Chapter 2. The Biological Daughter

“Honey,” Beta Andrew curled his arm round his wife’s shoulders as they sat on the couch. “Why are you so bothered? Aren’t you happy that you are pregnant again?” he asked.

“I am proud to be having your child, Andrew,” she replied, looking at him with uncertainty.

“But?”

“But I’m afraid it’s going to be another boy!” she wailed.

“So, what if it’s another boy?” he asked. “It will still be a part of you and me. I will love him like I love his brothers and sister!”

Amelia was not sure of that but she refused to comment on that. “We already have two boys, Andrew,” she said. “I would have loved it if this one turned out to be a girl!”

“We already have two boys and a girl, Amelia,” he said, narrowing his eyes on her. “Are you counting Alexa out? She’s your daughter too and you have treated her as such. She knows no other mother but you!”

“Yes, yes!” she said, smiling. “I was thinking in terms of a biological daughter.” Then seeing the surprise look on her husband’s face, she said. “These past three years, I have treated Alexa as my daughter. She is my daughter. I never thought I could become pregnant again but now that the Goddess has decided to bless me again, is it too bad to desire that it be a she-wolf?”

“No, of course not, my darling,” he relented, hugging her closer, but being careful not to hug too tight because of her pregnancy. “For your happiness, I pray it be a girl too but whatever gender it turns out to be, I shall accept whole heartedly because it is a part of you, love.”

“Thank you, love!” she said, thinking to herself, ‘I pray it’s a girl so that you may show her the kind of love that you show to your mistress’s child Alexa.’ She smiled sweetly at him.

Six months later, she was rushed to the hospital.

“It’s a girl!” the midwife announced as they carried the baby out to clean her up.

Amelia’s joy knew no bounds but she just smiled at the midwife gratefully.

‘I have my own daughter,’ she thought. ‘I must be dreaming.’ She pinched herself, and when she felt the pain, she laughed happily once the midwife left after cleaning her and making her comfortable. She wanted to shout to the world that she had a daughter of her own.

The baby was brought back clean and dressed and handed to her. She looked upon the child. “She is beautiful, isn’t she?” she asked proudly.

“Of course she is,” the midwife answered. “And why wouldn’t she? Her mother is a raving beauty herself!”

Amelia smiled gratefully at the midwife again. Her daughter had light brown hair and green eyes, she noted and smiled proudly. The midwife took the baby from her and laid her in a cot beside her.

“It’s time for you to rest for a while and regain some strength. We have already sent the good news to your husband. He should be here any minute from now!”

Amelia nodded, she had already mind-linked her husband with the great news, asking her to bring Alexa with her when he came to visit.

Her husband came to see her.

“Darling, what a great news!” he exclaimed joyfully when he entered the room where she was. “Your prayers have finally been answered?” he said smiling affectionately at her.

Her smile froze. “My prayers?” she asked. “Did you not want it too?”

“I meant our prayers,” Beta Andrew hastily corrected himself. “Of course, I wanted her as well!” That brought back the smile to her face.

“Now, we finally have a daughter after so many years!” she screamed in glee, unguardedly.

“We already had a daughter are you forgetting?” he asked, with his brows furrowed. “Don’t forget we’ve had Alexa these past six years. She is our second daughter!”

‘Maybe for you, not for me!’ she thought uncharitably but said. “Of course, silly me! The joy of the moment is clouding my reasoning. Forgive me, my Lord!”

“Don’t let it happen again, so that the girl in question will not start feeling unloved or like an outsider! Remember what we do not want it known.”

“Mummy, I am happy I have a baby sister now,” Alexa who had been entranced at the sight of the baby and not paying attention to their exchange said. “I prayed earnestly for a sister since I already have two brothers! It is now even, two boys and two girls!”

“Yes, my daughter,” Amelia said smiling and nipping Alexa on the cheek, affectionately. “It is now as it should be!”

“Thank you Moon Goddess for answering my prayers and giving me my own sister. Now I have a sister I can play with and show off to others in the pack!”

Andrew smiled at his first daughter, Alexa. She was so pure of heart like the Goddess herself.

“Anyway, darling, Alexa is here to keep you company,” Andrew said. “I was in a meeting with the Alpha when you mind-linked me with the news. Alpha Fred Connor just excused me for about an hour. He is waiting for me. There’s something important we are planning, concerning the attacks we’ve been having recently!”

“That’s okay. I’ll miss you but not so much now that I have both my daughters with me to keep me company!” she smiled, waving her husband away.

“Mum, what name are you going to give my sister?” Alexa asked, still very excited.

It occurred to Amelia then that Andrew had not even asked for the name of his new daughter. It was all because of his beloved first daughter. He hadn’t even been able to stay for a while with her but had to rush off to meet with the Alpha.

‘Does that not show that he didn’t really care for their newest child because he already had a daughter? The daughter of a mistress for that matter!’ she thought angrily.

“Stop pestering me, Alexa!” she snapped, pushing Alexa away from her.

“Mum, is anything the matter? Did I do something wrong?” Alexa asked, shocked. Amelia had never treated her harshly before.

“Yes!” she replied and before Alexa with her inquisitive nature could ask what the problem was, she continued, “You are the problem! And the wrong you did was being born and having the type of mother you had!”

Alexa was shocked. What did she mean? How could she had done by being born? “Mum, did you regret giving birth to me? Is that what I have done wrong?” she asked, both puzzled and hurt. “And why are you speaking in this strange manner, are you not my mother?”

Amelia caught herself. “Of course I am your mother,” she said hastily. “You asked for the name of your sister didn’t you?”

“Yes, mum!” Alexa answered, smiling.

‘Thank goodness mum is no longer angry with me,’ she thought happily. ‘I shall try not to get her angry anymore.’

“Her name is Camellia.”

“Camellia,” Alexa tasted the name on her tongue. “It is such a beautiful name!”

“Yes, a beautiful name for a very beautiful girl,” Amelia said, looking pointedly at Alexa who didn’t understand her look.

“Yes, you’re right mother. My sister is really very beautiful. I am proud to have her as my sister,” she said enthusiastically. She was going to show off her sister to the other pups in the pack who had been flaunting their sisters in her face when they played, she thought happily, thanking the Moon Goddess one more time.

“You must love your sister very well, take care of her and serve her like the princess she is. Do you understand what I am saying?”

“Yes, mum!” Alexa said. “I shall gladly do that!”

Amelia smiled. She was going to subtly put this child of her husband’s mistress in her place. Now that she had her own daughter, Alexa was no longer useful to her.

The anger, hatred and jealousy she had harbored against Mildred, Alexa’s mother, which Amelia had suppressed when she took on Alexa as her own daughter came flowing back into her and since she could not vent it out on the trespassing mistress who was nowhere to be found, she was going to take it all out on the evidence her husband’s indiscretion: Alexa.