The Prophecy Of The Wolves I - The Beginning
~ Chapter Twenty ~

The next day, Liliana woke up a bit earlier than usual. Her eyes went wide as she felt nausea hit her hard. She held a hand over her mouth as she rushed to the bathroom. She knelt on the floor before the toilet and emptied her stomach. She groaned as she flushed the toilet and stood up. After brushing her teeth, she did her usual morning routine, being as quiet as possible so she wouldn’t wake up Cayden.

Once Liliana was done, she threw on some workout clothes and headed to their gym. It was three hours later when Cayden finally found her in the gym. Liliana was panting as she hopped off of the treadmill. “How long have you been down here, dove?” Cayden questioned as he pulled her into his arms.

Liliana frowned as she glanced at the watch on her wrist. “Three hours.”

Cayden frowned as he studied her. “Are you alright, dove?” He asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Liliana released a shaky breath as she laid her forehead against his chest. “I wasn’t able to sleep that much,” she whispered. “I was so exhausted that I couldn’t help but fall asleep right after Kaine and Axel left, but that damn nightmare,” she exhaled as she looked up at him. “I tried to sleep some more, but the nightmares kept returning. So I finally gave up and decided to come down here.”

Cayden held her close and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’m so sorry, my little dove. I wish there were some way that I could help you,” he said softly.

Liliana smiled and let out a small laugh as she hugged him tightly. “You are helping me, my beloved.”

Cayden held her a bit tighter and rested his head against hers. “So, what are your plans for the day?” He looked around as he pulled away from her. “Besides burning yourself out in the gym,” he said with a small smile.

Liliana shrugged as she grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge they kept in the gym. “I’ll probably head to the mall. Pick up a few things. My pencils for my sketchbooks are starting to run low,” she took a long sip of water. “Mm. I might take a walk through the forest to replace the final pieces I need for my project for Mason.”

Cayden kissed her lips softly. “Sounds like a fun day. Just be careful, and please take a couple of people with you.”

Liliana giggled as she kissed him again. “Of course I will, my beloved. I will also text you the entire time that I’m gone.”

Cayden chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you, my little dove,” he said softly against her lips.

Liliana smiled that breathtaking smile that always made his heart race. “I love you too,” she whispered.

Cayden pressed a final kiss to her lips before they went their separate ways.

Liliana sighed as Autumn knocked on the door. Liliana opened the door with a wide smile. “Hi, Autumn,” she said happily. “As happy as I am to see you, I’m heading out.”

Autumn threw her head back and laughed. “That’s why I’m here.”

Liliana frowned. “What do you mean?” She questioned as she grabbed her purse.

“Graham told me he was going to the mall with you as a bodyguard,” Autumn gently grabbed Liliana’s arms and shook her. “Why didn’t you call me first?” She demanded playfully.

Liliana laughed and rolled her eyes. “I thought you might be busy. I’m only going to grab a couple of things.”

Autumn scoffed. “I’m never too busy for the mall.”

Liliana shook her head with a smile. “Okay then. Let me say goodbye to Cayden, and then we’ll head out. Are Graham and Liam ready?” She questioned as she looked over her shoulder.

Autumn nodded. “Yeah. They’re both outside waiting in an SUV.”

Liliana nodded with a smile. “Okay. I’ll be right out.”

Liliana went to Cayden’s office and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “I’m heading out, beloved,” she whispered. “Your mom will be with me. Along with Liam and Graham.”

Cayden chuckled. “I’ll see you whenever my mother lets you come back.”

Liliana giggled. “Yeah, I noticed that last time I went to the mall with her.”

Cayden turned his head and kissed her lips. “I love you, dove.”

“I love you too, beloved,” Liliana kissed his cheek before walking to the door. “Do you want me to grab you anything?” She asked as she stopped in the doorway.

Cayden shook his head. “Just enjoy yourself and be careful, my dove.”

Liliana blew him a kiss before leaving for the mall.

They drove to the mall and walked through each store that caught Autumn’s attention. After an hour of them walking around, nausea hit Liliana again. She looked around in a panic and sighed in relief when she found a trash can. Liliana rushed to it and emptied the contents of her stomach into it. Autumn held her hair back and rubbed her back until there was nothing in her stomach. “Let’s replace you a restroom and get you cleaned up,” Autumn said softly.

Liliana groaned as she nodded and held a hand to her stomach. They quickly found a restroom, and Liliana rinsed her mouth out as best as possible. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Autumn asked in concern.

Liliana shook her head with a frown. “I don’t know. I’ve been feeling off the last couple of days, but I just figured it was because of all the stress or something.”

“Have you been to see a doctor?” Autumn asked as she gently stroked Liliana’s hair.

