They had grown so much since we had arrived; it almost seemed like they doubled in size overnight. I had feared those first few weeks in a stasis-like condition in the Yaarkins escape pod could have harmed them in some way. Xylo had explained to me that the system automatically injected me with chemicals to stabilize my body. However, the system wasn’t programmed to handle pregnant females, so it kept me alive by changing my body’s metabolism, pushing me into a partial state of hibernation by reducing blood flow to my limbs and minimizing activity in the brain and heart. In response, my body worked hard to keep the cubs healthy and allowed them to grow while sacrificing some of my nutrients. That was the reason why I’d been unconscious for so long after my males discovered me; I needed to restore all the nutrients my body lost while protecting my unborn cubs.
Vikvez had assured me that their growth had normalized after their first week of life, and their development was on par with other Aldawi cubs. Since we had settled down on Destima, Pavryn had been diligently progressing with their lessons to make up for the knowledge I couldn’t teach them and give them the exercise they needed to succeed.
Did it upset me? Sometimes. I wished I could be like an Aldawi female and provide for my cubs completely. But as time passed, I had come to terms with my limits. Observing the cubs during their lessons made me feel included, like I was still a part of their lives, especially when Pavryn invited me to join in their games. Zirene had made an excellent decision hiring his half-brother; his skill working with the cubs made him invaluable. His strict lessons taught them both Aldawi and Galactic Common, above and beyond what was typical for Aldawi children.
They were still learning the basics, but every day they used more words as they tried to communicate. It was hard to believe that in just four more months, they would start going on day-long hunts. Unfortunately, my cubs were the only cubs on Destima. In fact, they were the only children on the entire moon. The specialized academy housed only Aldawi males between the ages of fifteen and one hundred.
One hundred years. It felt odd to be the youngest adult in my clan. My mates were all over a century old and still young by their species’ standards.
I felt like a child sometimes, having been grown in a test tube, my childhood stripped from me. Only Zirene’s lessons in our dreamscape world had kept me both sane and educated.
My past wasn’t my fault—I knew that—but between having to adapt to the world around me while battling postpartum hormones, being a new mother without any role models, and the leadership of a moon shoved onto my lap, I just wanted some space to breathe and grow. And that didn’t even include my adaptive capabilities, which had collected me a lot of new abilities.
But the Fates had given me this life, so I must make the best of it.
There had to be a reason why I was here, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t shake Kaede’s premonition.
Was I a star waiting to complete my constellation? Or a black hole, pulling all my loved ones into danger?
The owner of the mysterious voice was still out there, somewhere. I hoped our brief contact was a fluke, but I just couldn’t make myself believe that lie.
Deep down in my gut, I knew he would contact me again. The combination of the furious tone of his voice and the accusations about me taking his brother convinced me he wouldn't forget our encounter anytime soon. The fact that I didn't know what he was talking about only made him angrier.
What he had done to me was insane and unforgivable.
“Is something wrong?” Zirene whispered into my ear from behind me. “You have nothing to worry about. They are learning how to take down larger prey as a team.”
“She is just observing her cubs,” Z’fir replied softly behind me, putting my thoughts into words. “And waiting to see how long it would take them to notice us.”
Meti spat out his mane and snapped her head in our direction. Instantly, she released her mentor and splashed into the water with almost perfect feline grace as she made her way to us.
As soon as she reached the water’s edge, she tried to walk on her hind legs like an adult Aldawi, only to stumble and fall, almost hitting her head onto the grass face-first. With her feline instincts, she caught herself just in time, bouncing back onto her hind legs.
Meti was growing into a sleek, long, athletic build, whereas her brothers were built similar to their male relatives, broad and burly. While I had never seen a female Aldawi in the flesh, I’d studied enough records to know that she was developing the typical attributes of her kind, minus the feminine mane. Just like her brothers, Meti was too young to grow a full mane on her upper chest. Once Aldawi adolescents hit puberty, they grew their gender-specific mane pattern as a sign of transitioning to young adulthood.
“Ma! Want to help us take Mentor Pavryn down?” Meti asked, her voice too sweet to resist. “He said if we win, he will take us fishing! With our paws!”
“Fishing where?” I asked, raising my eyebrow toward the male in question.
“At the waterfall!” Meti cheered. “He promised to take us out to the waterfall pond near our wing!”
I crossed my arms. “Oh?”
“Yeah, Ma! Mentor Pavryn said we could catch you dinner!”
“Is this true, Pavryn?”
My twin boys took advantage of their mentor’s distraction. Neazzos bit down on Pavyrn’s tail, earning a loud hiss.
“What did I say
