The worst part of the whole pregnancy was the last day and Deathbelle had finally reached that point. She had been nesting and laboring slowly for the majority of the morning, when she would normally have been asleep. The contractions weren’t terrible leading up to noon when the first real ones began. That moment she wanted nothing else in the world than Magnus to be beside her. She couldn’t remember if she mentioned his presence for the birth to Recluse or not, but she hoped her niece would allow her that luxury. Belle wanted him here to see the birth, to feel her pain, to share in the joy new life would bring.

She feared she would be forced to weather the trial alone.

Shaking off another contraction Deathbelle lifted herself to her paws so she could at least make it to the entrance so sh might call out for those who wished to listen. Hopefully Magnus was close by, perhaps Recluse might wish to make an appearance? It was midday, so she wouldn’t blame the alpha if she did not appear until that night. Belle howled softly and returned to her furs and prepared for a long afternoon.

Recluse was aware of her aunt's impending litter of course, it was hard to miss and some part of the woman was empathetic with her, she'd been young and limber during her first pregnancy and couldn't imagine what it would have been like to be getting older as her aunt was. She had made sure to check in with her healers and stay on top of the way she was progressing. But she hadn't reached out, her own paws full with her young children and other concerns on her mind. But that didn't matter now, now her attention was on Deathbelle and the new life that would soon be born into her pack. She hadn't talked much with her aunt about the father... she did not know the exact circumstances of their relationship though she noted her aunt's call seemed to involve him. The woman sighed but rose from her den, Lilith moving up the wolf's leg. Her brood were sound asleep and she trusted they would stay that way for some time still, for all their energy they were still young enough that they mostly slept through the day. The young Alpha moved cautiously through her packlands, cherry gaze narrowed against the bright daytime light, Lilith helping to guide her as she was practically blind. The woman settled herself outside her aunt's den. She let out a soft huffing bark to make her presence known. "I am here, if you need anything..." She trailed off, making sure that her aunt knew she was here to support her. Then she turned her gaze out, towards the nearest border. Wondering if the man her aunt had called for had the balls to show his face... If he did but kept his manners, remembering that he needed her permission to enter she'd allow him to see to his mate and children, but if the man thought he could simply saunter into her pack then there would be problems, though she did not wish to stress her aunt out further than the birthing already would, she would not let her or her mate forget that she was not empress anymore.   "Speech"

Deathbelle was alone, but the sound of Recluse outside did more than she realized to comfort her. The once Empress had been through much during her life, but giving birth alone wasn't one of them. She grit her teeth and tried to focus on the job her body needed to do instead of how much she wished that her mate would be here beside her. She ignored the tears that filled her eyes as she held out hope that he would still come. That Recluse would give her blessing for her little family to be together as the puppies entered the world.

Despite the daylight and the relatively nice day, Deathbelle felt the darkness and cold tenfold. She tried not to allow her heart to break, she didn't know the circumstances or maybe she just hadn't given Magnus enough time to get here. She couldn't spare anymore thought, her heart would break and she'd lose her focus. If she allowed herself to wallow surely problems would arrise in the birth.

Her brain wasn't allowed any other thoughts beyond the powerful actions of her contractions as her children began their journey into the world. Deathbelle cried out and dug her claws into the floor of the den as she pushed. This was the most difficult pregnancy and birth she had ever experienced. She was tense and worried, those emotions fully effected the course of birth.

Deathbelle struggled considerably with the first puppy, she pushed and struggled. It didn't take very long to realize something was wrong. She knew how quickly a birth could turn south. She cried out again as she pushed with all of her might, and even then her efforts were fruitless. She took in deep breaths, steadying herself as her heart beat with panic. Was she about to lose everything?

Deathbelle whined softly as she was reduced to struggling. She pushed with the conraction again, panicing the longer the puppy remained in the birth canal. Deathbelle struggled and moaned as pain laced through her body and a sense of wrongness overtook her. She cried out again, feeling dread overtake the pain as she pushed once more. She was about to call out for Recluse, uncertain what she could do to help, but Deathbelle didn't think she could manage. Before she opened her mouth relief came. Belle pushed hard and with that last effort the first child was blessedly freed from her.

She couldn't think about how alone she was when her violet eyes finally lay on that first perfect little boy. Deathbelle cleaned her and placed him at her belly as the next puppies followed. Two more perfect children. Deathbelle felt her heart break and grow at the same time as exhaustion overtook her. Tears spilled from her eyes as she lay her head on her paws and tried to recover from the harrowing experience.

Recluse wondered if she ought to call Shiba, or Jigsaw, someone to help her aunt through the pregnancy but had reason enough to believe that if she felt she needed it her aunt would have already sought out help. The time would seem to stretch on ad infinitum, she could hear her aunt calling out and the woman twisted to try and peer into the den, suddenly second-guessing her earlier decision. She almost wished that the man her aunt had called would arrive, she didn't want to push her way into the den and simply put herself in the way but she couldn't stop the sudden surge of fear the clearly distressed noise her aunt had made gave her. So instead she dithered outside the den, her dread only deepening as things grew quieter again. Finally Recluse worked up the courage to enter her aunt's den, the soft breathing of crying reaching her ears as her eyes adjusted and despite herself, Recluse felt her heart breaking. She'd not wanted the father of her children there when she'd given birth, but she knew her aunt desperately sought out that affection, she'd nearly torn her whole kingdom apart for it... Kleins it turned out, were a broken messy bunch, too much ego for their own good and yet so deeply flawed, she'd once been raised to assume she was a God... but Recluse knew better, the pain and suffering she'd endured as a child had let her know she was all too mortal... Her aunt was no different, and some part of Recluse wondered what had happened to them all to cause this. Recluse knew it was abandonment on her part, maybe it was the same for her aunt. Recluse slowly approached her aunt, lowering her head to try and gently bump the crown of her head into her aunt's. "They're beautiful." She told her aunt softly, cherry gaze turning to the three precious bundles at her stomach, and Recluse's heart broke again. Her children... their father would have wanted to be there if he'd known, he'd told her as much, but these children? Did their father even care? She did not believe that any child needed both parents, especially in her new cousin's case when it appeared their father was too much a coward to even be there for their first moments... she vowed then she'd not let them want for anything, they'd be given all the same care she meant to provide for her own children. They were not hers, but it was long past time that she end the suffering visited so often upon her bloodline... she'd end the cycle here. "Speech"

Deathbelle took in her breath with labored gasps as she felt the end of her ordeal settle over her and the tiny children at her belly. Magnus had not appeared when she called for him, and still his presence was missing as Bell tried to bask in the afterglow. Her heart once again rend asunder. She wanted to give into the exhaustion then, she felt like she didn’t even have the strength to name them yet. Deep breaths filled her lungs and tears streamed down her cheeks as Recluse appeared beside her.

Belle had almost forgotten her niece was waiting outside, and a part of her wished not to be seen like this. Feeling more broken than she had in a long time. Perhaps she had never truly been pieced back together and now that she had fallen apart again the pain was that much more intense. She leaned into Recluse’s offered affection and tried to take her words to heart. They were beautiful puppies, and she had done well. All on her own. That didn’t help the sinking feeling in her heart.

She thought this time would be different. That she’d get her chance to have her mate by her side as they raised their children together. Like the two times before the father of her children would leave her. One way or another. She took in a deep breath and turned her head to admire the tiny puppies that were nursing quietly. ”Thank you, Recluse.” Her words were labored but genuine, at the very least she had her family here to help her through.