Liliana shook her head. “No. I didn’t think anything of it, but now I think I should go see a doctor.”

Autumn sighed. “Let’s get you to a doctor then.”

They left the mall and went to a nearby doctor’s office. Liliana didn’t want anyone else to worry about anything. So they sat in the waiting room until the doctor was ready to see her. Liliana gave Autumn a reassuring smile and followed the doctor into a room. “So, what seems to be the problem?” The doctor asked after the usual round of questions.

Liliana sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. I’ve been feeling off, and I’ve been vomiting all morning.”

The doctor gave her a bright smile. “It sounds like it could be pregnancy,” she said.

Liliana’s eyes went wide. “What?” She asked in shock.

The doctor nodded as she stood up and walked to a cabinet. “I’m going to have you give us a sample of your urine, and we’ll confirm it. Should only take a few minutes.”

Liliana nodded as she took the cup from the doctor and stood up. She followed the doctor to a restroom and stepped inside. She did her business and washed her hands before opening the door. She handed the cup to the doctor. “We’re just going to have you wait in the room for a few minutes while we test this.”

Liliana nodded and went back to the room. She sat on the bed and took several deep breaths as she waited.

The doctor walked back in and gave her a bright smile. “Congratulations,” she said happily. “You are pregnant,” she looked down at the chart in her hands. “Do you remember when your last menstrual cycle was?” She questioned as she looked back at Liliana.

Liliana shook her head in shock. “No. I, um, I don’t remember,” she said quietly.

“Well, if you’d like, we could do an ultrasound to learn how far along you are,” she suggested.

Liliana nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good,” she cleared her throat. “Would it be alright if I grabbed my mother-in-law?” She asked as she stood up.

The doctor smiled. “We’ll have you follow me, and I’ll have someone grab your mother-in-law for you. What’s her name?”

“Autumn Williams.”

The doctor nodded and pulled a nurse aside before heading to an ultrasound room. Liliana lay down on the table and smiled at Autumn when a nurse led her into the room. “What’s going on, Liliana?” She asked in concern as she looked around the room.

The doctor put a bit of gel on Liliana’s belly and started moving the wand over her belly. “Look,” Liliana whispered as she turned her head to the screen.

Autumn gasped as she covered her mouth with a shaking hand. “Am I seeing that right?” She asked in a whisper as she glanced at the doctor.

The doctor nodded. “Yes, ma’am. There is a healthy baby.”

Autumn moved closer to the screen and stared in awe. “I can’t believe this,” she turned to Liliana with a wide smile. “You’re pregnant!” She squealed in joy.

Liliana let out a tearful laugh as she looked at the screen again. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered. “We’ve been trying, but…” she trailed off as she stared at the screen in adoration.

Autumn squealed again and hugged Liliana tightly. “Oh, this is so exciting.”

Liliana took a few deep breaths. “I don’t want anyone to know yet,” she said as she looked at Autumn. “I want to surprise Cayden. He has to be the first to know.”

Autumn nodded. “We can return to the mall and get something special to surprise him. Maybe even a cake.”

Liliana waved her off. “I can make the cake. I have everything for his favorite.”

Autumn giggled as she helped Liliana clean her stomach. “Let’s go then.”

Liliana turned to the doctor. “Thank you so much,” she bit her lip. “Could I get a picture, please?” She asked softly.

“Of course.” The doctor said and handed her a picture. “I recommend scheduling regular appointments with your usual doctor, and you start taking prenatal vitamins.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

They returned to the car, and Autumn started driving them back to the mall. Liliana couldn’t stop looking at the ultrasound picture. “I can’t believe it’s happening,” she mumbled.

Autumn smiled in awe. “I can’t either.”

Liliana sighed in contentment as she leaned her head against the seat.

They made it to the mall and decided to get a newborn onesie that said, ‘Strong like my daddy.’ “He’s going to love it,” Autumn said with a bright smile.

Liliana smiled back just as brightly. “It’s perfect.”

They paid for it and started walking towards the exit. “Shit,” Liliana swore softly. “I have to run to the restroom fast,” Liliana said as she handed her bags to Autumn.

Liliana rushed to the nearest restroom and quickly took care of her business. She went to the sink to wash her hands when she came out. They appeared as she was reaching for a paper towel. “Hello, baby doll,” Martin said with a cruel grin.

Before Liliana could even blink, Martin grabbed her arm, and Samson teleported them to the dungeons in Atlas’s base. Liliana gasped as Martin and Samson teleported out of the cell and stood against the wall across from her. “Where the hell am I?” She demanded.

Martin smirked. “In Atlas’s dungeon.”

