My labor had started.
And I was completely alone.
Another contraction tore through me before I could even think. I grabbed the side of the shelter and squeezed my eyes shut.
“Please,” I whispered. “Please, let me do this.”
The pain only grew stronger.
I reached for the piece of cloth I had prepared and pushed it between my teeth. I couldn’t scream. Not here. Not with unknown wolves somewhere beyond the trees who might hear and come for me.
I bit down as another contraction came.
Tears ran down my face. My whole body shook. “Come on, Malia,” I whispered through clenched teeth. “You can do this.”
The pain eased for a moment. I breathed slowly, trying to gather enough strength for the next one.
There was no one to hold my hand. No one to tell me what to do.
No healer. No midwife. On
