*~ Author POV~*
Hazel’s hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes widened, and for a second, her world cracked.
Father?
Marcus dropped to his knees beside Lilith, gently cupping her face, his voice tender and low.
"You’re safe now," he said. "I’ve got you."
Lilith was shaking, tears streaming down her face. "The child is coming, Marcus. But this...this is the wrong time. They almost got me. They’ll keep coming."
"They won’t," he promised. "Not while I’m here."
She nodded weakly, collapsing back onto the grass. Her body trembled.
Then Marcus lay down beside her, steadying her legs with his hands. "Push. I’m right here. I’ll help you bring this child into the world."
Hazel’s breath hitched.
When... when was her father ever this gentle? she thought, blinking fast. When had he ever been kind? Loving?
She had always believed he hated her and treated her like dirt. Like she was cursed. Like she was never supposed to exist.
But here he was. Soft. Steady. And helping Lilith deliver her.
Lilith screamed one final time—and then a baby’s cry rang out into the night.
Marcus took off his blood-soaked shirt, wrapping the baby gently in the fabric. With shaking hands, he wiped the newborn clean, holding the child close to his chest. And then he knelt by Lilith and showed her the infant.
"She looks exactly like you," he whispered.
Hazel’s heart twisted. She could swear she saw tears in Marcus’ eyes.
What? What changed?
This wasn’t the man she had grown up with. The one who barked orders at her. The one who treated her like a burden. This was... love. This was adoration.
He loved me... like this? From the beginning?
Lilith took the baby gently, her face full of emotion. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"I’m sorry, Marcus. I’m so sorry."
He shook his head. "No. Don’t apologize. I know now. I’ve always known."
He looked at her, unblinking. "You’re a Crescent. And I love you like that."
"Marcus—"
"I don’t care what they say. Not Claus, not the Elders, not the Pack Council. You’re still the Alpha to me. I don’t care if they think Crescents are forbidden. I planned everything, Lilith. We were going to run. Far away from New Orleans. Far from Blue Moon."
"I’m sorry," she repeated, her voice breaking. Then she reached up, placing her hands gently on either side of his head.
He froze. "Lily...love..what are you doing?"
Her voice was sad now. Heartbroken. "You can’t know anything. You can’t remember."
"No...wait..." But she’d already begun chanting.
The magic surged again, soft but blinding.
Marcus’s eyes rolled back—and he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Hazel choked back a gasp. She wiped his memory...
Lilith looked down at the baby at Hazel. Her eyes welled up with tears. Her lips trembled.
"I’m sorry, my child," she whispered. "One day, you’ll understand why I did all this."
She kissed the baby’s forehead gently. Then again.
And then she placed her hand on the child’s small stomach.
A glow burst from beneath her palm—bright and warm.
Hazel’s eyes widened.
Lilith was sealing something inside her.
That’s why...
That’s why I’ve been human. That’s why I could never shift. That’s why I felt powerless. My mother... sealed it away inside me?
She sealed everything..her powers, her truth, her identity.
And then, gently, Lilith laid the baby–Hazel– beside the unconscious Marcus.


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