CHAPTER 123: CONFUSION.

*~Hazel’s POV~*

My eyes fluttered open, the familiarity of my surroundings gnawing at me. Where am I? And why does my head ache so much?

I realized I was in my chamber here in New Orleans. But my mind felt strangely empty, like I couldn’t remember anything at all. My eyes darted around as everything slowly began to make sense.

Pregnancy. Babies.

My gaze shot around frantically, searching—until I saw them, sleeping peacefully right beside me. A sigh of relief slipped from my lips as I pressed a hand to my chest, steadying my breathing.

Still... why did I feel so empty?

"Caspian? Cayden?" I called out loud, my voice trembling slightly.

Instead, Aurora walked in. "Oh, you’re awake. Just in time....I brought you hot coffee." She handed me the cup, and I took a grateful sip. She placed her palm on my forehead. "Hmm... you’re running a little temperature. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I’m fine... it’s just—I feel kind of... empty. What happened?"

"Oh, you just gave birth," she said lightly, then nodded toward the bed. "And look at your babies."

She placed them in my arms, and my heart fluttered instantly.

"Oh my..." I breathed, holding them close. I studied their tiny faces—one boy, one girl—both carrying such a striking resemblance to me and Cayden. Is this... the first time I’m seeing them?

Aurora smiled faintly. "You don’t seem too excited for a mother meeting her babies for the first time."

"I know... it’s just... it feels like I’ve seen them before."

"Well, you carried them in your stomach for nine months—you’re supposed to feel that familiarity," she teased. "The entire Blue Moon pack is excited. And before the naming ceremony, you and Cayden better start deciding on names."

With that, she left, leaving me alone with my children.

I carefully laid them back down as they slept soundly. Taking a deep breath, I finished the hot coffee Aurora had given me. But my thoughts kept spinning.

Hazel... my gut is telling me something’s wrong. Something is not right.

What could possibly have gone wrong?

I shoved the uneasy feeling aside. My babies were here—my miracle babies.

Even if... they came so fast. I had only carried them for a month.

I tried to stand, but the moment my feet touched the ground, my legs buckled. I crashed back down to my knees, the cold of the floor biting into my skin. My body felt... drained. Not the soreness I imagined after giving birth—no, this was something else. An unfamiliar weakness, heavy and pressing, almost as if my strength had been siphoned away.

I forced myself upright, staggering toward the bed, my hands gripping the sheets just to keep from collapsing again. Maybe this is normal, I told myself. Maybe it’s just... postpartum exhaustion. But the ache wasn’t where I thought it should be—it wasn’t in my lower back or hips. It burned deeper... in my stomach.

And then—

"Mate."

I froze.

My gaze darted around the room, but there was no one there. The voice... it wasn’t around me. It was inside me.

"Mate."

The sound echoed again, warm yet primal, curling through my mind like smoke. I clutched at my abdomen, and heat bloomed there—sharp, insistent, like fire licking at my insides. My breath quickened. My womb? No... this wasn’t pain. This was awakening.

The realization slammed into me.

"Oh, God," I whispered. "I think... I think I’ve activated my wolf."

The words were barely out before the sensation pulsed again, and a wave of something raw and wild swept over me. My babies stirred, then whimpered, their tiny cries piercing the air.

"Aurora!" I shouted, panic threading through my voice. "Caspian!"

Aurora burst through the doorway, her eyes scanning me and the babies. "Hazel? What happened?"

I swallowed hard. "I... I heard it. A voice. Inside my head. It kept saying ’mate.’ And—" I pressed my palm against my stomach. "—I can feel her. My wolf. She’s... awake."

Aurora’s eyes widened. "Your wolf? Are you—are you serious?"

"Yes! I think so." My voice cracked. "I don’t understand... This isn’t how it’s supposed to happen, right?"

She shook her head, already backing toward the door. "No. No, this isn’t right at all. It’s supposed to happen under a full moon, not..." She glanced at the sleeping babies, her expression tightening. "Not now. Not like this."

"What does that mean?" My heart pounded, a mix of fear and confusion clawing at my chest.

Aurora didn’t answer. She turned, her voice carrying down the hall as she shouted, "Cayden! Caspian! Get in here—now!"

I sat there, clutching the edge of the bed, my breath ragged. The heat in my body was still rising, spreading to my fingertips.

And then, as I was still clutching at the edge of my dress, something slipped out of me and hit the floor with a faint clink. A ring.

I blinked at it, confused. My hands trembled as I picked it up and held it in front of me. The design felt... familiar. Too familiar. But I don’t remember anyone ever giving me this ring.

How did I even get it? Did I... forget something? Did I lose a piece of my memory somewhere?

Before I could think any further, the door swung open and Caspian rushed inside. His eyes instantly locked on the ring in my hand, and without any sudden movement—almost cautiously—he took it from me.

"Where did you get this?" His voice was low, almost sharp.

"I... saw it inside of me." My words were small, unsure.

And then...without warning—he pulled me into his arms. Normally, I’d melt into that embrace, let that familiar warmth drown me. But this time... something was off. That ring was still in my mind, still in my chest, like it had carved its way into my thoughts.

He pulled back just enough to look at me. "Aurora said you’ve activated your wolf. Is it true?"

I nodded.

His lips curved, and a small smile broke across his face. "Oh my... congratulations." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead, but even that didn’t make the unease in my chest disappear.