt like going back to her own children and showering them with lots of kisses.
With the guidance of her mates, she led herself out of the cabin, Vorn showering praises and thanks at her, Roxy just brushed it off.
The other females that perched outside the Cabin begged Roxy to bless them, but Roxy didn’t know how to do that, so she only said.
"Bless you," she placed her hand on one of the pregnant females, and they cheered in unison. More pregnant females ca, so she could lay her hand on them.
Em, System, this is becoming weirder.
[Get used to it bitch, don’t go complaining.]
Ouch, soone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
[I am a machine, I don’t sleep.]
Then where did you learn to talk like that?
[From you, who else, have you forgotten that I am trained from your response?]
...
It was at that mont, Roxy knew she fucked up.
[Ding!]
[Hidden Quest Complete: The Godmother]
[Objective: Successfully na a litter of a high-tier species while holding the rank of Pack Mother.]
[Reward: 1,000,000 LP]
What a fucking whooping price for just naming babies, is that even fair?
[Nothing is fair when you are the host.]
...
Was it just her, or was the system clapping back more than usual?
[Achievent Unlocked: The Mother’s Blessing]
[Context: You allowed the pregnant females of the pack to kneel and receive your blessing. Your mother buff has passively increased the safe birth rate of the Wolf Clan by 25% for the next season.]
[Reward: 1,500,000 LP]
[Current Life Points: 10,450,000 LP]
Roxy stopped dead in her tracks.
Two and a half million points? Just for naming so puppies and letting people bow to her?
Make it make sense.
[Don’t look so shocked. If you continue to perform actual selfless deeds instead of just chasing profit, the rewards will stack. Karma is a programmable algorithm, honey.]
I have been fucking doing good since the mont I was forcefully pulled into this world! Or have you forgotten that?
[Yeah, Yeah, shit show, Sherlock. Have you forgotten how you lost your womb back on earth? If not because of the system, you won’t be having children in the beastworld.]
Roxy blanked out, and it felt like sothing had wrenched her heart and clipped her tongue.
That topic was a sensitive subject for her.
[...]
The system also blanked out, not knowing how to respond to her emotions. Roxy just stayed quiet as she leaned against Kaelen’s back as he rode her back to their Cabin.
Her mates sensed the change in her, but they didn’t question it.
Though Kaelen made a ntal note to ask her once they returned to their bedroom.
When they arrived, Roxy dragged her tired body into the Cabin quietly. She didn’t talk to anyone, and her face was expressionless, no tears, nothing, just a blank expression as if she was lost.
When she pushed open the big, heavy wooden door, her thoughts were trained on going into the bedroom and throwing herself into the fur sheets.
But the sll froze her in place.
It was the rich, savory scent of grilled at, spiced perfectly with the herbs she had bought from the System shop.
Who was cooking?
"Hello?" Roxy called out, kicking the snow off her boots.
She walked into the main living area and found it empty, then she walked toward the kitchen to see who exactly was cooking.
Arched over the stove was Zarek.
His upper body bare, wearing black loose pants from his hip down.
He looked like the most sexy Greek god she had ever set her sights on, and she almost pounced on him to lick his abs, but she controlled herself.
The Dragon King looked comically large for the space. His broad shoulders blocked half the cabinetry. He was holding a pair of tongs with intense concentration that didn’t fit his personality.
Seeing him behave like Kaelen brought warmth to Roxy’s chest.
Whatever the system says, forgotten at the sight before her.
When he heard her footsteps, he froze; his body went rigid.
His hand hovered over a sizzling pan of venison steaks. He looked like a deer caught in headlights, if the deer were a six-foot-six apex predator capable of breathing fire.
"What are you doing?" Roxy asked, leaning against the doorfra, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Zarek slowly turned his head, his golden eyes darted from the pan to Roxy, then back to the pan.
"Cooking," he grumbled, his voice dropping an octave in defense.
"I see that," Roxy laughed, walking over to inspect his work. The at was seared perfectly. "I didn’t know the Dragon King knew how to use a frying pan. I thought you just incinerated things until they were edible?"
"I learnt from you," Zarek sniffed, flipping a steak with surprising skill. "And Iris is hungry. She needs at."
Roxy felt her heart lt a little. Beneath the scales and the arrogance, Zarek really did care about the other kids.
"That’s really sweet, Z," Roxy said softly, reaching out to give a perk on his cheeks that made Zarek shudder. Roxy laughed, patting his biceps, "I am not trying to hit on you!"
His eyes narrowed in disappointnt, and he focused on his food again.
She turned to grab a plate, intending to help her, when she caught sight of her baby girl, Iris, who was awake and in a wooden stroller, Kaelen had built a few weeks ago.
She was gripping the sides of the stroller with chubby hands, her violet eyes wide and alert. She was watching Roxy intensely while chewing on a bone that Zarek had tossed to her while preparing the venison for cooking.
Roxy walked over, smiling. "Hi, baby. Did you have a good nap while Mama was gone?"
Iris stared at her. Her little mouth opened and closed, like she was trying to say sothing, and then she huffed and puffed, and then frowned.
Roxy stared, confused.
"Ma..." Iris babbled.
Roxy froze. She dropped the place she was holding onto the wooden floor with a clatter.
"Ma... ma..."
It wasn’t a random sound; it was deliberate with so much effort. Her little brows wrinkled into concentration. Iris was looking straight at her, reaching out with grabby hands.
As if she was saying, ’Look at , mama,’
"Mama!!!!"
The word was clear this ti, high-pitched, and demanding!
Roxy’s hands flew to her mouth. Tears pricked her eyes instantly. "Zarek!!! Kaelen!!! Torian!!!"
She called her mates, and they all stood behind her as they stared at the little one in the stroller.
As if trying to reannounce her greatest fit, Iris shouted again.
"Mama!" She flayed her arms for her mother.
Roxy scread while picking up her child. "IRIS SPOKEEEEEE!!!!!"
A/N: I didn’t even realize today was the weekend, expect 4 Chapters today!
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