King Elk Forest pretty noose

Illegitimate whelps. Vex had paired with Vivaan out of wedlock, and then she had sent him away. Was this her punishment? And then there was Kevalin, assisting her during her labor. He'd made her whelping den for her. Tradition had demanded she do it alone... but she hadn't. She couldn't. The Cruor Queen swallowed, hard. "My children are here."

They were near the edge of the weir, under a great tree that sheltered her whelping den. She disappeared inside, then brought out a small, pure white whelp with a pink nose. His eyes were still closed. She looked to her uncle, telling him, "He's weaker than the others."