Moonlight: Stars, Eclipses, & Full Moons

The Kids Are Alright

Jiyoung's POV

Raising kids is nothing like playing with dolls. Dolls are plastic and don't talk back unless you press a button, and you can just shove them back into a box or chest whenever you're done with them. But real, live kids are in a way different league, one I thought I would be prepared to handle. But I assume my dad also thought that at one point and well if you know our pack or even just our part of the family, you know how well that panned out.

I can't blame him completely, though. It might have taken my parents some time to figure out nicer ways to discipline my brothers and me, but we were a lot. The three of us were rowdy and energetic, so I suppose a bit of tough parenting was required. Still, ever since I realized it was physically possible for me to have children, (not in the medical sense but the holy-shit-that's-where-babies-come-from sense), I've wanted to. For a long time, I imagined having a big family, being there to greet my kids when they came home from school, soothing them back to sleep when they had nightmares, creating a warm and cozy home for them to always feel comfortable in no matter how far away they wandered when they grew up. Some in the pack--mostly Lily--and in our neighboring packs called me too traditional for wanting that and not taking advantage of the millions of other opportunities available to me. But to be honest, all of those options scared me. The unknown scared me. But for some reason, even though it came with plenty of its own unknowns, parenthood never did. 

That was in the past--back when I thought I'd fall in love and get married first, back when I thought I had it all planned out. As it turns out, though, even detailed planning can't spare you from surprises. 

Even so, that was also the past and not a story I like to retell a lot. It took a while and a lot of trial and error, but I moved on eventually and my original plans did happen in the order I intended them to. I married someone who supported and loved me even with all of my scars, and then ended up pregnant. And it only took three prior unplanned pregnancies to get there.

Nine months seemed to go faster the fourth time around and before I knew it, each day had become a waiting game. While I was still okay to get around on my own, I still mostly stayed home and didn't do my usually chores or activities. Ari had started working from home in order to help out more around the house and make sure she was there in case anything happened and for when the time finally came. 

That day finally arrived on a Monday. Following dropping off the kids at school, I finished making my own breakfast and was cleaning up the small mess I made when I heard a knock at the front door. After turning off the water and drying my hands, I carefully made my way out of the kitchen and past the living room. I saw Daehan and Lily standing outside when I opened the door, which brought a small smile to my face. 

"Are you two here on alpha business or something?" I asked teasingly as I stepped back and held the door open enough for them to walk in. 

"Or maybe we were just coming over to check in, you know, seeing as how you're quite literally about to pop," Daehan replied as he looked at my baby bump. 

"But I'm also here on some minor business matter. Is Ari around?" Lily interjected a moment or so later. 

"I think she said she was going to be in a meeting, but I forget until when," I said after glancing up the stairs. "Baby brain."

"Sure, blame your soon-to-be child for your lack of memory," Daehan said. "You might want to stay in there, little guy. You're already the family scapegoat." Lily and I chuckled as I brought my hands down to caress my belly. Ari came down the stairs not long after and joined us.

"I thought I heard the door," she said as she stepped off the last step. "Sorry, love. I would have answered it, but we can never seem to have a meeting that ends on time."