Liliana groaned. “Damn it,” she muttered. She glared at the two men standing across from her. “Go get the damn titan so I can talk to him.”

Martin raised an eyebrow. “Why would he want to talk to you?” He demanded.

Liliana scoffed. “Go fetch your boss. He will want to hear what I have to say.”

Martin shrugged. “It’s your funeral,” he let that cruel smirk spread over his face. “Though it’s your funeral, either way, little doll,” he said as he started walking up the stairs.

Liliana sighed as she leaned against the wall and waited for Martin to return with Atlas. Martin’s nickname for her was familiar. She remembered that dreadful day when everything had first changed for her. The rogue who had killed her parents had called her that before violently throwing her into a tree trunk. She tried not to let it show how much it affected her as Martin walked down the stairs with Atlas right behind. And behind Atlas was the rogue wolf from her past.

“Hello, baby doll,” the rogue drawled with a lazy smirk.

Liliana did her best to control the shudder of disgust and fear that went through her body. She cleared her throat and idly played with her hair, looking calm and unaffected. “Well, I see that you brought in a stray,” she uttered as she started picking at her nails.

Atlas chuckled as the rogue tried to lunge for the cell. “All in due time, Max,” he said as he placed a hand on Max’s chest.

Max let out a low growl as he watched Atlas walk closer to the cell. “So you’re the runt wolf who’s supposed to take me down?” He questioned as he studied her as if she were an animal in a zoo.

Liliana shrugged as she spread her arms wide. “Here I am.”

Atlas ran his eyes over her once more before laughing. “You are a runt.”

Liliana scoffed. “And you are an asshole.”

Atlas glared at her as he took a step back. “Do you know why you’re here, little runt?” he demanded.

Liliana dramatically sighed as she threw her head back and looked at the ceiling. “I’m here because you’re too much of a coward to face me in battle. You’re afraid I will defeat you and help the gods toss your sorry ass back underneath Uranus,” she let out a small giggle. “You’d be right about that. I can and will defeat you, and you will end up back underneath Uranus. There is nothing that you can do about that.”

Atlas chuckled darkly. “That’s where you’re wrong,” his vicious smirk stretched from one ear to the other as he started pacing back and forth. “You see,” he said. “If I have you here,” his smirk widened. “Or say in Tartarus, your army will never be able to defeat me. Certain allies will refuse to join your army without you being there. After all, you’re the wolf from the prophecy. You’re the one meant to lead us to victory. Without you, they know they’ll fail.”

Liliana groaned as she sat down against the wall. “Oh, please. Stop monologuing. It’s boring already.”

Atlas raised an eyebrow. “You have some attitude for the one locked in my dungeon right now.”

Liliana glanced around and gave him an unimpressed look. “Doesn’t look that bad to me. Unless it’s going to start smelling or something.”

Martin, Samson, and Max all looked at her in shock. Atlas chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, stupid girl. You are simply in the holding cell right now. You’ll be here when Max isn’t working on you,” he looked at the ceiling. “Until I have Samson send you to Tartarus to join Jacques, of course.”

Liliana glared at him. “I will walk out of Tartarus with Jacques at my side.”

Atlas clicked his tongue. “We’ll see about that.” He turned to Max. “She’s all yours.” He let a cruel half-smirk lift his lips as he glanced at her over his shoulder. “Do your worst but keep her alive.”

Atlas felt lighter as he walked upstairs to his office, leaving the runt wolf in his dungeon. With Liliana out of the picture, it would be much easier to pick apart his army.

Autumn frowned as she glanced at her watch for the millionth time. Liliana had been in the restroom too long for her liking. She couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong. Autumn took a deep breath and tried to reach Liliana through their mind link. She rushed to the restroom when there was nothing but silence on Liliana’s end.

Autumn threw open every stall door, but Liliana was nowhere to be found. She felt tears rushing down her face as she raced for their things. Finally, she pulled out her car keys and ran to her car. “What happened?” Graham demanded as he took in her frantic face. “You said that you two would be right out.”

Autumn shook her head. “She had to use the restroom, but she’s gone. We need to get home.”

Without waiting for a response, Autumn hopped into her car and started speeding towards Cayden’s house. She ignored every traffic law until she was skidding to a halt in Cayden’s driveway. She didn’t even bother to turn the car off or shut the driver’s door. Instead, Autumn raced into the house and straight to his office. She was breathing heavily as she threw the door open.

Cayden frowned as he looked up from his paperwork. “Mom?” He questioned as he stood up. “Is everything alright?”

Autumn shook her head as she walked to him and practically collapsed in his arms. “She’s gone,” she said in a broken voice. “They took her,” she sobbed out.