Redhawk Caldera hold onto your heart.

The world in the last few hours had been a chaotic, emotional, terrifying thing. But when finally Finley laid with all three pups squirming at her side, everything began to grow still and quiet in a way that it hadn't in months, or maybe even years. She had not felt such peace since she herself had been a puppy, sleeping at her mother's side, chasing her siblings through the fields of her first home.

Her life had been a bright and happy thing until her first mate had arrived to darken it. She had never truly recovered from it, even now with the weight of the secret off of her shoulders and acceptance of the part she had played in that terrible history. Finley had spent so many years in the shadow of what had happened. Not once had she ever felt as though she'd escaped it, even though it was only rarely that she would ever admit that she hadn't. It had always lingered, twisting her character and making her fear the things she was incapable of understanding she deserved. She ran from happiness, knowing she would only destroy it by being careless and foolish. Then she would hurt others again. Then she would lose them.

But somehow, all of that seemed so far away. Finley was exhausted beyond her comprehension and it left her mind vacant of all else except the present in which she had brought her family three perfect little puppies. Siblings for her son. More children for her mate. They had both wanted so much for this and Finley had come so very close to failing them, as she still felt she failed them every day by not being a better mother, not being a better mate. But even those thoughts of self-deprication could not touch her in that moment. There was only her success and the warm, joyful peace of knowing that she had not failed them. She would not lose them.

Finley didn't stir at Eljay's ministrations, lying as still as the first pup that had come into the world that day. His voice was in her ears and in her heart as her breath faded and her heart slowly came to a stop.